Beyond the Gap
A Novel of the Opening of the World
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Narrated by:
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William Dufris
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By:
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Harry Turtledove
About this listen
Trasamund, a clan chief of the mammoth-herding Bizogots, the next tribe north, has come to town with strange news. A narrow gap has opened in what they'd always thought was an endless and impregnable wall of ice. The great Glacier does not go on forever, and on its other side are new lands, new animals, and possibly new people. Ancient legend says that on the other side is the Golden Shrine, put there by the gods to guard the people of their world.
Now, perhaps, the road to the legendary Golden Shrine is open. Who could resist the urge to go see? For Count Hamnet and his several companions, the glacier has always been the boundary of the world. Now they'll be traveling beyond it into a world that's bigger than anyone knew. Adventures will surely be had.
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Princess Inos lived an idyllic life in her fathers' sleepy, backwater kingdom, and she was best friends with her childhood companion, the stableboy, Rap. But when a prophecy seemed to say Inos should be married, she was exiled to the Impire to learn to be a lady. She was far away when Rap's magical talents began to emerge, and it was he who told her of the fate awaiting them both.
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One of my favorite Fantasy Series
- By Sean Dustman on 10-12-12
By: Dave Duncan
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Star of the Morning
- Nine Kingdoms, Book 1
- By: Lynn Kurland
- Narrated by: Laura Jennings
- Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Darkness covers the north since the black mage has begun his assault on the kingdom of Neroche. Legend has it that only the two magical swords held by Neroche's king can defeat the mage. Now the fate of the Nine Kingdoms rests in the hands of a woman destined to wield one of those blades. In this land of dragons and mages, warrior maids, and magical swords, nothing is as it seems. And Morgan will find that the magic in her blood brings her troubles she cannot face with a sword.
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great secret book very underrated
- By Vickie R on 04-16-18
By: Lynn Kurland
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Forsaken Kingdom
- The Last Prince Series, Book 1
- By: J. R. Rasmussen
- Narrated by: Paul Woodson
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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To save his people and the forbidden magic they're sworn to defend, Wardin Rath surrenders his birthright and his past. For seven years, he's held at the court of his deadliest enemy, oblivious to all he's lost. Until one day, the spell that stole his memories begins to crack. On the heels of a harrowing escape, Wardin's quest for answers leads him to the last magistery, where he studied magic as a boy. But he'll find no safe haven there - or anywhere.
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excellent work
- By Kojo Koomson on 06-27-24
By: J. R. Rasmussen
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Masques
- Aralorn, Book 1
- By: Patricia Briggs
- Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren, Patricia Briggs (introduction)
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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After an upbringing of proper behavior and oppressive expectations, Aralorn fled her noble birthright for a life of adventure as a mercenary spy. Her latest mission involves spying on the increasingly powerful sorcerer Geoffrey ae'Magi. But in a war against an enemy armed with the powers of illusion, how do you know who the true enemy is - or where he will strike next?
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Satisfying tale, interesting characters
- By Tabitha on 10-07-11
By: Patricia Briggs
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Sheepfarmer's Daughter
- The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 1
- By: Elizabeth Moon
- Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck
- Length: 15 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Refusing to marry a pig farmer and joining the army, even if it means never seeing her family again, Paksenarrion begins an adventure that enables her to restore an overthrown ruler.
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Enjoyable Listen!
- By Josiah on 07-30-10
By: Elizabeth Moon
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The Wolf of the North Trilogy
- Wolf of the North, Books 1-3
- By: Duncan M. Hamilton
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 32 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Wolf of the North: It has been generations since the Northlands have seen a hero worthy of the title. Many have made the claim, but few have lived to defend it. Timid, weak, and bullied, Wulfric is as unlikely a candidate as there could be. Jorundyr's Path: Jorundyr's Path is walked only by the brave. As Wulfric pursues Adalhaid's Blood Debt, he soon learns that the path to revenge is never easy. The Blood Debt: A blade fit for a hero. An army for a tyrant. A reckoning long awaited, and a tale reaching its end.
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Could have been so much more, a classic even
- By Listener on 01-14-23
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A Nameless Witch
- By: A. Lee Martinez
- Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee
- Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Being born undead can have its disadvantages, such as eternal youth and flawless beauty-things most unsuitable for a witch. Hiding behind the guise of a grimy old crone, the witch is content living outside Fort Stalwart with her unlikely band of allies: a troll named Gwurm, an enchanted broom, and a demonic duck named Newt. She leads a simple life filled with spells, potions, and the occasional curse.
