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The Human

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The Human

By: Neal Asher
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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About this listen

The Human is the final, thrilling, book in Neal Asher’s Rise of the Jain trilogy.

Their enemy seems unbeatable. But humanity is indomitable . . .

A Jain warship has risen from a prison five million years old, wielding a hoard of lethal technology. Its goal is to catch their old enemy, the Client, and it will destroy all who stand in its path.

Humanity and the prador thought their mutual nemesis – the bane of so many races – was long extinct. But the Jain are back and Orlandine must prepare humanity’s defence. She needs the Client’s knowledge to counter this ancient threat. But is the enemy of your enemy a friend? Earth Central even looks to the prador for alliance. These old enemies must now learn to trust one another, or face utter annihilation.

As the Jain warship crosses the galaxy, it seems unstoppable. Human and prador forces alike struggle to withstand its devastating weaponry ­­– far in advance of their own. And Orlandine’s life’s work has been to neutralize Jain technology, so if she can’t triumph, no one can. But could she become what she’s vowed to destroy?

'Neal Asher's books are like an adrenaline shot targeted directly for the brain' – John Scalzi, author of the Old Man's War series.

'Magnificently awesome. Then Asher turns it up to eleven' – Peter F. Hamilton on the first in the trilogy, The Soldier.

Adventure Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction Technology

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Critic reviews

Neal Asher’s books are like an adrenaline shot targeted directly for the brain (John Scalzi)
In this riveting sequel to The Soldier, Asher ramps up the pyrotechnics in the thunderous first salvoes of war . . . This is Asher at the top of his game (Publishers Weekly starred review on The Warship)
The Soldier provides everything we demand from Asher: a beautifully complex universe where AIs, aliens and post-humans scheme and struggle – magnificently awesome. Then Asher turns it up to eleven (Peter F. Hamilton on The Soldier)

A richly imagined, exotic world, nonstop action, and unimaginable stakes - I couldn't put The Soldier down

(Yoon Ha Lee on The Soldier)
Neal Asher's coruscating mix of epic space opera, weaponised Darwinism and high-stakes intrigue channels the primal flame of deep-core science fiction (Paul McAuley on The Soldier)
With mind-blowing complexity, characters, and combat, Asher’s work continues to combine the best of advanced cybertech and military SF (Publishers Weekly on The Soldier)
Space operatics and Jaco­bean revenge-melodramatics (Locus Magazine on The Soldier)
Just when you thought the Polity couldn't get more interesting Neal Asher manages to weave the most awe-inspiring elements of his universe together into an amazing narrative brimming with awesome technology, vast space battles, gigantic explosions and intricate machinations that are terrifying in their scope . . . Like a true master Asher hits this one out of the galactic plane . . . a truly mind-blowing start to a new trilogy (WorldsInInk on The Soldier)
All stars
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really enjoyed the conclusion to this story. it moved beyond the earlier micro stories if you like from the agent cormac series and headed straight into humanity ending doom. I just miss the original narrator. this narrator is probably better. but its the way he did it. "quince guide compiled *sigh* by humans (in an exasperated tone). although the absence of a major player for most of the story was weird.

fantastic conclusion

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He's on top form. Structurally, a classic Asher. Peter Noble is excellent again and it's all very satisfyingly tired up.

What a finish!

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all 3 books amazing story detail and funny . with lots of today's problems explain

wow 👏😮

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Another high paced adventure from Asher that adds another welcome thread in his ever expanding polity tapestry!

Excellent

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A detailed technical read which needed concentration. I rationed it throughout the initial Lockdown and it was honestly something that kept me going each day. Thank you Neal Asher.

This book got me through Lockdown

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