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  • The Test

  • Written by: Sylvain Neuvel
  • Narrated by: Neil Shah
  • Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (116 ratings)

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The Test cover art

The Test

Written by: Sylvain Neuvel
Narrated by: Neil Shah
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Publisher's Summary

Britain, the not-too-distant future. Idir is taking the British Citizenship Test. He wants his family to belong. 

Twenty-five questions to determine his fate. Twenty-five chances to impress. When the test takes an unexpected and tragic turn, Idir is handed the power of life and death. 

How do you value a life when all you have is multiple choice?  

©2019 Sylvain Neuvel (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

What the critics say

"Thought-provoking and disturbing. A cautionary tale illuminated with dark enlightenment." (Kirkus, starred review)

What listeners say about The Test

Average Customer Ratings
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Favorite Book I've Read This Year

So far (August) this is the best book I've read this year. I loved everything about it.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Love this short...

Very interesting perspective, really made me like the main character! I would recommend d this book as a good read

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Emotionally devastating

Sylvain Neuvel has quickly become one of my favourite authors. I listened to this in one sitting as I could not bring myself to pause it.
Wonderful story, even if it has left me sobbing!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent, cerebral, if a little short

This is a fantastic little thought experiment novella. It would be great in an anthology of stories, like Ted Chiang would write. This was offered as a daily deal by Audible. Cheap and enjoyable. Great!
I Highly recommend this 9 star out of 10 story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Weird and Disjointed

There is something missing from the story that makes it disjointed and ingenuine. The voice performers where great, unfortunately the writing wasn't.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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psychologicaly intense and intriguing :)

a very deep and psychological focus on the human condition. I definitely enjoyed this story

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Awesome book very concise!

Great book, did enjoy the performance as well but felt the British accent wasn’t very great but the other accents were awesome!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lots of shock and awe here.

I was completely captured by the story. Finished it in one sitting and it will likely stay with me for a long time. The voice acting was good and did the story justice. Definately worth the listen.

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Short and Satisfying

This was a well written psychological jumping point. it makes mecwant to share it and argue over everything! in a fun way, of course.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Sad, but possible

Such an interesting idea on how to know what a person is really like. I could see this becoming a possibility one day, and the story highlighted the problems that this idea could create.

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