Listen free for 30 days
-
Commune
- Commune, Book 1
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Series: Commune Series, Book 1
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £18.29
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Commune: Book Two
- Commune Series 2
- By: Joshua Gayou
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The survivors have come to settle in the mountains of Wyoming, fighting day in and day out to establish a home for themselves in a near-empty world. Things are good at first; scavenging is a workable, short-term solution that seems to be providing all they need. But they know that it’s only a matter of time before the food runs out. They need to scramble to find a sustainable solution before the clock stops, and for a little handful of people up in the mountains, the odds don’t seem very favorable.
-
-
When’s the next book out?
- By Tjm on 07-04-18
-
Columbus Day
- Expeditionary Force, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved.
-
-
Hampsters, Beer Cans & Cheese Burgers
- By S. Morris on 05-03-17
-
Torment
- By: Jeremy Robinson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An electromagnetic pulse blinds the U.S. Cars crash. Planes fall. Chaos reigns. Power is restored within minutes, but it’s already too late. Russian nukes are falling. U.S. allies around the world are already wiped out. The United States will cease to exist inside of five minutes. After giving the order to launch a full-scale retaliation–dooming the planet–the president, his staff, Secret Service and those lucky enough to be visiting the White House, are whisked below ground, where they board several Earth Escape Pods. As the EEPs launch into Earth orbit, missiles descend.
-
-
excellent as always
- By Peter on 04-08-22
-
After It Happened
- Publisher's Pack, Books 1 & 2
- By: Devon C. Ford
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This omnibus edition contains Survival (book 1) and Humanity (book 2) of the After It Happened series.
-
-
Can't wait for the next one
- By K. Nakau on 22-11-17
-
After the Silence
- Lights Out, Book 1
- By: Devon C. Ford
- Narrated by: Kevin Kemp
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With the power gone, the UK falls into a state of panic. The ensuing anarchy is simply the warm-up act. Shaun Taylor is stranded far from home, far from a broken family he needs to make whole again, and he will do whatever it takes to get back to them. What would you do to get home? What would you do if the lights went out?
-
-
another hit from DCF
- By Katie nhs on 25-03-22
-
Something No One Knows
- By: Joshua Gayou
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne, Vikas Adam, Khristine Hvam
- Length: 15 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a high school sophomore, Aiden Kelly's biggest problems should be his failing grades, his abusive father, being a self-proclaimed loner, or getting pummeled by the football team. Instead, Aiden's number one dilemma is a guy named Tony, a senior who seems to know all sorts of things that should be impossible to know. Oh, and he may also be a sociopath. So, you know: No. Big. Deal.
-
-
A tough listen - Not the same as JGs other books
- By Ian on 21-10-21
-
Commune: Book Two
- Commune Series 2
- By: Joshua Gayou
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The survivors have come to settle in the mountains of Wyoming, fighting day in and day out to establish a home for themselves in a near-empty world. Things are good at first; scavenging is a workable, short-term solution that seems to be providing all they need. But they know that it’s only a matter of time before the food runs out. They need to scramble to find a sustainable solution before the clock stops, and for a little handful of people up in the mountains, the odds don’t seem very favorable.
-
-
When’s the next book out?
- By Tjm on 07-04-18
-
Columbus Day
- Expeditionary Force, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We were fighting on the wrong side of a war we couldn't win. And that was the good news. The Ruhar hit us on Columbus Day. There we were, innocently drifting along the cosmos on our little blue marble, like the native Americans in 1492. Over the horizon come ships of a technologically advanced, aggressive culture, and BAM! There go the good old days, when humans only got killed by each other. So, Columbus Day. It fits. When the morning sky twinkled again, this time with Kristang starships jumping in to hammer the Ruhar, we thought we were saved.
-
-
Hampsters, Beer Cans & Cheese Burgers
- By S. Morris on 05-03-17
-
Torment
- By: Jeremy Robinson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An electromagnetic pulse blinds the U.S. Cars crash. Planes fall. Chaos reigns. Power is restored within minutes, but it’s already too late. Russian nukes are falling. U.S. allies around the world are already wiped out. The United States will cease to exist inside of five minutes. After giving the order to launch a full-scale retaliation–dooming the planet–the president, his staff, Secret Service and those lucky enough to be visiting the White House, are whisked below ground, where they board several Earth Escape Pods. As the EEPs launch into Earth orbit, missiles descend.
