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Goon Squad cover art

Goon Squad

By: Jonathan L. Howard
Narrated by: Gabrielle de Cuir, Nicholas Guy Smith, Jim Meskimen, Stefan Rudnicki
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Summary

An ongoing, episodic "prose comic" from which the pictures are summoned by the magic of words, Goon Squad is set in an alternate version of modern-day Manchester. Its biggest divergence from the real city is that it - along with most other large urban centers - has a team of superheroes to protect it against unusual threats with which the conventional forces of law and order would have problems.

Goon Squad: Year One offers three action-packed volumes in a single collection:

Goon Squad, Vol. 1: Special Talents

  • "The New Girl"
  • "Nightclubbing"
  • "By the Water, by the Grave"
  • "Changes"
  • "No-No Dojo"
  • "Exterminating Angel"

Goon Squad, Vol. 2: Without Sin

  • "A Star in Strange Ways"
  • "Holy Fool"
  • "Dead Man Tells Tale"
  • "A Brief History of the Goon Squad"
  • "Tale of Terror"
  • "Pomona Island"

Goon Squad, Vol. 3: Old Enemies

  • "Life During Wartime"
  • "Red Wolf, Red Wolf, Does Whatever a Red Wolf Can"
  • "Shadow of the Vivisector"
  • "The Man from Switzerland"
  • "The End of the Year Show"

©2016 Jonathan L. Howard (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc., and Skyboat Media, Inc.

What listeners say about Goon Squad

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Atrocious pronunciation of the Northern vernacular

Scouser doesn't have a z in it! Given that one of the main selling points for this book is that it is set in Manchester they could have gotten a lead narrator who could do the accent. If you can't do the accent then don't attempt it, otherwise it will just offend people.

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10 people found this helpful

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

good story, shame about narration.

I have to get this off my chest, if a story is set in Manchester and the narrative refers strongly to the type of local inflections at least get someone who can pull of a vaguely capable ESPECIALLY when the Ukrainian is at least consistent. if would have been less chafing to the ear had non accent attempt been made. That being said, where she just reads the story I liked the voice, similar timbre to Kate Reading, but Kate knows is always solid.

I really love the story, fun super powerish detective story with engaging likeable characters.

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9 people found this helpful

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

A great set of stories

As others have said, accents are not something this narrator can do. but this is a great set of short stories from an author I really like.

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7 people found this helpful

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

Great story, horrific narration

If you can get past the painful accents this is a fun story. Surely you can find an American who can do accents that don’t morph into something resembling a brain damaged Indian cross Welshman. Or (crazy idea) employ an actual Mancunian to do the job. I really feel for the writer as this could have been so excellent.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Okay story but dreadful accents ruined it

Others have already said it and I have to agree - the narrator just can’t do accents, her normal voice is nice but when she tries a Manchester or generic Northern British accent it can lurch from South African to Australian to Indian all within one sentence, it just never gets anywhere near the correct accent. Then later on a guy who sounds Irish has a go at the accent and is nearly as bad!
It’s a shame but I couldn’t finish the book, just because of the accents. Whoever cast the narrators should be sacked.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Mancunian Marvels

I loved this tale of Manchester's superhero crime-fighting team. Great characters, convincing world-building and gripping plots.

The one drawback is the narrator, specifically her inability to do convincing northern accents. Quite a drawback for an audiobook set in Manchester...

But that's just a minor quibble - this audiobook is very good indeed. I can't wait for a sequel!!!

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5 people found this helpful

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

shame about the narration

AWFUL accents, had to give up after an hour as I couldn't stand it any more

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4 people found this helpful

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

What’s with the laughable English accents?

I can’t continue to listen, although I’m enjoying the story, the accents are so cringe making. Why an American to voice mostly British accents? Awful

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2 people found this helpful

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

Great story, let down by dreadful casting

The story is engaging, especially as it occurs mainly in Manchester and environs, name checking places and streets.
However, the main narrator, Gabrielle de Cuir is totally unsuited for the role. Her voice and accent remind me of a refined Upper East Side lady. She can do one of the main characters beautifully, that of Puppet Girl, a Russian lady; she plays it well, with a thick accent but plenty of emotion and range. Where it falls utterly flatis her attempt at a Mancunian and Brummie accent. They veer wildly across Britain and sometimes the Antipodes for good measure. She pronounces Salford as sAlfOrd, like Sally, instead of Sulfrd, like salt; it grates. Every.Single.Time and ruins the effect.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

So good!

what a reading! fantabulous! listen and enjoy a great escape from the norm. mutants with a heart and soul.

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2 people found this helpful