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Carrion Comfort
- Narrated by: Mel Foster, Laural Merlington
- Length: 39 hrs and 27 mins
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Summer of Night
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Dan John Miller
- Length: 22 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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It’s the summer of 1960 and in the small town of Elm Haven, Illinois, five twelve-year-old boys are forging the powerful bonds that a lifetime of change will not break. From sunset bike rides to shaded hiding places in the woods, the boys’ days are marked by all of the secrets and silences of an idyllic childhood. But amid the sun-drenched cornfields, their loyalty will be pitilessly tested.
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Worth the listen
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-09-02
Written by: Dan Simmons
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Ilium
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 29 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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From the towering heights of Olympos Mons on Mars, the mighty Zeus and his immortal family of gods, goddesses, and demigods look down upon a momentous battle, observing - and often influencing - the legendary exploits of Paris, Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, and the clashing armies of Greece and Troy. Thomas Hockenberry, former 21st-century professor and Iliad scholar, watches as well. It is Hockenberry's duty to observe and report on the Trojan War's progress to the so-called deities who saw fit to return him from the dead.
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We're not in the Iliad anymore Toto...
- By mike r. on 2019-03-13
Written by: Dan Simmons
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The Abominable
- A Novel
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
- Length: 29 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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The year is 1924 and the race to summit the world's highest mountain has been brought to a terrified pause by the shocking disappearance of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine, high on the shoulder of Mt. Everest. By the following year, three climbers - a British poet and veteran of the Great War, a young French Chamonix guide, and an idealistic young American - find a way to take their shot at the top.
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I adore your work Dan Simmons, what happened here?
- By Cale Aime on 2021-01-23
Written by: Dan Simmons
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Drood
- A Novel
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Abridged
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Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens' life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens' friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), Drood explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author's last years and may provide the key to Dickens's final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
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did I just read that all ??
- By Sasha Belmore on 2020-10-20
Written by: Dan Simmons
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Song of Kali
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Blood will curdle in Calcutta. In the most crime-ridden city, nightmares become real and evil is defined by frightening occurrences. When an American family finds themselves encircled by the terrors of this land, lurid events befall them and life takes on a new meaning - death. Winner of the World Fantasy Award, Song of Kali will chill the blood and frighten even the most jaded of horror fans.
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Creeping dread in the streets of Culcutta
- By Anonymous User on 2022-06-08
Written by: Dan Simmons
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The Terror
- A Novel
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Tom Sellwood
- Length: 28 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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The men onboard HMS Terror have every expectation of finding the Northwest Passage. When the expedition's leader, Sir John Franklin, meets a terrible death, Captain Francis Crozier takes command and leads his surviving crewmen on a last, desperate attempt to flee south across the ice. But as another winter approaches, as scurvy and starvation grow more terrible, and as the Terror on the ice stalks them southward, Crozier and his men begin to fear there is no escape.
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Fantastic!
- By Anonymous User on 2018-08-15
Written by: Dan Simmons
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Summer of Night
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Dan John Miller
- Length: 22 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
It’s the summer of 1960 and in the small town of Elm Haven, Illinois, five twelve-year-old boys are forging the powerful bonds that a lifetime of change will not break. From sunset bike rides to shaded hiding places in the woods, the boys’ days are marked by all of the secrets and silences of an idyllic childhood. But amid the sun-drenched cornfields, their loyalty will be pitilessly tested.
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Worth the listen
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-09-02
Written by: Dan Simmons
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Ilium
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 29 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
From the towering heights of Olympos Mons on Mars, the mighty Zeus and his immortal family of gods, goddesses, and demigods look down upon a momentous battle, observing - and often influencing - the legendary exploits of Paris, Achilles, Hector, Odysseus, and the clashing armies of Greece and Troy. Thomas Hockenberry, former 21st-century professor and Iliad scholar, watches as well. It is Hockenberry's duty to observe and report on the Trojan War's progress to the so-called deities who saw fit to return him from the dead.
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We're not in the Iliad anymore Toto...