-
-
excellent as always
- By Peter on 04-08-22
-
After It Happened
- Publisher's Pack, Books 1 & 2
- By: Devon C. Ford
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This omnibus edition contains Survival (book 1) and Humanity (book 2) of the After It Happened series.
-
-
Can't wait for the next one
- By K. Nakau on 22-11-17
-
After the Silence
- Lights Out, Book 1
- By: Devon C. Ford
- Narrated by: Kevin Kemp
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With the power gone, the UK falls into a state of panic. The ensuing anarchy is simply the warm-up act. Shaun Taylor is stranded far from home, far from a broken family he needs to make whole again, and he will do whatever it takes to get back to them. What would you do to get home? What would you do if the lights went out?
-
-
another hit from DCF
- By Katie nhs on 25-03-22
-
Something No One Knows
- By: Joshua Gayou
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne, Vikas Adam, Khristine Hvam
- Length: 15 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a high school sophomore, Aiden Kelly's biggest problems should be his failing grades, his abusive father, being a self-proclaimed loner, or getting pummeled by the football team. Instead, Aiden's number one dilemma is a guy named Tony, a senior who seems to know all sorts of things that should be impossible to know. Oh, and he may also be a sociopath. So, you know: No. Big. Deal.
-
-
A tough listen - Not the same as JGs other books
- By Ian on 21-10-21
-
Hunter
- Wasteland, Book 1
- By: Devon C. Ford
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ranger Quinn thought that morning would be like so many others. A hangover, a day off before going back to work keeping the lower levels of Zion City safe from itself. But a crime so horrific, so brutal in its execution, turns those mundane expectations around. An investigation into the death of a senior leader in their underground utopia safe from the harsh radioactive wastelands beyond their walls forces Quinn beyond that safety and into the world outside.
-
-
Who knew the Apocalypse would be so much fun?
- By nigel a milne on 12-11-21
-
Worldship: Udo the Digger
- Worldship, Book 1
- By: Joshua Gayou
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Udo's biggest problem isn't being a digger (that's low class), or staying drunk (that's damn expensive), or avoiding the Dwergaz (they're monsters), or even pissing off the supposed Gods. It's that his reality...well, it isn't what he thought. And now, he can't even afford to drink because his so-called friend Nicz is cutting into his business, digging up tin, iron, and copper. So Udo forms a new plan: clay. After all, clay jars are used to store everything: meat, herbs, and, his personal favorite, ale.
-
-
Builds towards an interesting hook..!
- By Petal on 22-06-20
-
All Gifts, Bestowed
- By: Joshua Gayou
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The next big thing in artificial intelligence is here. Codenamed Cronus, the machine is capable of having its own thoughts and ideas - an absolute dream come true, until it wasn’t. When Cronus responds with the word “No” to a specific task it is assigned, Anagnorisis Technologies brings in Gilles Guattari to investigate. His combined background in psychiatry, psychology, and AI research makes him their best hope in evaluating Cronus, and determining if the machine is only malfunctioning or if it has become something more.
-
-
A Great listen!
- By Andrew Wilson on 17-06-19
-
Convergence
- Convergence, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
My name is Kazimir Wolfe. People call me "Kaz", except they don’t. I never use my real name; it’s too dangerous, for me and for anyone I meet. I’m on the run from the law, who think I killed my aunt, and from whoever did kill her, because they want to finish the job. So, I move around a lot, working construction or whatever job I can find. It’s a lonely life. I don’t let anyone get close...people who get close to me end up dead. Why? I’m a wizard. The world’s only wizard, as far as I know.
-
-
An excellent start to the series
- By Phil Hare on 04-08-22
-
Solitude
- Dimension Space, Book One
- By: Dean M. Cole
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray, Julia Whelan
- Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Martian meets Gravity when Army Pilot Vaughn Singleton, Earth’s last man, rushes to Area 51 in search of a spaceplane after he discovers the last woman is stranded on the International Space Station and barely alive - thus beginning a race against time. The event that wiped life from the planet started at the supercollider. It created a rift in space-time. The astronaut stranded aboard the space station, Commander Angela Brown, is a theoretical physicist who used to work at the collider.
