Wolf Star Audiobook

By: R.M. Meluch

Narrated by: John Glouchevitch

Published by Brilliance Audio 3/30/2017

12 hrs and 4 mins

Tour of The Merrimack #2

Star Wolf Audiobook Sample

Wolf Star Audiobook

4 Hearts

This is an exciting, fun space opera military war adventure series. It is a futuristic alternate earth history story based on the premise that the Roman Empire never fell, but went underground until deep space travel and colonization was possible and they could come out of hiding, leave earth, and re-establish the empire in space where they run neck and neck with the US in an ongoing war of ideals and trade. There is intrigue, military shipboard life and action (feels like old wooden ships and sails navy stuff), interpersonal relationships, and a secret threat on the horizon. It’s big, brash and colorful in a broad sweeping scope of story.

Wolf Star is part of the Tour of the Merrimack space opera series. It follows closely on the heels of the first book, The Myriad, so yes, listening in order is best.

I was tickled to death to learn that Wolf Star goes back to the beginning before the events of book one giving the reader the earlier days and now I was able to see how the situation with the war, the cast of characters and their backstories, and the new threat was discovered and the race to get a handle on things happened.

I was particularly glad of this because my one niggle about book one was feeling dropped into the middle of things and not really getting a chance to know the characters other than through their actions and dialogue. Now, some of the aspects of the war make better sense as do the allies and enemies assembled. There is also a good progression through broad events in the galaxy and specific events aboard Merrimack.

This is a series of books that are meant to be more swashbuckling fun high-seas style (just in space) war adventure than serious high-brow sci-fi. The ship has ‘sails’, flags, lists to the side when hit, creaks and groans, all just like an old-style ship. Colorful characters have a bit of caricature to them, but I didn’t mind because of the tone of the book. The Captain, John Farragut is larger than life, his naval crew are capable and loyal, his Marines are gritty devil dog types, and the enemy are cunning. There are a few secret affairs of the heart or ones that are unrequited among the crew. The political types are annoying and the Romans make a formidable enemy that keep it life or death, but the enemy of both lurking in the wings offer the biggest heart-pounding adventure. My only niggle was I wanted more of my favorite cold, cynical Roman patterner, Augustus. He was there, but I missed the witty dialogues.

All in all, I had a good time with this one. I found Wolf Star as riveting and exciting as The Myriad. And now, I’m looking forward to moving on with this addicting sci-fi military/space opera series.

Wolf Star Audiobook Narration

5 Hearts

I continue to enjoy John Glouchevitch as the narrator for the series. He is a perfect match for the writing, tone, and pace. He has an absolute gift for keeping about twenty characters straight and putting heart and soul into a story that needed just the right balance of lightness and depth to make it work.

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