Cibola Burn
Book 4 in the Expanse series
Written by James S. A. Corey
Narrated by Erik Davies
“The gates have opened the way to a thousand new worlds and the rush to colonize has begun. Settlers looking for a new life stream out from humanity’s home planets. Ilus, the first human colony on this vast new frontier, is being born in blood and fire. Independent settlers stand against the overwhelming power of a corporate colony ship with only their determination, courage, and the skills learned in the long wars of home. Innocent scientists are slaughtered as they try to survey a new and alien world. The struggle on Ilus threatens to spread all the way back to Earth. James Holden and the crew of his one small ship are sent to make peace in the midst of war and sense in the midst of chaos. But the more he looks at it, the more Holden thinks the mission was meant to fail. And the whispers of a dead man remind him that the great galactic civilization that once stood on this land is gone. And that something killed it.”
The above is the description of the book from audible minus the first paragraph which I decided was ridiculously misleading compared to the actual condition of Ilus. I’m going to get to the point in a hurry here because the author doesn’t need my help…the consumer does, although maybe the author should see this.
Cibola Burn falls into line telling the story of the Expanse in a logical and entertaining manner. Narrator points of view in this story include: James Holden, Bobby the Martian Gunnery Sergeant, Dr. Occoy (Spelling, oops I listened to the book), Basia an unwilling grassroots terrorist and Dimitri Havelock the ex-partner of Detective Miller from the previous books. Almost left one out but I’ll leave that one as a surprise. The interweaving of all these points of view was excellent but it makes for some awkward situations when action scenes are being. Maybe the best action scene in the books happens when an REC security guy impulsively kills one of the First Landing colonists just to make an impression. What makes it perhaps the best is absence of monologue.
Another issue with rushing to get matter out to the consumer here is that a decision was made to have Erik Davies narrate this one instead of Jefferson Mays. I noticed Mays will be returning in the narration of the next installment. As a consumer I got used to Mays range of voices and he helped develop my mental imagery of the characters. Mr. Davies either could not or chose not to follow these established characteristics and now it’s kind of embarrassing.
I’m giving this one a three out of five on performance and four out of five on the story.
{Mike Drop!}
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