Comments on: Ancestor http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/ News from the Staff of Podiobooks.com Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:58:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Likes surprises! http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-251990 Likes surprises! Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:47:34 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-251990 Reviews =/= spoilers! Don't tell who dies and by what means in your review, please! Some of us like the surprises. :D Reviews =/= spoilers! Don’t tell who dies and by what means in your review, please! Some of us like the surprises. :D

]]> By: Julia http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-199572 Julia Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:42:40 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-199572 I sincerely enjoyed this book and looked forward to each chapter. However, the author did one thing that I hate. The monster didn't show up until almost the end of the book! When I read (listen) to a monster story, I want a monster, throughout the book. Not just at the end. I sincerely enjoyed this book and looked forward to each chapter.

However, the author did one thing that I hate. The monster didn’t show up until almost the end of the book! When I read (listen) to a monster story, I want a monster, throughout the book. Not just at the end.

]]> By: Christa http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-197909 Christa Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:35:47 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-197909 Well, he is not Jim Dale. Story is very good though. Well, he is not Jim Dale. Story is very good though.

]]> By: Boden http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-130141 Boden Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:31:05 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-130141 (I finished this book a week ago so I apologize if I get some details wrong) I agree about the voices, especially Sarah's. It sounded very much like a man mocking a woman. Funny at first, but then...odd. Ok, so I liked the premise of the story overall. Lots of opportunity for action and conflict, and all of them executed well. I had some big problems with the story, though. I hope my comments are constructive. First, the most irritating, obnoxious, hateable character in the entire story was Andy, hands down. I know this genre well, and I looked forward to Andy getting what he deserved. But he didn't!!! I can't believe you killed Andy off with a creature! He should have been done in by our hero or himself in one way or another. But he just got killed by some unexpected monsters and that was that. Argh! Secondly, the love relationship between our hero and Sarah was terribly contrived. I didn't believe it for one second, and her voice didn't help. "Hi, I'm Sarah and will you be my boyfriend?" "I dunno, I lost my wife a couple years ago." "That's ok, now you're my boyfriend, let's do it!" "I love you now." "Love you too." Third, what in the world happened to the CIA? You introduced a character in the first chapter who we never heard from again. That whole episode was rendered pointless as all of the facts it exposed were retold during the story. You brought up the CIA enough times that I, as the reader, assumed that they'd get there eventually, and probably get munched. Anyhow, you had me up to the middle of the story. After that, I don't feel like anything was resolved in a satisfying manner. The heroes won mostly because of sheer luck, and a couple of the bad guys didn't "learn their lesson". (I finished this book a week ago so I apologize if I get some details wrong)

I agree about the voices, especially Sarah’s. It sounded very much like a man mocking a woman. Funny at first, but then…odd.

Ok, so I liked the premise of the story overall. Lots of opportunity for action and conflict, and all of them executed well. I had some big problems with the story, though. I hope my comments are constructive.

First, the most irritating, obnoxious, hateable character in the entire story was Andy, hands down. I know this genre well, and I looked forward to Andy getting what he deserved. But he didn’t!!! I can’t believe you killed Andy off with a creature! He should have been done in by our hero or himself in one way or another. But he just got killed by some unexpected monsters and that was that. Argh!

Secondly, the love relationship between our hero and Sarah was terribly contrived. I didn’t believe it for one second, and her voice didn’t help.

“Hi, I’m Sarah and will you be my boyfriend?”

“I dunno, I lost my wife a couple years ago.”

“That’s ok, now you’re my boyfriend, let’s do it!”

“I love you now.”

“Love you too.”

Third, what in the world happened to the CIA? You introduced a character in the first chapter who we never heard from again. That whole episode was rendered pointless as all of the facts it exposed were retold during the story. You brought up the CIA enough times that I, as the reader, assumed that they’d get there eventually, and probably get munched.

Anyhow, you had me up to the middle of the story. After that, I don’t feel like anything was resolved in a satisfying manner. The heroes won mostly because of sheer luck, and a couple of the bad guys didn’t “learn their lesson”.

