Hollow World

By: Michael J. Sullivan

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

The future is coming...for some more than others.

Ellis Rogers is an ordinary man who is about to embark on an extraordinary journey. All his life he has played it safe and done the right thing. But when he is faced with a terminal illness, Ellis is willing to take an insane gamble. He's built a time machine in his garage, and if it works, he'll face a world that challenges his understanding of what it means to be human, what it takes to love, and the cost of paradise. Ellis could find more than a cure for his disease; he might find what everyone has been searching for since time has begun - but only if he can survive the Hollow World.

©2014 Michael J. Sullivan (P)2014 Recorded Books

what is real? what is love?

3 times or more I've listened to this. I love it every time. The story of a man with birthing to lose. His wife doesn't care about him. His son is dead and now he is dying. Who wouldn't go to see if the future has something to offer? but does he really go there? A world where everyone is so alike that people are killing to be different.

Could have been so much more

I am a huge Michael Sullivan fan but this story just did not work for me. It was interesting enough, but lacked the depth and character development that Sullivan's other works generally display. The story of a dying man who is smart enough to build a one way time machine and travel thousands of years into the future is a fascinating concept to me. I love H. G. Wells Time Machine. But the story line after our hero makes the time jump falls flat. The idea that a world that has in essence conquered illness and for the most part, death, but longs for individuality and uniqueness was difficult to swallow. I found it weird, or maybe disjointed.

The end was interesting enough that I don't regret spending the credit on the story. The reader was okay, not great. Perhaps if Tim Reynolds had read it...

Excellent Sci Fi Listen

I had no interest in this book but listened out of obligation since Michael J. Sullivan had not yet written a book I didn’t love. After reading, his perfect record with me remains unblemished. A change in reader from Tim Gerard Reynolds also had me unenthusiastic about this book, but Jonathan Davis is a pro and I have no complaints.

Makes you think

At first it's so so but wait for the end. The story just builds and builds and builds. It gives a very thought provoking lgbq ending kinda because one person is a man .... And the other is kinda sexless. Really makes you think.

Sullivan is great but this book… ….meh

The story took too many gigantic leaps just to keep the story from unravelling. The characters are one dimensional, not relatable , and cellophane wrapping paper provides more suspense/mystery than the backstories. Ive made it out to be worse than it really is…. Or have I?

Hollow World

Michael J. Sullivan has opened another world for those of us who are lucky enough to follow him. Grand adventure, great stories. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan!

it was a fun, good story I enjoyed it.

A different perspective on an old story. Some parts of the story were predictable otherwise I enjoyed it. The narration was good as well.

Classical SciFi in Tradition of Hainish Cycle

Hollow World is telling a modern story about masculinity, contemporary culture, and identity in the tradition of the Ambiguous Utopian visions of Left Hand of Darkness or The Dispossessed. It has a feeling of Ursula K LeGuin and H.G. Wells, while at the same time being a more modern reimagination of the premise of coming to terms with "utopia." I read this book for the first time a couple of years ago, and relistening to it, following recent political events within the United States makes me think about the exciting way our lives are continually reflected back at us when we look into the future and see our hopes and fears blend into one.

Excellent

Intelligent, brave, and best of all fun! Not your typical Michael J Sullivan, but my favorite. An imperfect protagonist that you can relate to all too well. It never tries too hard, which is a rarity in a book like this. A week after I finished, this book is still dancing around in my head, making me think.
The audio performance was top notch as well.
I would recommend this read to anyone.

Futuristic book done right

These types are books are vey hard to write(far future books) but but Michael J Sullivan nailed it on the head. It takes special kind of creative mind to conceptualize and execute such a great book. He has become and I believe always will be one of my favorite scifi/fantasy authors.