Century Rain Audiobook By Alastair Reynolds cover art

Century Rain

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Century Rain

By: Alastair Reynolds
Narrated by: John Lee
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Three hundred years from now, Earth has been rendered uninhabitable due to the technological catastrophe known as the Nanocaust. Archaeologist Verity Auger specializes in the exploration of its surviving landscape. Now, her expertise is required for a far greater purpose. Something astonishing has been discovered at the far end of a wormhole: mid-20th-century Earth, preserved like a fly in amber.

Somewhere on this alternate planet is a device capable of destroying both worlds at either end of the wormhole. And Verity must find the device, and the man who plans to activate it, before it's too late - for the past and the future of two worlds.

©2008 Alastair Reynolds (P)2010 Tantor Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera

Critic reviews

“ Century Rain fuses time travel, hard SF, alternate history, interstellar adventure, and noir romance to create a novel of blistering powers and style.” ( SFRevu)
Intriguing Premise • Engaging Mystery • Excellent French Accents • Believable Flawed Characters • Original Concepts
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What did you love best about Century Rain?

the Narrator. John Lee has a wonderful voice, I could (and have) Listen to him all day.

What other book might you compare Century Rain to and why?

I see it as a cross between Casablanca and Starwars.

Which scene was your favorite?

Landing the spaceships on the Eiffel Tower and it's eventual collapse

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, but I cannot sit that long. it took a couple of days, but I enjoyed it

Any additional comments?

Alastair Reynolds is a wonderful writer. not all of his works take place in the same universe, but the are all quite imaginative

1920's gumshoe meets 23rd century spaceships

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What made the experience of listening to Century Rain the most enjoyable?

Listening to the story over and over and sharing it with my son, who listened to it over and over etc. A great story.

Which scene was your favorite?

So many to choose from. Perhaps the final scene of Floyd dropping the universal restorative. Interesting though self centered move.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes but I kept falling asleep and having to go back and start over!

Any additional comments?

Readers voice was great.

Frackin Awesome

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Americans in Paris detective story wrapped up in intricate, post apocalyptic, giant object sci-fi featuring non Asimov compliant snake robots. Seems too much? Not for Reynolds gnarly imagination.

I read this when it appeared in paperback on a holiday, probably got it at the airport. I remember it was seriously good.

Lee is excellent as always for this sort of smart, dense fiction. A pleasure to hear his compassion for characters and situations.

Doesn't need a sequel but I would lap it up

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now a days the writing is pretty crappy when ever they have a woman Mc they make her a perfect Mary sue. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to have a good writer that balances characters and brings them to life instead of belief breaking moves. kudos and well done. must check your other work.

went in with no expectations

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If you could sum up Century Rain in three words, what would they be?

Grows on you, When you start to listen it has many threads that you wonder how it all fits but soon you start to understand what is happening and get captivated with the story line. If you like a single audio book without having to listen to a series then this is for you

Which scene was your favorite?

When the investigator realized that his earth was not alone it set the stage for fast action and rapid understanding of what needed to be done

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The last 20 minutes is great but cannot say more

Any additional comments?

Great listen, would highly recommend to anyone who likes to become part of what they are listening to.

Got caught up in story once it got moving

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It has interesting concepts, and delivery of these concepts was pretty good. John Lee is a great narrator, and he does a pretty good job here. The reason i am giving three stars is due to the fact that approximately one quarter of the book deals with murder mystery investigation. I was hoping for more scifi and less of how Paris looked like in 1950 or so. Though last part of the book is pretty exciting, and has good nano technology based concepts.

professionally done, but not the best scifi

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Would you listen to Century Rain again? Why?

Whenever you get into an Alastair Reynolds book you know you are in for an epic adventure. This is no different. Although it is easy to get a little confused at the beginning, the story will work its way into a delightful tale long before you would even begin to think of giving up.
Which is always the case for me with his novels. This is why I know that I will enjoy the story even more the second time around, in a few months.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Century Rain?

Maybe its all my years around SciFi that had prepared me for the possibility, but I was thinking along the lines of a planetary intelligence being behind some of the activities. When that is revealed as being the case, it was done in such a way that really kept me glued.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Whenever I am contemplating a new audiobook, if I see John Lee as the narrator, its a done deal. I could listen to him for a week. Actually, I am sure that I have.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

A one-sitting read for an Alastair Reynolds book would be quite a feat. I listen at work. (I am a general contractor.) Although there are interruptions, this was a book that kept me interested the whole way through. After some distractions, I always backed up so that I wouldn't miss a thing.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this book to any SciFi fan.

I would listen to this one again!

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I have never heard a book narrated so badly. John Lee reads science fiction as if it were 1920s detective noir. Which wouldnt be so bad if all of his character voices didnt sound almost exactly the same.

I do have to give Mr. Lee some credit, he's not working with a masterpiece of literary gold here.

I just finished the first part (6:32:10) and Im sitting here wondering if listening to the rest is a good idea. Having read or listened to all of Alastair Reynolds books this is by far the last on my list.

Because.

It starts in 1959 Paris, with no explanation of preceding events to put things in context. It almost feels like youve actually started with part 2. I actually had to stop and check.

The story jumps between characters so much you'll need Dramamine to keep from getting seasick, and when the characters change you don't realize it until a name is spoken BECAUSE THEY ALL SOUND THE SAME. (ARRRGGGGHHHH!!! )

Ok Im going to stop before my blood pressure go's up any more. Lol. Needless to say I wish I had purchased the e-book or actual paper version, maybe then it would be enjoyable, but I can not recommend the audible version.

Do yourself a favor and listen to the sample before you buy this book.

My ear's are bleeding.

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My favorite Alastair Reynolds book so far (I've read almost all of them). What an amazing story... Great concepts and an original look at the future. Highly recommended.

A gem

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I would definitely read a sequel to see where the characters go. Alistair Reynolds pulls these mixes of times off so we'll - well worth it.

A few more plot elements would have made it even better.

Very nice mix of 1950s Paris and proximate future

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