]]> By: Brad http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-124493 Brad Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:28:58 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-124493 Sigler is a great writer. Love his writing talent. BUT, I agree with Jon Diggs: No more funny voices! This is a good book, but PLEASE don't do funny voices or accents! What is the deal? It completely ruins the serious feel to the work. All I can think about it Sigler doing a squeaky woman's voice, or a deep tough guy's voice, or a strange old guy's voice, or a funny nervoous little guy's voice.... ARGH! Just read the story. Please. Thanks. Sigler is a great writer. Love his writing talent. BUT, I agree with Jon Diggs: No more funny voices!

This is a good book, but PLEASE don’t do funny voices or accents! What is the deal? It completely ruins the serious feel to the work. All I can think about it Sigler doing a squeaky woman’s voice, or a deep tough guy’s voice, or a strange old guy’s voice, or a funny nervoous little guy’s voice…. ARGH! Just read the story. Please.

Thanks.

]]> By: Michael I. Colwill http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-46177 Michael I. Colwill Thu, 26 Jul 2007 23:46:09 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-46177 This was an amazing thrill-ride. Listen to Ancestor and you'll find yourself breaking out in a cold sweat for no reason at all, suddenly feeling an unexplainable sense of dread, or sitting there staring at nothing with your jaw in your lap. Scott Sigler knows how to capture a reader in that first episode and have them lying awake at night praying for the next episode to make your palms sweat a little bit more and to make the adrenaline rush a little bit stronger. Job well done! This was an amazing thrill-ride. Listen to Ancestor and you’ll find yourself breaking out in a cold sweat for no reason at all, suddenly feeling an unexplainable sense of dread, or sitting there staring at nothing with your jaw in your lap. Scott Sigler knows how to capture a reader in that first episode and have them lying awake at night praying for the next episode to make your palms sweat a little bit more and to make the adrenaline rush a little bit stronger. Job well done!

]]> By: Nomad http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-40493 Nomad Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:21:10 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-40493 This is a clever idea for a story, but the writing needs some tightening up. The language doesn't sound like adults. The characters all swear like they're trying to impress themselves and each other. Some editing would help as well. Early in the audio book Magnus rubs his left forearm with his left hand. Later Sarah places a pale hand on Sara's arm. I like a good story, and this is one, but to return to an author, I need some good writing as well. This ain't it. (On the other hand, I have neither written nor published any novels. I have scores of newspaper articles and dozens of magazine articles published, all of which were improved by editing.) I am going to try Earthcore next, but if the language keeps getting in the way of the story, I don't know if I'll finish it. (I paid for the podio book and I got my money's worth. I hope Earthcore is worth it.) This is a clever idea for a story, but the writing needs some tightening up. The language doesn’t sound like adults. The characters all swear like they’re trying to impress themselves and each other.

Some editing would help as well. Early in the audio book Magnus rubs his left forearm with his left hand. Later Sarah places a pale hand on Sara’s arm.

I like a good story, and this is one, but to return to an author, I need some good writing as well. This ain’t it. (On the other hand, I have neither written nor published any novels. I have scores of newspaper articles and dozens of magazine articles published, all of which were improved by editing.)

I am going to try Earthcore next, but if the language keeps getting in the way of the story, I don’t know if I’ll finish it.

(I paid for the podio book and I got my money’s worth. I hope Earthcore is worth it.)

]]> By: John Diggs http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-26289 John Diggs Sun, 13 May 2007 02:05:32 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-26289 Awesome story. Really great. But dude. You have _got_ to get someone who can do women's voices do the pods. Or get a woman friend to work with you. I think Violet's "voice" is the funniest one you did. :) Awesome story. Really great.

But dude. You have _got_ to get someone who can do women’s voices do the pods. Or get a woman friend to work with you. I think Violet’s “voice” is the funniest one you did.

:)

]]> By: Charles http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-24499 Charles Fri, 27 Apr 2007 03:00:43 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-24499 Absolutely love this book! Absolutely love this book!

]]> By: gail http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-23889 gail Sat, 21 Apr 2007 23:36:35 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-23889 Hey, Scott, I really did listen to it all - did anybody mention that Ancestor is rather gory? Looking back on it, my favorite parts were when the process of getting a viable embryo were discussed. After I finished, it occurred to me that the black and white spotted cowhide would make the ancestors even more monstrous. There wasn't time while the story was underway. (You know, ravening beasts camouflaged as placid herbivores.) This is not my kind of book, but there was never any question about getting to the end, it was inevitable! Hey, Scott, I really did listen to it all - did anybody mention that Ancestor is rather gory?