- By mike r. on 2019-03-13
Written by: Dan Simmons
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The Abominable
- A Novel
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
- Length: 29 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The year is 1924 and the race to summit the world's highest mountain has been brought to a terrified pause by the shocking disappearance of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine, high on the shoulder of Mt. Everest. By the following year, three climbers - a British poet and veteran of the Great War, a young French Chamonix guide, and an idealistic young American - find a way to take their shot at the top.
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I adore your work Dan Simmons, what happened here?
- By Cale Aime on 2021-01-23
Written by: Dan Simmons
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Drood
- A Novel
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Abridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens' life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens' friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), Drood explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author's last years and may provide the key to Dickens's final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
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did I just read that all ??
- By Sasha Belmore on 2020-10-20
Written by: Dan Simmons
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Song of Kali
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Blood will curdle in Calcutta. In the most crime-ridden city, nightmares become real and evil is defined by frightening occurrences. When an American family finds themselves encircled by the terrors of this land, lurid events befall them and life takes on a new meaning - death. Winner of the World Fantasy Award, Song of Kali will chill the blood and frighten even the most jaded of horror fans.
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Creeping dread in the streets of Culcutta
- By Anonymous User on 2022-06-08
Written by: Dan Simmons
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The Terror
- A Novel
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Tom Sellwood
- Length: 28 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
The men onboard HMS Terror have every expectation of finding the Northwest Passage. When the expedition's leader, Sir John Franklin, meets a terrible death, Captain Francis Crozier takes command and leads his surviving crewmen on a last, desperate attempt to flee south across the ice. But as another winter approaches, as scurvy and starvation grow more terrible, and as the Terror on the ice stalks them southward, Crozier and his men begin to fear there is no escape.
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Fantastic!
- By Anonymous User on 2018-08-15
Written by: Dan Simmons
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Weaveworld
- Written by: Clive Barker
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 21 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Clive Barker has made his mark on modern fiction by exposing all that is surreal and magical in the ordinary world - and exploring the profound and overwhelming terror that results. With its volatile mix of the fantastical and the contemporary, the everyday and the otherworldly, Weaveworld is an epic work of dark fantasy and horror - a tour de force from one of today's most forceful and imaginative artists.
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First Clive Barker novel for me... ehh
- By Chris Conrod on 2020-10-11
Written by: Clive Barker
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The Ruins
- Written by: Scott Smith
- Narrated by: Patrick Wilson
- Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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The Ruins follows two American couples enjoying a pleasant, lazy beach holiday together in Mexico. On an impulse, they go off with newfound friends in search of one of their group, the young German who, in pursuit of a girl, has headed for the remote Mayan ruins, site of a fabled archeological dig.
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A worthy matured successor to Lord of the Flies
- By Daniela on 2021-03-06
Written by: Scott Smith
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Swan Song
- Written by: Robert R. McCammon
- Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte
- Length: 34 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Facing down an unprecedented malevolent enemy, the government responds with a nuclear attack. America as it was is gone forever, and now every citizen - from the President of the United States to the homeless on the streets of New York City - will fight for survival. In a wasteland born of rage and fear, populated by monstrous creatures and marauding armies, earth's last survivors have been drawn into the final battle between good and evil, that will decide the fate of humanity.
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Favourite as a hard book, now Favourite as an audiobook
- By Donna Hendershot on 2021-02-01
Written by: Robert R. McCammon
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The Auctioneer
- Valancourt 20th Century Classics
- Written by: Joan Samson
- Narrated by: Matt Godfrey
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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In the isolated farming community of Harlowe, New Hampshire, John Moore and his wife, Mim, work the land that has been in his family for generations. But from the moment the charismatic Perly Dinsmore arrives in town and starts soliciting donations for his auctions, things begin slowly and insidiously to change in Harlowe. As the auctioneer carries out his terrible, inscrutable plan, the Moores and their neighbors will find themselves gradually but inexorably stripped of their freedom, their possessions, and perhaps even their lives....
