Starfall

By: Drew Harrison

Narrated by: John Pirhalla

Fantasy. Sci-fi. The world was brought back from the brink of annihilation, but its still-new institutions are rattled once again as heroes and criminals clash in a neon-drenched cyberpunk metropolis.

©2020 Drew Harrison Kurzman (P)2022 Drew Harrison Kurzman

This Book Carries A Payload

This is not your average cyberpunk romp. Par for the course usually includes crazy drone weapons, super powers, flying cars, metaverse junkies, megacorporations, digital espionage. Sure, this book has them too but each is a fiber that weaves itself into a quite exquisite tapestry as it bobs and weaves through the city of New Phoenix in this noir tinged mystery thriller. This book carries a payload. It asks big questions about the fate of future AI, the power of the mega rich, wealth distribution gaps, personal autonomy, human rights. I also haven't hated an antagonist this much since I reread Dune. The pacing is wonderful, it didn't feel like any part of the story was out of place and every page of this book was vital in achieving one of the most satisfying conclusions to a novel I've read in the last year.
The narration is very clear and well paced throughout the novel. A good audiobook reader can make a novel better than the printed word and this one did a great job.
For fans of cyberpunk, noir-fiction, near future sci fi, this is a brilliant and complex story with wholly cathartic finale. Fans of titles like Snow Crash, Blade Runner, The Expanse, and Neuromancer cannot miss this read.

Great story

This one is really well plotted with lots to say. if you're at all curious take a chance on it.

Gritty SciFi with Suspense and Mystery

Great writing and narration! Story-telling is excellent with dark, rainy, ominous tones. The book gave me Blade Runner and cyberpunk vibes while maintaining its own identity and charm. The action sequences are vivid and the mysteries keep you wanting more. Overall, it was a great listen!

Excellent storytelling with a cool twist on a timeless story

First things first, I loved this story. The performance was good, the reader cared about the story he was telling.
The story itself is an old one - good, evil and redemption. It had classic sci-fi adventure tropes. Pulling from Star Wars, Necromunda, Bladerunner and others. Unlike other tales which pull from similar sources and which just seem old and tired, Starfall felt vibrant and fresh - even while feeling familiar.

Pretty good story, but...

I generally liked the story, but at times it became extremely tedious. I lost interest several times and drifted away. I came back and eventually finished the book, but it took me several times as long as normal. To be clear, this is a good review with an honest critique.