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  • Ball Lightning

  • By: Cixin Liu
  • Narrated by: Bruno Roubicek
  • Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (423 ratings)

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Ball Lightning

By: Cixin Liu
Narrated by: Bruno Roubicek
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Summary

When Chen's parents are incinerated before his eyes by a blast of ball lightning, he devotes his life to cracking the secret of this mysterious natural phenomenon. The more he learns, the more he comes to realise that ball lightning is just the tip of an entirely new frontier in particle physics. Although Chen's quest provides a purpose for his lonely life, his reasons for chasing this elusive quarry come into conflict with soldiers and scientists who have motives of their own.

©2005 Liu Cixin (P)2018 W.F. Howes Ltd
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What listeners say about Ball Lightning

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very believable and interesting story

Very believable and interesting story. Interesting characters. Good narrator. Preparation for the superb 3 body problem books, or a nice dessert. Reccommended.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

"There was lightning that night."

After a freak accident in which both of his parents died when he was a child, Chen dedicates himself to the nature and futures of ball lightning. An hard science book both fascinating and way over my head. Because of this, and with very flat characterisation, it became boring and a struggle to continue at times, further increased by the slow delivery of narrator Bruno Roubiacek.
This is my first book by Dixon Liu. Undeterred, I will move on to Three Body Problem soon

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

dull

Sorry but the story and narrator came across as dull with just enough interest to keep you going. some interesting bits and loads of unanswered questions

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just great

Just great how the auther combines adventure with physics, scattered with very good characters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting idea

Really enjoyed the book and good narrative , I think it is quite introduction of the three body problem .

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A weird and wonderful sci-fi

I really enjoyed this story for its ability to write about incredibly complex scientific theories and possibilities in a way that could be understood easily.

The storyline itself was engaging and captivating, and with a little bit more character development it could easily have been a 5 star read for me.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting story as far as I got

The concepts presented are intriguing but the performance of the Russian section was so bad I found myself completely tuning out. I think I'll have to pick up a printed copy to finish the story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

good science but not great fiction

great narrator, the concepts were fascinating and well explained but the story wasn't very compelling

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

was really cool concepts, writing style was not the best

this really had some cool thoughts and ideas. the issue with this book is the writing style, some parts are dragged out and doesn't keep me engaged. the 2nd half of the middle was the best part and most engaging.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An interesting story

This is my first time reading a Cixin Liu book, and I picked this up hearing it was a prequel to his popular Three Body series. I was pleasantly surprised, Ball Lightning is a slow but engaging story that explores interesting science fiction concepts. Everything feels very real and grounded in reality, as if some of the things mentioned in this book could be real.
Bruno Roubicek's narration takes a little getting used to, but I do think he did an excellent job. I highly recommend

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11 people found this helpful