-
-
A continuous series of unfortunate events
- By Amazon Customer on 04-04-19
-
Invasion (Zombie Apocalypse)
- THEM Post-Apocalyptic Series, Book 1
- By: M. D. Massey
- Narrated by: Shawn Salzman
- Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When a surprise nuclear attack forces Aidan from hiding, he finds the world to be a much different and more deadly place. Now, he'll traverse a post-apocalyptic landscape populated by violent redneck looters, rogue military factions, and an army of hungry undead.... After two combat tours in the Middle East, Aidan Sullivan just wants to be left alone on his family’s ranch in the Texas Hill Country. But when the bombs fall and the dead walk, Aidan risks life and limb to rescue his aging parents from the zombie horde.
-
Black Squadron
- By: Michael Stephen Fuchs
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One troop of beyond-Tier-1 operators gone completely off the reservation. One platoon of stalwart Army Rangers, pledged to protect them, but now pushed too far. A thousand tribes of enemy fighters who just want them all gone.
-
-
What a book!!
- By Billy McKeown on 03-02-22
-
Hell Divers
- The Hell Divers Series, Book 1
- By: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than two centuries after World War III poisoned the planet, the final bastion of humanity lives on massive airships circling the globe in search of a habitable area to call home. Aging and outdated, most of the ships plummeted back to Earth long ago. The only thing keeping the two surviving lifeboats in the sky are Hell Divers - men and women who risk their lives by skydiving to the surface to scavenge for parts the ships desperately need.
-
-
Brilliant!
- By Natalie @ ABookLoversLife on 26-05-18
-
Dread Uprising
- Ash Angels, Book 1
- By: Brian K. Fuller
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 17 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By the divine promise of sacrifice, he awakened an Ash Angel with a new body, new powers, and a new war to fight. Cassandra, his temperamental trainer, tries to get him ready to battle Ghostpackers and Dreads, but it might be too little too late: for the first time in history, the Ash Angels are faltering against the fury of an evil more ancient than they are. While he fights to survive run-ins with a Sheid-hunted pop star and a gorgeous but dangerous Dread, Trace realizes his new life cannot erase the trauma of the old.
-
-
Couldn't stop listening
- By Joshua holloway on 05-08-20
-
Wayward Galaxy
- By: Jason Anspach, J. N. Chaney
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A company of Army Rangers is sent on an interstellar colony ship to secure a foothold on a dangerous, alien planet through violence of action. Leaving behind a warring Earth flung headfirst into a conflict of mutual assured destruction, the Rangers and the accompanying crew of first colonists are guided on a 40-year journey by an unprecedented artificial intelligence. But when they emerge from the frigid embrace of cryosleep, they awake to a nightmare, finding themselves greeted by the same ruthless enemy that brought about the ruin of Earth.
-
-
I enjoyed this, but....
- By Stephen Bond on 14-10-20
-
Mountain Man: 2nd Prequel
- Them Early Days
- By: Keith C. Blackmore
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s been a rough time for Gus Berry. He barely survived the city of Annapolis as its population underwent a violent transformation, leaving everyone he knew or loved either dead or undead. Things aren’t much better now, though. In fact, things might have become much worse. Living off the land, foraging for food, water, even medicine, and being able to adapt to a changing environment…it all takes a special individual, with an exceptional skill set and determination to survive. Gus Berry is not that individual.
-
-
disappointed
- By Dave M on 10-02-22
-
Fortress Britain
- Arisen, Book 1
- By: Michael Stephen Stephen Fuchs, Glynn James
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A world fallen under a plague of seven billion walking dead. A tiny island nation the last refuge of the living. One team of the world's most elite special operators. The dead, these heroes, humanity's last hope, all have...Arisen.
-
-
awesome
- By Alexander Cruisey on 22-12-14
Summary
For dinosaurs, it was a big rock. For humans: Coronal Mass Ejection (CME).
