Pulp Sci-Fi Done Right! More Like This!

The story is fun, simple and escapist pulp sci-fi...a bit old fashioned but enjoyable. But what makes this book worth it is the excellent performance and production values. I hope the producers can do this kind of thing more often.

The performance: Wonderfully done, with multiple voices (a necessity given the large cast of players) not only reading but performing the story. Music, sound effects, and a great cast make this not just an audiobook, but almost a play or an "audio-movie." Battlefield Earth is a fun book, but the brilliant rendering makes a 4-star story into a 5-star audiobook.

Say what you like about L. Ron Hubbard [and there is a lot to say], he could write fun stories of thrills, spills and derring-do with brave heroes who laugh in the face of danger, beautiful damsels in distress and evildoers who seem to be evil because evil is fun. Deep themes? Nope. Subtle messages? Nada. Thought provoking concepts about the present and future of humanity? None here. Adventure, action, rollicking fun!

That is not to say that the story is free of blemishes. The most grating is that the (human) characters are handled via ethnic stereotype (with attitudes that seemed more fitting to the 1930's than the 1980's publication date of the book or the 2010's date of this review).

Be warned: This audiobook clocks in at just under 48 hours [the original book was over 1000 pages]. There are about a dozen places where you figure the story is winding up only to find that you are getting swept along as it continues for many more hours.

Lastly: For those who worry that Battlefield Earth is some sort of propaganda or screed for Hubbard's Church of Scientology: it isn't. Yes, there are a few minor points in there aligned with Scientology's teachings, but they appear rather late and are incidental to the story.

Notes: There is a similar multi-voice production of Dune on Audible (Dune being a much richer and more complex source text than Battlefield Earth). And if you like Hubbard's pulp writing style, you might want to check out Ole Doc Methuselah.

67 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Completely ruins all other audiobooks!

The production quality of this book is completely ruining all other audiobooks I've listened to. And I've listened to a couple hundred at this point between Audible and other services.

A full cast of voice actors creates an engaging interaction between each of the characters. The music has an amazing way of installing a mood for what is happening. And the sound effects make you feel like you're listening to a movie in your ears.

It's like other audio books are a picture and this book is a fully produced movie. Sure, the other pictures are good, but nothing comes close to this level of production. I think it's setting the ground and raising the bar for all future audio production.

The story is amazing too! Starting with one person up in the mountains and then grows to a multi-galactic space opera. Very impressive!

40 persone l'hanno trovata utile

A Caveman, a Cannibal and a Nazi walk outside...

I'm honestly not sure what I think of this book, and I've had a ridiculous amount of time to think it over. It is almost fifty hours long, which translates into over a month of listening time on a commute.

Okay, let's start with the obvious bit. First off, it's fully cast and produced. That means tons of different voices, a soundtrack and cool sound effects that do a great job creating atmosphere. The voice actors are clearly putting a lot of heart into it, and the narrator does a terrific job. A lot of money went into this recreation by a lot of people who really respected the work and it shows.

Next comes the unpleasant part. The story is ridiculous. The naming conventions are awful (Psychlos? Johnny Goodboy Tyler? Snowl?) and jars you loose from any immersion. The forward provided by Hubbard indicates that he incorporated economics, culture, politics and art to make the environment more real, but it's pretty clear that the author's understanding of those subjects was pretty superficial. It's made worse by the fact that he devotes so much time to it. You will get huge chunks of time where you have a group of people discussing the mortgage arrangement of Earth (yes, that actually happens).

If you're interested how the book relates to the movie, I will tell you that the movie only covers the first third (or so) of this book. The book does clarify some of the plot holes (like why the Psychlos on Earth are so lax and incompetent), but it generally makes about as much sense as the movie does. The title of this review is actually a scene that occurs in the book, and when describing it to a friend he asked, "So what's the punchline?" The one problem is that, while you could laugh at the movie for its flaws, it would be much harder to laugh at if you needed to be subjected to fifty hours worth of it to complete the story. And at least in the movie you had a good amount of mindless action to keep you entertained. In the book, the action sequences are very brief or only told in abstract after the fact.

