Beneath – Podiobook Review
PodioBook Review of Beneath by Jeremy Robinson
http://www.podiobooks.com/title/beneath
http://media.podiobooks.com/pbpromos/BeneathPromoPB-01.mp3
Number of Episode – 17
Running Time – 12.1 Hours
Content Rating PG-13
Rating 4 out of 5 Stars
“Three thousand years after a chunk of iron the size of Khufu’s pyramid collides with Europa, Jupiter’s sixth moon, an asteroid borne of the collision crashes into Earth’s Arctic ice shelf carrying extraterrestrial microbial life. The first man to come into contact with the microbes hears voices—and then dies.
After determining the meteorite originated from Europa, the Global Exploratory Corporation sends oceanographer and biologist, Kathy Connelly, and her crew to the moon aboard the Surveyor, an experimental spacecraft. They are charged with the task of melting through miles of ice to the hidden ocean beneath, where the search for alien microorganisms begins. But a startling discovery awaits them on the surface of Europa.
Life.
Vast fields of red, plant-like organisms fill the cracks crisscrossing the moon’s surface, surviving on nutrients welling up from the waters below. Intoxicated by thoughts of what might lie beneath, Connelly and her crew activate the Thermal Exploratory System and melt through the ice—toward a world that does not want to be found, toward a force that will do anything to make sure they never leave.
They search for life. They find death.”
This is the baited hook that dangles before your eyes as you try and decide what book to listen to over at podiobooks.com from reading the text above you would expect to taken on a thrill ride of action, adventure, and horror. You would be right, “Beneath” from Jeremy Robinson is just that. A thoroughly enjoyable story filled with action, adventure and just enough comedy to keep you off guard.
The audio version of the book is narrated by Jeffery Kafer who did an outstanding job, which is no surprise as he is the winner of the 2008 Voicey award for best new voice. As this is the first book/podiobook review I have written I am finding it dificult to review the book without giving away to much. I will say that while I thought parts of the book were telegraphed, there were several times when I found myself surprised by the direction the story took.
The book had a logical progression from start to finish with a group of shared and varied viewpoints from the crew of the Surveyor both in the ship and on (as well as under) the surface of Europa. You never had time to get bored with one viewpoint or forget what happen. The story on a whole was very fast paced and never had a slow moment. The end of the book did suffer from a bit of deus ex machina but I feel that this does not weaken the story, instead it strengthens parts of it.
One thing that did bother me with the Podiobook version of the book was the multiple introductions at the beginning of each episode. First an Ad for the Starter by Scott Sigler (yes I pre-ordered on opening day thank you very much) then an introduction stating book, author, narrator, and episode and then a message from the Author about his other books. All of this is understandable after all the ads and the printed book sales are what make the free podiobooks possible. I believe this and I support it. Just when I take my 90 min commute in the morning and evening to work and have to listen to 3 or 4 of these in a row I will admit to fast forwarding past them. (note from JTindie I just wanted to insert this here after hearing from Evo at Podiobooks.com – The ads from Scott Sigler are an insert that wont be there once that run of ads are over.)
All in all I have to say that I really enjoyed the book as well as his other Podiobook “Kronos” Which I will no doubt be reviewing in the future. Jeremy Robinson is without a doubt an author that you need to enjoy for yourself. I’m giving Beneath a 4 out of 5 stars.
