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A Short, Sharp Shock

By: Kim Stanley Robinson
Narrated by: Richard Powers
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Publisher's summary

Kim Stanley Robinson, award-winning author of the best-selling trilogy Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars, was called “a literary landscape artist, creating breathtaking vistas” by the Detroit Metro News. Now he confirms his reputation for brilliance and for the unexpected in this luminous short work.

A man tumbles through wild surf, half drowned, to collapse on a moonlit beach. When he regains consciousness, he has no memory of who he is or where he came from. He knows only that the woman who washed ashore with him has disappeared sometime in the night and that he has awakened in a surreal landscape of savage beauty - a mysterious watery world encircled by a thin spine of land.

Aided by strange tribesmen, he journeys to the cove of the spine kings, a brutal race that has enslaved the woman and several of the tribesmen. That is only the beginning of his quest, as he struggles to find her identity in this wondrous and cruel land - and seeks out the woman whose hold on his imagination is both unfathomable and unshakable.

Haunting and lyrical, filled with uncommon beauty and terrible peril, A Short, Sharp Shock is an ambitious and enthralling story by one of science fiction’s most respected talents.

Kim Stanley Robinson is noted for the verisimilitude of his characters and for the meticulously researched hard-science basis of his work. His works contain ecological themes and emphasize the strong link between the human characters and the natural world. He has won both the Nebula and Hugo awards.

©1990 Kim Stanley Robinson (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
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Critic reviews

“The novels and short stories of Kim Stanley Robinson constitute one of the most impressive bodies of work in modern science fiction.” (New York Times)

“Kim Stanley Robinson, justly famous for his science fiction, has created a mesmerizing fantasy work in A Short, Sharp Shock…Robinson’s imagination is far-ranging and he has a pointed way with words…Robinson’s evocation of pain is unforgettable. A Short, Sharp Shock is guaranteed to haunt the reader for a long time.” (Amazon.com editorial review)

What listeners say about A Short, Sharp Shock

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Wicked, thrilling, exciting

This book is a TRIP. While it is not my favorite KSR book, it should be regarded as one of his greats. The storyline was fantastic, though hard to follow at times. The characters were interesting, and expressive. The DETAIL in this book is second to none in terms of fantasy fiction. KSR is a lyrical genius, and his genius is on full display in a Short, Sharp Shock.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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I never bought or received this book.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I never bought or received this book. Sorry

Would you recommend A Short, Sharp Shock to your friends? Why or why not?

I never bought or received this book. Sorry

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I never bought or received this book. Sorry

Could you see A Short, Sharp Shock being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I never bought or received this book. Sorry

Any additional comments?

I never bought or received this book. Sorry

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

I have three words for this book: L frikin SD

What would have made A Short, Sharp Shock better?


This story was very difficult to follow. If the author had not been so into licking toads, it might have helped.

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