Hero kidnapped = Gasp! For the forth time = meh.

This book started out strong and then ran out of ideas and started repeating itself. The idea that space ship are run by mystical ley-line like bands of Platonic Forms is a cool one. And the set up of a self taught protagonist who has a unique way of interacting with these line is fun. I was very engaged as he was kidnapped from his life forced into service for a government he hated.

And then that theme just got repeated over an over again. Spoilers ahead...






After being bought into bondage our hero get caught up in a kidnapping attempt of on of the royal princesses.

Fortunately he is able to use his unique power to make a daring escape.

And then he is kidnapped again for that unique power.

And then in the middle of that kidnapping there was a coup and he's taken hostage by the by the the people over throwing his kidnappers.

Fortunately he is able to use his unique power to make a daring escape.

But hes still with his kidnappers and they threat him as bargaining chip.

Fortunately he is able to use his unique power to save his life.

And then there's a Star War Phantom Menace negotiation scene where alliances are change so that instead of two powerful space fairing power at odds with each other their are now two differently named power space fairing power at odds with each other.

And then the hero is told because of his power that he will never be free and must serve the original group who bought him into bondage forever.

And then the book ends. There are interesting mysteries in this book, but they are never solved or really addressed. It's just a constant repeating cycle of kidnapping and daring escapes accomplishing nothing with the hero's power solving everything when he remembers to use it.

It's not a bad book. I just wish it had a bit more meat in it and the author didn't lean on the same trope over and over again. If your looking for some fun sci-fi pulp action is not a bad book to pick up. But just like the Flash Gordan serials of old it doesn't stray very far from formula or resolve anything.

A solidly meh book. Not bad but not much to recommend. I enjoy it, but I'm not going to pick up anything else in the series.

5 people found this helpful

the story was good. the performance was great

the narrator was the right man for the job. I did enjoy the story, though at times it was hard to follow.

2 people found this helpful

Fun listen for long drive

I’m so glad that a member of one of my book groups recommended this Sci-fi book to the rest of us. Space Opera is not a genre I usually read from.
It's not stunningly brilliant writing, and it feels like there are a plethora of characters to unravel - added to that, Ean always seems to sweat-stained and needing a shower - but, I found the storyline to be a fun listen and I’m keen to listen to the rest in the series.

Extra: There is some, grandpa generation, swearing (including one f-word) and the mention of lots of lover swapping and both sexes trying to hit on the main guy. No salacious details so it’s a clean read in that respect).

2 people found this helpful

Absolutely Excellent Story - Sci-fi Meets Fantasy

This book was one of the better audiobooks I've listened to this year. It was well written, well narrated, and had a very original and unique concept.

Although difficult to explain in a quick summary, the "lines" are lines of energy that control various ship systems. The "line" technology (we find out later in the book) was actually reverse engineered from an alien ship discovered hundreds of years before the events in the storyline. Many aspects of the technology are not completely understood, and two of the lines (7 and 8) have no apparent purpose. The lines can only be fixed by a select few people known as Linesmen. These people have a type of extra sensory perception and are able to sense, manipulate, and fix the lines on ships. Linesmen are rated from 1-10, with their number depicting the highest line that they can manipulate. Level 10 Linesmen can manipulate all 10 lines, and are few and far between.

The story is told primarily from the point-of-view Ian Lambert, a Level 10 Linesman. Raised in the slums of a backwater world, he is considered an outcast by the other Linesman. He is also the only Linesman who senses and manipulates the lines with sound (by singing) and not with his mind, further convincing his peers that he doesn't belong. When he is accidentally hired by a high-born noble for a critical mission, his value and uniqueness as a Linesman become more apparent. He joins a ship full of government and military officials to explore a new alien ship that has been discovered in a remote area of space. The ship itself has defenses preventing anyone from reaching it. When it is discovered that only Ian can reach out and communicate with the ship and its lines, he becomes the most valuable resource in the galaxy, making him the target of multiple governments and military factions.

It isn't very often we see a truly unique story such as this. The book contained everything from alien ships, space battles, and a dash of fantasy with the Linesman concept. This was one of my best spent credits in awhile. The narration equally top notch. I would recommend this one for anyone looking for something new in a sci-fi story.

28 people found this helpful

It's a keeper

I love the characters,and they all sound so different.I have already listened to the series at least ten times- going on more. linesman is especially great. But I NEED MORE!

1 person found this helpful

Great series

Enjoyed this very much. I'd already read the series, so this was my first listen. I wasn't crazy about the narrator, but he didn't do anything really awful, just didn't care for his voice, and some of his character's voices.

1 person found this helpful

A solid 2. "meh" personified.

This is an excellent example of "tell, but don't show" storytelling, coupled with a bland nearly monotone narrator. Both the book and the narrator needed an extremely talented counterpart to offset their thunderingly mediocre performance, but instead they were paired up with each other - the end result is this. It's a shame - this was almost enjoyable, rather than simply endurable.

Positives:

- I like space operas, and this does fit the bill.
- The seminal idea is decent. Intriguing questions are raised.
- In some other books, the narrator might be OK. His voice and manner are completely unobtrusive and neutral. He would do well with books that want a simple telling of story without inflection or distraction.

Negatives:

- Passive. Nearly nothing in the way of visualisation of *anything* except for a few characters.

- The intriguing questions that are raised never are addressed or answered. Sentient ships? Nah. Alien contact? Nope.

- This does not feel like a finished product from an experienced author. At the very least, this needs an aggressive editor. It reads more like a precis for a story than an actual story.

5 people found this helpful

highly enjoyable light read

Read this once, then listened to it a couple years later. Good ideas and twists. Some phrases in the character development become repetitive. Well read with range of voice. I enjoyed yhe novel
both times I picked it up.

Way too complex - even with a character list

Yes, I stopped half way through and went back to the beginning, pen in hand. I was totally lost among characters, alliances, political entities, and philosophies. So, I reasoned, I'll just make my own list. Three pages into the list and half an hour into the book, I was so lost I quit.
I love the concept of singing to the lines and loving them. But there's way too much going on in this book. It could be broken into at least 2 additional novels.
Not for me.

1 person found this helpful

Read This Book!

Sometimes I'll read/listen to a book and I'll really enjoy it but i'll forget it a few books later, not so with this book, I've listened to and read 15+ books since and still this story is in my head. Read This Book, its that good.