Four-Day Planet

By: H. Beam Piper

Narrated by: Eric Stuart

Fenris isn't a hell planet, but it's nobody's bargain. With 2,000-hour days and an 8,000-hour year, it alternates blazing heat with killing cold. A planet like that tends to breed a special kind of person: tough enough to stay alive and smart enough to make the best of it. And when that kind of person discovers he's being cheated out of wealth he's risked his life for, that kind of planet is ripe for revolution.

Public Domain (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Pleasant read

A good decent story. Doesn’t keep you on the edge of your seat, but it gets you there.

Whaling saga on an inhospitable world

H Beam Piper’s Four Day Planet is an early 60’s sci-fi tale on an inhospitable world that a group of tough colonists made a go of. Corporate interests gave up, but those who stayed behind found the bounty of the indigenous creatures profitable due to a rare substance that was valuable. The planet is being squeezed by the Earth industry that buys their harvest. What transpires is a battle between two groups, one covertly in league with Terran corporate interests. The story is relayed through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old reporter that represents the only news media on the planet.

Piper offers a sci-fi version of the whaling industry where tallow-wax is the equivalent of whale oil. The characters are drawn from classic cowboy tales with townsfolk against cattle ranchers. The strategies, tactics, and politics are timeless making for a satisfying rendition.

The narration is well done with good character distinction. Pacing is brisk making for a quick listen.

good story

i liked the kid and the angle and planet and the people and the narration

So great to find an old favorite on audio!

I just love finding old favorite stories in the audio format. This was the very first Audible book I finished and such a great old story. I couldn't help thinking "with a little more romance this would make a great Syfy Channel Saturday movie" and I'm pretty sure the original text is out of copyright. Oh well, dream on. Anyway, the young narrator of the story did a good job although I think there was one or two stumbles in there. Like I said this was my first Audible book so what do I know. A quick fun read.

Engaging Narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

It is a quick story and I thought the narrator really made it worth the listen. He doesn't seem to be a well-known of more popular narrator but I really enjoyed what he did with the characters, giving them some fun elements.

What does Eric Stuart bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I'm not sure I would have enjoyed reading the book since for me, this narrator is what made me enjoy the characters more. I did not like the main character much at all, but I thought his portrayal of some of the side characters was great.

Could you see Four-Day Planet being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

It could probably be made into something as it gives you a nice backdrop on the scenario without needing too much in depth explanation. Definitely would be better then some of the bad Sci-Fi made today!