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The Chronoliths cover art

The Chronoliths

By: Robert Charles Wilson
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
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Summary

Scott Warden is a man haunted by the past - and soon to be haunted by the future. In early 21st-century Thailand, Scott is an expatriate slacker. Then, one day, he inadvertently witnesses an impossible event: the violent appearance of a 200-foot stone pillar in the forested interior. Its arrival collapses trees for a quarter mile around its base, freezing ice out of the air and emitting a burst of ionizing radiation. It appears to be composed of an exotic form of matter. And the inscription chiseled into it commemorates a military victory - 16 years in the future.

Shortly afterwards, another, larger pillar arrives in the center of Bangkok - obliterating the city and killing thousands. Over the next several years, human society is transformed by these mysterious arrivals from, seemingly, our own near future. Who is the warlord "Kuin" whose victories they note?

Scott wants only to rebuild his life. But some strange loop of causality keeps drawing him in, to the central mystery and a final battle with the future.

©2002 Robert Charles Wilson (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Chronoliths

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A totally engrossing Sci-Fi Classic

The Chronoliths is a temporal paradox story. The central question of who or what is "Kuin" pulls you in like a black hole. The first person narrative of protagonist Scott Wardon makes the character incredibly authentic. And if you have downloaded Gateway or Man Plus, both by Frederik Pohl, thae you are guaranteed to enjoy The Chronoliths, too.

The story never strays from the mysterious appearances, creating a strong plot that does not overshadow the characters, yet provides plenty of opportunity for drama.

Oliver Wyman gives a marvellous performance--both of male and female characters--without rushing the story. And his rather staid yet sarcastic intonations serve to contrast the dour humour against Wardon's ever worsening predicament; you can't help but sympathise and like Wardon, who reveals himself to be all too human, though witty, which makes him an appealing character with whom to spend time.

A definite download.

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

Great story, albeit shorter than I expected.

I was looking for a good time travel novel and this hit the spot but not in the way I imagined. The story is more about human connections and our tangled experience through life, wrapped under the blanket of a sci-fi novel.

I will admit I was slightly disappointed with the ending, expecting more closure than it gave.

Though the author takes some liberties with the scientific parts of the concept of time travel, he has done this in a fantastic manner.

The narration was okay. I am still uncertain why the narrator chose to give the main protagonist such an exhausted, emotionless voice. The other characters were voiced well. There were a couple of mistakes, in particular I think the narrator forgot to switch voices once or twice.

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