Book Information
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This podiobook is complete
In the Service of Samurai by Gloria Oliver
Fantasy
Click the arrow below to listen to the first episode of this free audio book:

The choice: Serve the undead or become one of them.
Toshi never expected the strange visitor who one evening stepped foot inside
his master's shop. A samurai smelling of the sea, dripping on the ground,
algae strung from his armor. For the first time in his life, he discovers
that monsters do roam the earth. And this one has been specifically looking
for him.
Dragged from his home and all he has ever known, Toshi must now use his
acquired skills in foreign maps to help the creatures who have taken him.
Yet at every turn there are problems. There are even those seeking to
terminate his very life, not wanting his new master to succeed in his
assigned task. And when they do find it, Toshi discovers his new master's
enemies have prepared for their eventual arrival, leaving him the only one
capable of recovering what has been lost. Can he do what even the undead
cannot? Or will he fail and be forced to wander the world as one of them?

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works- 3.0 United States License.
Audio Quality:
Out of 53 ratings
Narration Quality:
Out of 53 ratings
Writing Quality:
Out of 53 ratings
Overall Rating:
Out of 53 ratings
By: Gloria Oliver
Hi, Angeleyes. NOt sure what to tell you. You are the first person ever to question the ending. As to how they became undead, it was exlained that it occured through Asaka's will. Since this is a Fantasy Japan where monsters exist for real, the energies are there for these types of things to happen. As to how they regained their honor? They did so by completing their mission. Through Toshi, they were able to find the kettle and bring it (and the hidden item) to Asano. As for the short chapters...this was my very first attempt with anything to do with MP3's and I had no idea how to do this. That the stuff came out halfway decent is a miracle in itself. :P Hope I was able to answer your questions.By: AngelEyes
I have just finished this podiobook and was left with many questions. I listened to the last two chapters twice as I thought I had missed something. What happened? I really enjoyed the story and the adventure it produced. The way the story progressed made me care about the charactors and I looked forward to the next chapter. But the last chapter should have answered my questions - like how they became the undead, where they went after the honor was regained and why was the honor regained. What was done to acheive this? I was also upset that Yoshi never had some kind of closure with the undead. The story also ended stating that all of Yoshi's questions would be answered and that is what I was looking for. Is there a sequel that will finish the story? Or did I miss a chapter or two? Are there more than 40 chapters? By the way I feel that with the intro and exit lines of each chapter some of the shorter (2 to 4 minute) chapters should have been combined with just a small interlude of the drum music (10 to 15 seconds) in between to separate the changes in story line which may have brought the chapter total to around 30. All in all I did like the book but hated the ending.By: Kelsey
While this story wasn't exactly what I was expecting (a samurai story made me think it would have more action) I can't say I was disappointed. I really liked the development of the main characters (Toshi and Miko) and thought it was well done. I really came to like them. I also found myself drawn into the story and the world. I really enjoy when a story takes a traditionally evil creature (undead) and makes me care about them. My complaints are minor. Since I listen to these on headphones, I could really notice the low bit rate of the mp3s. While not a deal-breaker, it would be nice to have them a bit cleaner without the audio artifacts. Story-wise, I would have liked some of the supporting characters to be developed a bit more, especially Asaka-sama. I just felt like I really didn't know him. Overall, I found this a fun and entertaining story and I certainly recommend it. Thanks Gloria for making it available and for allowing me to enjoy your world.