Written by: Joan Samson
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Ghost Story
- Written by: Peter Straub
- Narrated by: Buck Schirner
- Length: 22 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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For four aging men in the terror-stricken town of Milburn, New York, an act inadvertently carried out in their youth has come back to haunt them. Now they are about to learn what happens to those who believe they can bury the past - and get away with murder. Peter Straub's classic best seller is a work of "superb horror" ( Washington Post Book World) that, like any good ghost story, stands the test of time - and conjures our darkest fears and nightmares.
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Well thought out and creepy.
- By Candace on 2019-08-03
Written by: Peter Straub
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Children of the Night
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: George Ralph
- Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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In a desolate orphanage in what remains of post-Communist Romania, a desperately ill infant is given the wrong blood transfusion - and flourishes when he's supposed to die. The discovery of his unique immune system may hold the key to the long-awaited cure for cancer and AIDS - and a link to a clan of vampires.
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not the worst
- By Genevieve Paquette on 2020-12-21
Written by: Dan Simmons
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The Troop
- Written by: Nick Cutter
- Narrated by: Corey Brill
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Once every year, Scoutmaster Tim Riggs leads a troop of boys into the Canadian wilderness for a weekend camping trip - a tradition as comforting and reliable as a good ghost story around a roaring bonfre. The boys are a tight-knit crew. There’s Kent, one of the most popular kids in school; Ephraim and Max, also well-liked and easygoing; then there’s Newt the nerd and Shelley the odd duck. For the most part, they all get along and are happy to be there - which makes Scoutmaster Tim’s job a little easier.
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If you're into detailed animal abuse
- By Emilie on 2020-07-28
Written by: Nick Cutter
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Fragile Things
- Written by: Neil Gaiman
- Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Here is a stunning collection of short stories by the acclaimed fantasy writer. The distinctive genius of Neil Gaiman has been championed by writers as diverse as Norman Mailer and Stephen King. These stories will dazzle your senses, haunt your imagination, and move you to the very depths of your soul. This extraordinary compilation reveals one of the world's most gifted storytellers at the height of his powers.
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Another Amazing Journey
- By Crystal Rivet on 2019-01-04
Written by: Neil Gaiman
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Hyperion
- Written by: Dan Simmons
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor, Allyson Johnson, Kevin Pariseau, and others
- Length: 20 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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On the world called Hyperion, beyond the law of the Hegemony of Man, there waits the creature called the Shrike. There are those who worship it. There are those who fear it. And there are those who have vowed to destroy it. In the Valley of the Time Tombs, where huge, brooding structures move backward through time, the Shrike waits for them all.
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Simmons is a complete hack
- By FuzzyThoughts on 2021-04-14
Written by: Dan Simmons
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NOS4A2
- A Novel
- Written by: Joe Hill
- Narrated by: Kate Mulgrew
- Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Victoria McQueen has an uncanny knack for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. When she rides her bicycle over the rickety old covered bridge in the woods near her house, she always emerges in the places she needs to be. Vic doesn't tell anyone about her unusual ability, because she knows no one will believe her. She has trouble understanding it herself.
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not what I expected.
- By Rod on 2018-08-28
Written by: Joe Hill
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Ghost Eaters
- A Novel
- Written by: Clay McLeod Chapman
- Narrated by: Elisabeth Rodgers
- Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Ever since their on-again, off-again college romance, Erin hasn’t been able to set a single boundary with charismatic but reckless Silas, who has been chasing the next big high since graduation. When he texts her to spring him out of rehab, she knows enough is enough. She is ready to start a career, make new friends, and meet a great guy—even if that means cutting Silas off. But when Silas turns up dead from an overdose, Erin’s world falls apart.
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Couldn’t finish it
- By sandra on 2023-03-15
Written by: Clay McLeod Chapman
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Heart-Shaped Box
- Written by: Joe Hill
- Narrated by: Stephen Lang
- Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre. But nothing he possesses is as unlikely or as dreadful as his latest discovery, a thing so terrible-strange, Jude can't help but reach for his wallet. For a thousand dollars, Jude will become the proud owner of a dead man's suit, said to be haunted by a restless spirit. But what UPS delivers to his door in a black heart-shaped box is no imaginary or metaphorical ghost. It's the real thing.
