Playing for Keeps
Podiobooks.com is proud to present Mur Lafferty’s long awaited novel, Playing for Keeps.
Playing for Keeps tells the story of Keepsie Branson, a bar owner in the shining metropolis of Seventh City: birthplace of super powers. Keepsie and her friends live among egotistical heroes and manipulative villains, and manage to fall directly in the middle as people with powers, but who just aren’t strong enough to make a difference. Or that’s what they’ve been told. As the city begins to melt down, it’s hard to tell who are the good guys and who are the bad.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:16 am
your back! yea!!!
November 1st, 2007 at 8:50 am
EXCELLENT opening. You are seriously cleaver. Love it all, old and new, carry on.
November 10th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
There are very few writers that scare me as much as Mur Lafferty. She is such a great storyteller that carries us off into another world with such ease. And Playing fof Keeps is no different. In the first episode we are introduced to an amazing setting with a great main character, Keepsie. She is smart, she is sassy and has enough smart-aleck quips to keep a continual grin on my own face, that’s for sure. Listen to the first episode and you’ll be hooked.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:06 am
Really really really loving the story. You have a real winner here. Good production values and the characters are amazing. I could totally see this on the big screen, it would make a great comic super hero flick.
November 28th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Do you love comics, superheroes, villians or just great storytelling?
Then you should be listening to Mur Lafferty’s ‘Playing for Keeps’. This is a whole new take on people with uncommon, supernatural abilitites.
Are superheroes always good? Are villians really bad guys?
In 7th city all bets are off!
Cheers to an outstanding author for putting super into perspective.
December 8th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
What I really like about this book is the richness of the character development. Some of the other superhero-themed works I’ve sampled focus too much on events, powers and conflict. PFK strikes a much better balance.
December 24th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
The super hero genre has always been one of my favorites, in any media format. It’s also one of the hardest to “get it right”.
Mur has done it and done it well. This is one of the best samples of the genre I’ve seen/heard. Characters, interaction, plot and flow of the story are all fabulous.
It is an agony of anticipation to wait for each new release but an absolute joy when they do come out.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Hey Mur, Great story as usual.
Please check the last 5min or so of Ep.8.
Big blank spot there.
The story rocks keep um coming
AWB
January 10th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Playing for Keeps is a great combination of of comedy, insight, and action. Mur Lafferty has created a great world where heroes aren’t really heroes. The book is definitely worth your time.
January 14th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
If you haven’t got on board yet then sign up. A great read with twists, turns, and some really great powers. My day is brightened up each time a new chapter magically appears.
January 15th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
thanks so much for your comments! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the novel!
January 20th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Mur, thank you so much for for all of your writing and podcasting! You’re one of the best and most enjoyable new storytellers!
Unfortunately, I’m the type who just can’t wait week to week, so I wait until books are complete. One big wait is better than lots of little waits. It’s still hard though. Do you know how many episodes there will be for this book or when you expect it to be complete? And while I’m asking questions, will another podiobook be in the works soon?
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Elizabeth – the podcast will run for 15 episodes, and end on 7/14. Another podiobook? And yes, I’m releasing Wasteland in March.
Thanks so much for your comments, and hope you like PFK!
January 30th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
7/14? now you’ve got me scared. 3 chapters left and we have to wait seven months? please tell me that was a typo and you meant 2/14.
please.
oh, i suppose i should fess up to the fact that i’m hooked. another amazing novel. well done.
February 1st, 2008 at 5:13 am
GAH! I keep doing that! What is it about July? FEBRUARY 14. 2/14. Valentines Day. Seriously. I don’t know what’s wrong with my head.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Fans Clamor For More!
I have not ever been a fan of comic books, but I do very much enjoy this story of super-heroes. Thanks, Mur!
February 14th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
No issues with 15. Someone (cough*Mur*cough) uploaded a file named with underscores rather than dashes. I’ve fixed it and have verified it works groovy. On my MP3 player ready for my drive. And I even know how it ends!
February 14th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Thanks Evo
February 17th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Wow great story, this is your best yet Mur. How did you manage to come up with a guy that shoots feces from his hands? just too funny.
February 19th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Mur, this was wonderful. Serious cliffhanger — all but groveling for a sequel — but a great story. Just made a contribution, and worth every penny. Thank you.
BTW, is Keepsie strong enough yet to keep “her world” safe?
