
Sunnyside
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Rob Dircks
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By:
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Rob Dircks
About this listen
“GET OFF MY LAWN.”
They just stood there. In the dark. On his grass. Three punks. They were always there, roaming the streets, kicking over trash cans, spray painting the train underpass, throwing eggs on Halloween, a stain on his otherwise bucolic Ridgewood, New Jersey neighborhood. Once they left a bag of dog crap on his front porch and set it on fire. He almost stepped in it. But for some reason this new thing, the just standing there, pissed him off even more. Like they owned his lawn. Pot-smoking punks.
So begins the journey of Theo Hoover, disgruntled history repairman, who accidentally becomes Grand Oversee -- humanity's supreme leader -- managing the terraforming of Sunnyside, mankind's potential new home planet. But people are dying. And aliens are coming. And his brother is missing. And Kate Kingston of all people has been assigned his Chief of Staff. Oh, and that chaos is only the beginning, as the fate of Sunnyside – and humanity – comes to rest in Theo's shaky hands.
With Sunnyside, Rob Dircks (#1 Audible Bestselling author of You're Going to Mars! and Where the Hell is Tesla?) has crafted a science fiction story with a dry, constant thread of humor -- but also a brotherhood story, a friendship story, a love story, a story about loss and letting go, and a story about our absurdities and whether we can overcome them -- or if we even should. The Black List describes it as "a distant future filled with irony, madcap characters, spaceships, a few bureaucratic conspiracies and an utterly unique voice with a pace and energy that moves at warp-speed.”
And the story is timely: it explores a world where bureaucracy is so tangled it gives rats' nests a bad name, and corruption is rampant. BUT… it offers much needed hope (and a well-deserved escape) in our “interesting” times. Enjoy the book!
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Flybot
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- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
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Physicist Philip Moray is having a good day. He’s chipping away at his big work project. The lunch in the cafeteria is at least edible. And he’s looking forward to his end-of-the-day drink and a soak in the hot tub. Then, a strange device turns up in his office. A piece of technology he has never seen before–and shouldn’t even exist. Suddenly, corpses start turning up, eco-activists go on the attack, random people suffer bizarre symptoms. And every time the authorities get a lead, it traces right back to Philip and his colleague, Celia Hunt.
By: Dennis E. Taylor
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After the End Series (Books 1-7)
- By: Sam J. Fires
- Narrated by: GM Hakim, Tara Sands, Rob Vlock, and others
- Length: 32 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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From Amazon #1 Bestselling Author Sam J Fires comes the complete After the End series, a thrilling post-apocalyptic survival saga that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last word. This collection includes all seven books in the After the End series.
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Very slow boring storyline
- By Amazon Customer on 06-17-25
By: Sam J. Fires
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The Meteor
- The Meteor, Book 1
- By: Joshua T. Calvert
- Narrated by: Josh Innerst
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Astronaut Lee Rifkin's life is about to change. NASA has done the math. The space object named Cassandra 22007 is not behaving as expected. He will lead a team on a cutting-edge ship to get a closer look. But another group wants to get there first. Who is this shadow organization that seems to be one step ahead of them? Agent Jenna Haynes works to put together the pieces that will pull the veil off those who seem to have known about Cassandra's arrival since long before NASA spotted it. What is their goal?
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Dont waste your money.
- By Daveh on 06-06-25
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Return of the Martial Messiah
- Martial Messiah, Book 1
- By: ToraAKR
- Narrated by: Nick Mondelli
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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When the AI infected the internet, three hundred years of industrial and technological advancements were eradicated overnight. After untold sacrifice, humanity won—barely. Victory was only possible thanks to the hidden martials revealing themselves and stepping onto the stage of history. They were named the Old Monsters, immortal superhumans with impossible strength and speed, capable of dismantling entire armies with their bare hands. Thus began the gold rush of the 25th century; the rush to fitness, to the unimaginable power displayed by the Old Monsters.
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Great Start to a compelling story
- By Amazon Customer on 04-17-25
By: ToraAKR
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Love, Death + Robots: The Official Anthology: Volume One
- Love, Death and Robots
- By: Amanda J. Spedding - editor, Geoff Brown - editor, Tim Miller, and others
- Narrated by: full cast
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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The sixteen stories and two screenplays that make up Volume One of the Emmy® Award–winning Netflix Original series Love, Death & Robots.