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Jury Still Out
- By Heather Little on 2018-05-30
Written by: Joe Hill
Publisher's Summary
"Carrion Comfort is one of the three greatest horror novels of the 20th century. Simple as that." (Stephen King)
"Epic in scale and scope but intimately disturbing, Carrion Comfort spans the ages to rewrite history and tug at the very fabric of reality. A nightmarish chronicle of predator and prey that will shatter your world view forever. A true classic." (Guillermo del Toro)
"Carrion Comfort is one of the scariest books ever written. Whenever I get asked the question Who's your favorite author? my answer is always Dan Simmons." (James Rollins)
"One of the few major reinventions of the vampire concept, on a par with Jack Finney's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Richard Matheson's I Am Legend, and Stephen King's Salem's Lot. (David Morrell)
THE PAST...
Caught behind the lines of Hitler's Final Solution, Saul Laski is one of the multitudes destined to die in the notorious Chelmno extermination camp. Until he rises to meet his fate and finds himself face to face with an evil far older, and far greater, than the Nazis themselves...
THE PRESENT...
Compelled by the encounter to survive at all costs, so begins a journey that for Saul will span decades and cross continents, plunging into the darkest corners of 20th century history to reveal a secret society of beings who may often exist behind the world's most horrible and violent events. Killing from a distance, and by darkly manipulative proxy, they are people with the psychic ability to "use" humans: read their minds, subjugate them to their wills, experience through their senses, feed off their emotions, force them to acts of unspeakable aggression. Each year, three of the most powerful of this hidden order meet to discuss their ongoing campaign of induced bloodshed and deliberate destruction. But this reunion, something will go terribly wrong. Saul's quest is about to reach its elusive object, drawing hunter and hunted alike into a struggle that will plumb the depths of mankind's attraction to violence, and determine the future of the world itself...
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What listeners say about Carrion Comfort
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Candace
- 2018-09-29
A marvelous revisit to a classic story.
I ordered Carrion Comfort out of curiosity since I am a long-time Dan Simmons fan and it has been close to three decades since I read the book. The experience was captivating as Mr. Simmons took me back to that intriguing story and his imaginative, and often disturbing, take on vampires who replace their addiction to blood with a lust for control over psyches. The characters - good and evil - are richly cast; the premise thought-provoking; the action amazing; and I could almost smell, taste, touch the exquisitely textured descriptions of locations, from the mundane to the exotic. The pleasure of listening to this amazing story was enhanced by the two narrators, Mel Foster and Laurel Merlington. who brilliantly brought the characters and their predicaments to life. I highly recommend this book to Audible customers and advise them that even though this is a long story set in the late 80's, neither length nor date will deter them from thoroughly enjoying Carrion Comfort. #Audible1.
7 people found this helpful
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- Langer MD
- 2021-07-27
Yes, It's Long. Spend the Credit.
Stephen King undoubtedly used this 1989 novel as inspiration for his cabal of psychic vampire villains in 'Doctor Sleep'. Other authors have similarly built on an intriguing premise.. Dan Simmons was extraordinarily imaginative in creating the horrifyingly evil characters of 'Carrion Comfort'. The only real "vampiric" qualities of his psychic antagonists, however (who use "The Ability" to make puppets out of people), is that they can use the energy from violence, murder, death, and despair to slow their own aging to a crawl. These awful specimens unapologetically use the powers for personal gain and happily wallow in death and misery - to the point of nonchalantly playing with human life as though it were a "Game". Simmons's villains are not "vampires" per se, but merely "gifted" deplorable beings who use paranormal powers to commit evil. Regardless, he paints an ugly picture.
To that captivating World matrix, he adds quality writing: the plot is clever, action-driven, and well-paced (sinuous with a refreshing willingness to kill off major characters); the denizens of the novel are interesting (even protagonists are flawed and demonstrate blurred lines of morality); dialogue is true-to-life (although a little sophomoric at times); and the descriptions of murder & rape are uncomfortably vivid (albeit satisfying to a horror fan like me).
