
Steel Beach
Eight Worlds, Book 2
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Narrated by:
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David Stifel
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By:
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John Varley
About this listen
A science fiction epic from "the best writer in America" (Tom Clancy) - Hugo and Nebula award-winning author John Varley.
Fleeing Earth after an alien invasion, the human race stands on the threshold of evolution. Their new home is Luna, a moon colony blessed with creature comforts, prolonged lifespans, digital memories, and instant sex changes.
But the people of Luna are bored, restless, suicidal - and so is the computer that monitors their existence....
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From best-selling author Kay Hooper comes a thrilling tale with a paranormal bent and a touch of romance. Cassie Neill has a powerful but troubling gift. She can see inside the minds of serial killers as they are planning their crimes. Tormented by her ability, she takes refuge in a secluded North Carolina town. But there’s no escaping her visions, and when a body surfaces just where she predicted, Cassie is suddenly a suspect.
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Good story, bad narration
- By MEOWx4 on 08-14-12
By: Kay Hooper
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A Coup of Tea
- Tea Princess Chronicles, Book 1
- By: Casey Blair
- Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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When the fourth princess of Istalam is due to dedicate herself to a path serving the crown, she makes a choice that shocks everyone, herself most of all: She leaves. In hiding and exiled from power, Miyara finds her place running a tea shop in a struggling community that sits on the edge of a magical disaster zone. But there's more brewing under the surface of this city—hidden magic and hidden machinations—that threaten all the people who've helped her make her own way.
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Quiet but capturing...
- By Consumer on 03-29-24
By: Casey Blair
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Titan
- Gaean Trilogy, Book 1
- By: John Varley
- Narrated by: Allyson Johnson
- Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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John Varley's monumental trilogy - Titan, Wizard, and Demon - has achieved cult status, hailed as a modern triumph of the imagination by critics and fans. It begins with humankind's exploration of a massive satellite orbiting Saturn. It culminates in a shocking discovery: the satellite is a giant alien being. Her name is Gaea. Her awesome interior is mind-boggling - because it is a mind. A mind that calls out to explorers...and transforms all who enter.
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First of Varley's classic Gaean Trilogy
- By David on 05-30-09
By: John Varley
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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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Space Unicorn Blues
- By: T. J. Berry
- Narrated by: Joanthan Todd Ross
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Having magical powers makes you less than human, a resource to be exploited. Half-unicorn Gary Cobalt is sick of slavery, captivity, and his horn being ground down to power faster-than-light travel. When he's finally free, all he wants is to run away in his ancestors' stone ship. Instead, Captain Jenny Perata steals the ship out from under him so she can make an urgent delivery. But Jenny held him captive for a decade, and then Gary murdered her best friend...who was also the wife of her copilot, Cowboy Jim. What could possibly go right?
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Interesting Take
- By Ash on 07-19-19
By: T. J. Berry
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Needle in a Timestack
- And Other Stories
- By: Robert Silverberg
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 24 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Needle in a Timestack is Robert Silverberg at his very best - intelligent, inventive, and visionary. This collection showcases his talent for thought-provoking science fiction, ranging in themes from time travel to space travel, the media to mortality. In the titular story - under development as a feature film by Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley - a jealous ex-husband warps time in a vindictive attempt to destroy his former wife's new marriage. Thirty-one identical sons have a shocking surprise for their mother in "There Was an Old Woman".
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Meh
- By JonDC70 on 07-19-20
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Dust
- By: Elizabeth Bear
- Narrated by: Alma Cuervo
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Hugo Award winner Elizabeth Bear has been called one of the best science fiction authors of her generation. In Dust she skillfully spins a classic science fiction trope - the lost generation ship - into a complex and compelling tale of fallen angels, secretive family politics, and sexual taboo.
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A new twist
- By Philip on 01-08-09
By: Elizabeth Bear
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Blood Music
- By: Greg Bear
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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An amazing breakthrough in genetic engineering made by Vergil Ulam is considered too dangerous for further research, but rather than destroy his work, he injects himself with his creation and walks out of his lab, unaware of just how his actions will change the world.