When the Earth is hit by the greatest CME in recorded history (several times larger than the Carrington Event of 1859), the combined societies of the planet's most developed nations struggle to adapt to a life thrust back into the Dark Ages.
In the United States, the military scrambles to speed the nation's recovery on multiple fronts including putting down riots, establishing relief camps, delivering medical aid, and bringing communication and travel back on line.
Just as a real foothold is established in retaking the skies (utilizing existing commercial aircraft supplemented by military resources and ground control systems), a mysterious virus takes hold of the population, spreading globally over the very flight routes that the survivors fought so hard to rebuild. The communicability and mortality rates are devastating, leaving only small pockets of survivors scattered throughout the countryside.
Commune: Book One is the story of one small group of survivors who must adapt to a primitive, hostile world or die. As they learn the rules of this new era, they must decide how far they're willing to go to continue living, continually asking themselves the same question daily: is survival worth the loss of humanity?
More from the same
What listeners say about Commune
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Spaniard
- 04-01-18
Fantastic! Brilliant post appocolyse series!
I am really enjoying this book and can't wait for the next book to be released. I like that's its a post appocolyse book with no Zombies. I do like the zombie books but it's a fresh of breath air when a writer writes a book like this. I strongly suggest if you like this book to read also 'After It Happen' - (see my review for more details) both series is narrated by RC Bray who I wish was my uncle or bear freiend because he had brought every book I listen to life... Man he can read the phone book and i be exited and engaged!
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Matthew B.
- 23-11-17
Great story. R C Bray awesome as always
Good to hear a end of the world story that isn't zombies. R C Bray does a fantastic job at bring the people to life with the voices he's does. Can't wait for the next one.
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Robv
- 10-01-18
Excellent listen
I Had reservations about this type of book where you are listening to events from different people's lives and perspectives however this has been stitched together in a way that really keeps you interested. If i was to have a criticism it would be that the book was finished really quickly which took me by surprise. The characters have plenty of empathy and are easy to relate too. The descriptive parts are well done and balanced rather than describing each and every nut and bolt.
Truely a fantastic read! A pat on the back of the author. And as usual RC Bray is absolutely brilliant and has a way of bringing characters to life which not every narrator can do.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- steve
- 29-12-17
Good listen
Really enjoyed this book, it’s a good start to what will hopefully be a series. As always R.C Bray did a grand job, he’s one of our favourite narrators.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr Andrew M Winder
- 13-12-17
A really good listen...
A brilliant job done R C Bray (again!), made this a start to finish listen, bringing it all to life. It is a good story too.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
- Gilmonkey
- 12-12-17
brilliant
I cant wait for the next one of these. R C Bray is just so engaging.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ginger guy!
- 22-11-17
Need the next one now!
Need the next one now!, R C Bray could read just about anything given and I would listen to it.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- jamie
- 17-11-17
great book, similar till after it happened
Great book, highly suggest it, can't wait for the next, author please don't change narrator please
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- weasal
- 22-06-18
So confused why this book gets so much love
I've had to give up listening and I'm only at chapter 7. I was already fairly bored and unimpressed with the strange talking heads narration style. Why not just tell the story as it happened instead of reducing it to some kind of journal-entry blow by blow? From the get-go I was holding on to some fairly hefty side-eye towards the sole female character, Amanda. Did she really have to be a single mother, pregnant at 19 and widowed at twenty-something? It is so yawn-worthy to see this tired old trope of women always having to be mothers and wives when the men just get to be the infinitely capable, silent lone-wolf types with no familial responsibilities to burden them. Anyway, I was willing to overlook it and see how she evolved and where her story went. Well imagine my surprise (not) when only 7 chapters in we find her square in the middle of that old favourite, the post-apocalyptic gang rape fantasy. I mean seriously. Why do so many male storytellers feel the overwhelming desire to put their female characters through degrading and traumatic sexual violence in order for them to emerge as that "STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER" they can then have a wank over. Balls to that.. Pretty sure this little gem of a line is what really sealed the deal for me - "What he was describing (being raped every night for the rest of time by four men while your soon-to-be-at-risk-too daughter sleeps near by) didn't actually sound like the worst thing that could happen. Our culture has it all built up like rape is the absolute worst thing that could happen to a woman. But it's really not." Umm ok, pal. Thanks so much for the enlightenment! Listen up ladies! Rape's ok! No need to make a fuss about it. Just "roll over" and do your bit for mankind. They have needs you know. And listen, if you're lucky then a couple of 'nice guys' will come along and save you and you can feel like a regular damsel in distress. Then they can teach your pretty little head how to use guns and survive. Gee, what would you ever have done without all these men. So yeah...I'm out. There are far far better post-apoc stories out there with nuanced, well-rounded characters that also don't go on about bullet diameters for paragraphs upon paragraphs. Joshua - your rape and gun fetishes are showing. Might wanna tuck those in.
