A Talent for War
An Alex Benedict Novel
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Narrated by:
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Gregory Abbey
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Jack McDevitt
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By:
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Jack McDevitt
About this listen
For his own sake, for the sake of history, Alex Benedict must follow the dark track of a legend, into the very heart of the alien galaxy - where he will confront a truth far stranger than any fiction imaginable.
BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by author Jack McDevitt.
©2004 Jack McDevitt (P)2008 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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In AD 2600, the human race is finally beginning to realize its full potential. Hundreds of colonized planets scattered across the galaxy host a multitude of prosperous and wildly diverse cultures. Genetic engineering has pushed evolution far beyond nature's boundaries, defeating disease and producing extraordinary spaceborn creatures. Huge fleets of sentient trader starships thrive on the wealth created by the industrialization of entire star systems, and throughout inhabited space the Confederation Navy keeps the peace.
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Finally on Audible!! My favorite Hamilton series!
- By Patrick on 04-05-16
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Sten
- Sten Series, Book 1
- By: Chris Bunch, Allan Cole
- Narrated by: Jerry Sciarrio
- Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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The first book in an action–packed new SF adventure series. Vulcan is a factory planet, centuries old, Company run, ugly as sin, and unfeeling as death. Vulcan breeds just two types of native: complacent or tough. Sten is tough. When his family is killed in a mysterious accident, Sten rebels, harassing the Company from the metal world’s endless maze-like warrens. He could end up just another burnt–out Delinquent. But people like Sten never give up.
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THE MASTERPIECE BY JERRY SCIARRIO
- By Professor on 10-31-12
By: Chris Bunch, and others
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Veiled Alliances
- A Prequel Novella to the Saga of Seven Suns
- By: Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 4 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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This audiobook shows the origin of the green priests on Theroc, the first Roamer skymining operations on a gas-giant planet, the discovery of the Klikiss robots entombed in an abandoned alien city, the initial Ildiran expedition to Earth, the rescue of the generation ship Burton and the tragedy that leads to sinister breeding experiments. Veiled Alliances is an excellent starting point for readers new to the Saga, as well as an unforgettable adventure for fans of the series.
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Start with Book One
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 06-05-14
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The Medusa Chronicles
- By: Stephen Baxter, Alastair Reynolds
- Narrated by: Peter Kenny
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Howard Falcon almost lost his life in an accident as the first human astronaut to explore the atmosphere of Jupiter - and a combination of human ingenuity and technical expertise brought him back. But he is no longer himself. Instead he has been changed into an augmented human: part man, part machine, and exceptionally capable.
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Almost stopped listening. Glad I didn't.
- By cek on 08-21-16
By: Stephen Baxter, and others
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Battle Cruiser
- Lost Colonies, Book 1
- By: B. V. Larson
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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One starship will either save Earth or destroy her. A century ago our star erupted, destroying Earth's wormhole network and closing off trade with her colonized planets. After being out of contact with the younger worlds for so many years, humanity is shocked when a huge ship appears at the edge of the solar system. Our outdated navy investigates, both curious and fearful. What they learn from the massive vessel shocks the planet.
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Disappointing, Juvenile
- By Russ on 12-27-15
By: B. V. Larson
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The Course of Empire
- By: Eric Flint, K. D. Wentworth
- Narrated by: Chris Patton
- Length: 18 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Conquered by the Jao twenty years ago, the Earth is shackled under alien tyranny - and threatened by the even more dangerous Ekhat, one of whose genocidal extermination fleets is coming to the solar system. The only chance for human survival is in the hands of an unusual pair of allies: a young Jao prince, newly arrived to Terra to assume his duties, and a young human woman brought up amongst the Jao occupiers. But, as their tentative alliance takes shape, they are under pressure from all sides.
