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Dawn for a Distant Earth

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Dawn for a Distant Earth

Written by: L. E. Modesitt Jr.
Narrated by: Kyle McCarley
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About this listen

Thousands of years in the future, Earth is a desolate ruin. The first human ship to return in millennia discovers an abandoned wasteland inhabited by only a few degenerate or mutated human outcasts. But among them is a boy of immense native intelligence and determination who grows up to become the force behind a plan to make Earth flower again. He is, if not immortal, at least very long lived, and he plans to build an independent power base out in the galaxy and force the galactic empire to devote centuries and immense resources to the restoration of the ecology of Earth.

©1987 L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (P)2015 Tantor Adventure Alternate History Science Fiction Fiction Interstellar
All stars
Most relevant
as good as I remember when I originally read it decades ago. Couldn't put it down then and had to keep listening now

As good as I remember it being

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L.E. Modessit Jr. fashions an Earth future where the planet has collapsed into an ecological nightmare - radioactive/toxic land, poisonous water, nightmarishly corrosive acid rain, deadly freezing storms that kill in minutes, and "landspouts" (random earthquake-like eruptions of mantle into the atmosphere) - and the remnants of humanity are either cowering savages scrabbling for survival ('Shambletowners'), or incredibly well-adapted feral supermen - unnaturally strong/quick/agile, heightened senses, hyperintelligent, nearly immortal - known as 'Devil-Kids'.
The book follows 'Gerswin', a Devil-Kid captured by the Galactic Imperium on an archeological expedition back to the ancient homeworld. Gerswin is then indoctrinated into the military. Gerswin embarks on a mission to rehabilitate the Earth - recruiting other Devil-Kids and challenging the Empire for resources when he takes over command of the outpost. The concept is incredibly intriguing.
Unfortunately, Modesitt moves the plot unbelievably slowly (effectively avoiding action to focus rather on politics, character evolution, and relationships), and spends an incomprehensible volume of text on minutiae like piloting logistics & communication between soldiers. For example:

"Flare 10 degrees at 150."
"Flare 10 at 150, aye"
"Interrogative: Are you at 150?"
"170, sir."
"Confirmed, 170."
"At 150 now, sir."
"Interrogative: Have you flared 10?"
"No, sir. Interrogative: Should I flare 10?"
"Flare 10, aye."

🙄. One wonders if there was an Editor looking at this stuff.

The deficiencies in the book aren't helped by an "average" performance from reader Kyle McCarley, either. Don't get me wrong, McCarley reads with professional diction, a comfortable timbre & cadence, and an admirably interested tone.. but he goes over-the-top with cartoonish character interpretations. An American reviewer described the voice-acting as "something out of Looney Tunes" and was hilariously accurate.

If you're interested in cerebral SciFi, Modesitt's imagined far future is thought-provoking. 'Dawn For A Distant Earth' is a 5.5/10-star audiobook that merits your attention.. IF you can get it as a 'Plus' selection. Your Credit is better spent elsewhere should Audible ask for one.

Remarkably Clever Premise.. Plodding Delivery

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