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  • For We Are Many

  • Bobiverse, Book 2
  • Written by: Dennis E. Taylor
  • Narrated by: Ray Porter
  • Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,536 ratings)

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For We Are Many

Written by: Dennis E. Taylor
Narrated by: Ray Porter
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Publisher's Summary

The highly anticipated sequel to Audible's Best of 2016 - Science Fiction winner, We Are Legion (We Are Bob); a book listeners are calling "so much fun", "what science fiction was meant to be", and what would happen if "Andy Weir and Ernest Cline had a lovechild". 

Bob Johansson didn't believe in an afterlife, so waking up after being killed in a car accident was a shock. To add to the surprise, he is now a sentient computer and the controlling intelligence for a Von Neumann probe. 

Bob and his copies have been spreading out from Earth for 40 years now, looking for habitable planets. But that's the only part of the plan that's still in one piece. A system-wide war has killed off 99.9 percent of the human race; nuclear winter is slowly making the Earth uninhabitable; a radical group wants to finish the job on the remnants of humanity; the Brazilian space probes are still out there, still trying to blow up the competition; and the Bobs have discovered a spacefaring species that sees all other life as food. 

Bob left Earth anticipating a life of exploration and blissful solitude. Instead he's become a sky god to a primitive native species, the only hope for getting humanity to a new home, and possibly the only thing that can prevent every living thing in the local sphere from ending up as dinner. 

Listener favorite Ray Porter returns to narrate Bob - and his many incarnations - in all of their geeky glory. 

For We Are Many is the second installment in the blockbuster Audible Original Bobiverse series - which has sold more than one million copies.

©2017 Dennis E. Taylor (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about For We Are Many

Average Customer Ratings
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Amazing story

For We Are Many is just more of what make the first book great. The narrative strings diverge to keep the story fresh and interesting. Ray Porter's reading is dynamic and exciting slowing down and speeding up to keep pace with the story.

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6 people found this helpful

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Fails the Bechdal

Started off fun, fast paced and entertaining. Until I identified what was missing. Women with character. So I checked the publication date, maybe this book was a few decades old? Nope, 2016.
There is a secondary Dr in the first book who makes a very brief appearance, an ex fiancé who has an affair, A’s wife, Diana who is annoying and backwards, the medicine woman who is stubborn and ignorant, the only children who exhibit any intelligence are male and Howard’s love interest is forgiven for letting herself go when her husband dies. But he still finds her attractive even if her hair is grey and her chin is a bit saggy. Seriously!!?
And 40 some Bobs in and there is no female version? Would have been a great plot line.
Will not be buying book 3.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A worthy continuation of the series

This book does not stand alone. The first book, "We Are Legion (We are Bob) really has to be read to understand both the circumstances of the protagonist and the environment the various story lines take. The upside of this is there is not a lot of rehashing of past events, which would be required if the book were to stand alone, but the obvious downside is you cannot read this book in isolation.

This book explores the setting created in the first book. Bob(s) come to terms with being essentially immortal and the pitfalls of growing attached to beings that are not. Near the end of the book, they more or less perfect android/mechanical bodies. This isn't a spoiler as it is a continuation of a plot line started in the first book. While this plot device is used sparingly in this book, my concern is that it will dominate the plot of the next book. Up to this point the virtual BOB got to view the universe in a long view and both guide and interact with various species as a disembodied "other". This was a unique perspective which I felt enhanced the story. My concern is with the introduction of mechanical avatars that also feel and eat is that they will colour the next iteration as omnipotent supermen with odd fits of emotion, which would bring this story down to the much more mundane.

Much like the first the plot moves along at a decent pace. The performer does an another excellent job at narration. If you have read/listened to the first book, I would recommend this book.

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3 people found this helpful

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Great series!

Oh man strap in, this is going to be a great ride.
The Bobiverse leaves no time for uninteresting babble or pointless side plots. With a story of this magnitude, every moment is rollercoaster of emotion and wonder. Plenty of cultural references and just the right balance of failures and small victories. Scifi at it's best right here.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Multiplicity squared

There are dozens of story arcs in this novel, which is consistent with the central theme. The various incarnations of Bob are developing different interests. Some are helping to police and evacuate an increasingly stressed Earth; others conducting xenoanthropology, terraforming, or exploring strange new worlds. And there is a new threat, not just to humanity.

