Cross Hudson

Into the unknown with friends

Reviewed: 02-22-25

Mike Talbot remains the anchor for the reader if someone is familiar with the Zombie Fallout series, but because this is the start of a new story, it also works as a standalone series. For veterans of ZF, Mike and Trip is like old friends that makes entering the unknown of this world a great adventure to embark on.

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The weakest entry of the otherwise good series

Reviewed: 08-23-21

I had the series in e-book format for a long while and I always considered it to be one of the most unique ones for tackling average life in a lived in sci-fi environment.

With that being said this entry in the series still feels like a wishlist of a teenager who wants to hump every female in sight.

But considering the good quality of the rest of the series I am willing to chalk it up for the main character's young age.

It was just a bit excessive to devote a large chunk of the book to this single aspect of spacer life.

Other than that it is a good listen as part of the series but it would be lackluster as a standalone if you are unfamiliar with what was before and what follows.

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1 person found this helpful

Interesting story if you have patience

Reviewed: 08-21-21

I usually avoid comparing books with other media but in this case "the book was better" applies.

I don't mean to be rude to the guy reading but his voice and delivery is just not suitable for the story.

If I had to describe in one word "droning" would be the expression I would use.

It is especially obvious when the writing goes into abstract descriptions which is compounded even further when he is voicing a female character.

Granted, it is a thankless job to read a complicated book like this but the mismatch made it so I had to limit the listening daily.

The story itself is - for me - overly abstract even in the description of the most mundane things which is only obvious when you hear the lines spoken out loud instead of the reading experience.

Reading it made it a classic. Listening to it in this iteration won't. It still is better than the previous and it is serviceable.

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Entertaining standalone addition to the games

Reviewed: 08-17-21

If you are familiar with the game(s) it adds a lot of entertainment value but it works as a quick one off standalone story too.

The voice cast and the Foley artist manages to create a good audio drama, but the "fade to silence" is used too frequently in addition to having distant sounds and voices way too quiet.

Sadly this makes difficult to listen without headphones or constantly messing with the volume.

Other than that it was a fun listen.

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Feels like Tom Clancy

Reviewed: 02-17-21

To my surprise the story felt like reading early Tom Clancy books where characters and locations are introduced far removed from each other then the individual threads slowly make their way to connect at some point. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

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Good fun to listen to, gets you hooked

Reviewed: 11-05-20

Quite fun to listen to, reminds me of an episode of the Twilight Zone or Outer Limits.

The cast doing a great job, they are distinctive and amplifying the atmosphere of the story.

The plot - this far - feels a bit flimsy but it gives you a feel of old pulp sci-fi feel so it won't hinder the experience. Maybe it is even intentional.

Worth the listen ;)

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Oddly entertaining and good fun

Reviewed: 04-14-20

The humor initially threw me off as I expected a more somber tone and serious military sci-fi approach but it grew on me quickly because the humor doesn't take away from the impact of the other parts just providing a counter point. It is good fun if you like to be surprised by unexpected laughs as the action going on.

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Surprisingly good entertainment

Reviewed: 01-27-20

Never expected it to be as entertaining as it was. While the story is constricted to a single location, the characters and world building is solid and multilayered that allows for surprises and twists.

Probably one of the best free audible originals I've got this far in this genre.

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Coming of age story of a working man

Reviewed: 10-11-19

At some points got overboard with the details and finer points of trading but other than that a very grounded take on the concept of coming of age in a sci-fi environment. Slow burn by nature and yet entertaining.

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In depth and interesting

Reviewed: 10-08-19

A good chunk of the information brought up in this audible production were aspects of the world war that we rarely consider or think about.

That by itself would already make it worthy of listening. Production quality is very neat, sound bites of radio broadcasts and interviews making it a proper documentary with Martin Sheen's narration.

Should be played in schools.

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