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Linesman

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Linesman

Written by: S. K. Dunstall
Narrated by: Brian Hutchison
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About this listen

First in a brand-new, thought-provoking space opera series.

The lines. No ship can traverse the void without them. Only linesmen can work with them. But only Ean Lambert hears their song. And everyone thinks he's crazy.... Most slum kids never go far, certainly not becoming a level 10 linesman like Ean. Even if he's part of a small and unethical cartel, and the other linesmen disdain his self-taught methods, he's certified and working. Then a mysterious alien ship is discovered at the edges of the galaxy. Each of the major galactic powers is desperate to be the first to uncover the ship's secrets, but all they've learned is that it has the familiar lines of energy and a defense system that, once triggered, annihilates everything in a 200 kilometer radius. The vessel threatens any linesman who dares to approach it, except Ean. His unique talents may be the key to understanding this alarming new force and forever reconfiguring the relationship between humans and the ships that serve them.

©2015 S.K. Dunstall (P)2015 Recorded Books Adventure First Contact Military Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction
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'"Crazy" Ean Lambert' is a self-taught "Level 10 Linesman" - one of ~50 psychically-gifted individuals in the galaxy capable of sensing + manipulating all ten known types of Electromagnetic/Psychic emanations called "Lines" that control & limit both the functioning of technology and faster-than-light-speed through "the void" (~hyperspace). Australian sisters Sherylyn and Karen Dunstall offer an innovative reality and a tale about the race to exploit a derelict Alien Spacecraft that harbors unfathomable technology and an unbeatable automatic defense mechanism that utterly destroys anything that comes too close. The frequently at-war sociopolitical system and reliance on linesmen for galactic trade and power are well-reasoned & thought-provoking.. but "S.K. Dunstall" writes an honestly pretty boring story. Far too many of the characters are uninteresting politicos with odd sexual obsessions (for some reason) and unclear motivations.

Fortuitously for audiobook aficionados: Recorded Books Inc. enlisted Brian Hutchinson to read the book. True, some of his voice-acting is uninspired.. but his diction, timbre, cadence, and tone are all spot-on. His performance is the strongest feature of the production.

Altogether, 'Linesman' is a 6/10-star effort.. worth a listen as a 'Plus' option, but not worth your Credit with all of the other options available on this platform. The book isn't terrible.. but keep browsing.

Clever But Uncaptivating

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i liked the idea, but I found it a bit hard to follow at times. linesmen are super important but yet seem like indentured servants. i don't care about things being "realistic", but the characters' motivations need to be internally coherent. The main character hated lancia but instantly became incredibly loyal. he gets punched by an ally out of nowhere, yet doesn't even seem phased by it, and the dynamic is completely the same afterward. The narrator was ok but occasionally emphasized words in sentences that did not make sense with the narrative. i still enjoyed but was not drawn in.

hard to follow

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