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The City Born Great
- A Tor.com Original
- Narrated by: Landon Woodson
- Length: 46 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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Summary
“Landon Woodson's captivating singing opens this stand-alone short story...Woodson's agile and engaging narration makes listeners wary of the ominous threats and feel all the anticipation for the battle to come." (AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award winner)
In this stand-alone short story by N. K. Jemisin, author of The Fifth Season, winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel, New York City is about to go through a few changes.
Like all great metropolises before it, when a city gets big enough, old enough, it must be born; but there are ancient enemies who cannot tolerate new life. Thus New York will live or die by the efforts of a reluctant midwife...and how well he can learn to sing the city's mighty song.
"The City Born Great" is a Tor.com original.
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What listeners say about The City Born Great
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Frieda
- 10-03-21
Interesting read
I'm not sure how I feel about this story, I feel it's the start of something bigger but the ending makes it clear that's it. An interesting read.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- jesjaspers
- 20-08-20
Engaging narration
and fantastical storyline the rebirth of the streetwise down at heel narrator as the city of New York itself. Can't wait to read the book for which this is an appetising prequel.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Tom
- 07-07-20
Less a Short Story or Novella than a Poem
Billed as a necessary prelude to The City We Became by Hugo Award Winner N. K. Jemison, this work reads more like Performance Art.
I’m not a big fan of Sci-Fi or Fantasy but its New York theme intrigued me so I gave it a try. I’m not sure I completely followed what was going on but the Author created an atmosphere that drew me in. I enjoyed this short work and may give the next one a try.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- S. S. Hardgrave
- 26-06-20
Very lovely prequel!
This story is a prequel to the events in The City We Became. The narrator Landon Woodson was perfect for the character and plot! It was a fun and charming listen while I'm waiting for the next book in the trilogy.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- D. E. Illg
- 13-06-20
A Love Story for a City
N.K. Jemisin perfectly captured how I feel about my City. The City Born Great is a short story, yes, but when read by Landon Woodson, it becomes a love poem to a City. I've always felt like I belong to my City, and that my City belongs to me. I've walked alone in my City, and realized that my City is my friend. This story perfectly captures how I feel. As with all great scifi, one must wonder: is it really fiction?
Excellent story that takes us from the sewers to the heights, read with quiet passion and joy.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Xavier
- 22-05-20
What a wonderful short listen
The voice actor did a phenomenal job sucking you into the stores at the very beginning. Great little story And very well written
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kiki Walker
- 24-08-21
Great story told by a great narrator!
I've read The City We Became and needed to circle back to this as I read that it was based off of this short story. Chef's kiss! Jemisin 8s quickly becoming a favorite author.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jason Fowler
- 08-07-21
Poetry
This is essentially the first chapter of The City We Became. Its performed well and has a lot of action. If you already read The City We Became, you can probably skip this as there is very little new. However, if a trilogy of books about anthropomorphic urban sprawls and ancient horrors sounds a little daunting start here. Get your feet wet. Get swept up in the lyrical quality of Jemisin's narrative and 3 dimensional diverse characters.. Jemisin is one of the greatest authors of her generation. I recommend. The narrator is just a bad ass.