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ERIC FLINT'S VENTURE INTO FULL SCI-FI MODE
- By Professor on 11-01-12
By: Eric Flint, and others
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Starfire
- By: B.V. Larson
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 13 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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On June 30, 1908, an object fell from the sky, releasing more energy than a thousand Hiroshima bombs. A Siberian forest was flattened, but the strike left no significant crater. The anomaly came to be known as the Tunguska Event, and scientists have never agreed whether it was the largest meteor strike in recorded history - or something else. Alien artifacts have been uncovered since the 1908 event, and a new star drive is discovered.
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Het
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 04-09-17
By: B.V. Larson
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The Dark Between the Stars
- The Saga of Shadows, Book One
- By: Kevin J. Anderson
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 22 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Twenty years after the elemental conflict that nearly tore apart the cosmos in The Saga of Seven Suns, a new threat emerges from the darkness. The human race must set aside its own inner conflicts to rebuild their alliance with the Ildiran Empire for the survival of the galaxy. In Kevin J. Anderson's The Dark Between the Stars, galactic empires clash, elemental beings devastate whole planetary systems, and factions of humanity are pitted against one another.
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TASTE LIKE EYEBALLS BOILED IN URINE
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 06-07-15
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Ark Royal
- By: Christopher G. Nuttall
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 13 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Seventy years ago, the interstellar supercarrier Ark Royal was the pride of the Royal Navy. But now, her weapons are outdated and her solid-state armour nothing more than a burden on her colossal hull. She floats in permanent orbit near Earth, a dumping ground for the officers and crew the Royal Navy wishes to keep out of the public eye. But when a deadly alien threat appears, the modern starships built by humanity are no match for the powerful alien weapons.
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A good solid effort at a Space Opera
- By Jim In Texas! on 08-05-14
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Humans call them Monument-Makers. An unknown race, they left stunning alien statues scattered on distant planets throughout the galaxy, encoded with strange inscriptions that defy translation. Searching for clues about the Monument-Makers, teams of 23rd century linguists, historians, engineers and archaeologists have been excavating the enigmatic alien ruins on a number of planets, uncovering strange, massive false cities made of solid rock. But their time is running out.
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Highly recommended and thought provoking
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From a remote corner of the galaxy, a message is being sent. The continuous beats of a pulsar have become odd, irregular, and artificial. It can only be a code. Frantically, a research team struggles to decipher the alien communication. And what the scientists discover is destined to shake the foundations of empires around this world - from Wall Street to the Vatican.
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Lots to recommend here!
- By Matthew on 10-19-18
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When physicist Michael Shelborne mysteriously vanishes, his son Shel discovers that he had constructed a time travel device. Fearing his father may be stranded in time---or worse---Shel enlists Dave Dryden, a linguist, to accompany him on the rescue mission.
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meh.
- By Dave Cole on 01-23-10
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A working stargate dating back more than 10,000 years has been discovered in North Dakota, on a Sioux reservation near Devils Lake. Travel through the gate currently leads to three equally mysterious destinations: (1) an apparently empty garden world, quickly dubbed Eden; (2) a strange maze of underground passageways; and (3) a space station with a view of a galaxy that appears to be the Milky Way.
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Frustrating Story, Ill-suited Narrator
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Summertide
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It was just before Summertide, the time when the twin planets, Opal and Quake, would orbit closest to their sun, subjecting both - Quake in particular - to vast tidal forces. It was to be the most violent Summertide ever, creating something that only happened every 350,000 years. Planetary Administrators Hans Rebka and Max Perry had no choice but to go to Quake - risking their lives to protect the others - and to learn, just maybe, the secret of Summertide and the Builders.
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Intriguing and leaving you wanting for more...
- By Herve Bronnimann on 08-09-05
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Conceptually intriguing, but uneven writing style
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Highly recommended and thought provoking
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Lots to recommend here!
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meh.
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Frustrating Story, Ill-suited Narrator
- By Buzz Park on 12-20-15
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Summertide
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It was just before Summertide, the time when the twin planets, Opal and Quake, would orbit closest to their sun, subjecting both - Quake in particular - to vast tidal forces. It was to be the most violent Summertide ever, creating something that only happened every 350,000 years. Planetary Administrators Hans Rebka and Max Perry had no choice but to go to Quake - risking their lives to protect the others - and to learn, just maybe, the secret of Summertide and the Builders.
