The Usurpers: The SF Classic
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Narrated by:
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David Bufton
About this listen
This is a 1950s pulp alien invasion shocker too intense for book publication!
When The Usurpers first appeared in the magazine Imagination during the early 1950s, Nebula and Hugo Award winner Robert Silverberg wrote that Geoff St. Reynard's work is "off the beaten track". The concept of aliens masquerading in human form is not at all new, but this story is different and powerful and considered a minor sci-fi classic.
Considered too strong by the book publishers of the era, The Usurpers has never been republished in the past decades since. Now, you can listen to this science fiction classic and judge for yourself. Here is a story that is bound to remind you of Night of the Living Dead and The Thing.
Science fiction often speculated about whether aliens might walk the Earth masquerading as human beings. Jerry Wolfe discovered it was true. He had seen the aliens in their actual form. He must be high, you say. Don't laugh! Your best friend is one of them. Discover what happens when a handful of brave men and women decide to pit their puny forces against the might of Earth's secret masters and the governments they control! You will find romance, action, and daring speculation in this lost classic, in its first ever audiobook publication.
©1950, 2005, 2009 PageTurner (P)2019 PageTurnerListeners also enjoyed...
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In The Thirty-Nine Steps, Hannay struggles to thwart an assassination plot designed to hasten war between Britain and Germany. Later he is plucked from the trenches first, in Greenmantle, to frustrate a plot to ferment an uprising in the Islamic world; and then, in Mr. Standfast, to undertake a vital secret mission against a German spy ring operating among pacifist elements in England. After the war, his adventures continue in The Three Hostages; and then in The Island of Sheep, when an old oath to protect the son of a friend from his days in Africa draws him into new danger.
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Values of a bygone era
- By Barbara on 03-16-24
By: John Buchan
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The Man Who Was Thursday
- By: G. K. Chesterton
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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The story begins when two poets meet. Gabriel Syme is a poet of law. Lucian Gregory is a poetic anarchist. As the poets protest their respective philosophies, they strike a challenge. In the ruckus that ensues, the Central European Council of Anarchists elects Syme to the post of Thursday, one of their seven chief council positions. Undercover. On the run, Syme meets with Sunday, the head of the council, a man so outrageously mysterious that his antics confound both the law-abiding and the anarchist.
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Indescribably good
- By Erez on 06-11-10
By: G. K. Chesterton
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H.G. Wells Fiction Collection
- The Invisible Man, The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds
- By: H. G. Wells
- Narrated by: Roberto Scarlato, Charles King - Introduction
- Length: 16 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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In what many refer to as one of the first and greatest science fiction thrillers, a mysterious stranger wanders into an inn, wrapped head-to-toe in bandages. What lies beneath the bandages is something even more mysterious. As Wells tackles issues of identity, deception, and the deterioration of the human mind, listeners will be drawn into the story of the mysterious man, whose own mistakes end up whisking him into a whirlwind of deceit, terror, and even murder. In the end, the question will be asked: when your sense of self and identity vanish, who will you become?
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Super organized, captivating narrator
- By Jackie Harwood on 04-28-20
By: H. G. Wells
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These Names Make Clues
- By: E. C.R. Lorac
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Chief Inspector Macdonald has been invited to a treasure hunt party at the house of the Graham Coombe, the celebrated publisher of Murder by Mesmerism. The clues of the hunt have been devised by Coombe's thriller-writer friends, disguised on the night under literary pseudonyms. The fun comes to an abrupt end, however, when 'Samuel Pepys' is found murdered in the telephone room in bizarre circumstances.
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Fun story.
- By peter on 03-12-22
By: E. C.R. Lorac
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The Very First Damned Thing
- An Author-Read Audio Exclusive
- By: Jodi Taylor
- Narrated by: Jodi Taylor
- Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Jodi Taylor reads the long-awaited prequel in her Chronicles of St Mary’s series, as Dr Bairstow struggles to set up St Mary’s as we know it in a world still scarred by the ravages of civil war. Ever wondered how it all began? It’s two years since the final victory at the Battersea Barricades. The fighting might be finished, but for Dr Bairstow, just now setting up St Mary's, the struggle is only beginning. How will he assemble his team? From where will his funding come?
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Wait for it on Kindle. Not the best on audio
- By Sheryl on 11-05-15
By: Jodi Taylor
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The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu
- By: Sax Rohmer
- Narrated by: B. J. Harrison
- Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Inspector Nayland Smith has unearthed a plot that could mean the end of civilization as we know it. He's just arrived in London, chasing the greatest criminal mind ever to come from the East. But when he arrives to warn Sir Crichton Davies that he is in danger, he finds he is too late. Sir Crichton has become the first victim of the insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu.
