Reamde Audiobook [Free Download by Trial]

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Reamde

The readers can download Reamde Audiobook for free via Audible Free Trial.


Summary

In 1972, Richard Forthrast, the black sheep of an Iowa farming clan, fled to the mountains of British Columbia to avoid the draft. A skilled hunting guide, he eventually amassed a fortune by smuggling marijuana across the border between Canada and Idaho. As the years passed, Richard went straight and returned to the States after the U.S. government granted amnesty to draft dodgers. He parlayed his wealth into an empire and developed a remote resort in which he lives. He also created T'Rain, a multibillion-dollar, massively multiplayer online role-playing game with millions of fans around the world. But T'Rain's success has also made it a target. Hackers have struck gold by unleashing REAMDE, a virus that encrypts all of a player's electronic files and holds them for ransom. They have also unwittingly triggered a deadly war beyond the boundaries of the game's virtual universe - and Richard is at ground zero. Racing around the globe from the Pacific Northwest to China to the wilds of northern Idaho and points in between, Reamde is a swift-paced thriller that traverses worlds virtual and real. Filled with unexpected twists and turns in which unforgettable villains and unlikely heroes face off in a battle for survival, it is a brilliant refraction of the twenty-first century, from the global war on terror to social media, computer hackers to mobsters, entrepreneurs to religious fundamentalists. Above all, Reamde is an enthralling human story - an entertaining and epic page-turner from the extraordinary Neal Stephenson.

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6 comments

  • I don't make any money from writing reviews. I write them because other people's reviews really help me decide which books to spend my hard-earned cash and precious time on. I want to give back the same way others have helped me. Sometimes I struggle because I have a certain level of respect for the author, for one reason or another, and it makes it hard to write a review that isn't all glowing praise. This is one of those times. I picked up this book because I had just finished Snow Crash and it absolutely blew my mind. I still can't get over how impressed I was with every aspect of that book. Unfortunately, Reamde didn't live up to Snow Crash. When I review a book, I ask myself a few questions and evaluate based on my answers. So here are my thoughts on Reamde: Did I enjoy it? - Not really. Was it well written? - Yes. Was the storyline unique? - Not at all. Were the characters well-developed? - Definitely. Did I care about the characters? - Not really. Did I start thinking about my next read? - After the first third of the book, I realized it wasn't going to improve and started thinking about my next choice a lot. Did I not want the book to end? - Never. Did it make me laugh or cry? - Not once. Was it socially redeeming? - No. Did it have a satisfying ending? - It had a sense of finality, which was good, but it took too long to get there. Was the narration good? - Very well done. Was the production quality good? - Overall, yes, except for how the service pronounced "Reamde." And finally, would I recommend the book? - Only if you're into car chases and action-packed terrorist stories that don't offer anything unique. There weren't actual car chases, but it felt like a 38 and a half hour long one.
  • What a wild ride! Reamde kicks off with a diverse and captivating group of characters. As the story unfolds, their paths intertwine only to be torn apart again, scattering them across the globe. Some find themselves alone, while others form small groups. The rest of the narrative slowly brings these individuals back together, leading to an intense climax and resolution. Some will survive, while others won't. The book switches between these different characters and groups as they navigate through hijacked planes, drifting boats at sea, treacherous mountain passes, and various cities worldwide. Each transition leaves you wondering about the fate of the others, creating anticipation until the focus shifts again, revealing another piece of the puzzle in a different part of the world. Malcolm Hillgartner's narration is outstanding, and I appreciated his style. He avoids exaggerating female voices, which was a relief. Additionally, he handles the accents of the different nationalities admirably. An added bonus of the story is the captivating world of T’Rain—a virtual online role-playing game that plays a crucial role. T’Rain's mystical environment adds a fascinating element to the narrative, which I thoroughly enjoyed. On the downside, the last four hours of the novel could have benefited from some editing. It dragged on for too long and would have been more impactful with a cleaner, more concise style. I also couldn't help but notice the author's frequent use of the word "inferred," which could practically inspire a drinking game. Overall, it was a highly enjoyable experience, and I will definitely be exploring more of Neal Stephenson's novels.
  • I recently found a friend who hasn’t read Neal Stephenson. He asked me to describe his books. I used words like Journey, Swashbuckling, Hilarious, etc. And certainly Reamde was everything I expected. So good. I only wish it was longer. The narrator NAILED the characters perfectly. He’s amazing
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