Looking back on it, my favorite parts were when the process of getting a viable embryo were discussed.

After I finished, it occurred to me that the black and white spotted cowhide would make the ancestors even more monstrous. There wasn’t time while the story was underway. (You know, ravening beasts camouflaged as placid herbivores.)

This is not my kind of book, but there was never any question about getting to the end, it was inevitable!

]]> By: Joe Adamson http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-22334 Joe Adamson Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:43:02 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-22334 Great book. I stumbled across Earthcore (one of Scott's earlier works) and was hooked. The high speed roller coaster ride of emotions mixed with the subtle subtext of social commentary felt like comfort food very exciting comfort food to me. I couldn't wait to "read" more Scott Sigler Ancestor does not disappoint. It is the exact recipe of Wit, action, drama, terror and suspense that make this work even better than Earthcore (did i mention that I REALLY liked earthcore) I definitely plan to purchase a print copy of Ancestor From Amazon when it releases on April 1st. I encourage all Scott Sigler Fans to do the same. Lets make Ancestor number 1 on the Amazon.com Top Sales list. This will go a long way to legitimizing Pod Casts, Guerrilla Marketing, and Independent creators all in one stroke / Click :-) Great book. I stumbled across Earthcore (one of Scott’s earlier works) and was hooked. The high speed roller coaster ride of emotions mixed with the subtle subtext of social commentary felt like comfort food very exciting comfort food to me. I couldn’t wait to “read” more Scott Sigler Ancestor does not disappoint. It is the exact recipe of Wit, action, drama, terror and suspense that make this work even better than Earthcore (did i mention that I REALLY liked earthcore)

I definitely plan to purchase a print copy of Ancestor From Amazon when it releases on April 1st. I encourage all Scott Sigler Fans to do the same. Lets make Ancestor number 1 on the Amazon.com Top Sales list. This will go a long way to legitimizing Pod Casts, Guerrilla Marketing, and Independent creators all in one stroke / Click :-)

]]> By: Johan Nilsson http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-18654 Johan Nilsson Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:39:47 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-18654 Simply amazing book! I would really want this in printed form to have on my bookshelf. I'll definitely make a donation, so you can publish another great audio novel. Simply amazing book! I would really want this in printed form to have on my bookshelf. I’ll definitely make a donation, so you can publish another great audio novel.

]]> By: Evo http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-12918 Evo Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:57:41 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-12918 Thanks for your comments, Bill. The episodes of book, like a handful of other titles, aren't hosted on our media servers and are therefore out of our control. I agree with you that a solid naming convention is a crucial part of the enjoyment of the book. I hope you decide to check out a few other titles where, I hope, you'll not experience the same challenges. Thanks for your comments, Bill. The episodes of book, like a handful of other titles, aren’t hosted on our media servers and are therefore out of our control. I agree with you that a solid naming convention is a crucial part of the enjoyment of the book.

I hope you decide to check out a few other titles where, I hope, you’ll not experience the same challenges.

]]> By: Bill http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-12883 Bill Wed, 27 Dec 2006 04:20:57 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-12883 I didn't listen to it at all because the file names were SO bad. I couldn't find the beginning file on my mp3 player, and it started playing at chapter 7... Too bad, the book sounded kind of good. Maybe I'll try it again some day and sit here and rename all the files to something useful. I didn’t listen to it at all because the file names were SO bad. I couldn’t find the beginning file on my mp3 player, and it started playing at chapter 7…

Too bad, the book sounded kind of good. Maybe I’ll try it again some day and sit here and rename all the files to something useful.

]]> By: Tom http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-11583 Tom Mon, 11 Dec 2006 01:50:52 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-11583 Chapter 13 was actually the final chapter in my version, and I was apparently supposed to skip right to chapter 13.5 after 12 and listen to 13 after 18. This ruined the last third of the book for me, unfortunately. I haven't seen any notes about this anywhere else. Other than that, I thought this was a better story than Earthcore, once you get past the first couple chapters. Chapter 13 was actually the final chapter in my version, and I was apparently supposed to skip right to chapter 13.5 after 12 and listen to 13 after 18. This ruined the last third of the book for me, unfortunately. I haven’t seen any notes about this anywhere else.

Other than that, I thought this was a better story than Earthcore, once you get past the first couple chapters.