I could not put this down. Fortunate, then, that I already had the 3rd book.

Unlike "We are legion (We are Bob)," this story is continued, so I have to listen to the 3rd book next.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

entertaining as always

great narrator, some funny parts, some serious. it's space opera! can't wait for the next book!

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Not as good as the first

Another winner, just didn't excite like book 1 did... I'm off through the Bobverse to listen to #3!

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Beach Read

Fun read. if you like Ready Player One or The Martian, this book is for you.

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  • Ken
  • 2019-02-25

Book 2 and 3 should be combined into 1

I enjoyed the entire series but felt that books 2 and 3 were separated for sales purposes versus any n

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Loved it, but short

loved it. But short for the price of a full book. Story is split apart into multiple books to be sold separately.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • Jim "The Impatient"
  • 2017-05-03

THE FECAL MATTER HAS HIT THE ATMOSPHERIC PROJECTOR

WELCOME TO BOBNET
I did listen to all of this and I did enjoy it. It is not as good as book one and it is really a filler or story stretcher to get us to the next book. We don't see or talk to the main antagonist (THE OTHERS) until 6 hours and 40 minutes into the nine hour book. When an author waits until two thirds of the book is over to introduce the main bad guy, than he is setting up the next book. Do not get me wrong interesting things happen and I am sure the biggest nerds of the crowd are tickled pink. I was starting to wonder if their was going to be a plot, a romance or exploration of space. There are a few confrontations with minor bad guys in the first six hours, but they are minor and are handled fairly easily. There was no challenge for Bob.

THE RISK OF GODHOOD
One of the main themes that is explored in the first six hours, is Bob trying to help too much. Every time he does something he thinks will help, something bad happens as a result. I loved this theme and I liked the way the author did not cheat, and made it tough on Bob.

BOB HAS NO JUNK
We have been told for years that sex is in our heads and I strongly agree. I also feel that love and companionship are extremely important to mankind. I believe without such companionship, we suffer mentally. There was a hint at a romance in book 2 and some talk about making other replicants. I believe the introduction of women to the storyline will benefit the series greatly.

THERE CAN NEVER BE TOO MANY OF US. THERE CAN ONLY BE NOT ENOUGH FOOD.
I really like the sound of these bad guys. They sound very evil and like a huge challenge for Bob. I wish they would have been involved in the plot earlier, but at least they are here to cause havoc now. Hopefully book three will show us more of the evil beings.

REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY, NOT JUST FOR HUMANS
Don't listen to Ray Porter or any of the books, he reads. (Reverse psychology)

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247 people found this helpful

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  • Devin
  • 2017-04-18

Denis E.Taylor Sets A New Standard For Sci-Fi

Would you consider the audio edition of For We Are Many to be better than the print version?

Ray Porter is Legendary. His enactment, tempo, and changing speech patterns for each individual Bob is distinct and engaging. I do not believe the print version is any less compared to the audiobook but I will say Ray Porter adds a new dimension to the novel that cannot be appraised enough and would suggest to any reader to give the audio version a try.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Howard. He showed the humanity of the Bobs in a new way that was never explored in the first novel.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Death. Immortality is beginning to wear down on the first generation of Bobs. In a way, they are truly becoming akin to the sky god bob always joked about. It really shows the diverging character that is bob after every copy is born. How they handle each situation is completely different but yet so similar that you can see the Bob in them.

Any additional comments?

This series has blown my mind. Very few novels have I ever thought improved from the first as this one has. I'm looking forward to the next novel in this series and have officially added the author to my "Read any book they write " list.

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  • Jack
  • 2017-05-29

Please release a whole book.

I like the Bobiverse concept, and the writing is compelling and well paced. But, come on,at least give me a real book. This "episode" is marketed as a novel but is really more of a Saturday afternoon movie serial, no resolution,all cliff-hanger set up. I understand the economics of novel writing are tough these days but don't cheat your readers by releasing half a story.