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The best scifi in a long while.
- By Tim Emmons on 05-23-25
By: Amanda J. Spedding - editor, and others
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Android Wars
- By: J.N. Chaney, Jonathan P. Brazee, Thomas Webb
- Narrated by: Tyler Darby
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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After the majority of his body is destroyed during a high-risk operation, Aiden Thorn is subjected to an experimental, potentially lifesaving procedure… one he never tacitly agreed to undergo. With no choice but to see the unorthodox new process through, he accepts his fate and works to adapt to his new life. But when an intergalactic corporation steps in and essentially claims ownership of Aiden and everyone like him, he is forced to do the two things he does best… survive, and fight.
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Great character
- By Ben(Madison,WI) on 06-14-25
By: J.N. Chaney, and others
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Leap: An Isekai LitRPG
- Taming Destiny, Book 1
- By: S. L. Winter
- Narrated by: Kevin Kemp
- Length: 18 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Markus Wolfe has lost his parents, his girlfriend, and now, his job. He's at his lowest point with nothing left to lose. Or so he thought. But when an apparition appears, promising Markus a mysterious inheritance, he's given the opportunity to discover what he's got to gain: a purpose. Transmigrated into a vast wilderness with no signs of civilization, Markus is forced to rediscover who he is while fighting through confusion, fear of the unknown, and the very real threat of death.
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Whimp
- By Kindle Customer on 05-12-25
By: S. L. Winter
Really good book Rob Dircks
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If you haven't read Rob Dircks before, you're in for a treat. You love sci-fi, right? But most sci-fi leaves you feeling neutral, perhaps mildly fascinated. Dircks is not satisfied with that - you will laugh out loud, I guarantee. And then you will literally tear up, i swear! Dircks' ability to pull you into the middle of his thoughtful-but-madcap adventures is magic. Rare.
Rob Dircks does it again - loved it
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Listener received this title free
In Sunnyside, we meet Theo Hoover, a guy 800-ish years in Earth’s future who wanted fix things in history (his fulltime job) and for someone to fix things in their government, where their colonizing and terraforming efforts are not exactly going well. But Theo never wanted the spotlight on himself. I think you can see where this is going…
There’s been a tragedy among those in the ‘ivory tower’, the decimating kind they showed on Designated Survivor (excellent show, btw). With no one to keep everything together, somehow Theo is hoodwinked into becoming the person responsible for the government, and all that’s wrong with it. Our reluctant new Supreme Leader even has some weird aliens – first contact, mind you – to deal with.
His predicament is made even more absurd by the names accidentally given to places and things in the colonies, as there was a historical database screwup and choices were unwittingly plucked from a truly tragic list. 800 years in the future people might not know or care what happened back at Earth’s Chernobyl, but hey, let’s vacation there this summer. Maybe we can pop by Krakatoa on the way, or go boating in Lusitania. I hear Pompeii is a gas. The casual references made me giggle every time.
I laughed through the whole debacle, and am so glad that once again, Dircks narrated the audiobook. I can’t imagine another narrator voicing the misfits bumbling through these predicaments any better.
Entertaining and delightfully absurd
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Worth the wait!
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Listener received this title free
Hilarious and Totally Original
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Listener received this title free
The author, Rob Dircks has a knack for uncovering humor, irony, love, loss, and connection in even the most unexpected situations, making his stories both entertaining and a true escape from reality. His character and world-building are thoughtful, well-paced, and refreshingly original. The opening character—an old man facing off against destructive Halloween punks—is instantly vivid, relatable, and laugh-out-loud funny. Dircks’ dialogue doesn’t just move the plot forward; it deepens the story and brings his characters to life with charm and nuance.
The narrator brings this entertaining story to life, enhancing each character, scene, and twist as it unfolds. His voice adds clarity, depth, and a strong sense of connection to both the characters and the storyline. It's a well-delivered performance that elevates the storytelling throughout.
This story is a delightful escape—like a breath of fresh air wrapped in laughter—giving listeners a much-needed break to relax, recharge, and just enjoy the ride!
There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.
Humor, Action, Irony - Has it all!
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The best book about Photosynthetic Cats, EVER!!
