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The Departure

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The Departure

By: Neal Asher
Narrated by: Peter Noble
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Summary

The Departure is the first gripping adventure in Neal Asher's near-future, science fiction Owner series.

The Argus Space Station looks down on a nightmarish Earth. And from this safe distance, the Committee enforces its despotic rule. There are too many people and too few resources, and they need twelve billion to die before Earth can be stabilized. So corruption is rife, people starve, and the poor are policed by mechanized overseers and identity-reader guns. Citizens already fear the brutal Inspectorate with its pain inducers. But to reach its goals, the Committee will unleash satellite laser weaponry, taking carnage to a new level.

This is the world Alan Saul wakes to, travelling in a crate destined for the Calais incinerator. How he got there he doesn’t know, but he remembers pain and his tormentor’s face. He also has company: Janus, a rogue intelligence inhabiting forbidden hardware in his skull. As Janus shows Saul an Earth stripped of hope, he resolves to annihilate the Committee and their regime. Once he’s discovered who he was, and killed his interrogator . . .

 Adventure Cyberpunk Hard Science Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Space Opera Fiction Scary Robotics Technology Computer Science Artificial Intelligence
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Critic reviews

Fast, furious, violent, slightly tongue-in-cheek (I think), and a whole lot of fun that makes 1984 seem like a children’s tea party . . . the start of another promising series from Asher. Go on, dive in, you won’t be disappointed.
Delivers plenty of thrills, and the climax also sets up a very intriguing status quo for the second volume.
Action packed and thrilling, The Departure is a must for all fans of contemporary science fiction who haven’t experienced Asher’s visceral novels before.
The Orwellian intro had me utterly hooked right from the start. I simply couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end.
Fast, dramatic stuff . . . this is a book with lots of Asher trademarks: rapid pace, great action, messy consequences.
I had an absolute blast with this book . . . his work really does get better and better.
All stars
Most relevant
A bit technical in places with its desciptions. Fascinating insight on a possible future world.

QUITE GOOD

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This is my fifth Audible book and besides the story being excellent and what I would expect from the brilliant Neal Asher, the narration was superb with Peter Noble adding inflection, character voices and energy to the storyline. Past experience has monotone American narrators that do not so the book justice. This book however has Peter Noble bringing the world of Neal Asher to life.

Great book, excellent narrator

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I am surprised this book rated so low within the audible's reviews, it deserves more in my humble opinion.

Asher creates a near future sci-fi world, with a compelling story of fighting against an oppressive society.

Maybe that is what bothers people about this story? There is not really 'one' villain here, more of a set of systems that have lead to an '1984' type society, an amorphous blob of rules, admin and committees forms a faceless antagonist.

The 'hero' is also set in very morally 'grey' light throughout this book, something I actually enjoyed, and is probably one of the more unique aspects of this story, but I am also sure, not everyone will enjoy.

Very unique, near sci-fi. Very relevant in 2024

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I have just finished the whole trilogy in about 10 days. It's been a while since I had a story as well written and as well narrated as this was. And having said that, I'm not going to pick holes in either as some reviewers do. I just enjoyed the concept, the continuity, the characters and the excellent narration. Best sifi writing I have experienced in a long time. Thanks.

Excellent trilogy of quality writing and narration

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I bought this as an audible deal of the day and did not know what to expect. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am not used to the "series" style of books, so need to find the next book to listen to. However not sure it's available.

Not heard of this author before

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