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53 people found this helpful

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  • Christian Shahmardian
  • 2017-04-18

A near perfect continuation

Where does For We Are Many rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is incredible, easily in my top 5 right along with We Are Legion (We Are Bob). Easily on par with another of my favorites, The Martian by Andy Weir.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Every main character is just a different iteration of Bob but Mulder brings more to this story than I originally thought he would. The side characters in this book are just as good as the original and Archimedes is still easily the best of them all.

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings the same varied life into this book as he did the first. However, there are a few words that are pronounced completely different in this book than the last (If you heard the first book you know exactly what I mean). This is a bit off-putting at first but after around an hour or so you get used to the new pronunciation.

Any additional comments?

This book is an absolute must have and I hope to see a lot more from this series! Please support this author and buy his books so he can make more! I promise you won't be disappointed!!!!

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  • Squid73
  • 2017-04-20

Hooked? No not me, as I sit in a corner holding myself

This book doesn't fail to excite and entrap me into this story and want for more. Like so many others who love this book as much is I do, I am now beside myself waiting for book 3. Dennis E Taylor has captured in my view, the addiction of old-school serials that hearken to the days of Flash Gordon and original Star Trek, but brings enough of the new technology and realism with a fresh mix of Bob comedy that has made this series of books to move to my top 10 list of best stories of all time. Douglas Adams has a run for his money now with Dennis and the bobs!!

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46 people found this helpful

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  • Julian
  • 2017-04-19

I shouldn't have mainlined it in one sitting.

Noooo! NOw I have to wait for the next one forEVER! A fantastically creative and entertaining tale. The stakes just keep getting higher, and the Bobs keep getting quirkier. Amazing.

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39 people found this helpful

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  • Nathan
  • 2017-04-19

main complaint, too short.

I'm loving this series. now I'm just waiting for the next installment with baited breath.

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36 people found this helpful

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  • John Graziano
  • 2017-04-19

Next book is another year way? Reducing frame rate

Where does For We Are Many rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Bobiverse 1 was one of my favorite books of 2016. Bob 2 is basically a bunch of additional chapters in that story, which is fine by me. So much potential for this series

Who was your favorite character and why?

Haha - this is hilarious.

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Ray's an impressive voice actor who gets to show off his accent skills in this installment. He adds a lot to the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My extreme reaction was at the end, when I realized I'd finished the book and now have to wait a year for the next installment. I envy the Bobs' ability to play with their perception of time.

Any additional comments?

Please write quickly, Dennis! Can't wait to see(hear) what happens next!

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  • Kathy in CA
  • 2017-05-23

Porter IS Bob!

Lots of fun here for sci-fi lovers in Book 2 of the Bobs' story. Of course, the Bobs are back--Bobs along with Bill, Riker, Howard, Mulder, and a myriad of other replicants intent on saving mankind from total annihilation.

I found this, the second book, just as much fun as the first story. The beginning of the book jumped around a bit, seemingly without direction, but it soon picked up with the discovery of the evil others. There's nothing predictable about this story, which I really appreciate. There's lots of lots of depth to the characters as they evolve over time. You'll also find plenty of humor, many references to sci-fi heroes of the past and other fictitious characters we all know, and lots of adventure.

Ray Porter is totally amazing as narrator. I haven't figured out whether he fits the characters like a glove or is it that they fit him like a glove? You would swear the book was written with him in mind, as he gives such a spectacular, uncannily good performance. His voice remains in my mind long after I turn the book off.

So, if you still have any reservations about entering the Bobiverse, read some of the other great reviews and get yourself convinced.

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  • Calliope
  • 2018-03-03

Weaker and more muddled, but still really good

This isn't as good as the first in the series, but it's still very good, with an excellent narrator who really embodies all the various incarnations of Bob. However, with all those incarnations, there's bound to be some thinning of the stock, and it's just a little more unfocused than before. Very enjoyable, though, and I still recommend it.

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