METAtropolis

By: Jay Lake, Tobias Buckell, Elizabeth Bear, John Scalzi, Karl Schroeder

Narrated by: Michael Hogan, Scott Brick, Kandyse McClure, Alessandro Juliani, Stefan Rudnicki, John Scalzi

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Welcome to a world where big cities are dying, dead - or transformed into technological megastructures. Where once-thriving suburbs are now treacherous Wilds. Where those who live for technology battle those who would die rather than embrace it. It is a world of zero-footprint cities, virtual nations, and armed camps of eco-survivalists.

Welcome to the dawn of uncivilization.

METAtropolis is an intelligent and stunning creation of five of today's cutting-edge science-fiction writers: 2008 Hugo Award winners John Scalzi and Elizabeth Bear; Campbell Award winner Jay Lake; plus fan favorites Tobias Buckell and Karl Schroeder. Together they set the ground rules and developed the parameters of this "shared universe", then wrote five original novellas - all linked, but each a separate tale.

Bringing this audiobook to life is a dream team of performers: Battlestar Galactica's Michael Hogan ("Saul Tigh"); Alessandro Juliani ("Felix Gaeta"); and Kandyse McClure ("Anastasia 'Dee' Dualla"); plus legendary audiobook narrators Scott Brick (Dune) and Stefan Rudnicki (Ender's Game).

John Scalzi, who served as Project Editor, introduces each story, offering insight into how the METAtropolis team created this unique project exclusively for digital audio.

©2008 Joseph E. Lake, Jr., Tobias S. Buckell, Elizabeth Bear, John Scalzi, Karl Schroeder (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• 2009 Hugo Award nominee, Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

• 2009 Audie Award nominee, Original Work

“Each story shines on its own; as a group they reinforce one another, building a multifaceted view of a realistic and hopeful urban future.” (Publishers Weekly)
“Scalzi and his contributors/collaborators have created a fascinating shared urban future that each of them evokes with his or her particular strengths.... This stellar collection is a fascinating example of shared world-building.” (Booklist)
"This impressive group of writers imagines what happens when the world moves beyond cities as a locus of human civilization. The range of narrators...brings a unique narrative style to the production. Of the five narrators, all well chosen for the stories, Allessandro Juliani proves to be the best with his rendering of Scalzi's piece." (AudioFile)

A different future

A great twist on what the future could be. No need to be zombies or Star Trek, just people being people with the resources they have

A great find

Honestly found myself pleasantly surprised as this was a shot in the dark decision.

A well conceived and executed project

Slow starter

Gave up on this one after the first few chapters. I kept waiting for some sort of plot to present itself, but it just droned on about nothing. Maybe I'll give it another try later, but it didn't leave a good first impression.

Loved it

I could see the future world in the wonderful stories.

A Standout Above and Beyond.

What did you love best about METAtropolis?

I really loved that they managed to do something different in a time when everything has already been done. As far as anthologies go this one has the most cohesive feeling and make the most united point. It has a valid message that it transmits in a powerful, convincing and even beautiful way.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tygr Tyger, I think. Hes the sort of person we tend to look for in real life only because we know they dont exist. If we ever found some one like Tygr Tygr in real life I dont think anyone would trust him.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the Completion of Space Ship Detroit. Why I loved this particular scene can really only be explained by personal preference in style.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes it was, And in fact I did. And then I listened to it again. This is one of my very few repeat listens.

Any additional comments?

Just give it a try. It may not be your usual thing. But branch out and give it a shot. you may not like the first story or even the second. But one of these will get to you.

Good enough that I listened to it a second time...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The variety and the voice quality of the five narrators suited each of the five novellas perfectly. I absolutely love Stefan Rudnicki's and Scott Brick's work, which I know from Orson Scott Card's books. The raspy voice of Michael Hogan (Col. Tigh, Battlestar Galactica) gave just the right tone of cynicism to the opening story, and provided a perfect audible contrast to its myth-making quality.

What was one of the most memorable moments of METAtropolis?

While I don't have any particular "memorable moments" from the collection, I found the story arc in each of the novellas satisfying. The settings of Cascadia, Detroit, New St Louis, and cyberspace were realised in just enough detail, and the characters well drawn.
I enjoyed the whole thing enough that I went back to it almost immediately and listened to the whole thing again--something I have only done with one other audiobook: War and Peace!

Which character ??? as performed by the narrators ??? was your favorite?

Again, I can't put a finger on one particular character as a favourite. After the first listening I thought I liked the immature 20-year old in the fourth novella least, but after the second time through I understood better John Scalzi's (the author) depiction of someone who grows up because of the environment in which he is placed.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I suspect that this collection of five novellas wouldn't easily lend itself to movie treatment.

Any additional comments?

On the strength of this audiobook, I'm going to listen to the sequel, METAtropolis: Cascadia.

great near future science fiction

loved it, I really hope they continue the series or use the same multi author process

Painful

The narrator was like listening to hours of Bernie
Sanders voice. Some of the stories were good and some just too far out there for me .

Stories 2, 3, 4 were my favorite

The first story almost made me quit. I restarted listening twice. Glad that I stuck with it, as 2, 3, and 4 were an enjoyable listen. Story 5 was pretty good.

Well-written, but politicized.

The stories were interesting and well-thought out. They would have still been interesting and thought - provoking without the political agenda.