Podiobooks Reviews: Quarter Share and The Immortals
January 25, 2008 – 5:14 pm by Mur LaffertyI’ve been listening to podiobooks for some time, and even though this blog is new, I still feel that a lot of the older books need love. So when I announce I’m listening to something (relatively) new, I’ll also give some love to an older, completed book that I enjoyed a great deal. This stuff is always fresh – like they used to say on TV, if you haven’t [heard] it, it’s new to you!
New Favorite: No one actually advised me to read Nathan Lowell’s Quarter Share, but I began hearing people talk about it on Twitter (if you want to follow me on Twitter, I’m mightymur). Once podcaster and editor David Moldawer mentioned that he had never thought he could be so entertained by someone making coffee in space, I knew I had to check it out. As a former barista I love good coffee, and I love good description in general. It’s not something I do a lot of when I write, and when someone writes some deep description involving food, I could read it all day. (Although not open media, if you like horror/SF I recommend Robin McKinley’s Sunshine for good baking porn. And vampires.)
Lowell’s story of a boy named Ishmael whose mother’s untimely death forces him to get a job on a starship instead of going to University is strangely compelling. As I mentioned, his descriptions are engrossing, and his characters are well rounded. I found myself caring for Ishmael and his friend Pip rather quickly, and rooting for them. Unlike most space adventures, this is a trader story that happens in space: no aliens, no space battles, no airlock openings. The book lacks a bit in conflict, and I found myself thinking that Lowell had built a detailed RPG world that I wanted to create my own stories and conflicts within. Still, even without considerable conflict, the characters and the strength of the writing style kept me going through Quarter Share and its sequel, Half Share. Will be listening to the last of the trilogy, Full Share, soon.
Lowell’s Official Site — Quarter Share at Podiobooks.com —
Old Favorite: Tracy Hickman decided to podcast his out of print book, The Immortals, as the 10-year anniversary of its publication. Hickman is best known for his traditional fantasy stories, but The Immortals is a futuristic post-AIDS story where sick citizens are considered “pre-deceased” and put in camps in order to “wait for a
cure.” It’s horrifying and moving and clever and reminds us what actually makes people immortal. It also reminds us that Hickman is a master. Hickman describes this as a “cautionary tale” which makes it all the more frightening. Honestly speaking, a book this powerful is usually not my escapist-loving preference, but it’s incredible and I would recommend it to anyone.
Dragonhearth Productions — The Immortals on Podiobooks.com –
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6 Responses to “Podiobooks Reviews: Quarter Share and The Immortals”
I have to agree completely with both reviews. Tracy Hickman’s “The Immortals” was an awesome book. It was a straight read that uses sound effects to enhance and not tell the story.
Quarter Share I found after 7th Son finished. Simply amazing and I had the opportunity to talk with Nathan Lowell and the result of that interview can be found on my website.
Wrote 4 books and podcasted in a year… And they are damn entertaining…
By wndrwolf on Jan 25, 2008
Thanks, Mur.
The basic idea was to try to write a compelling story about the heroism in the everyday. Granted Ishmael isn’t a single mother working three jobs to keep a roof and food, but a lot of stories overlook that sometimes the hardest thing in the world is getting up to go to work. Again.
Yea, the conflicts are all buried. The vision is all inside-looking-out. The challenge in 1st person is that you can only show what the POV sees — only say what he thinks — only have his interpretations. The challenge as a writer is to show what he sees, say what he thinks, but let the story play out in the discrepancies that the reader (listener) can observe between the two.
I’m still working on mastering that skill, but I’m pleased with the way it’s working so far.
By nlowell on Jan 26, 2008
Read/Listened to Quarter Share earlier this year and was thoroughly impressed. Great storytelling in the classic sense, not a lot seems to happen but everything is interesting and important.
The whole story (and the subsequent books) all rely heavily on the characters rather than the events surrounding them. This could be a recipe for disaster but Nathan’s writing is both beautifully described and beguiling.
A space story without aliens, laser guns, battles, or resistance movements – can it be done? Why yes, and it’s a damn fine job!
By martyndarkly on Jan 26, 2008
Mur,
I have to agree with you completely. The Immortals was one of the first podiobooks I listened to. It was one of those stories that definitely made me think. And I’m currently listening to Quarter Share – in fact, I just recommended it to someone else.
I look forward to finding some “new” things to listen to based on your reviews.
By Jenn on Jan 26, 2008
I completely agree with you on Quarter Share. I, too, found it after people began tweeting about it. I’m not much of a sci-fi person, but this is everything I love about a good novel. It strikes me as a bit of a Horatio Hornblower in space (at least the first book, anyway). I am loving every minute of it.
By Andrea on Jan 27, 2008