Joshua Kring

The least helpful review of Roadkill

Revisado: 08-05-22

Uh… yeah… well, I didn’t not like it. It was entertaining. However, I expected more from Mr. Taylor. He’s in my top five favorite authors list. My “pause whatever else you’re doing and listen to his new book” list.

So, what went wrong?

This was a little too tongue-in-cheek for me. Too rushed. Too influenced by Craig Alanson. The characters acted in unusual ways. Most of the time authors do this to force the plot along, but in this case it was different in a way I can’t quite describe. Example: “Oh, I’m the first human ever to make extraterrestrial contact? Wow. Cool. Well, it’s my bedtime. See you tomorrow.” WTF! No one acts like this! I kept thinking that this was a great story concept, but slow down! Explore the nuances. Hash out the details. This audiobook could have been half again as long and it would have been for the better.

Seriously, Dennis E. Taylor is one of my favorite authors. If you’re unfamiliar with him, don’t start here! Go listen to the Bobiverse series. Do this now! I mean, right now!

So, what went right?

Two words: Ray Porter.

That’s all I got.

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The least helpful review of “Extraterrestrial”

Revisado: 06-11-21

I listened to this in a single sitting (over the course of about 11 hours) and I was captivated the entire time. This book gives the actual facts of an anomalous event that took place in our solar system a few years ago. Then the author explains why he believes it is evidence of an extraterrestrial civilization. I want to say that I really liked this book and recommend it to anyone who’s interested in the subject matter, but I have a few criticisms that kept me from giving it 5 stars.

First, Avi Loeb might be a humble guy, but he comes across as extremely arrogant in this book while accusing others in his profession as being arrogant. This might be a product of the narrator and not intentional. It was hard for me to tell.

Also the book begins by accusing science fiction as being too far fetched and jading the public on the real search for extraterrestrial intelligences. Then it goes on in latter chapters to take extreme flights of fancy itself without acknowledging the irony. I love science fiction and, while I’m not exceptionally bright, I know the difference in reality and fiction. I think most sci-fi lovers do. So, I took a modicum of offense to this.

Lastly, the autobiographical parts of this book got just a tad bit boring and seemed to me to be mostly filler. Again, this may be due to the narrator (whom I thought did a fantastic job overall) or it may have been that the author is a scientist and not a novelist... or it may have just been me.

I don’t want to be too judgmental. Overall, I loved this book. There’s a lot of food for thought here. Plus, it made me want to look up more information on the Oumuamua incident.

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What an amazing find!

Revisado: 06-10-21

This book was included free with my account. I’m a so-so baseball fan. So, I gave it a try, and... OMG!!! Even if you’re not into baseball ball this is an awesome listen. An autobiography of a minor league baseball player (who eventually goes major) that’s less about baseball and more about the most interesting group of people who play it. Very well written and expertly read (by the legendary Ray Porter) there’s nothing to complain about. Don’t hesitate to listen to this book!!! I’m going to be looking up other books by Hayhurst. I’m all about it.

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The least helpful review of “Haunted”

Revisado: 05-20-21

So, my experience with Palahniuk’s work: I read “Fight Club” in the nighties. I was blown away! I have since read and listened to it at least 5 times. It remains in my top ten all time favorite novels ever. I have also read about 4-5 of his other novels, but none of them moved me the way fight club did, and I haven’t given his other works much thought.

Then I heard (and it’s not a rumor) that there were people who passed out during a live reading of his short story, “Guts.” This has happened more than once... multiple times! Who can hear about that and not want to listen to that short story? “Guts” is the first short story in this... collection? ...novel? ...let’s go with book... and when I heard it I understand why people fainted. My body was clenched up and queasy the whole time. Few stories have ever given me this involuntary physical reaction. This book is worth the credit for that alone.

However, the rest of the book was also fantastic. Other reviewers have said that the overall story that ties the short stories together wasn’t all that great. Those reviewers are wrong. I hesitate to call this a collection because it works so well as a novel. A very awesome novel. Maybe the best Chuck has ever written... including “Fight Club.”

It’s everything other reviewers have said, extremely gross, perverted, profane, and at times down right depressing, but Palahniuk makes the perverted, profane, and gross poetic with his pros. He writes flawlessly. Never pulling punches and never letting up. He’s at once whimsical and deadpan at the same time. I don’t know how he pulls it off. He never tells you what he can show you. At times it feels like you’re in a slow motion car wreck and there’s no way to stop it. There’s one scene (I went back and looked it comes at 8 hours 41 minutes and 10 seconds in the book) where I found myself covering my face with my hand and thinking, “no no no no no no no” the whole time unable to stop listening. This never happens to me, people!