March 1st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
To any one wanting to “read” this.
The author did a great job over all. It is a great book, with some interesting twists. That said, some of it you would see coming. It feels like there will be a sequel. I look forward to the sequel. Un-related, Heaven series is good.
I would say “read” it.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
This is a fantastic book. What great characters. The plot’s a little on the looney side, but fun, fun, fun…I willingly suspend my disbelief. Keep ‘em coming, please!
April 1st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I just finished Playing for Keeps and am really impressed with the storyline. Having three waves of super powered folks is definately a unique take on super power mythology. As with Mur’s Wasteland, PFK is a very well constructed story. It kept me riveted. It, however does need a sequel. It does give someone reason to not always seek to be Wolverine or Green Lantern. This book shows that ordinary, mundane, and/or “useless” skills are special when you take pride in your own talents. Thanks Mur this was a very enjoyable listen.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:06 am
Such a great piece of work which really does take the superhero genre beyond the customary ice cream and cake world of neat and tidy I’m used to. There are no clear cut lines of right and wrong that plagues so many Super Hero style stories here! Sure it has your essential goodies and baddies, but these guys aren’t the classic characters that sit on either side of the fence of good and evil like a Scooby-Doo cartoon. These guys have all the good and bad character traits of… well, of just about anyone.
It has an odd believability about it that makes the whole setting weirdly realistic. Mur Lafferty puts this one together so well, the story which is sometimes really quite bizarre… well perhaps not the story but certainly the characters (fecal matter from a guys arms… what more can I say) hangs together exceptionally. The convincing characters have a wealth of depth and dimension that brings you effortlessly into their personalities and the story is so well perceived and depicted there is an effortless transition into their crazy world of drama and excitement. It’s a story that will certainly have you itching for the next episode (something which for me is always a good indicator of a great tale) and its great character interaction, fantastic humour and authentic dialogue will have you gripped to the end. Also, Mur Lafferty really excels in the reading which is always a great bonus for an audio publication. I get the feeling she put an awful lot into this piece of work and I can only say it has not gone unnoticed.
June 9th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Thanks to Podiobooks, I have been able to listen to some great Podiobooks. Playing for keeps is the first podiobook I’ve completed, and its one of my favorites.
This is a great twist on the typical super hero story. It makes since of the question, aren’t superheroes, well, kind of evil? Characters like Clever Jack, Peter, and Ian are some of the best characters I have had the pleasure of reading about.
Mur’s voice, and gift for quick witty dialog, as well as a fast paced plot, and great characters is what makes this story awesome. Give it a listen, its simply fantastic!
June 15th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Although I LOVED the plot, writing, characters and narration….and don’t forget the cute intros and recaps!!… I have to knock it down from 5 out of 5 to 4 out of 5. I was really bothered by the way the guitar riff was used to separate scenes. It jarred me each and every time. I’m not sure wehther it was the riff itself, or the suddenness of it (maybe a quick fade-in?), or something in the tone of her voice that didn’t cue me that the section had just ended. *shrug*
But other than that, excellent!
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 am
I loved some of the one-liners and Mur has a great voice. The ending … well, let’s just hope there’s a sequel in the works! This story would make a great graphic novel too. Collaborate with JR Blackwell maybe?
July 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Mur tells such a great story – this among others. I am looking forward to getting my copy from amazon.com and swarm press on aug.25
July 28th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Mighty Mur rocks on. More fantastic story-telling. Keep it up, Mur!
August 9th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
this is my favourite podiobook so far, i love the characters and the amazingly original powers they have, its amazing what Mur can think of doing with seemingly mundane ability’s. i cant wait until this is published, does anyone know the UK publication date?
August 12th, 2008 at 8:03 am
This is the third audio book that I’ve listened to, the other two being Brave Men Run by Matthew Wayne Selznick and How to Succeed in Evil by Patrick McLean, that dealt with superheroes and super villains in some aspect. My feelings for Playing for Keeps is the same those other stories, I loved it!!! Since I work from home, I try to pass the time by listening to audio books, (because the TV is to distracting for me). Some of the characters in this story are hilarious, not to mention their super abilities. There were parts of this story that had me wondering what would happen next. I like that, I’m not a fan of foretelling what will happen next before the story is even over. Another thing I admire about this story is the light heartedness of it. Some of the other stories I’ve listened to have been great, but they’re a little hardcore and too serious at times. This story is fun to listen to. I sincerely hope there’s a sequel to it.