Granted, Hubbard wrote books in another time, the 1930's, and the audience expected different things from science fiction back then. Tragically, this book was written in the 80's, right in the middle of a science fiction revolution, so it is weirdly anachronistic. If this book was one third the length, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a creative adventure story you don't have to think that hard about. As it stands, I would only recommend it to people who really enjoy very old (note I didn't say classic) science fiction. Or can marathon the entire black and white Frankenstein movies in a day.

36 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Shocked!

I am avid audiobook listener and, without sounding like a cliche, this is by far the beat audiobook I've had the pleasure to listen to. I am used to one voice, two max and a few sound effects. But this book has more than 50 voice actors, countless sound effects and high quality music I wouldn't mind buying by itself!

And what to say about the story. There is 3D and even 4D cinema, but I think Hubbard achieved a whole new "D" with this book. The depth of each character and the different story lines running are simply unique.

It is more than 40 hours of entertainment right and pure science fiction that will keep you on the edge of your sit to the very end!

I highly recommend it!

32 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Best Audiobook Production I've ever listened to

What did you love best about Battlefield Earth?

I just started listening to this new Battlefield Earth Audiobook. As a huge Audiobook enthusiast I can honestly say this is the best production I have ever heard. It is pretty remarkable what an amazing job they did at getting so many difference voices for the different characters, and the sound production behind is adding so many incredible sound effects. Its like listening to a movie!

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

I am enthralled by all the different voices and all the actors that appear in this book.

24 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Please remove the pauses!!

So I was very entertained by this audiobook; especially since I have read this book in the past.
But what I was VERY annoying about the performance was the extended musical interludes at the end of every chapter that ranged from 15-45 seconds: that’s over TWO additional hours added to the book that are unnecessary!!
There were a few chapters that did not reset on time for its own chapter and the epilogue was messed up.
Other than that, GREAT book that is one of my Sci-fi favorites!!

21 persone l'hanno trovata utile

An audio book worthy of the best Sci-Fi story ever

What made the experience of listening to Battlefield Earth the most enjoyable?

Battlefield Earth is the best Science Fiction story ever written. Period! I have read the book every year for 24 years since I first discovered it. And, now, this is no ordinary narrated audio version of the story - it is a virtual Theater of Sound! It is superlative quality - and fully enhances the experience of this most amazing book! The music is rich and intricate in tone and texture and fits the story like a glove in every scene. Of equal caliber are the sound effects - fully as good as a top-rate movie sound track. And the voice actors are total pro's! Every last one!This is a must for anyone who loves a great story. But, hold on to your seat - because the pace doesn't let up for 47 hours! Hands down the best product on the audio book market to date! Monumental accomplishment! Bravo!!! Very, very well done! Thank you Galaxy Press for caring enough to do this one right!

Any additional comments?

I love the quality and smooth operation of my Audible download and player. My first purchase from Audible - and it won't be my last.

19 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Deceived

What disappointed you about Battlefield Earth?

I'm not sure why people like this book so much. The story is bland, the characters shallow and the setting so used up, you can see through. This has nothing on the Foundation series, The Stormlight Archive or Dune. There are a LOT of other good Sci-Fi books out there. This is not one of them.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Battlefield Earth?

I'd cut all the annoying music between the chapters. I think it's there just to add to the total duration of the book just so you think you'll have enough for your money.

Any additional comments?

If I could, I would demand a refund for this. The production and delivery of the text is quite incredible and I would like to have more book embrace that genre when it, but the story after the first part is boring at best. Do yourself a favor and chose another book, unless you are curious to see the sound effect and actors performances.

18 persone l'hanno trovata utile

WOW WOW WOW!!!

What a writer! What an epic story! And what a production!!!!

This is an-all-time classic narrated by an outstanding multicast with sound effects!!!

I was transported throughout the entire story and simply could not put it down!

I've seen it referred to as "a movie of the mind" and it really is that!

So worth the credit and more!

18 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Cassic Made Better!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I read this book in the 80's and again a few years latter - one of the very best book out of 100's. Now it is out in Audible and it is much more alive. I could not put it down - sleep is not that important!

What did you like best about this story?

The story is great but with this production in audible it takes on a life that is amazing.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, all great voices - best is Jonny.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The rats!

Any additional comments?

Best editing of an Audio book ever!

17 persone l'hanno trovata utile