Geek-fuel

Other reviews suggest a flat delivery; but I disagree. The narration is matter-of-fact in dealing with events from which the imagination recoils; but that is the thrust of the story and entirely appropriate.
I have to applaud the lack of detectable cuts around the UWP quotations, and disagree with those who prefer that they were absent.
If an abridger were to delete the UWP and substitute some partial translation, it would feel like someone telling you to “search using your search engine of choice” to avoid mentioning Google…

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I like the ideas

I'm going to re-listen because I missed some some stuff. I'm a little disappointed there's no follow up book.

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Interesting story, poor reading

This story takes place in the Third Imperium setting of the Traveller table-top RPG, which I’ve been immersed in for 40 years. So I am the audience for this book, and while the story is told on a grander scale and over a longer time span (centuries) than the average Traveller game, it offers new perspectives on the setting that are interesting to a fan like me.

Like so much of the science fiction Traveller draws upon, this is the story of an idea, of a plot, much more than a story about the people it presents. Don’t expect good characters or realistic dialogue from this. That said, the idea it presents is an interesting one and new to the setting, providing insight into the history and operations of the Third Imperium.

The reading, though, badly let’s this down. It’s read mechanically, like someone reading out the contents of a seed catalogue without a care or the least comprehension. Every world UWP is read out as a string of letters and numerals stripped of meaning, when the name of the world would be enough. This is the author’s fault, mostly, as I’m sure the full string of letters and digits used to describe worlds in the game is included as a piece of fan service on his part, but adds nothing to the story.

Recommended for fans of Traveller, who want to know more about this milieu, but I can’t recommend it otherwise.

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1 person found this helpful

Good premise that wears. Narration a bit dull

The performance was not terrible, but could have done with more variation and character. It was acceptable.

The story of a galactic troubleshooter who is a recorded consciousness. He is woken at need and by dint of implant is loaned bodies to perform his mission. This is the framing device for several short adventures across a Galactic Empire.

Not a bad idea. But it palls after the third or fourth occasion. The ships and crew members on each, have no character apart from being similar voices on the recording.

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awful.

confusing and boring. the narrator put me to sleep when I could hear him. a waste of time

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