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Early Martinez
- By colleen on 03-31-15
By: A. Lee Martinez
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Sword-Dancer
- Tiger and Del, Book 1
- By: Jennifer Roberson
- Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
He was Tiger, born of the desert winds, raised as a slave and winning his freedom by weaving a special kind of magic with a warrior's skill. Now he was an almost legendary sword-dancer, ready to take on any challenge - if the price was right…or if the woman pretty enough. She was Del, born of ice and storm, trained by the greatest of Northern sword masters. Now, her ritual training completed and steeped in the special magic of her own rune sword, she had come South in search of the young brother stolen five years before.
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Great idea, poor execution.
- By G on 09-18-20
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Grass
- By: Sheri S. Tepper
- Narrated by: Dina Pearlman
- Length: 18 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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What could be more commonplace than grass or a world covered over all its surface with a wind-whipped ocean of grass? But the planet Grass conceals horrifying secrets within its endless pastures. And as an incurable plague attacks all inhabited planets but this one, the prairie-like Grass begins to reveal these secrets - and nothing will ever be the same again.
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Speculative & Creative, Yet well Paced and Unique
- By Zach Wilson on 04-17-17
By: Sheri S. Tepper
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A Shadow of All Night Falling
- Dread Empire, Book 1
- By: Glen Cook
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Story
Across the mountains called the Dragon's Teeth, beyond the chill reach of the Werewind and the fires of the world's beginning, above the walls of the castle Fangdred, stands Windtower. From this lonely keep the Star Rider calls forth the war that even wizards dread, fought for a woman's hundred-lifetime love. A woman called Nepanthe, princess to the Stormkings…
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Nothimg like Black Company-good in a different way
- By Zap Rowsdower on 10-02-21
By: Glen Cook
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A Conspiracy of Truths
- By: Alexandra Rowland
- Narrated by: James Langton
- Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Arrested on accusations of witchcraft and treason, Chant finds himself trapped in a cold, filthy jail cell in a foreign land. With only his advocate, the unhelpful and uninterested Consanza, he quickly finds himself cast as a bargaining chip in a brewing battle between the five rulers of this small, backwards, and petty nation. Or, at least, that's how he would tell the story. In truth, Chant has little idea of what is happening outside the walls of his cell, but he must quickly start to unravel the puzzle of his imprisonment before they execute him for his alleged crimes.
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I’d give this a million stars if I could
- By Grace on 11-15-18
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The Winter Horses
- By: Philip Kerr
- Narrated by: James Langton
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
It will soon be another cold winter in the Ukraine. But it's 1941, and things are different this year. Max, the devoted caretaker of an animal preserve, must learn to live with the Nazis who have overtaken this precious land. He must also learn to keep secrets - for there is a girl, Kalinka, who is hiding in the park.
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Beautifully Written and not overdone
- By LCNanny on 11-21-16
By: Philip Kerr
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Publius Quinctilius Varus, a Roman politician, is summoned by the Emperor, Augustus Caesar. Arminius, a prince of the Cherusci, is playing a deadly game. He serves in the Roman army, gaining Roman citizenship and an officer's rank, and learning the arts of war and policy as practiced by the Romans. An epic battle is brewing, and these two men stand on opposite sides of what will forever be known as the Battle of the Teutoberg Forest---a ferocious, bloody clash that will change the course of history.
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Correcting a misleading review
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On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched an attack against U.S. naval forces stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. But what if the Japanese followed up their air assault with an invasion and occupation of Hawaii? This is the question explored by Harry Turtledove in Days of Infamy, with frightening implications.
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Could not finish it
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Bombs Away
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From "the master of alternate history" comes a new trilogy that reimagines a mid-20th century in which General MacArthur, without bothering to consult President Truman, detonates nuclear warheads in several Manchurian cities after China enters the Korean War. In his acclaimed novels of alternate history, Harry Turtledove has scrutinized the twisted soul of the 20th century, from the forces that set World War I in motion to the rise of fascism in the decades that followed.
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This Bomb's a dud
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What listeners say about Beyond the Gap
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Gurmukh
- 11-19-07
Interesting Enough, But I'm Not That Impressed
The premise of this book is very interesting. An alternative history meeting of advanced ice-age cultures separated by an expansive glacier which has thinned enough to allow passage. The story revolves around an expedition through the glacier and the first contact between the two cultures.
The story has many problems. The action moves along at a snail's pace - in fact there's not really much action to talk about. There's very little in the way of character development, and the dialog is usually awkward.
That's a shame, of course, because most of the story revolves around the dialog. Much of the dialog has to do with cultural comparisons between the Raumsdalian Empire, different tribes of Bizogot barbarians, and the "Rulers", which is the new empire beyond the gap.
All of the cultural comparisons are actually interesting to listen to, but it's really part of what makes the dialog so strange and unnatural. You've got a bunch of stalwart adventurers on a quest and all they seem to want to do is ruminate on the differences between their cultures. Can't they talk about anything else? You can bet that people from actual historic cultures didn't go on and on about this kind of thing.
