Departure

A Great Sci-Fi Story With Lots of Twists and Turns

Departure was a very intriguing story with a mysterious plot that had lots of twist and turns and had me on edge and guessing throughout the story. I was unable to stop listening to the story well into the wee hours of the night.

This story was also thought provoking on the chaos that would follow a plan crash if there was no leader or resources to depend on.

My credit was well spent on this story!

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

Ridiculous, Boring and Flat

Nick Stone and Harper Lane have never met. He’s a successful venture capitalist. She’s a successful ghost writer. The one thing that they have in common is that they are on the same transatlantic flight, which crash-lands in a lake in a rural part of England. Some passengers die on impact. Some drown. Some survive only to grow old and succumb to old age within days. All of this tragedy happens via narrator monotone without any feeling or depth.

At first Riddle’s novel feels like a knock-off of the TV series, Lost, as Nick and Harper make their way through this alternate reality in which they find themselves. The reader’s experience mimics that of the protagonists, both finding that they are in a quandary, succinctly noted by Harper herself at one point: “Stand-alone novel? Sci-fi? Thriller? Time travel?” Eventually, the author pulls back enough of the curtain that we figure it out. (So do Nick and Harper.)

The story does have, in this reviewer’s opinion, a very distracting element in its telling. As the narratortakes in the adventure, he or she must do it simultaneously from two different points of view: Riddle has chosen to write this book in first-person-present tense – but from two different characters. In one chapter, we see part of the story directly through Harper’s eyes: “I can only sit, in a daze.” Yet in the next chapter, we see a different part of the story through Nick’s eyes: “They call it the Palm. I call it hell.” Unfortunately, Harper’s and Nick’s voices are nearly identical. If a reader opened a page at random, there would be no way of knowing who doing the “telling” at that moment.

It left me feeling like I have a crook in my neck from watching a tennis match at Wimbledon: back and forth and back and forth… A switch to an omniscient POV would have made the novel much more delightful.

One other weakness in the writing is the fact that there is an excessive amount of boring back story that is delivered to the narrator via monologue – vis-à-vis one character telling another either what is happening in that moment or what has happened in the past. Again, a different choice of POV could have made the reader’s experience more enjoyable.

For readers who don’t mind first-person-present POV, the author’s choice may not be a hindrance. His plot idea is inventive, and his characters are likeable. In the end, we are rooting for them. But it took so long to get to that point it ruined the whole book for me.

Nicola Barber voice was so soft I had to keep adjusting the volume, Scott Aiello voice was great and he should narrated the entire book.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

The start of a new series I suspect..

What did you like best about Departure? What did you like least?

Creative and thought provoking was what I liked best, esp. given the way it started and then twisted at the conclusion. It started rather predictably, but certainly didn't end that way.

What I didn't enjoy? Sometimes abit disjointed in the continuity, and the editing wasn't ideal.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Candidly, not much. Riddle is a fine writer, and pulled this one off with style and grace.

Which character – as performed by Nicola Barber and Scott Aiello – was your favorite?

The female Swiss doctor was quite the piece of work.

Was Departure worth the listening time?

Definitely.

Any additional comments?

I certainly hope this is the beginning of a series ( it has the feel, and I think it is already actually). As previously noted, a fine performance of an original idea. Worth the time and the credit!

44 of 48 people found this review helpful

Amazing!

Any additional comments?

This was nothing like I expected! To tell the truth, I didn't know what to expect when I started it but what I got was an amazing experience.

I'm not going to get into the plot in case I inadvertently spoil something so I'll just get right into what I thought.

Harper is such an amazing Heroine. I loved that she was a writer!! Flight 305 is her first time in first class, which is where she meets Nick. I loved her voice and her thoughts. Despite being terrified when the crash happens, she still does whats needed with no hesitation. I loved her strength and her inherent niceness.

Nick was so mysterious at the start. We didn't get a sense of what he did for a living and I thought he was maybe military. He was so strong, brave and dependable the whole way through the story. I really liked his character and was thrilled to see him show his feelings for Harper!

Plot wise I found it to be so captivating and intriguing. The plane crashes and no one comes to the passengers rescue, which is weird, add in a barren place with very little life, a rebuilt Stone Henge and a London that's abandoned and you have the makings of a phenomenal book, and it was! I started reading (well listening) and I couldn't stop. There is so many twists and turns that you will be turning the pages as fast as you can to see what happens.

