The Digital Meltdown

Scientist Dr. Martin Riley hopes to solve the world's plastic pollution problem and get very rich in the process, but the bacterium Ideonella Sakaiensis has its own agenda. Riley engineers a new strain of bacteria to tackle the ever-growing plastic pollution crisis. Initially, he is hailed as a hero and awarded a Nobel Prize, but the bacteria attack all the plastic on the planet, destroy the internet and bring an end to the Digital Age.

Meanwhile, Mary Lee, commander of the International Space Station, orbits overhead, a mute observer of mankind’s struggles on the planet below. She quarantines the Station to protect her digital companions, Jackson, and Mother, but isolates herself from humanity. Mankind stands at a tipping point as the digital era ends and technology returns to the age of steam. Can humanity recover, or will this be a final extinction event?

©2023 Roger Ley (P)2023 Roger Ley

Intriguing

A take on an apocalypse with man as the force of destruction but not by military or nature, but science gone wrong because it was taken out of its parameters for use. A lot of this book is a walk beside everyday people not generals or world leaders but professors their spouses and other people anyone could walk in and have a conversation with. This is the story of everyday people in the end of the world. The book goes from the innocent start to the destruction to rebuilding and gives a complete arch for the storyline. Interesting premise and many common events and characters in todays world are a part of the book a good read.

Great sci-fi

Captivating story with realistic characters and problems. Enjoyed the dual storyline of earth and space.

The narrator was well timed and easy to listen to.

Great Narrator. Read This Book 1st in H. Lampeter

A prequel to Roger Ley's steam punk, alternate reality, science fiction, Harry Lampeter series gives us the background to how culture lost many modern technological tools. I recommend you do this book first, before doing the rest of Lampeter. The audiobook is perfectly presented by Craig Bowles, whose characterizations of the books Brits is "spot on!"

Excellent listen!

A must listen for fans! Excellently written & developed. Narration is wonderful & easy to listen to. This takes a solution to a world problem, a solution & the apocalyptic repercussions of it. Listen today!

Parallequal? Prequal? COOL!

This is the 5th book I have had the pleasure to listen to from the quill of Roger Ley. It is a very well put together prequel and parallel tie in, which is very elegantly interwoven.

We are treated to the dramatic series of events that lead to the state of society that is the setting for the Lampeter series and are drawn headfirst into the parallel universe of “Chronoscape”.

True to form, this listen requires you to stick with it. Zone out even for just a few minutes and you get the feeling you missed a crossover-connection to the other books or a detail of the book at hand, that you just don’t want to miss. On the upside to that, in my opinion, it is a very rewarding aspect of the book(s) that it keeps you on your toes and has so many details that warrant re-listens.

I am by now expecting the books in the Lampeter/Chronoscape universe to be steeped with historically and technically correct and well researched details. Set in a not-so-distant future (if that far out) the references made are more science than fiction. As such, the logical progression has a strong sense of “that would be a likely scenario” – both in terms of mechanics but also human / human interactions. Again, in this book, we are pointed in unmistakable terms to consequences to our actions and circumstances as well. There are a few choice references that had me chuckling hard – and when I say “The wall” I do not mean the Pink Floyd album.

I love the development of the relationships between cast across the board and following “the project” transition from idea to ideology to the eventual crisis and failure in depth. In previous books there have been (not to sublte) hints as to what really happened to the Riley family and their partners in crime (?!) so to have that story arc folded out in detail is exciting. One might call it cliché in its predictability – and the contrast between the story lines may appear stark, however, seen in each other’s context, to me, they make perfect sense.

The book showcases a vast spectrum of deep issues. Ranging from the nature of society to revert to (barbaric) old practices and quite deliberately having to legislate civility again to “doomsday-prepping” and its impact in times of crisis, friendships and good old fashioned croney capitalist rise and fall, this book has it all.

It’s a real boon to have the personis dramatae appear and reappear – connecting two very different “universes”. While the books are easily enjoyable “stand alone” (personally read book 2 before book 1 and listening to “The muslim prince” even before) – getting a whole universe to form and fit together is nothing short of impressive and delightful. It is one heck of a journey over times and genres. Sit back and enjoy!

I reheard the book immediately since there were so many details and ponderings that came up. I am most likely to hear the entire series at least once over -just to get all the names, all the connections and all the themes.

Performance:
Craig Bowles continues to deliver starling readings of Ley’s books. I enjoy the tempo and his rhythm a lot. In my ears Bowles absolutely nails the “temporal differences” as well adding a bit of edge to the experience.
I do have a chuckle at times – a female American from the lips of an English man takes a wee bit of getting used to, but - if anything – that just adds a bit of charm to the listen. There is no doubt about the breadth and depth of his training and skill.

The sound is slightly tinny this time, but that might be an issue with my speakers.