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Pulp Fiction of the day
- By Anniebligh on 12-12-12
By: Sax Rohmer
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Invisible Man
- A Novel
- By: Ralph Ellison
- Narrated by: Joe Morton
- Length: 18 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Ralph Elllison's Invisible Man is a monumental novel, one that can well be called an epic of modern American Negro life. It is a strange story, in which many extraordinary things happen, some of them shocking and brutal, some of them pitiful and touching—yet always with elements of comedy and irony and burlesque that appear in unexpected places. It is a book that has a great deal to say and which is destined to have a great deal said about it.
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How Did This Escape Me?
- By E. Pearson on 11-23-11
By: Ralph Ellison
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The Darwin Affair
- A Novel
- By: Tim Mason
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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London, June 1860: When an assassination attempt is made on Queen Victoria, and a petty thief is gruesomely murdered moments later - and only a block away - Chief Detective Inspector Charles Field quickly surmises that these crimes are connected to an even more sinister plot. Was Victoria really the assassin's target? Are those closest to the Crown hiding something? Soon, Field's investigation exposes a shocking conspiracy in which the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species sets off a string of murders, arson, kidnapping, and the pursuit of a diabolical madman.
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Dickensian “Jack the Ripper”
- By Kate on 07-14-19
By: Tim Mason
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Revolt in 2100
- By: Robert A. Heinlein
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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After the fall of the American Ayatollahs (as foretold in Stranger in a Strange Land) there is a Second American Revolution; for the first time in human history there is a land with Liberty and Justice for All.
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Heinlein's Future History
- By ShySusan on 05-30-12
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Meet the Tiger
- A Simon “The Saint” Templar Novel
- By: Leslie Charteris
- Narrated by: John Rayburn
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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The fiction world of today needs a “Saint” more than it ever did. For years now that scene has been dominated by the “anti-heroes"—those grim gray operators in a sunless sub-culture where global issues are worked out with totally unemotional pragmatism, those hapless uninspired puppets manipulated and expended by ruthlessly dedicated little brothers of Big Brother. It made morbidly fascinating narrative, but it never gave anyone a lift until it climaxed in the hyper-gadgeted parodies of 007 extravaganzas.
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droning
- By Kindle Customer on 04-27-24
By: Leslie Charteris
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Dark Shadows
- By: Marilyn Ross
- Narrated by: Kathryn Leigh Scott
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Despite warnings from the townspeople, Victoria Winters accepts the offer to come to the strange Collinwood as Governess. For some curious reason, she feels the secret of her past may be uncovered in the bleak manor high on Widow’s Hill. From the Moment she arrives, Victoria becomes the target of someone in the house determined to destroy her. As the wind moans and the rain lashes around the isolated Collinwood, Victoria, without friends in the manor, feels death close in on her - a choking, frightening death.
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Fun alternate history
- By JDH on 07-29-19
By: Marilyn Ross
What listeners say about The Usurpers: The SF Classic
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Patty
- 04-20-23
Pulp fiction at its best
I can imagine this being broadcast simultaneously with War of the Worlds. It would creep people out. Nowadays the subject of aliens disguised as human seems to be a story on the fringe told by “normal” people. I guess the Usurpers didn’t keep their promise to leave and never return! Hahaha.
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- LITRPG Audiobook Reviews
- 09-07-23
A Remarkable Blend of Sci-Fi and Horror Fantasy
When delving into the mesmerizing world of science fiction, one often anticipates epic journeys to far-off galaxies, encounters with advanced technologies, or explorations of cosmic enigmas. However, "The Usurpers" by Geoff St. Reynard, a hidden treasure from the 1950s, defies these conventions, delivering an enthralling narrative that artfully blurs the lines between science fiction and horror fantasy. Brilliantly narrated by David Bufton in its inaugural audiobook release, "The Usurpers" introduces a story that remains as fresh and spine-tingling as the day it was penned.
While "The Usurpers" is primarily categorized as science fiction, its eerie resonance with the horror genre, particularly reminiscent of John Carpenter's iconic film 'They Live,' sets it apart as a unique and unforgettable reading experience. Published in 1950, this groundbreaking work predates the renowned "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" by four years, laying the groundwork for the subgenre of science fiction centered on alien infiltration. However, what truly distinguishes "The Usurpers" is its masterful blending of horror and fantasy elements, crafting a narrative that continues to send shivers down the spine.
At its core, "The Usurpers" beats with a sense of dread that would find itself comfortably at home in any classic horror novel. The story unfolds through the eyes of various characters who inadvertently uncover the disconcerting truth: otherworldly entities are clandestinely inhabiting human bodies, living among us, and exerting an eerie influence over the world, manipulating governments and society from the shadows.
One of the central figures in this otherworldly chess game is Jerry Wolfe, an ordinary man whose life takes an uncanny turn after a mysterious operation alters his optic nerve, allowing him to perceive the aliens in their grotesque, true form. Reynard expertly navigates the psychological turmoil that engulfs Jerry as he grapples with the knowledge that he belongs to the select few who can see the invaders for what they truly are. This aspect of the narrative underscores Reynard's mastery in creating multifaceted, relatable characters.