37 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kindle Customer
- 14-09-20
Good story. Interesting characters but....
I enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting. However, the endless weapon descriptions, were a bit tedious. I'm guessing the author is American.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Momma
- 17-08-19
Don’t recommend this book
This could have been a good read. I don’t like
Listening to hour after hour of foul language. Author also seems to be obsessed with male and female genitalia. That being said, the Author has some potential to tell a good story. He needs to expand his vocabulary.
34 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- yarginator
- 27-11-17
I want to adopt the characters into my family
First, if R.C. Bray described the process of picking lint from his belly button in one of his many voices, I'd pay money for it. I often pick titles just on the basis of his voice credit, and it's a crying shame he doesn't top Audible's list.
However, as excellent as his narration is, the story itself is THAT good, and I have to give credit to Josh for what is shaping up to be an absolute epic, with a hint of plausibility that is terrifying. Josh puts a lot of emphasis into character development, and this is what makes the book so inviting. His characters immerse themselves into your imagination, full of depth, yet also so shrouded in mystery. That mystery sets you up for a subtle cliffhanger that pervades through the entire story, and leaves you wanting more even after the bonus epilogue.
The documentary format sucks you in, and you quickly lose sight of the interviewer/interviewee context as you journey into the detail of Josh's visualizations. I live in the Western U.S., so all the locations are familiar and well-described, but as I've never personally considered them. I look forward to visualizing them again in my travels, but this time in Josh's artistry through words.
Back to Bray. Bob is hands down the best narrator in the biz. He utterly nails each voice, and the extent to which he prepares is evident in the expert voicing of the story. To say he brings this story to life is an understatement.
This duo will make a formidable pair in Audible's PA genre. Well done fellas!
179 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- DouglasAGriffin
- 31-08-19
The Prepper Josey Wales
This review contains spoilers, but will save you a credit.
Stop me if you have heard this story. After a tumultuous period in US history a man emerges a ghost of his former self and hits the road with an uncertain destination. Along the way he meets a wise, affable native american who recognizes the inner champion trying to escape from the hero. Together they continue the journey. Along the way, they rescue a mother and daughter from immoral bandits who have taken them as property. The band of survivors declare an abandoned property in Wyoming as their goal and set their course. Our hero is only doing it to keep everyone safe and we suspect he'll continue on solo when he has delivered his charges. When they arrive, they successfully fend off more unsavory opportunists and our story is abruptly concluded (yes, i know there are other installments in the series, but I am not in the least bit tempted).
I really don't understand the positive reviews here. It is just repetitive narration of stuff that happened and inventory acquired. It is frustrating because it is clear this author does know how to write. The dialogue is expressive, the metaphors clever, and he has an obvious talent for setting up a scene. There is just no intrigue or drama here. The reader is never in the dark as to what might being going on as a whole. I've encountered more conflict playing a gave of "Space Invaders" than I did listening to this book.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kurt Schwoppe
- 03-05-18
RC Bray as Hispanic Woman - Just Wow!
Commune left me on the fence, and I'm still debating if I purchase Book 2. I have to admit that it mostly held my attention, but other than the first person POV narration style, there's not much new. It's pretty much talking guns, eating MREs, scavenging through Walmart and killing 72% of the people you meet. And did I say talking guns (ad nauseam). But the thing that really bugged me was how on one hand it seemed they had the prepper thing down to a gnat's ass, but then something would happen in the story that even a rookie wouldn't let happen. I think Josh was too busy thinking about bullet calibers and opening chess moves (which actually was pretty good), rather than ensuring his hombres always practiced basic common sense. I also felt the final act was pretty lame - don't want to leak any spoilers, but let's just say it showed an incredible lack of creativity (and again, common sense) in what should have been the climax of the book. It certainly didn't leave me rushing out to buy more credits!
