Linesman Audiobook By S. K. Dunstall cover art

Linesman

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Linesman

By: S. K. Dunstall
Narrated by: Brian Hutchison
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First in a brand-new, thought-provoking space opera series.

The lines. No ship can traverse the void without them. Only linesmen can work with them. But only Ean Lambert hears their song. And everyone thinks he's crazy.... Most slum kids never go far, certainly not becoming a level 10 linesman like Ean. Even if he's part of a small and unethical cartel, and the other linesmen disdain his self-taught methods, he's certified and working. Then a mysterious alien ship is discovered at the edges of the galaxy. Each of the major galactic powers is desperate to be the first to uncover the ship's secrets, but all they've learned is that it has the familiar lines of energy and a defense system that, once triggered, annihilates everything in a 200 kilometer radius. The vessel threatens any linesman who dares to approach it, except Ean. His unique talents may be the key to understanding this alarming new force and forever reconfiguring the relationship between humans and the ships that serve them.

©2015 S.K. Dunstall (P)2015 Recorded Books Adventure First Contact Military Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction
Unique Concept • Complex Characters • Engaging Storyline • Original Worldbuilding • Political Intrigue
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very different from expected and very engaging. the characters and plot are well thought out and leaves you on your toes.

Love it

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Great Start to a new series! I am thrilled books 2 and 3 are available on Audible so I can binge listen to my hearts desire. If you like sci-fi with a more cerebral twist than battle driven you will love this series. I am a life-long sci-fi lover and the plot of this book is so unique it had me thinking about it even when I wasn’t listening to the story. Cheers to SK Dunstall for such an original foundational concept!👏👏👏

Great New Sci-Fi Series!

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The concept of the "lines" is unique and well thought out, with the characters all well rendered. The story treads the well-worn "misunderstood outsider in over his head" plot line, but not in an overly predictable way. A bit slow paced at times, and the main character's level of self-doubt seemed a bit overwrought. But, overall, well worth the listen. The spoken performance was solid, but the characters could be made a tad more distinct. There were a few times it was hard to tell which character was speaking.

Unique and fascinating world building

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This was a delightful, exquisite, cortisol-lowering surprise. How fabulous to have a tense, complex, well-told space adventure that did not rely on shoot-em-ups to adenalize the story. This is something like a "Slow Horses" type of story, tense, multi-level, spies, headtrips, sabotage, magical lines of energy,, well drawn characters, well plotted adventure, mysterious abandoned alien space craft singing thru lines of energy that can be heard/received by the linesmen ... only 50 linesman humans in existence. The linesmen are precious, and one very unusual linesman hears the energy and sings back to it to heal it. Such an interesting, unusual plotline and delightful story.... with a deeply satisfying ending.

If you like Bujold/Vorkosigan, you'll like this

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Brian Hutchinson's voice is pleasant and well modulated, making it easy to listen while driving. This is book 1 in a space-opera series, still under development, told in 3rd person POV. The characters are suitably likable or treacherous. The plot revolves around political alliances, alien technology, and learning how a linesman can best interface with a ship.

Science-fiction elements include futuristic humans who've colonized on planets far from Earth, and sentient energy lines that control various components of a ship, including jumping into the void. The science is soft and glossed over. There is very little explanation of how these intelligent lines work, or why Ean (and other linesmen) can communicate with them. They are created from chemicals in a factory but are sentient, thinking and feeling?

The story is fairly interesting and heartwarming, with some humor and some dangerous, suspenseful scenes. The political discussions were interesting, yet they waxed on, becoming a little tedious at times. At times, Ean dwelt too much on how other linesmen have slighted him, the singing upstart from the slums. Yet I liked Ean and wanted him to develop his potential as a virtuoso lineman.

This plot includes a nice cast of secondary characters, especially Princess Michelle, guard Radko, Captain Helmo, security commodore Abram. We also meet Rebekah Grimes and Jordan Rossi, level 10 linesmen, Rossi's assistant Fergus Burns, and Admiral Katida of planet Balian.

I think of the lines / ship as characters, too. I like the scenes where they speak or act with autonomy. However, as a character, I feel the lines/ships are amorphous, too nebulous.

No cliffhanger. The plot ends on a finished note. I'd be interested in another book. Want to learn more about the creatures who first piloted the alien ships. And I want to know who/ what Ean is.

New space-opera series

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There are many good reviews for this book, but I found it BORING. Reminded me of my attempt to stay conscious during a course I took in college “The History of Medieval Expansion in Europe”.

Snoozer

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Read this once, then listened to it a couple years later. Good ideas and twists. Some phrases in the character development become repetitive. Well read with range of voice. I enjoyed yhe novel
both times I picked it up.

highly enjoyable light read

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I like to smoke a lot but I found that some of the action sequences were confusing. The way the author describes activities and conversations without setting context makes it sometimes a little difficult to understand what's going on. nevertheless it was good enough that I decided to buy the second book in the series.

interesting concept. action is a little confusing

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Where does Linesman rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Linesman is a 5-star General for Overall/Performance/Story.

What did you like best about this story?

Inventive writing and good storytelling- and what else is there to want? These are two entirely different creative faculties, and by no means always found together.

What does Brian Hutchison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?


Characters spring to life through his voice and cadences. Yet you are never aware of him personally. That is my standard for real genius in narration. The greatest narrators never make themselves more conspicuous than the story itself: they merely embody it perfectly.

I only wish Brian Hutchison narrated many more audiobooks. For example, he made the Rot & Ruin series by Jonathan Maberry considerably more entertaining than reading the books.
(And they were good books of their kind in the first place.)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I didn't want it to be over.

Any additional comments?

Dear S.K. Dunstall:

You are among the very best writers of modern science fiction. I know this because I have read practically everything, sorry to say.
So please write more.

Thank you.

Exceptionally Enjoyable Energy

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It's very low on technobabble, has a good twisty plot, and interesting characters. It kind of reads like a fantasy novel (complete with unique mind based talents) set in space. Reminds me of some of Anne McCaffrey's books. I recommend it.

High fantasy in a spaceship

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