As Jerry wrestles with his newfound understanding, "The Usurpers" delves deeper into the labyrinth of secrecy and deception surrounding the aliens' presence on Earth. Readers are introduced to a courageous group of individuals who, upon discovering the truth, decide to take matters into their own hands, pitting their meager resources against the overwhelming might of Earth's covert rulers and the puppet governments under their sway.
What sets "The Usurpers" apart is the palpable suspense and tension that permeate each page. Reynard masterfully constructs a narrative that keeps readers teetering on the edge of their seats, drawing them deeper into the ominous world of these alien infiltrators. The constant fear of discovery and capture looms over the characters like a menacing specter, heightening the emotional stakes and creating a gripping and immersive reading experience.
While "The Usurpers" undoubtedly embraces the spine-chilling elements of the horror genre, it does so in a manner that retains its roots in science fiction. Reynard seamlessly weaves together speculative fiction elements, inviting readers to contemplate the consequences of otherworldly entities' presence on Earth. As the narrative unfolds, it raises thought-provoking questions about identity, trust, and the extent to which humanity would go to safeguard its autonomy.
David Bufton's narration in the audiobook edition of "The Usurpers" deserves special recognition. His commanding and evocative voice breathes life into Reynard's richly imagined world, imbuing each character with distinct personality and depth. Bufton's expert delivery enhances the story's immersive quality, making it a truly captivating listening experience for both seasoned audiobook enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
In hindsight, it is not surprising that "The Usurpers" may be perceived as more of a horror fantasy than traditional science fiction. While the story incorporates familiar science fiction tropes such as extraterrestrial beings and advanced technology, it employs them to craft a tale that is undeniably dark, mysterious, and unsettling. The narrative's eerie ambiance and the visceral horror of discovering alien beings concealed within human hosts evoke a sense of dread akin to the masterful works of horror fiction.
Notably, "The Usurpers" predates John Carpenter's iconic film 'They Live' by several decades, sharing striking thematic parallels with this cinematic classic. Both narratives delve into the unsettling territory of concealed truths and the manipulation of perception by hidden forces. While Carpenter's film explores these themes through a different lens, "The Usurpers" similarly resonates with its audience, highlighting the enduring relevance of its narrative.
One of the most captivating aspects of "The Usurpers" is how it elicits pervasive paranoia and distrust. As readers follow the characters on their journey of awakening to the hidden reality, they cannot help but question the identities of those around them. The story taps into a primal fear of the unknown, casting the everyday into an eerie and unsettling light. This transformation of the mundane into the macabre is a hallmark of horror fantasy, and Reynard executes it with precision and finesse.
Jerry Wolfe, the character at the story's heart, becomes a symbol of its central theme: the fragility of human existence in the face of cosmic forces. His experiences, from the operation that alters his perception to the harrowing alien encounters that follow, offer a poignant exploration of the human spirit's resilience. Through Jerry's eyes, readers bear witness to the struggle of an individual thrust into a world of unimaginable terror, forced to confront the boundaries of human understanding.
Reynard's storytelling prowess shines brightly in "The Usurpers." His ability to craft a narrative that seamlessly melds science fiction and horror elements is a testament to his creativity and vision. While firmly rooted in the science fiction tradition, "The Usurpers" transcends genre boundaries through its fusion with horror fantasy. It is not merely a story of alien infiltration; it is a contemplation on the essence of humanity and the inexorable forces that seek to control it.
For far too long, "The Usurpers" languished in obscurity, deemed too potent by the publishers of its time. Thanks to the audiobook edition narrated by David Bufton, this hidden gem has been resurrected for a new generation of readers and listeners. Bufton's expert narration captures the essence of the story, immersing the audience in a world of suspense, intrigue, and existential dread.
In conclusion, "The Usurpers" by Geoff St. Reynard is a timeless classic that defies easy categorization. It challenges the boundaries of science fiction and horror, delivering a narrative that is both thought-provoking and spine-tingling. With its masterful storytelling, complex characters, and themes that resonate with contemporary readers, "The Usurpers" stands as a testament to the enduring power of speculative fiction. Do not miss the opportunity to experience this hidden treasure, now available in an engaging audiobook format that brings its chilling narrative to life in a whole new way. Whether you are a devoted fan of science fiction, a lover of horror fantasy, or simply seeking a thrilling and thought-provoking tale, "The Usurpers" will leave you questioning the world around you and the secrets that may lurk beneath
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- norman
- 05-15-20
Body Snatchers!
A short pulp novel that is both faced paced and entertaining. The Usurpers is listed as science fiction, but seems closer to a horror fantasy.The Usurpers was published in 1950, four years before the similarly themed Invasion of the Body Snatchers, basis of the 1956 SF classic. The narration was excellent.
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