Chapters
| Title | Description | Date Created |
| Episode 1 (13.37 MB) | Toshi is kidnapped by an undead samurai and taken to their ship waiting out in the bay. | Jul 5, 2006 |
| Episode 2 (6.43 MB) | Toshi meets the undead geisha, Miko, and finds out the reason he has been kidnapped. | Jul 5, 2006 |
| Episode 3 (5.74 MB) | Toshi's skills are tested by Asaka-sama on his ability to use foreign instruments and read foreign maps. | Jul 5, 2006 |
| Episode 4 (7.07 MB) | Terribly sea sick, Toshi is comforted by the geisha and also gets to learn a little more of how his captors came to their fate. | Jul 5, 2006 |
| Episode 5 (6.24 MB) | Toshi is tested again, learns a bit more about Asaka, and also finds out the instruments he is using were stolen from the foreigners he'd befriended at home. | Jul 5, 2006 |
| Chapter 6 (10.55 MB) | The map to the islands has disappeared. Toshi is accused of destroying it. | Jul 19, 2006 |
| Chapter 7 (4.83 MB) | Toshi makes a copy of the map hoping to figure out a way to use it to get help. | Jul 19, 2006 |
| Chapter 8 (13.49 MB) | Miko despairs of waking Toshi, noticing that the ship's cold has taken hold of him. | Jul 19, 2006 |
| Chapter 9 (4.84 MB) | The ship reaches the first of the Shakuti islands. While most of the crew is gone, Toshi is attacked. | Aug 2, 2006 |
| Chapter 10 (7.59 MB) | After his near death experience, Toshi is charged with learning to protect himself. The group moves on to search other islands. | Aug 6, 2006 |
| Chapter 11 (6.58 MB) | Toshi's training continues as more islands are searched. | Aug 14, 2006 |
| Chapter 12 (1.36 MB) | The group has found a bigger island. Toshi sees signs of living people. | Aug 20, 2006 |
| Chapter 13 (2.61 MB) | The right island is found! Toshi is told he will be needed but not how. | Aug 20, 2006 |
| Chapter 14 (13.25 MB) | Toshi makes his way to the old temple and looks for the object the samurai needs. | Aug 28, 2006 |
| Chapter 15 (0.87 MB) | Toshi, the ghost, and part of the price. | Sep 5, 2006 |
| Chapter 16 (19.48 MB) | The prize is won and Toshi is freed, but new complications arise. | Sep 5, 2006 |
| Chapter 17 (7.56 MB) | Toshi has the dreaded meeting with Asaka. Not all goes as expected. | Sep 10, 2006 |
| Chapter 18 (5.25 MB) | Toshi tries to deal with the truth of the choice he has been given. | Sep 20, 2006 |
| Chapter 19 (9.26 MB) | It is time for Toshi to make his choice. | Sep 24, 2006 |
| Chapter 20 (4.98 MB) | Preparations are made for the journey. | Oct 2, 2006 |
| Chapter 21 (3.29 MB) | The crew says goodbye to the ship. | Oct 8, 2006 |
| Chapter 22 (1.75 MB) | Toshi is left to begin his trek alone. | Oct 8, 2006 |
| Chapter 23 (3.59 MB) | Toshi's first day alone. | Oct 14, 2006 |
| Chapter 24 (8.14 MB) | Toshi avoids trouble but then meets another mysterious priest. | Oct 14, 2006 |
| Chapter 25 (5.09 MB) | Temptation leads to Toshi's capture. | Oct 22, 2006 |
| Chapter 26 (6.57 MB) | Toshi figures out a way to escape. | Oct 30, 2006 |
| Chapter 27 (5.54 MB) | Using the new means of transport, Toshi comes closer to Narashi. | Nov 7, 2006 |
| Chapter 28 (5.2 MB) | Toshi is transformed and given his orders by Asaka. | Nov 13, 2006 |
| Chapter 29 (6.63 MB) | Toshi enters the castle and comes to find all is not as expected. | Nov 21, 2006 |
| Chapter 30 (2.05 MB) | The feeling that all is not as it should be increases. | Nov 26, 2006 |
| Chapter 31 (2.31 MB) | Toshi finds out that the end of his journey is not as close as originally thought. | Nov 26, 2006 |
| Chapter 32 (8.12 MB) | Toshi meets Lord Asano's daughter, Himiko. | Dec 3, 2006 |
| Chapter 33 (6.59 MB) | Tsuyu enters the scene. | Dec 14, 2006 |
| Chapter 34 (2.02 MB) | Toshi learns of Tsuyu's infiltration and plans. | Dec 24, 2006 |
| Chapter 35 (3.42 MB) | Himiko lets Toshi know things may have turned for the worse. | Dec 24, 2006 |
| Chapter 36 (5.14 MB) | An old enemy returns. | Dec 31, 2006 |
| Chapter 37 (5.67 MB) | Toshi's secrets are exposed. | Dec 31, 2006 |
| Chapter 38 (8.58 MB) | Toshi and Himiko come up with a desperate plan to try to obtain the Asano's attention | Jan 7, 2007 |
| Chapter 39 (10.15 MB) | Death appears in the night. | Jan 14, 2007 |
| Chapter 40 (12.18 MB) | Toshi finally meets with Asano, but all does not go as expected. | Jan 21, 2007 |
| Chapter 41 (11.25 MB) | Honor is restored. | Jan 28, 2007 |