Along with Christiana Ellis and Phillipa Ballantine, the women of the podcast world are contributing great material.
August 16th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I found the book pretty entertaining until the last chapter. It felt extremely rushed, like Mur was on a deadline or something, and preferred to simply narrate the ending instead of getting the characters’ voices more involved. I felt the story itself ended too abruptly, left some loose ends to tie up (unless there’s going to be a sequel?), and Mur’s voice made it a little difficult at times to discern which voice was which in a handful of female characters (notably Keepsie and Palace at the end).
Overall, I give the book huge thumbs up. It’s always great to hear an original superhero story, and hearing something from a “third waver” perspective was really terrific. Keep up the excellent work!
August 20th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Yes, very well done, and interesting concept that was thought out and executed well. Kind of had me thinking of other odd powers that people might have (I always wanted the power to instantly boil a pot of water from a distance.) Hopefully we’ll there will be another so some of the loose ends will be tied up. Personally I’d love to see a book focused more on Peter, of all the characters (even Keepsie) I found him the most interesting.
September 16th, 2008 at 7:50 am
WOW just WOW,
Part Mystery Men Part Misfits of Science (Ok I’m dating myself) and a little of Legion Of Substitute heroes(Ok Comic Geek Reference) Keepsie and her gang reminded me of all that and added a little more. It was nice seeing that the white hats aren’t always pure white. and the black hats have a reason to be Black hats. and that everyone was a little gray. After that adventure I wonder what’s next for 7th city and these unlikely group of heroes. A fun listen never got boring and you looked forward to what happens next. Bring More!!!
September 26th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
This was my first audiobook I’ve listened to and I’d tried listening to it because of recommendations from the forums in Ravelry. I got hooked the instant I listened; Mur’s voice is really great and the way the story was narrated drew me into this other world of Superheroes and Villians and Third Wavers. I felt as though I could almost see them if I closed my eyes and just concentrated hard enough. I have a feeling (and sincerely hope) that a sequel will be in the works.
Oh, and I’d LOVE to have Keepsie’s powers, by the way. It’d keep my siblings away from trying to take any of my things.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Just finished listening to the book. Loved it. Good story and well written. Love the characters. Keepsie is so cool and the way her powers developed over the story. I very much liked the variety of wacky powers held by the 3rd wavers, even the not so pleasant one, umm. I have had an interest in a most “super hero” films and TV shows etc and to hear this story that brought it down to street level. Even ordinary people can be special. Mur’s voice was easy to listen to and she portrayed the different characters well. Generally and excellent book. I am recommending it whenever I get the chance.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
I ride my bike while listening to the various podiobooks on this site, and I gotta tell you this one has hooked me. I’m only on episode 6, and I love it. Its well-written, has some of the best audio quality you’ll find, and the tale is gripping. I got so absorbed in this story, that I found myself 7 miles from my house after finishing off the episodes that I had on my ipod.
Overall, extremely satisfying, and definitely scratches that itch of mine for a good story.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Nice voice and reading but the characters and plot are way to childish for my taste. Not recommended for the over 10 crowd.
November 26th, 2009 at 6:49 am
This story reminded my of the tv series Heroes. Great in the beginning, but as the story progresses, the main character becomes more annoying and the story becomes more soapie. Maybe it should have been shorter.
November 2nd, 2010 at 4:13 pm
She is one of the best authors in the world listen to her work now
March 20th, 2011 at 9:29 am
One of the most outstanding titles to download. Cleverly inspired by the likes of The Incredibles and Marvel Civil War, Playing For Keeps takes a hugely popular genre and puts its own unique spin on it.
Some of the elements are in very poor taste (Ian’s power for example), but the plot and characters are beautifully deep and the end result leaves you hungering for a sequel. The writing and narration will certainly have you hooked from start to finish. Easily one of the top five titles Podiobooks to download. Put it on your iPod at once!
Cheers, Mur!
May 16th, 2011 at 5:01 am
Another lovely take on the flipside of superhero reality. The telling and the reading work pretty well for me.
While I don’t at all mind the story having hooks for sequela, it feels jarring to have the hooks wedged in as cliffhangers that feel almost like afterthoughts in the last few breaths of the work.