Besides occasionally silly action-scenes, the main drawback to the book is typical of Dan Simmons: it's slightly over-written. He likely could have delivered the same quality of work in this 39½ hour book in 25 hours.
Simmons contrives a plot that's overinvolved (adding a few too many twists & turns) and adds intensely descriptive scenes that are well-written but superfluous (they do nothing to advance the plot or add to characterization). The man would benefit from an aggressive editor.
The reading from Mel Foster and Laurel Merlington undoubtedly render this audiobook superior to the text version. Both exhibit remarkable tone, timbre, cadence, and pacing - and Merlington's Melanie Fuller is accented perfectly. She delivers a legitimately chilling portrayal of a psychotically evil character. Foster and Merlington make this a worthy listen - the producers at Brilliance Audio cast this project admirably.
This book isn't perfect (unnecessarily long, for example.. although not uncomfortably so) - but it's an enjoyable read. This Bram Stoker Award-winner is worthy of 7.5 stars out of 10. Whether you're a Simmons fan, a consumer of SciFi Thrillers, or a Horror story afficianado - this audiobook is worth your Credit.
1 person found this helpful
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- Lisa Keophila
- 2022-09-10
Wasted a credit
Got to the 30 minute mark and found rape scene a little too lurid.
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- K. Betz
- 2021-10-30
Riveting Story, Lots of Triggering Content
Overall a great book. Dan Simmons is quickly rising the ranks of my favourite authors.
Pros:
- Immediately engrossing story that keeps your attention to the end. This is one where you’ll want to walk around the block to finish a chapter.
- Full of tension and action. This would need a huge budget to be a movie: car chases, gun fights, enough explosions to intrigue Michael Bay
- Interesting and well developed characters
- Best narration I’ve heard yet for an audiobook
Cons:
- Every woman is described by her breasts and nipples. Dear god when will male writers learn.
- Similarly black characters are described by their blackness. It makes sense in some contexts but not every single scene, especially if we’ve already been introduced to the character
- TW for multiple gratuitous rape scenes that I couldn’t even get through, had to fast forward
- TW for unabashed racism, coming from the villains at least, but it again got to the point that it felt gratuitous
A note: I expected this to be a horror novel but I would not put it in that category. More a classic good vs evil, action/adventure with a supernatural twist. The violence is very explicit and it touches on some horrifying themes (the holocaust, sexual assault, slavery), so maybe that’s why some consider it horror. This book is not going for spooky atmosphere or scares.
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- K.P. Martin
- 2021-06-22
Excellent, simply excellent!
The story does not follow the standard trope of ancient supernatural horror - it's much better!
Exciting and easy to follow. I didn't lose interest, even for a moment, despite it being a lengthy novel.
The performances from the narrators was surprising! Superb and appropriate for the book.
Highly recommended!
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- Art Lawrence
- 2019-04-05
excellent book
well put together ...well read...characters came alive...kept me wanting to turn it on and get to listening...what's next from your mind
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- Anonymous User
- 2019-02-19
Intense, Epic and well written
This book was fantastic! I loved everything about it.. the history, the characters, the imagination. It felt real by the end, as if I was privy to a dark secret about our society.
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- WBA
- 2019-11-05
Idk who needs to see this, but TRIGGER WARNING
I won't wade in on the whole story, plenty of others have.
**This book contains extremely graphic descriptions of rape.**
What's worse is that the scenes are mostly described from the rapist's point of view, and written as very sexy and pleasing to him. The victims are completely throw-away characters and totally objectified. As a sexual assault survivor, I would have liked to know this beforehand. The first scene, which involved an underage teenage girl, took me off guard as it continued for what seemed like forever. The author described in detail her beautiful 15 year-old body, how good she felt to the rapist, etc. The second scene with an airline attendant happened just a chapter later. Same thing, all how much the rapist was enjoying himself, how he got off on making her feel helpless, how she was nothing, and indeed this character was never even given a full name. I stopped listening after this, I couldn't go further.
