Gripping story set in a beautiful unusual world.

What did you like most about Dark Eden?

On surface level - a thrilling story told in a beautiful and imaginative way. Going deeper, it says so much about life and human character, the structure of society, history... I love a story that makes me think!

What other book might you compare Dark Eden to, and why?

Dark Eden is hard to compare - if you love science fiction, you will find links to so many books, yet nothing quite like it.

Which character – as performed by Oliver Hembrough and Jessica Martin – was your favourite?

I love how all characters are so transcendent - they all change, cross boundaries, rise and fall, play heroes and villains. It so profoundly reflects the nature of being human, the way people never stay the same, they get wiser, make mistakes, become kind, lose hope, ever-changing. A nice change from the flat characters of countless novels.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I earned a gold all-nighter badge from Audible listening to this! Therefore, you can imagine how hooked I was.

Any additional comments?

Loved it! And don't listen to any comments that complain of the abrupt ending - the ending is perfectly placed and timed. There was no more to tell.

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11 people found this helpful

A good book, and well prersented

Any additional comments?

This takes a while to get where it is going, but worth a listen to on long dog walks...

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4 people found this helpful

Imaginative and out of this world

I loved the descriptions of a very alien world. It sounds stunning, I would love to see this on film. I admired the main character for his cleverness but was frustrated by his occasional impulsiveness, but then he is only 20 wombs (15 years) old at the start. The village mentality adds a lot of tension and I was genuinely nervous when the young hero makes his first big move, awaiting cries of "heretic" from "family!"

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1 person found this helpful

Very well put together and enjoyable!

Would you consider the audio edition of Dark Eden to be better than the print version?

I think the readers performances added an extra dimension to an already good experience!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The story flowed very well and held my interest constantly. Definitely a book I could listen to in one sitting.

Any additional comments?

This story is an excellent example of a well balanced book. It combines an interesting concept and situation in a not to unlikely future with excellent characters, well paced storyline and good plot.
I was very pleasantly surprise with this book!

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7 people found this helpful

A good story with a very abrupt ending

Where does Dark Eden rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a very interesting story told in a very accessible way. Though it is in essence a science fiction story, because of the way that it is told and that it doesn't in any way focus too heavily upon fantasy or science it is quite accessible. Indeed it is told on an alien world, though it is quite easy to overlook that fact since it focuses 80% of the attention upon the characters and their exchanges and interactions.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dark Eden?

That would be difficult to say without betraying a rather huge twist in the story.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performance is very clear and easy to listen to, though there are some occasions where it comes across a little bit too clearly and almost feels as though it is a children's book that is being read. Though otherwise the narration was quite good.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

As aforementioned, that would be difficult to say without giving away big parts of the storyline.

Any additional comments?

Though this was a very enjoyable audio-book and the story and characters were all very good, the ending was quite terribly abrupt, to the point that I had to double check that there was not still another chapter to play or another part of the book to download. It seemed almost as though it finished mid-sentence, and you are left with many questions that can never be answered.

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4 people found this helpful

Impeccable World Building

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely. Beckett has writing skills and the imagination to show a reader a beautifully formed world, a world I loved inhabiting and was sad to have to leave behind.

What did you like best about this story?

The world building through language and the philosophical questions it raised about the beginnings of society and humanity.

Which character – as performed by Oliver Hembrough and Jessica Martin – was your favourite?

Lizzy Spiketree. She evolved beautifully through the story, watching the main character, evolve in his own way.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The heart-stopping moment Lizzy was about to be attacked had such tragic consequences it was difficult not to be moved.

Any additional comments?

The story still runs in my mind; I wonder where the small band of pioneers is now.

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Everything I look for in Science Fiction

With shades of Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm and Pitch Black. It covers human culture, sexuality and belief systems.

Chris Beckett used his background in social work to create an immensely interesting culture on a totally original sci-fi world.

It's well narrated, well written with a fantastic concept at its heart.

In short, it's everything I look for in science fiction.

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12 people found this helpful

Gripping Modern Sci Fi

What made the experience of listening to Dark Eden the most enjoyable?

It's a fresh take on the genre, starting with a previously considered idea of a population abandoned following an exploration from earth but looking at the development in a manner similar to classics like Lord of the Flies

What other book might you compare Dark Eden to, and why?

Lord of the Flies or Earthsearch

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, good narration bringing characters to life.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

My Lord we're flying in space

Any additional comments?

Chris Beckett is an exciting writer well worth keeping an eye on. I'm looking forward to more.

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4 people found this helpful

Good Good : A dark world that’s well worth visiting

Really strong sci-fi novel. A much more interesting book than I’d expected. The world building is imaginative and convincing; the dark world and its creatures are wonderful. But what I most enjoyed was the politics.
While the story is quite simple, it tackles many important themes: charismatic leadership, the rise of authoritarianism, gender roles in politics, ends justifying means (or not), the inertia of security, the lack of clear purpose in some of the things we find ourselves doing, the role of key individuals in nation building, how language grows, changes and gets lost, how you make shoes when you’ve never seen a pair etc.
I found the journeys and their outcomes believable and while I guessed what the end scene might be from early on, I thought it was well worth the ride. The main character, John, is far from a classic hero, yet seems inspired by a need to become one. He is surprising and driven. I also enjoyed the author’s refusal to turn this into either a predictable romance or a goody-baddy fight.
Definitely recommended

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1 person found this helpful

not a sci fi fan but this is worth it!

A friend recommended this. I'm so pleased she did. It kind of went in the direction I had expected it to go but it is so well written and performed that I was happy to go along with it. The real beauty of this audible is the exploration of the complex nature of humanity and human emotion. From a primitive start, the author takes us on a journey, navigating the delicate balance in relationships and clash of character in individual people. I didn't much like many of the characters, this isn't a book where you get one strong character who saves them all, though some would argue this is kind of the plot of the book, but actually the main characters are all flawed and I really liked that and it made everything seem much more realistic. I also like how the tale resonates with the belief systems and tribal consciousness we've come to recognise today, in our politics, media and religion. The good, bringing hope, stability and comfort and the bad, bringing fear, violence and a reluctance for change. I highly recommend it. An excellent book.

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