The Fifth Man

Oxygen Series, Book 2

By: Randall Ingermanson

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

From the acclaimed, Christy Award-winning writing team of John B. Olson and Randall Ingermanson comes this sequel to Oxygen.

On the first manned mission to Mars, astronauts Valkerie Jansen and Bob Kaganovski may have discovered evidence of past life on the red planet. But under constant scrutiny from NASA, and with the media watching their every move, their relationship becomes strained.

©2002 John B. Olson and Randall Ingermanson (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Even more entertaining than the original! ...grabs you and won't let you go until you reach the last page." (The SF Site)

Good book not great, poor narrator

While an interesting story I was expecting the high quality of the well known and award winning 2nd author so was somewhat disappointed. I attribute the at times irritating and pedantic writing style of hackneyed phrases and lame metaphors (eg oft used “sweated like a pig” btw pigs don’t sweat) and run on unexplained or story unjustified scientific babble distractions as well as uncreative simile and comparisons to the first author. Randy would not write like that. Worse was the narrator who made frequent lip smacking sounds like he was trying to lubricator his mouth, breath sounds (why were these not deleted on a digital remaking?) and poor renditions of the women’s’ voices (all similarly breathy) and attempt at a southern accent that fell irritatingly flat. I’ll look forward to another audiobook by Randy but not with this co author. (I was hoping The Fifth Man was Jesus. Now THAT would have been an exciting and creative plot twist!)