So, yeah. I highly recommend this to horror fans who really want to be disturbed. Who legitimately want to hear something that will freak them out.

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There needs to be a word...

Revisado: 05-19-21

There needs to be a word for that jealous feeling you get after listening to one of those rare, truly incredible audiobooks and you realize that there are people out there who will still get to listen to it for the first time and all you’ll ever be able to do is re-listen to it.

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Brilliant

Revisado: 05-19-21

I absolutely loved this audio book. I listened to about 1/4 of it and then I had to go 3-4 days without being able to listen to any audiobooks and during that time this story was always in the back of my mind. I couldn’t wait to finish it. I just finished it tonight and it’s going to be one of those books that stick with me for a while.

The narrator does an awesome job. I never got tired of his voice and didn’t hear any inconsistencies with his accents or character voices.

Patrick Chiles (alright, he’s no Andy Weir or Dennis E. Taylor) obviously knows his stuff when it comes to physics and space travel. He delves into religion, ethics, what it means to be sentient, and a host of other sci-fi tropes. Yet, all of these things come up naturally in the story and doesn’t seem forced. I’ve googled Chiles and he’s wrote a couple other books that are not on audible... THIS MUST CHANGE! I’m going to be keeping and eye out, and plan to buy any future releases the week they come out.

I must put a disclaimer here. If you like your science fiction more tongue in cheek (like space operas or with faster than light travel or waring alien races) this will not be for you. It’s hard science fiction, and Patrick Chiles doesn’t hold your hand. Meaning, if you’re unfamiliar with scientific concepts and real space jargon you may get confused and hate this book. However, if you’re a straight up nerd like me then you’ve come to the right place.

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Least Helpful Review of The Gun Seller

Revisado: 03-31-20

So, I started rewatching the series “House” the other day. After several episodes I googled Hugh Laurie and... Holy Crap, he wrote a book!!! I wonder if they have it on audible... they do... and it’s read by Simon Preble!!! Oh, I’ve got to get that!

After listening to it I’ve got to say. It was pretty good. Lots of humor. Not the kind that would make you shoot whatever you just took a sip of out of your nose, but the smart kind of humor. The brilliant turn-of-phrase kind that only British people do well. A lot of the smart arse kind too. Makes a lot of fun of Americans too, but in a way where (as an American) I had to be like, “yeah, he got that right.”

As for the plot... it’s very good. It was wrote about 25 years ago, so a lot of stuff in it is outdated, but I don’t mind that much. The only reason I gave it 4 and not 5 stars is that I felt it was a little dragged out in the middle. While listening to some of it I was thinking, “yeah, yeah, get to the good stuff!”

All in all... I hope Hugh Laurie writes more. If he ever dose it will go straight to the top of my reading list.

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Least Helpful Review of Dice and Men

Revisado: 03-31-20

I’ve never played D&D.

So, why did I listen to this book?

Well, it was on sale, I’ve always been interested in the game, and something just felt right about it at the time. I’m glad I did. There is a lot of history here mixed in with the author’s own personal experiences which are all read by him. Then there are some of the authors actual gaming adventures that are told from the point of view of the characters he played that are performed by Mikael Naramore. So, what you get is segments of autobiography and segments of fantasy fiction all mixed together throughout the entire book. It sounds horrible, I know... but it all works. Both men were a treat to listen to. I never once got bored. There’s a lot of heart and passion here and it shows in every chapter. It made me want to go out and find a group of slightly nerdy people and start playing D&D.

If you’re on the fence about this book let me set your mind at ease. It’s worth you time and money/credit... even better if you find it on sale like I did.

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... umm...

Revisado: 06-16-17

Well, all I can say is I enjoyed listening to it. I can't really recommend it, though. I think I only liked this for two reasons. 1. I like anything to do with badass military special forces. 2. R.C. Bray can read the phone book and I would listen to it.

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Astrophysics

Revisado: 06-16-17

The title says it all. Go ahead and get this book. It's well worth the money. If you know who Neil deGrasse Tyson is then you know you won't be let down. If you don't... then this is a good place to learn about him.

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