Firstborn cover art

Firstborn

Time Odyssey, Book 3

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Firstborn

By: Stephen Baxter, Arthur C. Clarke
Narrated by: John Lee
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About this listen

The Firstborn, the mysterious race of aliens best known as the builders of the iconic black monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey, have inhabited the writing of science fiction master Arthur C. Clarke for decades. In the first two books of his acclaimed Time Odyssey series, Clarke and co-author Stephen Baxter imagined a near-future in which the Firstborn seek to stop the advance of human civilization by employing a technology indistinguishable from magic. That fate was narrowly averted, at an inconceivable price. But now, 27 years later, the Firstborn are back. This time, they have sent a "quantum bomb" speeding toward Earth, a device that human scientists can barely comprehend, let alone stop or destroy. But when shocking new insights emerge about the nature of the Firstborn and their plans, an unexpected ally appears from light-years away.©2007 Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction

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All stars
Most relevant

What other book might you compare Firstborn to, and why?

Having listened to the first two in the trilogy (from my library) I wasn't disappointed by the finale.

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

Not necessarily.

Spectacular end to the trilogy

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Book on book. But Audible UK don't have book 4 or 5 poor service in Europe. Just the same poor blank answers from them.

They get better

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shame there won't be another in the series. it was obviously setting up for one

excellent

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Is there anything you would change about this book?

Well, for super intelligent ancient Aliens, the first born! their pretty useless at wiping out emergent intelligent life.

Has Firstborn put you off other books in this genre?

Only Steven Baxter

What about John Lee’s performance did you like?

Good voice would listen to him again

Was Firstborn worth the listening time?

Only just, i'll try listening again, only to see if i can find a bit more of Asimov in it.

Any additional comments?

Partnering different authors together, or planting a new author with and older much loved science fiction series is not working for me

Disapointing

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I love The Expanse series and I love this series. The addition of Spacers kept me thinking of how those first generations of humans born in space would have evolved into Belters. Aside from that I love Biseta as a character, wished to see more of her in this volume, and the narrator does a fantastic job. There might be a 4th too...

Like a Prelude to The Expanse Universe

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