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Intriguing and leaving you wanting for more...
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What listeners say about A Talent for War
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Isaac Montano
- 11-22-18
Still One of My Favorites
The only negative I have for this was the performance. But that's it! Jack has an awesome mind for world building. It's the first mystery novel in space that I've ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed it, again.
I've read it before and I needed to kill time between books and I'm happy I revisited A Talent for War. The AI always sound too robotic in the performer's voice but other than that he did a good job... if it wasn't for the AI's accent haha.
The blend of History and mystery is what I love, but the fact this is all in our universe just 10,000 years in the future is such a beautiful idea and believably written it caught my imagination and held it.
The story can be slow at times, but you go through the mind and process of an investigator so don't get too frustrated haha.
I've read every book in this series thus far (last one that came out was Coming Home) and have only been disappointed only twice but even those have not deterred me from reading the rest and won't when another comes out.
Remember, it's history-mystery, in space! 😁
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- RLW
- 06-02-21
Ponderous
I have a number of Jack mcdevitt's books and have generally enjoyed them. This one is a departure. The plot meandered, and unless I totally spaced out for the length of the book, most of the reveals at the end of the book seemed almost disembodied. I may keep it, and maybe do a reread. I doubt it though.
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- Sean H.
- 06-02-23
The narrator was bad, and the story read like a history lesson.
I probably would have enjoyed the book a lot more if not for the narrator. He had a really….odd cadence where he would….pause at random times between….words. It was like listening to William Shatner read. He also mispronounced a lot of words.
The story itself was not that bad, but there was a lot of following the main character around while he researched the events and characters of a war that too place 200 years ago. It was a rather dry story at times.
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Overall
- Kaleb
- 12-05-10
Speed Demon
The story is good. But the narrator is on speed. I think if this was rerecorded at a medium pace I would give it another star.
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1 person found this helpful
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- george
- 02-20-12
Not his best, but still good
Would you consider the audio edition of A Talent for War to be better than the print version?
I'd have to read it, and then listen to it to answer the question.
What did you like best about this story?
The story was okay. I had read Firebird before this. That was much better.
What about Gregory Abbey and Jack McDevitt ’s performance did you like?
Nothing sticks out.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No
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- D&S Pete
- 01-12-18
The Start of a Great Series
Where does A Talent for War rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I have always enjoyed this author's ability to write a great mystery and keep you guessing until the very end of the book
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- Sandy
- 12-24-14
The Book is Good, But...
I enjoyed the story, but the narrator detracted from it due to many mispronunciations. I don't know how many times I yelled NUCLEAR NOT NUCULAR and DE-MOS-THE-NES NOT DE-MOS-THENES! It became very annoying.
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11 people found this helpful
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- William L.
- 05-17-19
Awesome Audiobook. great narration.
super story! great purchase. already ordered the second book. looking forward to it. just great
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Overall
- Christopher J. Ward
- 07-09-10
A masterpiece by a grandmaster
This is probably my most favored science fiction novel and the first in the series starring an intergalactic antiquarian. For students of history, this book will evoke parallels with ancient Greece and its empire, and the threat from an alien race. The story concerns the legendary Christopher Sim, the hero of the Confederacy; the man who defeated the alien race by fighting them to a standstill. But there is much more to this tale than battles in space, politics and history, the characters are finely drawn and first-class. Jack McDevitt did not win a Hugo for this work (The Hercules Text which preceded it did) but all the books he has written, this one has a compelling majesty and richness to savor.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Stephen C. Ehrmann
- 07-27-21
Narrator needs work
He didn’t sweat the details. 10-15 words mispronounced, two repeatedly (Rigel; Demosthenes). Occasionally he hadn’t read ahead, e.g. speaking softly what a character says, then concluding, …, she screamed.”
The story is quite good, however.
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