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Listener received this title free
Eight hundred years in the future, what's left of humanity is stranded on star orbiters waiting for the planet "Sunnyside" to be terraformed. Theo is a grouchy History Repair Technician who's pretty sure he knows all the answers to everything that's wrong with life on the star orbiters, and he has no qualms writing endless proposals (aka complaint letters) to the Star Orbiter Council.
When things go shockingly wrong at a special council meeting, Theo suddenly finds himself in the hot seat and has the chance to see if his proposals could actually work. As expected in a story from Dircks, hijinks ensue, and Theo goes from trying to fix minor irritations to trying to save all of humanity.
What I love most about Dircks's stories is that beyond the silly is always some real emotion there, without ever being too sappy. I really enjoyed listening to Sunnyside; it had the right balance of silly and heart. Dircks is also an amazing narrator! I always find it easy to tell characters apart and none of them ever sound ridiculous or annoying. He's got a very soothing voice, so even the most chaotic scenes aren't too over-the-top the way some narrators can get.
My only minor quibble with Sunnyside is that it was too short! The story itself is complete and a great listen, but I loved the world and wanted to spend more time there. I definitely would not have minded if it had been fleshed out with more backstory and "side quests".
If you like the silly stuff from Scott Meyer or John Scalzi, you should definitely give Rob Dircks a listen!
Thanks so much to author Rob Dircks for providing me with a review copy of this audiobook!
P.S. You guys are following this author, right? He regularly shares lots of fun stuff on his blog -- don't miss out ;)
Another fun romp from Rob Dircks!
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The story is fast-paced and well thought out! It’s hilarious and heartwarming— with a few emotional gut punches that come out of literally nowhere. That’s what I love most about Rob Dircks’ writing— he’ll make you laugh one moment and bawl your eyes out the next. His characters are always relatable (and charmingly bizarre!)
It’s like a mix of You’re Going to Mars and the presidential storyline in Don’t Touch the Blue Stuff. I listened to it in one sitting, and enjoyed every single second of it!
Brilliant— One of Rob Dircks’ BEST!
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Listener received this title free
The best sci-fi stories do more than just distract or entertain us; they hold up a mirror to our own world, letting us see ourselves in strange new lights, no matter how far-flung the setting or how advanced the technowizardry. Sunnyside absolutely succeeds on this front. Dircks crafts a future that, for all its wild invention, feels lived-in and real, populated by flawed, hilarious, and deeply human characters.
Rob’s work can be favorably compared to that of John Scalzi (one of the best in the business right now), and for good reason. Like Scalzi, Dircks has a knack for witty banter, comic relief, and scenarios that are as inventive as they are absurd. But where Sunnyside really stands out is its heart. While a lot of comic sci-fi can lean into mean-spirited snark or cynicism, Dircks writes with genuine tenderness. There’s an earnestness and sincerity here that’s rare—and deeply refreshing.
Speaking of sincerity, let’s talk about the narration. It's my opinion that most authors should leave the narration to the professionals, but Rob Dircks is a rare exception. He has a knack for bringing his characters to life, and his delivery adds another layer of warmth and humor. I found myself genuinely laughing out loud—not just typing “lol,” but actually snickering, chortling, and even embarrassing myself in public with spontaneous laughter.
As for the story itself, Sunnyside is a delightful romp of a sci-fi subgenre-bender. It’s got elements of first contact, space opera, terraforming, and more all blended together with a deft hand. It’s not hard sci-fi, but it’s smart, witty, and inventive. The book kicks off with our protagonist, Theo Hoover, waxing nostalgic for a virtual retro gaming experience he never actually lived through. He dreams of being a curmudgeon, kicking kids off his proverbial lawn.
The premise had me hooked from the start, and the story only got better as it went on. Theo’s journey from disgruntled history repairman to reluctant supreme leader is a journey worth following. Along the way, he grapples with the home he’s always dreamed of building versus the allure of the home he came from but never really knew. It’s a story about brotherhood, friendship, love, loss, and letting go wrapped up in a package that’s as funny as it is moving.
If you’re a fan of Douglas Adams or John Scalzi, you’ll find a lot to love here. Sunnyside is the kind of book that reminds you why you fell in love with sci-fi in the first place: it’s smart, it’s funny, and it’s got heart.
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This review reflects my personal and independent opinion.
Disgruntled History Repairman No More
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