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  • The Consuming Fire

  • The Interdependency, Book 2
  • By: John Scalzi
  • Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
  • Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (989 ratings)
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The Consuming Fire

By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
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Summary

"Wil Wheaton narrates this space opera full of political intrigue and charismatic characters. The young Emperox Grayland II does not have an easy task ahead. The Interdependency is in jeopardy due to the collapse of various planets in the empire. Powerful families are looking out for their own interests, even if that means killing their enemies and threatening the empire. Wheaton delivers an expressive narration using a humorous tone when needed and employing his acting talent to bring the characters to life. This audiobook is a treat not only for Wheaton's fans but also for anyone who is into well-written science fiction." (AudioFile magazine) 

The Consuming Fire - the sequel to the 2018 Hugo Award Best Novel finalist and 2018 Locus Award-winning The Collapsing Empire - an epic space-opera novel in the best-selling Interdependency series, from the Hugo Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author John Scalzi.

The Interdependency, humanity’s interstellar empire, is on the verge of collapse. The Flow, the extra-dimensional conduit that makes travel between the stars possible, is disappearing, leaving entire star systems stranded. When it goes, human civilization may go with it - unless desperate measures can be taken.  

Emperox Grayland II, the leader of the Interdependency, is ready to take those measures to help ensure the survival of billions. But nothing is ever that easy. Arrayed before her are those who believe the collapse of the Flow is a myth - or at the very least, an opportunity that can allow them to ascend to power.  

While Grayland prepares for disaster, others are preparing for a civil war, a war that will take place in the halls of power, the markets of business and the altars of worship as much as it will take place between spaceships and battlefields. The Emperox and her allies are smart and resourceful, but then so are her enemies. Nothing about this power struggle will be simple or easy...and all of humanity will be caught in its widening gyre.  

The Interdependency series: 

  1. The Collapsing Empire
  2. The Consuming Fire
©2018 John Scalzi (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Consuming Fire

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are you fed up of Will Wheaton?

Sorry Will, but I'm one of the group who is fed up of hearing you read Scalzi. Perhaps you appeal to the Americans, but hearing you over *emphasize* almost *every* other word, eventually gets *irritating* and ultimately I'm not the only one who now will buy future Scalzi books to not have to listen to the *same damn* basic *over emphasizing* that comes woth *every* reading

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19 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Scalzi at his best, narrated so poorly. So poorly

Great story loved it. I'm really looking forward to the next book. Just wish Will Wheaton (an actor I've always really enjoyed on screen ) would please stop narrating Scalzi's books. He's dreadful.

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9 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

How to ignore good sci fi and focus on political boredom

The concept of the flows and the society and the murky history of the emperox’s (is that how it’s written?) and a fresh innocent protagonist is all ignored in favour of boring politics, unnecessary sex language and a range of unmemorable dull characters talking with anger that leaves an accomplished narrator Wil Wheaton basically just shouting half the time.
It feels like Scalzi is just churning out trash stories cashing on some core good ideas. Shame. I tolerated the collapsing empire and thought this story might reduce the overall good ideas but alas I couldn’t get kore than halfway through this.

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Really unpleasant and goes nowhere

More than three hours into this book an I'm giving up. The F word is used extensively by some characters and the narration uses it too. So far its just fictional political scheming and unpleasantness. There are no characters that I can connect to or look forward to hearing what they will do next.

This is a real shame; I've liked many other books by John Scalzi, this one is just a disappointment. The collapsing "flow streams" could be a great story vehicle, but not in this book.
Wil Wheaton does a good job as usual.

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fantastic

another great weaton narration love the series looking forward to hearing the rest when it comes out

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Great Stuff

Have to leave a review in order to rate it, it appears :-)

An engrossing sequel to the Collapsing Empire - politics and power seeking take priority over an event that will lead to the loss of life of millions. Wil Wheaton's narration is engaging, subtly managing to differentiate between the many characters. Difficult enough when you're reading bed time stories to your kids, never mind for a mass market audiobook.

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I can not wait for the next instalment!

The fascinating and addictive world created by John Scalzi is magnificently performed by Wil Wheaton

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2 people found this helpful

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A Marvellous Read

Funny with an excellent plot, extremely well written characters with whom it is easy to empathise, this book deserves to be a classic sci-fi novel.
Almost certainly there is an even more scintillating sequel in the works which is a really exciting prospect.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Good story with mediocre voice acting

This is a good book and an enjoyable read. Unfortunately Will Wheaton’s narration does let it down somewhat. He’s ok and he only mildly detracts from the story, which is a really enjoyable continuation of the Collapsing Empire series.

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Nice SciFi Political Thriller

A bit too much profanity and sex, but that might be how higher caste works.

I like how the story flows, and listening to Wil is really a joy

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