Anyway, I absolutely loved everything about this book. Both the plot and the characters were well written and developed. From it's intrinsic and intriguing plot to it's wonderfully written story, Departure is a must read. If this book is any indication of his work, then I can not wait to read more by him. Amazing.

I listened to the audio and it was fantastic. Both narrators did a brilliant job with the story. They gave it their all and it showed. They drew me into the story and made me a part of it. As I was listening to it, it played out like a movie in my head and I loved it. Highly recommend.

32 of 36 people found this review helpful

Couldn't stay with it

I have tried to listen to this several times, but just can't stay with the book. It's hard to follow. Scott, the male narrator does a good job in narration, but Nicola reads like she's whispering. I have to crank up the volume to make out what she's saying.

The situation at the beginning of the story was interesting, because it seemed like a good way to start a book, however I didn't find the rest of the story interesting enough to finish it.

30 of 34 people found this review helpful

To Believe or Not To Believe, That's The Question

A.G. Riddle's new novel "Departure" is written in multiple genres, which isn't easy for any author to pull off sucessfully. The original storyline is the novel's strength, and the carrying out of that storlyline is it's weakness.

This futuristic sci-fi grabs the listener's attention right out of the gate with a plane crash. We are introduced to the surviving passengers, and are suddenly engulfed in a mystery, adventure, suspense, and a budding romance. Sci-fi via time travel is quickly added to the mix.

Many characters and events are introduced very early in the novel with limited detail, which resulted in a lack of character development and difficulties with suspension of belief. Usually, the inability to suspend belief in a sci-fi novel is like drawing the death card. I was able to get past this, but not without it effecting my overall opinion of the novel.

Most of the characters who are not essential to the story are weeded out by the ending of the first half of the novel. The second half, while less suspenseful, is well devoleoped... allowing the reader to focus on time travel within a post-apocolyptic world, and the mystery of how the world got that way.

Overall, "Departure' is written with an original storyline, and although not Riddle's best, it is still above average. Both narrators are very good and character consistant. It was a good listen, but I wouldn't be interested in experiencing it a second time.

43 of 50 people found this review helpful

Dumb and dumber

Terrible storyline with one dimensional over stereotyped characters. I thought I'd get eventually be drawn in but no such luck, just glad when it ended. Sound editing not well done. Male voice is booming while female is a barely audible whisper.

37 of 43 people found this review helpful

TODAY'S DECISIONS ARE TOMRROWS REALITY

MINI-BOTTLE NAZI
The first couple of hours I was very intrigued. There is a plane crash and a rescue by the survivors. This part of the book is well written and I felt like I was there with them. I appreciated, Nick who took charge. One never knows what will happen in an emergency and it is nice to have someone calmly take charge.

NICK, THERE'S A PROBLEM
In the third hour there is a character named Bob, who I kinda liked and kinda didn't. I mention him cause he has one of those pet peeves I hate. He likes to announce problems. He likes to speak in acronyms or say things he knows no one else will understand and than have a pregnant pause, begging you to ask questions. I know a lot of people who do this, including my wife.

THAT SHIT MIGHT SELL T-SHIRTS, BUT DOESN'T HELP ME
I have never read a book that went down hill so fast. The whole book moves along in spurts and sputters. It starts with this group of characters who run away from futuristic people and hide in a farm building. The farm building is the only building for miles. They sleep there and gather supplies. You tell me, if you are looking for a group of people in a rural area and there is only one building around, wouldn't you check that building first? By now Nick is starting to get on my nerves. Nick is young and a self-made millionaire. He is handsome, in good shape, smart, says all the right things at the right time, people do as he says without question, the skinny good looking blonde has a crush on him, but deep down he feels unfulfilled. Excuse me, as I go throw up. It doesn't end there. The skinny good looking blonde, has trouble making decisions that might benefit herself, but does not hesitate, to make decisions that benefit others.

BLIMEY, DOUBLE AND TRIPLE BLIMEY
The story really goes astray from here. The last three hours, Riddle works on his romance skills and it just gets painful to listen to. This reads like a debut novel, pass on this. Narrator is good.

81 of 96 people found this review helpful

Enjoyed

First time reading this authors work. I enjoyed the book a lot, different structure far as narration goes, but was a good read.

19 of 22 people found this review helpful

A satisfyingly woven story.

Any additional comments?

Telling the story from two alternating points of view worked well. Competent narration certainly added to the atmosphere of the story. The various "strands" of the story came together in an interesting way so that most of the questions raised in the story are answered in a satisfying manner. Thanks A.G. I enjoyed this a lot.

28 of 33 people found this review helpful