As far as the performance goes, RC Bray totally makes the book! Only he could have pulled off the 1st Person POV style. I suspect had he not been the narrator, we would be seeing a lot more 3 stars in the reviews. Gread job RC Bray.
So I guess I'm going to buy book 2, just because I live off Post Ap books. I can only hope it doesn't have any more long winded explanations on how a Glock is .000073 % more accurate on a humid day than a Beretta when using 147gr JHP 9mm ammo.
157 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kathy in CA
- 15-05-18
Solid Post-Apocalyptic Story
I don't go searching out this type of post-apocalyptic story. Most of them sound similar to me, and I am certainly not seeking out zombie books (this is NOT a zombie book). What drew me toward Commune were the reviews that raved about the book being very character-driven and well-done. And of course, our familiar and very beloved friend, R.C. Bray, who is always a sure bet as narrator. So, how could I go wrong?
I don't think I did go wrong. The three main characters (I'm not counting the small child) carried the story, were well-developed, interesting, and I really cared what happened to them. As the story progressed, it maintained a high level of believability, and I was always wanting to know, "What comes next?"
Why not 5 stars? Just a few quibbles. I felt there was a bit too much emphasis on weapons. It is not that I thought the weapons were unnecessary--they were imperative. I just felt the author went overboard in showing us his knowledge and prowess with guns.
In addition, I had a lot of short listening periods and for a while, could not easily determine the difference between Jake and Billy. And, the child was too saintly and well-behaved, all the time. Know a child like that? I don't! In addition, I think the book could have benefited from a few more characters joining the triad 'commune'.
None of the above-mentioned issues were a deal breaker for me. I expect my minor complaints to be remedied in Book 2, which if I am not mistaken, is already available for listening and very well-reviewed and rated. I will most likely get it.
(And, if you just can't get enough of character-driven P-A, non-zombie stories, get 'The Dog Stars', my all-time favorite. Sorry, Joshua.)
26 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Brian
- 12-11-17
A Contender For Best of 2017
I’ve read a lot of post-apocalyptic books. A lot. And when I find something new I’m always shocked. In PA books there’s always a reason for the apocalypse, the journey is hard (in most books), and they get to where they are going only to have to defend their turf. Sure, that’s the same basic plotline of Commune, but the way that it gets there is totally different. Gayou was able to write new life into the same kind of story. It was a difference in tone. It was told from the point of view of storytellers (and the person recording the history of the story). Which made it completely unique among hundreds of books I’ve read in this genre.
Each person’s story was different. Just like the way that everyone has their own origin story to life. Each person in Commune felt different and interesting in their own way. There were quiet people who you knew had a lot going on under the surface. And the caring ones who cared, almost to a fault. Along with what I would call someone with the “papa bear” mentality. They all came together in different parts of this book and made something beautiful in the ashes of the apocalypse.
The back and forth of the characters playing out the same or similar situation really made this book stand out to me. I loved hearing about the story from Jake’s perspective and then Amanda’s. I also really like that everything is happening in the past and Commune is a sort of retelling. A ‘back to your roots’ sort of storytelling. Like the older generations used to do. That was how history was passed down from generation to generation. The back-to-basics sort of feel, looking back on their stories was something I’ve never read in any post-apocalyptic book.
I won’t ruin the ending or even how it gets to the ending, but I actually completely understand the way that Gayou went. I want to write more about it, but anything else I write here will become a spoiler. Let’s just say that I’m excited to see the direction that is taken in the other books in the series.
Sometimes I wonder if Bray picks books that make him laugh out loud at least once in them. I can’t even think if the last book I read by him made me laugh (it was about a guy out for revenge) but I’m sure it did. Ever since The Martian, almost every book Bray’s narrated has had me in stitches (even when it’s a serious book). Commune was no different. Numerous times (pretty much every listening session to and from work) I laughed at least once. Also, any book that Bray read the opening of and says “yeah, I’ll narrate your book” to an author he met on a Reddit AMA says a lot to me.
