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  • Syncing Forward

  • By: W. Lawrence
  • Narrated by: Will Damron
  • Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (249 ratings)
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Syncing Forward cover art

Syncing Forward

By: W. Lawrence
Narrated by: Will Damron
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Summary

Travel to the future - it will only cost you everyone you love.

Attacked and injected with a drug that slows his metabolism to a fraction of normal, Martin James becomes an unwilling time traveler who hurtles through the years. His children grow up, his wife grows older, and his only hope is finding the people who injected him in the first place - not an easy task when one day for Martin lasts four years. And while Martin James strives to find a cure before everyone he loves is gone, others are uncertain if his journey can be stopped at all.

W. Lawrence weaves a dystopian future filled with the best and worst of humanity, highlights the blessings and curses of technology, and pushes the limits of faith and hopelessness. Above all, Syncing Forward is a tale of one man's love for his family and their devotion to saving him from being lost forever.

©2014 W. Lawrence (P)2016 Podium Publishing

Critic reviews

  • Winner: 2016 Voice Arts Award for Audiobook Narration - Fiction, Best Narrator

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What listeners say about Syncing Forward

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Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Good concept but unremittingly bleak

I was interested in the ideas and characters in this book but found that I was worn down by the constant barrage of bad news and misfortune for the characters. There was never any hope or redemption. Hard to listen to.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Refreshingly Original

What did you like most about Syncing Forward?

The originality of the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The protagonist's eldest daughter. She is a very believable yet complex character.

What does Will Damron bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I don't usually like narration that has a slow tempo but Damron's slowish style was never sluggish. It seemed perfectly paced and in a strange way was a perfect match for the fast paced environment of the book. He did an excellent job and though I have a few favourite narrators on Audible I really don't think anyone would have done a better job. Damion was a perfect choice for this book.

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

Definitely. I actually listened to it in 2 sittings.

Any additional comments?

I may be wrong but after reading and listening to many hundreds of books (probably closer to thousands) over the years I've never came across one quite like this. It retains its originality throughout while still using the tried-and-tested formulas for character building, interpersonal relationships and drama that you'd expect from a good book. The book was brilliantly written and excellently narrated. It has made me want to hear more from both the author and the narrator. Well done Audible for bringing this book to your listeners.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

Any additional comments?

I am astounded not to have heard about this and simply stumbled across it!!! I can imagine it as a film, would have to be a three hour film though...The story of a man who after being injected by terrorists, has to be 'synced' every few months or years just to spend a little time with family as he slows down to the extent where for him four years is one day (as in fours years only feels like one day for him - everyone else seems to speed up). His metabolism is so slow that he isn't aging so he goes through the agony of seeing his family die, then grandchildren and eventually he's 100 years into the future. Such a clever premise, brilliantly written and perfectly executed by the narrator.I found the gradual jumps forwards fascinating as they seemed to depict a possible future based on the way the world seems to be moving politically, technologically etc Can't recommend this enough.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Oh Wow!

This is was nothing like I expected, the description just scratches the surface, it is so so much more.
Don't expect Classic sci fi or every day time travel, this is a completely new twist . Its a must read, it makes you feel uncomfortable as you realise the implications of circumstances the characters find themselves in.
This is going to be be a best seller/classic read and is difficult to describe without removing the surprise.
So if your adventurous go for it, I don't think you will regret it.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Depressing

The story is very clever and I loved parts of the descriptions of the future and his travel through time but it was a very depressing read, it was 70% death 20% excitement and 10% positive. Was a bit of a struggle and a bit disappointing at the end!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent - hope W Lawrence writes more!

Where does Syncing Forward rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have listened to many audiobooks and this has to be one of my favourites.

What did you like best about this story?

The author sympathetically deals with the issues faced by the central character and really brings him to life. I also thought the descriptions of the changing world were excellent - technology, economics, politics.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The entire book! I was sad when it finished.

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

I would not have listened in one sitting even if I could as after each few chapters I listened to I enjoyed letting them sink in and fire the imagination.

Any additional comments?

I love historical novels and historical facts. Also enjoy Stephen King. Have so much wanted to enjoy sci-fi and this single book has whetted my appetite for the genre as no other book has.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Promising but very sentimental

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This had a promising story, but the plot is lost amid endless sentimentality from the main character; he is a family man and obviously and understandably massively upset by the situation he finds himself in. But, after hours of listening to him wish things were different, reminisce about when his girls were little and go off on long overly sentimental ramblings about how unfair his situation is I found it just too repetitive and annoying to stick with to find out how the story ends. I was expecting a bit of a sci-fi/mystery, and this is much more a family drama with a futuristic twist.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Amazing concept and wonderful storyline

The storyline is so unique and not what I was expecting. So many twists and turns that kept me guessing. The raw emotion of the characters are shown beautifully and everytime I went to stop reading I had to do one more chapter!
The narration was done beautifully too. Highly recommend this book!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Petulant characters, slow and predictable plot

The most striking thing about this story was the continual petulance of the main characters - self-absorbed kids who never grow up yet presented as adults who have become masterful authorities in their fields.

I feel really disappointed by this book... it promised to be so much more. But a mess of religious fundamentalism, attempted political insight and futurism, all combined with a plot twist you can see a mile off, it completely missed any target for genuine vision or suspense. It is one of those where I forced myself to continue just for the sake of feeling it worth the purchase price.

The narration was fine - no complaints about that (and I think it may have been one of the things that actually helped me finish it), but the story just didn't carry it otherwise.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Religion and daddy issues

Religion in sci-fi - easy turn off. Add the soppy daddy story and it had me wanting to turn it off constantly. Narrator did a decent job, only saving grace.

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