]]> By: Martha http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-6092 Martha Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:53:25 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-6092 In previous review was talking about “Infection” not about “Ancestor”, sorry about that. Well “Ancestor”, definitely better than “Infection” (I don’t understand why Sigler calls Infection his masterpiece, after I listened to it I am not sure I will be ever listening to his work again). Anyway back to Ancestor, no aliens there, just recombinant animals which carry in their genome combination of DNA from different recipients (caw is for some reason is particularly important to Sigler). A bit boring at times, but plausible. Well… Sigler has no idea about DNA recombination and he obviously never checked genome databases, but he’s not scientist so I would say it wasn’t too bad. Book a bit obvious, but as a free reading it will do. I think 3 stars are in order. Well to be absolutely honest I am grateful to all people who give their time to create podiobooks, even if this book isn’t particularly good I thank you. In previous review was talking about “Infection” not about “Ancestor”, sorry about that. Well “Ancestor”, definitely better than “Infection” (I don’t understand why Sigler calls Infection his masterpiece, after I listened to it I am not sure I will be ever listening to his work again). Anyway back to Ancestor, no aliens there, just recombinant animals which carry in their genome combination of DNA from different recipients (caw is for some reason is particularly important to Sigler). A bit boring at times, but plausible. Well… Sigler has no idea about DNA recombination and he obviously never checked genome databases, but he’s not scientist so I would say it wasn’t too bad. Book a bit obvious, but as a free reading it will do. I think 3 stars are in order. Well to be absolutely honest I am grateful to all people who give their time to create podiobooks, even if this book isn’t particularly good I thank you.

]]> By: Martha http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-6089 Martha Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:31:06 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-6089 Plenty of swearing, aliens in human balls, violence, some audio-reader even calls Sigler’s wife bitch (which probably says a lot about mutual respect between author and so called fans), well what else… oh! ve-e-e-e-e-ery plain manuscript. Very far apart from such distinguished writers as Dan Brown, Dean Coontz, James Patterson, Robert Ludlum, Terry Pratchett or though I guess you can find bits and peaces of their styles in this …manuscript. I bet Sigler would give his balls to aliens too if he could write like authors above, unless… Plenty of swearing, aliens in human balls, violence, some audio-reader even calls Sigler’s wife bitch (which probably says a lot about mutual respect between author and so called fans), well what else… oh! ve-e-e-e-e-ery plain manuscript. Very far apart from such distinguished writers as Dan Brown, Dean Coontz, James Patterson, Robert Ludlum, Terry Pratchett or though I guess you can find bits and peaces of their styles in this …manuscript. I bet Sigler would give his balls to aliens too if he could write like authors above, unless…

]]> By: David http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-5472 David Sat, 30 Sep 2006 21:56:59 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-5472 Better than Earthcore. Lots of gratuitious swearing and violence (take that any way you like). Scott is getting better as he goes along. Looking forward to hearing INFECTION, have to get it directly from Scott's site though (Evo can't be giving Scott a big enough cut of the donations). Better than Earthcore. Lots of gratuitious swearing and violence (take that any way you like). Scott is getting better as he goes along. Looking forward to hearing INFECTION, have to get it directly from Scott’s site though (Evo can’t be giving Scott a big enough cut of the donations).

]]> By: George http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-4030 George Tue, 29 Aug 2006 01:43:23 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-4030 I listened to this directly from Scott's original feed. Great story! The plausibility of his stories combined with the convincing reading make truly memorable podiobooks. Am sure they are great to read as text . . . but listening to him read them is just too much fun to switch to the text versions! Of the three podiobooks from Scott, Ancestor is my favorite... I listened to this directly from Scott’s original feed. Great story! The plausibility of his stories combined with the convincing reading make truly memorable podiobooks. Am sure they are great to read as text . . . but listening to him read them is just too much fun to switch to the text versions!

Of the three podiobooks from Scott, Ancestor is my favorite…

]]> By: Evo http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-3972 Evo Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:25:50 +0000 http://www.podiobooks.com/blog/2006/07/21/ancestor/#comment-3972 The Podshow delivery network occasionally throws errors on downloads. I just checked a moment ago and the link is working fine for me. I'm assuming their problem was temporary and all is fine now. The Podshow delivery network occasionally throws errors on downloads. I just checked a moment ago and the link is working fine for me. I’m assuming their problem was temporary and all is fine now.

]]>