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  • Hard Magic

  • Book I of the Grimnoir Chronicles
  • By: Larry Correia
  • Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
  • Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (828 ratings)
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Hard Magic cover art

Hard Magic

By: Larry Correia
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
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Editor reviews

Larry Correia has already made a name for himself in the sci-fi/fantasy world with his Monster Hunter books, but now he's written the first in new series that takes place in New York in the 1930s, filled with dubious federal agents, hardboiled detectives, and dames with a whole lotta chutzpah. Except this isn't quite the New York you might expect, but an alternate universe where zeppelins moor at the top of the Empire State Building, the Titanic never sank, and mad scientist Nikola Tesla has created a devastating weapon called the Geo-Tel. Oh, and people have magical powers. They are known as Actives. It's become commonplace for some people to defy gravity, teleport, manipulate animals, and heal by touch. The hero here is Jake Sullivan, a detective and ex-con who is set free by the FBI to track criminal Actives, which J. Edgar Hoover (yeah, he's still around) would like to eradicate.

Actor Bronson Pinchot has become a regular go-to for audiobooks and the reason is obvious - the guy knows how to bring a story to life. Far from his manic days as Balki on Perfect Strangers, Pinchot is a warm, imminently listenable narrator. He's obviously having a ball with Hard Magic, gruffing up his voice for the hardboiled Jake and the various G-men and employing a countrified voice for Faye, a young farm girl who can teleport across great distances and becomes vital to saving the world from destruction by the Geo-Tel. Pinchot gives each character a different voice, so it's easy to keep up with the big cast. Correia writes long, colorful descriptions of his characters and their situations, but those passages never become boring and never get in the way of the action, thanks to Pinchot.

Steampunk lovers will find much to love about Hard Magic, but listeners who love big guns and explosions will be in hog heaven. There are epic, cinematic battles including one over-the-top of a dirigible that is audaciously impossible. Hard Magic almost defies categorization, because Correia has no problem blending science fiction with more fanciful fantasy, even managing to slip in double-headed dragons and imps. The second book in the Grimnoir Chronicles, Spellbound, is coming and let's hope Pinchot has signed on for the audio version. (Collin Kelley)

Summary

Audie Award, Paranormal, 2012

Jake Sullivan is a licensed private eye with a seriously hardboiled attitude. He also possesses raw magical talent and the ability to make objects in his vicinity light as a feather or as heavy as depleted uranium, all with a magical thought. It's no wonder the G-men turn to Jake when they need someone to go after a suspected killer who has been knocking off banks in a magic-enhanced crime spree.

Problems arise when Jake discovers the bad girl behind the robberies is an old friend, and he happens to know her magic is just as powerful as his. And the Feds have plunged Jake into a secret battle between powerful cartels of magic-users - a cartel whose ruthless leaders have decided that Jake is far too dangerous to live.

©2011 Larry Correia (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Hard Magic

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Absolutely riveting!

Have only recently got into Larry Correa , thank goodness it’s not at the start of his writing career as if I had to wait for book 2 I’d be somewhat grizzly.

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Best ever audiobook?!

Possibly the best audiobook I have ever listened to, utterly compelling. Slow start, but totally worth it.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A struggle....

I bought this based on some of the postitive reviews, but to be honest I struggled with the narrative and the pace from the start.
Just a personal thing as I know lots of people love this book, but I struggled with it.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Not my sort of thing

I really thought I would enjoy this but I just couldn’t get into it .Returned it

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

I read the publisher's summary and I was hoping for something like a Raymond Chandler with extra magic. This isn't anything like that. It's grim and dour without the relief of humour or intrigue. Returned unfinished.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

slow to get going

when I first started listening to this story I dipped out several times thinking I had made a mistake buying it. it was so slow to get into the story and my initial reaction was that it was not as entertaining as Larry Correia' other books. I had really enjoyed all the monster hunter books and hoped this was going to be of the same ilk. To be honest the only reason I finished the book was because I had nothing else in my library to listen to. But once I got over the dreadfully slow start and the slow speaking of the main character I started to really enjoy it - I may even get the second in the series whilst I await the next MHI book due in July I believe.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Actually a good book

At first I was unsure if I was going to enjoy this book, but I l found myself really enjoying it with some little comedy moments added in thanks to Faye. Looking forward to hearing the next book in the series.

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Just finish this book

so I have just finished this book to day I and i loved it
it is book 1 of 3 and I now have books 2 and 3 so looking for wood to them

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding

Great story, creative narrator who voiced each characters differently and made the characters come a live and each their own personality. Loved it. Already got next book in series.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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surprising Twists and turns In this one.

what can I say that won't have you screaming SPOILERS at me. Well. Nothing.

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