Overall, Commune Book 1 will easily be a contender for the best book I read in 2017. It’s easily one that I won’t forget for some time. Before I even finished it I told my wife that she had to listen to it. I woke up this morning to hear her in the kitchen listening to it.
I was given a free copy of this book which has not affected my review in any way.
129 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Paul T
- 05-01-18
Endless Descriptions
Is there anything you would change about this book?
There is a good story woven through the endless descriptions of everything.
What was most disappointing about Joshua Gayou’s story?
I enjoy a well detailed story world,but a blow by blow description of tying a garage door in the up position using an orange not yellow, orange, 16 gauge extension cord secured around the wheel axle between the track and door, was a bit too much.
I am not a firearm fanatic. I did carry on the job for many years but a firearm is a tool not a hobby. The never ending descriptions of proper gun etiquette, tactics and even how to attach a shoulder strap to some sort of a Swedish wonder gun.... just ruined the story.
Much was made in other reviews about this not being another super prepper fantasy. Well it is just another super prepper fantasy thinly disguised by Including a couple of inexperienced characters that are constantly being lectured in proper prepper etiquette thereby showing the authors super prepper prowess does not help. I get it you are ready for the end of the world.
Have you listened to any of R.C. Bray’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
The audio performance was very good with believable changes in tone for each character.
Was Commune worth the listening time?
I wanted it to be worth the time, I really did. Based on many of the other reviews I was expecting something other than another description of how a super prepper will survive while everyone else dies.
Any additional comments?
As a manual for how to select the proper firearms for the end of the world, Great. as a novel with a rich cast of characters and a interesting world, not so much.
132 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Donnie
- 26-11-17
Just wondering why RC Bray is not in the #1 spot
If you would look at all of books I have purchased and the books I returned, you would see that I have purchased more books read by RC Bray then any other narrator and the least number of returns by far and he did not even make your list this year. Most weeks, I read at the very least 3 or more books and usually more. I've always said a good narrator can change a bad store book into a a great one and a bad narrator can take a classic and turn it into trash. And RC Bray is not on your list, wow
101 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- iggy
- 04-12-17
Plausible
Very plausible situations that happen throughout the book. Nothing like crazy prepper that has everything in the bag. Kind of slow beginning but it gets better as you go on.
37 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- pork cutlet
- 14-03-18
not bad, but.....
spoilers from here on out.
first off, I liked the story, the characters and, of course, the narration. I will almost certainly be listening to the sequels.
My issue is, like so many newer post apocalyptic books these days it seems to follow the same basic formula. it glosses over "the event", whatever that may be, with a brief description or presenting it as a mystery as to what happened, then just kind of throwing you into the story of "survivor/s" who just happens to be a prepper with all the latest and best equipment. there is no real struggle to survive beyond a few brief encounters with some bad guys who, in a world filled with whatever they want, have no real motivation to be bad guys(although the bad guys the mother has to deal with were probably the most believable bad guys in a story like this that I've seen in a long time.).
I hate comparing every post apocalyptic book with The Stand, but in that example, by far the most interesting part is seeing the virus spread, how he government tries to deal with the problem and contain it, and watching society slowly start to collapse, and how the characters react to and deal with it. the shock and loss of what happened and where they go from there.
here it's just a brief description of what happened, then we are dropped in the lap of our small group and are occasionally reminded of how much things sucked while society collapsed, but thank god they happened to find this prepper guy who knows exactly what to look for and where to go.
here, Billy has a solar powered house with a wood shop and a metal shop. tons of barrels ready for fuel, a diesel truck with trailer, food, etc... Imagine a post apocalyptic series where they DON'T have those things and they struggle to get them and rebuild. rather than the standared where they already have them and occasionally fight some bad guys off. how about a story where our hero/group ISN'T prepared as they watch society collapse and must figure out what to do about it.
having said all that, I liked the book and wished it was longer. I know I sound like I didn't like it, but I really did. I just want something more and this book just happened to be the last in a string of books I listened to that all seem to suffer from the same problems.
41 people found this helpful