Preview
  • Descendant Machine

  • Stars and Bones, Book 2
  • By: Gareth L. Powell
  • Narrated by: Rebecca Norfolk
  • Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (14 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Descendant Machine

By: Gareth L. Powell
Narrated by: Rebecca Norfolk
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.49

Buy for $17.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

From the award-winning author comes a gripping, fast-paced and fascinating science fiction adventure. Vividly imagined and sharply written, fans of Ann Leckie and Becky Chambers will be engrossed.

The Grand Mechanism is a machine the size of Saturn's rings that has lain dormant for all recorded history, watched over by the alien Jzat. Now, rogue elements in Jzat and human society conspire to activate it, hoping it will bring them power and opportunity. But the only person who knows the Mechanism's secrets is the Rav'nah Abelisk, a Jzat holy man on sabbatical aboard a vast alien megaship. Believing the Mechanism's activation will bring galactic devastation, Nic Mafalda has to seek out the Abelisk before his sacred knowledge falls into the wrong hands—but only if she can first escape the lethally radioactive remains of her wrecked scout ship.

©2023 Gareth L. Powell (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Descendant Machine

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    8
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fast-Paced & Character Driven

Descendant Machine was a totally immersive, fast-paced, and character-driven science fiction space opera ride. Humans and Jzat co-exist in this epic story set in the Continuance universe. It finds the protagonist, Nicola Malfada, on a dangerous mission--which at first seems straightforwards, but in the end, not so much. Life changing decisions must be made, but it all came to a satisfying conclusion.
I chose the audiobook version for convenience, but wishing now I'd gotten the Kindle version. Easily remedied. Narrator Rebecca Norfolk did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life, if only by changing the pitch of her voice. Overall, it was a thrilling ride!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If you loved The Culture series, this is for you!

This series is amazing and while it is often equated the work is Anne Leckie, I don’t know how you could read the Descendant Machine (or the first book) and not think it is the natural progression of Ian Bank’s the Culture. There are so many parallels between the two while retaining enough details to be it’s own story. Regardless, change a few names and you could imagine these books being a continuation of the Culture storyline. The overall theme of the dependency of humanity on AI in a post scarcity universe is especially comparable. The choice and style of narration are on point too. I’m not mad about the comparison and am thrilled to lose myself in this world and to experience a work so similar to my favorite series ever.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story bad narrator

Pronunciation is important and this lady is terrible at it. The story is good at least.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!