The Downloaded

By: Robert J. Sawyer

Narrated by: Brendan Fraser, Luke Kirby, Vanessa Sears, Colm Feore, Andrew Phung, full cast

In 2059, two vastly different groups of people portrayed by the compelling trio of Brendan Fraser (Academy Award winner), Luke Kirby (Emmy Award winner), and Vanessa Sears (Dora Award winner) undergo cryonic suspension. While their bodies are frozen, their minds, still active and awake, are uploaded into a massive quantum computer. The first group are all astronauts, about to leave Earth on a one-way interstellar colonization mission. The second group consists of convicted murderers and volunteers who elect to serve their sentences in a virtual-reality prison. But while both groups are suspended, a global cataclysm devastates most of the Earth, and their cryosleep is extended by more than 500 years.

Now available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

©2023 Robert J. Sawyer (P)2023 Audible Originals, LLC.

Creative, Distopian, Yet somehow optimistic.

Rob Sawyer takes us on an adventure through virtual, physical, and psycho-social space in a story of survival and transformation as five groups of entities five centuries in the future decide their respectively destinies, on Earth, Mars, and the distant stars.

The voice acting is excellent and helps carry the tale effectively. Highly recommended.

stop manipulating your reader

I could not stand the way that this book constantly had people 400 years in our future. thinking back on how selfish it was for long dead citizens not to have respected governmental covid mandates in the 20th century.

Was this really part of the story?

Why must modern authors build in political preferences to their science fiction works? Could it be that they see themselves not as story tellers, not as literature writers, but as sheep dogs for our politically correct actions?

Like listening to a table reading for a TV show

Had to try and give a listen for Brendan and really enjoyed the alternative style of layout in which the audiobook felt like a TV script. Enjoyed all the voice actors and the storyline! would listen to a sequel for sure!

Got me present to what we all have in common

At first, I had to get through my usual internal brain chatter. I usually have to start the book over a few times so that I can get into the groove of it. Once I did, very satisfying. Answered some relevant questions, gave me a platform from which to look at certain questions. And all around satisfying Reid. Before the book ended, around 2/3 of the way, I started the book over again to make sure I got all the information needed for whatever ending was prepared. Very good.

It was fine

I have to laugh at those of you who don’t believe this book is political, just about every utopian/ dis-topian novel is, honestly can’t think of one that’s not , I’ll throw in a whole lot of leeway your way and pretend social engineering , moralizing and lecture arent necessarily political, and suggest that if these leanings are your leanings you can’t see the politics of the thing , if that helps, but hey it’s politics all the same, and no you cannot pretend to know what mine are just because I can see this clearly.

Anyway, I’m not giving this creation three stars for any reasons other than as much as I love the narrators voices, it sounds like they are well trained actors at the first dress rehearsal. Good reading but reading all the same. Left me with a lukewarm response -odd- not acted, not read. Additionally it would have been a better read for me if there was more depth, I understand it’s basically a short story but simply would have appreciated a bit more substance- by substance I don’t mean vulgarity , I appreciated that there was very little titillation in this, that being included would have made it a cheap thrill not simply a weak one.
Lastly - yes I know it’s a fanciful fiction - it was logically and scientifically weak. Which makes jumping into the story with both feet pretty much impossible for me.
There are way worse things written and enormously weaker story lines. I wouldn’t say “don’t read it” but I on the other hand I don’t think you’ve missed much if you haven’t . A free book , that fills space;that you don’t have to think much about ; pay close attention to or learn anything from? This fits that.
There’s nothing earth shattering here.(pun intended-sorry couldn’t control myself)
I wonder if all of this authors work is similar, I’ll try one more before I give up.