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THOUGHT UNIVERSE
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 08-01-15
By: Greg Bear
What listeners say about Steel Beach
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- Paulke
- 08-05-20
Philosophical science fiction at its best
An engaging story, even if I didn't know where it was going for a while. Excellent ideas and an exploration of AI and its consequences. Nice nods to The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and other classics. Recommended.
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- D. Sturgeon
- 07-12-19
Excellent Story!
I could find no faults in either the writing or the narration in this fantastic sci-fi tale.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Deedra
- 11-25-19
Steel Beach
I did pretty good at the beginning but I was totally lost by the end.This saga is set on Luna where you can change out your body parst like you do car parts.You can change sex also.You live 100 or more years even if you don't want to. Earth was destroyed long ago but the devastation is still felt. Everyone is bored.David Stifel was a very good narrator. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
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- Ron
- 02-20-24
7 chapters in and I am clueless.
Having listened to seven chapters I am clueless. The story jumps around and now he has been on a beach all alone for a year. Maybe I will try again in a month or so, but for now I give up.
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- Caleb
- 11-02-20
definitely worth it
it seems to meander from time to time, but always picks up the very interesting central plot before boring me
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- Dale R.
- 09-06-21
Top notch writing; Voice actor needs some work
John Varley is one of the best storytellers out there; and here his talents are on full display. The plot is a wandering jumble, full of dead ends, weird twists, and inconsistent pacing. BUT, that's all because the main character/narrator is that kind of person, and there's a ton of personality infused into the narrative. This character would never tell a story without asides, and off-topic background.
The plot itself is a complicated interwoven mix of at least 2 separate stories that need each other I order to resolve. This is not an audiobook to put on in the background--it depends your attention.
If I have one complaint it's with the audio performance. Like most audiobook performers, the narrator tries to give each character a certain voice--or sound. This book has many female characters, and they're critical characters. But this actor--when he voices a female--affects a high-pitched, breathy voice. Every female character sounds like a voice like someone imitating an airheaded-teenager in a comedy skit. It makes it hard to take the characters seriously--and you NEED to take these characters seriously.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Laurance P. Daniel
- 08-23-21
Great story
This book definitely tests your imagination. Definitely not your everyday SciFi. I looked forward to riding with it every day.
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- Michael G Kurilla
- 11-13-22
Lunar living under an AI rule
John Varley's Steel Beach takes place within his Eight Worlds universe. Humanity has been displaced from the Earth by 'invaders.' The lunar refuge, run by the Central Computer (aka CC), is the largest in the solar system. The CC functions as the government with life somewhat idyllic, but the population has turned to destructive pastimes. The main character is a reporter who has been trying to commit suicide and enters into long philosophical discussion with the CC. Halfway through, he elects to change his sex which is quite common. He/She also becomes aware of a splinter group attempting to live on the lunar surface away from the prying eyes of the CC. This eventually leads to violent confrontations.
Varley explores the sudden rupture of societal mores and traditions that accompany the displacement from Earth. At the same time, the advancement of artificial intelligence has reached a stage where human involvement is unnecessary. This leads to two situations: 1) humans have little to do as the CC takes care of everything leading to perverse behaviors; and 2) the AI makes decisions for the 'good' of its human charges leading to abuse and corruption.
The narration is quite good with reasonable character distinction, although a female narrator after the sex change would have been preferred.
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- Daniel Cascaddan
- 09-01-19
an old favorite
It has been many years since I read it for the first time. I mostly had only remembered that I liked it a lot. But now, having reread it, it is really exceptional, especially for us die-hard Heinlein fans. I would particularly recommend that people should re-read Moon is a Harsh Mistress right before this. And maybe also The Rolling Stones. Varley makes a lot of references to Heinlein, especially those two. ;-)
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- Theresa Schultz
- 05-19-22
loved the book, poor performance,not hildy
sorry,reader just isn't hildy, needs more understanding of character and the suspension of disbelief a
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