Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Audio Book Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Total Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5 stars)
The galaxy has been at war for decades. When Zane, a messenger, comes head-to-head with a refugee, he talks just a little too much, getting himself into more trouble than he anticipated. A young man confused by his duties in a war and plague ravaged society, he inadvertently gets a scientist from the opposing side captured. Little does he know that she is a geneticist that sees DNA as something as more than a puzzle: but a messenger itself.
Meanwhile, a seemingly normal mission to deliver a package causes a soldier and a pilot to disclose more about their pasts than they intend. Could their pasts be the key to the future?
While the fates of these individuals do not transform the galaxy, this short audible production, reminiscent of a playwright script, takes us on a simple voyage, asking the single question: how do we carry our pasts? Does it matter what is in our blood, or are we defined by our actions?
While this short play-like story is not revolutionary, it’s fun to listen to as a whole. I got a feel of the different characters, their universe, and their conflict in the one hour listen. Would it have been as good on paper? I’m not sure. But even with only dialogue and sound-effects to tell the story, it was enough to understand the overall conflict and dilemma. Was all the dialogue realistic? Not necessarily. But as is with any play on paper, sometimes you need more dialogue to explain what is going on.
I don’t think this needed to be longer in order to tell its tale. While there is much more in this universe to be explored, the goal of this story was simple: show us the past and how it relays into the future, and the conflicts that coincide with it.
This might not be for everyone, but as a sci-fi lover, I thought it did a fantastic job. If you want a quick listen on audible, I encourage you to check it out. I had fun with it at least.
What’s it about?
A mysterious plague ushers in an intergalactic war that ravages the galaxy for decades. A soldier and a pilot are tasked to deliver a package. A messenger and a refugee decide to work together on a dying alien planet. A love letter is lost that could be the key to a new future. A dark comedy about the messages we carry in our bones.
E.S. Barrison 