Both scenes made me feel very anxious. None of the top reviews I read before purchasing this book mentioned these scenes, so I was not prepared.
So for whoever needs to see this, if you are sensitive to scenes depicting rape, this might not be a fun listen for you.
210 people found this helpful
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- Robert
- 2012-07-03
Simmons at his best
As I said in my review of The Passage by Justin Cronin, had I known the book was about vampires, I would have taken a pass. And, as I said in that review, it would have been my loss. This really is not a book about vampires, per se, as we have come to think about them, but a variation on the theme and it was excellent. I selected this book because another reviewer had written that he thought Carrion Comfort was the best that Dan Simmons had penned. I would certainly rate it close up there with his Magnum Opus Hyperion and Endymion. It was that good and that is saying something.
The book is one of Simmons early works apparently derives its title and many of its themes from a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins. I am also not a fan of WWII books about Nazis. This also was not what the book was about per se though it does give us the background on the main villains of the story and villains they are like perhaps we have never come upon before. That theme also is somewhat of the thread that permeates and ties things neatly through the book as it continues to America in 1981.
Saul Laski is one of a few of the heros in the tale of whom some survive and others do not. Saul is both predator and prey. Though old in 1981, he somehow manages to rise to the occasion and present a challenge to some of the most nightmarish scenes I have ever read. And, no, I am not particularly a fan of horror books either but I am a fan of Dan Simmons and will probably read anything he comes out with.
Some of the accolades and awards the book has received include Bram Stoker Award winner 1989; British Fantasy Award winner, World Fantasy Award nominee, 1990. Some have commented on the length of the book. I would not have shortened it one page. I often find unnecessary passages in books but this is not one of them. The book was thoroughly entertaining after about the first couple of chapters which, on hindsight, were just as integral as the others.
The narrators of this epic were extraordinary. This is a book made for listening to by gifted storytellers. Mel Foster acts Saul, Willi and the other men and some of the women. While I find men acting women’s roles can sometimes be impossible to pull of, Mel foster is impeccable in his narration. Laural Merlington plays the role of Melanie, the most arch of villains. She is vicious, scarier than $#it and made even more so by the incredible acting voice of Ms. Merlington. I could not rate either narrator more highly.
Bottom line if you can’t handle scary, skip this one. If you love great writing and like it complex and epic in scale, don’t miss it.
154 people found this helpful
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- LillyO
- 2012-01-02
Long, sure...but GREAT story!
I see other reviewers a bit put off by the length of this story. I had the thought "wow, a compelling story that the author took his time with!" What a bonus! I didn't find a single part boring. I liked how he took his time with a complicated tale. I liked the story development in between bouts of action. In typing this, I would compare it to the Steigg Larsen series...I like some story and character development with my "action sequences." I have not read Simmons' other books (for which he is apparently more famous) but this one piqued my interest in perusing more! The narrators were both excellent, too!
62 people found this helpful
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- David Shear
- 2011-11-02
So worth the commitment
Yes, this book is 39 hours, but I loved it from beginning to end. The two narrators become truly invisible, allowing you to just concentrate on the story. The story has enough twists and turns and surprises to keep you guessing, but not so many that you get lost in the 39 hours. You'll love some characters and hate others and change your mind on others. I usually can come up with something I don't like about a book, but for this one, it is near perfection.
58 people found this helpful
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- Lewis Teeter
- 2020-07-11
RUN FROM THIS BOOK
I'll admit I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to what I like to read but every now and then I'm forgiving of talent for a good scary story. I figured, 'Forty hours? Must be a well thought out story'. Wrong. I lasted up to chapter 7 out of 78 chapters. Even in that short time I spotted many mistakes and plot holes one could walk through, The writing would get a failing grade in Junior High and the characters were so stereotypical I just wanted to laugh. This book reads like the diary of an incel who fantasizes about hypnotizing women so he can do what they would never allow (2 occur by chapter 7). I'm going to give you the sentence that was the last straw for me in hopes of sparing you the torture of this tripe. This comes from the thoughts of country cop Bobby Joe Gentry (I kid you not) as he's being followed. "There was more than one green Plymouth in Charleston...But with Maryland plates?..sneered the 'copwise' part of his mind". If after reading that you still think this book is a good idea I hope you enjoy it. I'm sure the next 71 chapters couldn't possibly get worse than that.