And I found the whole drama revolving around the protagonists ex-wife to be uninspired and dragged out a little too much. I get it, she's an unpleasant and unfaithful manipulator. Other than that, she doesn't play a significant part in the story. She adds a little to Hamnet's characterization - but it all amounts to a really poor attempt at character development.
In spite of all the book's faults, though, I don't regret buying it. The cultural comparisons are interesting, even if they make for unrealistic dialog. And the talk of ice-age creatures and situations involving magic were very interesting as well.
Overall, it's not a great book, but not a complete waste of time either. If you can get this book on sale, then I'd say it's worth the price.
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5 people found this helpful
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Performance
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- Joan Zak
- 09-15-22
An entertaining blend
The book got a bit long in descriptions and repeated information. However it built a rich tapestry of personalities and situations. An interesting mix of a primitive culture, fantasy, and adventure.
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Overall
- Michael
- 09-03-07
well...........
So I listened, and kept wondering when the climax was going to occur. Thirteen hours into the story, after the main characters travelled and were bitten by insects and stayed cold, got dirty and ate raw meat, etc., etc. the author was finally going to get into it, the thing that every story has, a climax. Then you hear "this is audible, we hope you've enjoyed this program." Whoa...wha...wha...WHAT? Where is the story? It was pleasantly written, the concept of Visegoths and ancient empires was alright, but that is really all it was, a good concept, not a good novel. There was no real story in this lengthy novel.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Larry B.
- 02-12-21
14 hours & 45 minutes to get there
This is not one of Harry's better stories. He uses almost all of the book to build his characters, set his plot, hopefully get all of the soap opera out of his system, & have everything ready for the next book. The last 15 minutes has some action & then stops. I gave the story 3 stars because Harry has produced great stories in the past based mainly on intrigue, but so far there are no hidden plots or valed threats. It teadiously plodes along for 14 hours and 46 minutes, has a scuffle between the three tusk clan and the rulers, then ends in a soap opera of "what do we do next?".
I am not sure if I want to get book 2.
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Performance
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- Kindle Customer
- 09-05-24
Originality in story. Loved the ice age(post ice age?....) time period.
good enough story. didn't need the spice but eh. the magic system seemed to only advance the plot and not really add too much but it might change. it was only mildly frustrating. i enjoy dense hard magic. big fan of sanderson. i will listen to the next book. concept was enjoyable enough.
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Overall
- Margaret Remington
- 03-24-09
OK. I'm hooked.
I got this title for free as a sign-up promotion. I was ambivalent, never having listened to a book before. I admit it. The experience was good, even though it takes far longer to listen to a book than it does to read it.
But I can do housework or work in my wood shop while listening.
And Turtledove's book is not good, it's great. I've enjoyed for years his alternate history writing, and this is a wonderful change of pace.
The characters are very believable, only very occasionally going over the top just a bit, but rapidly coming back. The plot is straightforward, without twists and turns, again a departure from much of what Turtledove writes. I'm going to buy the second book and pray for a third.
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Kellie Fergusson
- 01-08-23
Just Meh
Overall, the story is relatively boring and draws on. I think that this book should've had a little more to chew on to make you want to read the rest of the series. As for the narration, all good, except for the annoying mispronunciation of "jarl" for the entire book...which happens to be used all the time!
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Overall
- Richard
- 07-02-07
Juvenile
This is a poor mans Conan the Warrior without the action. I guess the writer got as tired of this story as I did because he did not end it he just quit writing. I gave it two stars because I finished it and must save one star reviews for books I cannot finish.
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13 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Jennifer Lagerbom
- 09-23-09
Boring with little action and no direction
Story surrounds the main character and his feelings since his wife left him. Drones on and on about his wants and tries to put a action plot in the middle but falls very short. If you like alot of description of characters thoughts and feelings with little action or plot then this is for you. Otherwise look elsewhere.
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Overall
- Wild Screaming Bit
- 12-11-07
Just One Clich? After Another!
For those above drinking age – sit down with over a gallon of whatever drink you like (preferably watered down as you might poison yourself otherwise), and then drink a shot for every time:
1) A character shivers but “NOT because of the cold” (or ice, or the glacier, or any reference to cold).
2) A character shoots a “darting glance”, “a look that could wither the strongest man”, or any other clich? involving glaring angrily at another person.
3) A character complains about insect bites or scratches.
That is all this book is good for. It also can inspire timid writers to see just how mediocre a writer can be and still get published. I finished it only out of a stubborn desire to get my money’s worth of entertainment. Once I made my peace with its bad writing and read it as a comedy, I was able to finish it. Even the narrator sounds like he doesn’t take the novel seriously. I certainly will never read any more from this writer. And I humbly beg you to not do so either. Unless you are of drinking age and want to get thoroughly drunk with the above mentioned drinking game.
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8 people found this helpful