FLESH PHONE

As soon as I saw this in the Coming soon section, I put it on my wish list. I am a fan of this type of scenario. No, I don't want a foreign government to take us over, but neither do I want a Zombie Apocalypse, yet I enjoy those type of books I am a fan of Vaughn Heppner's Invasion series. I am also a fan of robots, especially giant robots. As another reviewer mentions in the first three hours, a robot is mentioned and that is it. I could not get past three hours. Peter Tieryas tells us things, but shows us nothing. Seemed more like a soap opera about some loser, than anything else. Peter has a great idea, he just needs to get a co/author to help with the writing.
The narrator sounds like he is on the verge of crying his eyes out, no matter what character he is attempting.

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20 people found this helpful

Decent story, spotty narration

They story was well enough, not great, but definitely entertaining. The narrator on the other hand, with his shaky/nervous sounding delivery certainly took away from the overall experience.

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7 people found this helpful

An intricate look at a grim alternate history

I picked up United States of Japan on a recommendation from a friend and was expecting a fun but blockbuster-style action/adventure. Instead, I was totally blown away by the intensity and intricacy of the storyline and the ideas presented here. This is, at its heart, a very serious book. There are fun things like the huge towering mecha battles and a look at an alternate universe where technology took a very different course, but what really shines here are the characters and the decisions they make. This is not a world I'd want to live in, and it's a grim mirror to where we could have gone. The people here are making the best of a horrific society--some by trying to make it a better place, some by sinking into violence or depravity. The lines between good and bad people are almost non-existent. And in that backdrop, the story slowly and quietly spins out a tale of love, dedication, anger, and hope.

This is a brutal and often hard story to read, but one very worth reading.

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5 people found this helpful

decent story, awful narration

the story was decent, certainly able to finish. I actually finished it in 2 days. I had some issues with the story, and some aspects seemed forced. I mean, The colored hair? why? My real issue was with the narration. The shaky voice made it almost unbearable. Also, the fact he couldnt pronounce "mecha" correctly was really annoying.

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5 people found this helpful

weak story, worse reader

the narrator mafe everyone sound like a disinterested, glib, petulant, whining teen. had to force my way through to the end and will avoid his narration from here on out. just awful.
the story was a weak cyberpunk jaunt and an insult to its influence.
avoid.

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2 people found this helpful

Poor Narration Ruins an Otherwise Decent Story

Once you get past the narrator pronouncing "mecha" (meck-a) as "metcha" and "expletive" as "ex-plea-tive" among others, the book is solid, add the ending is excellent.

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1 person found this helpful

No Giant Robots, or, how I learned to let go.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A Giant Robot. I'm sorry but look at that cover. I was 2-3 hours in, waiting on bated breath for a giant robot. The Cover promises it, the prologue promises it. Then nothing. I honestly just felt baited and switched into a sub-par detective novel which might have been higher in stars, had it not made the promises to be something different.

Also, I understand that the story is about Japan taking over, but the use of Japanese words felt super random and not at all natural. It's like the author finished the book, then googled 'Japanese for Chair' went back to his novel, hit CTRL + F, and replaced 'Chair' with the Japanese equivalent.

The words were Japanese, but it felt hollow. Like a museum tour guide on their first day rushing to read the tag lines before the audience can ask a question.

Would you ever listen to anything by Peter Tieryas again?

Eh. Probably. In all honesty the book isn't terrible. But I know I for sure won't be trusting the cover, prologue, or description of the book. I'd heavily read reviews even if it meant spoilers so I knew what I was in for. I honestly felt like I was tricked into this book.

Which character – as performed by Adam Sims – was your favorite?

None of the characters are likeable. I'm find with a dark and twisted book, but one character is so quick to pull the trigger and torture because 'that's what she does' without a seeming draw back other than paranoia, which she's often right about. I honestly didn't enjoy any of the characters.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The writing itself isn't dreadful, just know what you're getting into.

Any additional comments?

Don't bait and switch.

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1 person found this helpful

Warped and meandering. What did I just listen to?

Take the concept of an alternate history that sounds interesting on paper, then make it as weird and psychologically disturbing as possible with unlikable characters on a journey with a vague goal in mind and you end up with something like "United States of Japan".

This book was filled with torture scenes, sick psychopaths, and twisted but unclear government motivations. Even the alternate history concept was warped. The book promises to be about conspiracy using a video game in world where japan defeated the USA in World War 2, but the author decided that that world ment a really twisted place based off of Japanese cartoons. Yes, Giant robots with swords, genetic mutations, cyborgs with gun arms, and people with bizarre clothing and hair colors.

Mixing all these elements together than filling it with a ton of graphic torture, gore and a bunch of depressed and mentally desturbed characters made it seem as if the author couldn't decide what he wanted this book to be. In the end, the listener is left with a world of a nightmarish fever dream and a plot that doesn't make sense, have any message, or any real beginning or end.

Bottom line: Save your money and avoid if possible.

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1 person found this helpful

Cool story but...

The story itself I enjoyed very much. the narration was okay. I didn't like the fact that mecha weren't a big part of the story. it's on the cover but not mentioned as much as I thought it would be.

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The Cover Lies

Rarely do I actually write a review but this book deserves it. This is a grim dark alternate history tale that delivers on non of the promises it was sold. Look at the cover and be warned that you get almost nothing from it in the story.

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