31 people found this helpful
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- Brian
- 2011-10-18
A classic
This is one of the all time classic horror novels. Well read, thought it would be long but I wanted more. Fascinating concept.
28 people found this helpful
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- Vira
- 2012-08-24
Captivating!
A masterful thriller, packed with suspense and intrique which kept my unflagging interest through all 5 Parts. It had me thinking and questioning the limits or boundaries of what human beings are capable of doing to one another, within a given set of circumstances. Are there any? A frightening thought.
Narration was excellent and unobtrusive, by both readers, the voices well-matched with the characters. The only criticism i would have, is Mr Foster's inability to read the German phrases. Simple rudimentary elements such as the phonetic structure of the alphabet are misread. The German glyph for double 's' is read as an 's' not a 'b'. "Dass...dass" should not be rendered as "dub, dub". The least bit of research would have elminated such ridiculous pronunciation.
I tend to evaluate a book by 2 sets of criteria: My own subjective enjoyment, and then also by literary standards.
From a literary standpoint, this is a good book, but not a great book. The characters are uni-dimensional. The good guys are angels, the baddies are rotten to their grotesque evil cores. No nuances; black and white like the chess board of the "game".
All round, i thoroughly enjoyed it and can recommend it as a captivating read.
23 people found this helpful
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- Chris
- 2013-12-04
Keeps you glued to the earphones
This offering from Dan Simmons is more of a horror thriller than a strictly sci-fi genre book. Ordinarily I wouldn't have listened to this book, but having recently listened to the Hyperion series I decided on the strength of the storyline to give it a go. Needless to say I wasn't disappointed, despite the lack of "sci-finess" (or fantasy) which I usually look for.
This is a long book and understanding Simmons penchant for long and involved descriptions, almost rambling sometimes, he still builds a wonderful and gripping story that begs you to listen to the next chapter.
Simmons provides an interesting twist on the vampire theme now so common in print and video and with this being written almost 25 years ago, the variation is quite unique. In addition he skillfully blends in historical events and presents questions of morality that help to build the depth of the main characters in the book.
The bad characters are so horrible, they are almost likeable. They do the bad things you expect and the good guys are presented with situations that question their ethics and morality. Questions that still very relevant in today's society.
The narrators do an excellent job. The point of view swaps between first and third person depending on the character, but is consistent and works well as intended by the author.
The book and historical material is deep, insightful and well researched, giving great support to the overall premise of the storyline. If you wear a tin-foil hat you might almost believe it!
Overall a great book and worth the time to listen to a great yarn from an outstanding author.
21 people found this helpful
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- M. S. Valdez
- 2014-02-26
Edge-of-the-seat thriller!!!
A fantastically delicious novel of centering on some truly despicable and vile creatures that the main protagonist refers to as "mind-vampires", people that can invade a person's mind and control their actions.
What makes this book an absolute must-listen are the performances by Mel Foster and Laural Merlington. These two talented narrators are like chameleons in how well they can change to another voice and inhabit that character, especially Merlington. Her reading of Melanie Fuller is one of the best I've listened to.
While the story became a bit contrived towards the climax and seemed to fall into plot convenience, it more than makes up for that in an action-packed finale. This will not disappoint!
18 people found this helpful
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- Denise Dalrymple
- 2018-06-23
Not so great
I think Dan Simmons is a brilliant writer and so I was surprised how much I disliked this. I forced myself to listen to the whole thing. The prose is great, the voice performances are top notch. The story is awful, filled with stereotypes, trite plotting, too much killing off of sympathetic characters, implausible side plots, and it is TOO LONG. There are easily three stories uneasily meshed into one. My advice is to skip this one and read or listen to his other work.
14 people found this helpful