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The Dispatcher

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The Dispatcher

By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Zachary Quinto
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About this listen

Winner, 2017 APA Audie Awards - Original Work

Zachary Quinto - best known for his role as the Nimoy-approved Spock in the recent Star Trek reboot and the menacing, power-stealing serial killer, Sylar, in Heroes - brings his well-earned sci-fi credentials and simmering intensity to this audio-exclusive novella from master storyteller John Scalzi.

One day, not long from now, it becomes almost impossible to murder anyone - 999 times out of a thousand, anyone who is intentionally killed comes back. How? We don't know. But it changes everything: war, crime, daily life.

Tony Valdez is a Dispatcher - a licensed, bonded professional whose job is to humanely dispatch those whose circumstances put them in death's crosshairs, so they can have a second chance to avoid the reaper. But when a fellow Dispatcher and former friend is apparently kidnapped, Tony learns that there are some things that are worse than death and that some people are ready to do almost anything to avenge a supposed wrong.

It's a race against time for Valdez to find his friend before it's too late...before not even a Dispatcher can save him.

©2016 John Scalzi (P)2016 Audible, Inc. Adventure Crime Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction Murder Thought-Provoking Disappearance Detective Scary

Critic reviews

"The hero of this book is narrator Zachary Quinto, who makes a potentially confusing story simple and compelling. With a voice that sounds trained, he reaches right through the speakers and grabs listeners, making them want—no, need—to listen." (AudioFile)

"Quinto has a perfect hardboiled noir manner, which is exactly what you’d want for Valdez." (Locus Magazine)
All stars
Most relevant
Wonderfully original story, so unexpected. Zachary Quinto really brings it to life. I don't think I've ever read or listened to anything quite like it.

Unexpected and brilliant!

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loved it, looking forward to book 2.
I may now get myself a John Scalzi book

entertaining

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pretty good story. I enjoyed it. I sussed it before the end. I would probably read/ listen to more from this author.

pretty good!

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Great concept, and great main character! Quinto really bought the story to life, too. It was a good mystery, well-plotted and generally an enjoyable read.

Intriguing

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This was a really good little short story. The main plot device was interesting. The characters were decent especially for people like me who quite like detective stuff. My only criticism would be the narrator who, although clear and understandable, did sound bored and disengaged for much of the book.

Good short story

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