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The Eden Paradox

The Eden Paradox, Book 1

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The Eden Paradox

By: Barry Kirwan
Narrated by: Edward Mitchell
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About this listen

The Eden Paradox is a brand-new science fiction series from best-selling writer Barry Kirwan.

If you loved Dune, Foundation or Ender’s Game, you'll love the first novel in this epic, galaxy-spanning series.

In 2063, Earth's overheated climate and war-ravaged cities are near breaking point. A new habitable planet is discovered within reach, but the first two missions have failed to return.

This is the story of the third mission to Eden. What really awaits the crew of four as they make the long journey to this supposedly uninhabited virgin planet, and what is the link to the secret 900-year-old sect known as Alicians back on Earth?

While Blake leads the Eden mission, a young researcher named Micah discovers a terrible truth that threatens the very existence of humanity.

©2011 Barry Kirwan (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd Classics Fiction First Contact Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Space Opera Space Interstellar

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Critic reviews

"The reader is pulled into an all too real future, with memorable characters, leaving the reader craving more." (Lydia Manx)

"A science fiction thriller with terrific images and revelations." (Gary Gibson)
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This is my first audible book, and I'm impressed by the way the narrator casts a spell, conjuring up a future Earth and the planet Eden. My favourite chapter was the Ghoster section, unputdownable, edge of your seat stuff.

Transports you to another world...

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Really liked the story. A different take on aliens and space hero’s, of which there were many you could support as the book heads to its dramatic climax and atypical ending.

Gripping story diminished by hurried narration.

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Decent fun SF pulp. Engaging enough for me to seek out the sequels. But spoiled a little by the narrator flowing one scene straight into another without pausing for breath or providing any other audible cue. The audio equivalent of a book written without paragraph breaks.

Good clean fun, but not the best narration

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I read a lot of science fiction and was reticent about trying this book. But as the story unravelled with twists and turns I realised this was something quite new, a refreshing take on an old idea. The narration is excellent. Try it you will not be disappointed.

original ideas

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Its been a while since I read the Eden Paradox, and now finding myself on endless car journeys, decided to take it again to be entertained, its always a gamble as to whether the story will hang together a second time when you know how it ends, and whether the portrayal by someone else of characters, that you have been to the ends of the earth with (quite literally over the other three brilliant books by Kirwan) will meet your expectations !

Well...

They did - characterisation and the pace of reading all worked... the story lost non of its punch and I was still rooting for Mica even so many years after reading the Eden paradox for he first time.

I don;t do superlatives, but if I did, I would use one or ten. I just really enjoyed the story - again - and I really enjoyed someone reading it to me. Just have to wait for book 2 now :)

Loved it as a read, loved it being read to me !

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Great book to listen to, but needed more space in the recording to discern between different perspectives/sections in a chapter... needed to reposted occasionally to work out when the story had moved on to a different scene.

Interesting concept

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I read the Eden series years ago, and was really excited to see in on Audible. Have really loved returning to the story world and characters.

Great story world and characters

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The story sounded interesting, so I thought I'd try the audiobook and see. Sadly, the reality is a somewhat slow moving book, building towards a dramatic climax of nothingness. The back story, of a limited nuclear war, and how the human race got to that point, was a solid foundation that wasn't capitalised on. Also, the narrator, whilst very good, failed to breathe life into the story, and had me fighting to stay awake.

Bland

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I hate to criticise work that people have put time into, but this was very poor, both in terms of the story and the performance. The story was full of cliches - just another plucky humans fighting voracious bug eyed monsters tale. There were very few original ideas decanted into this well worn scenario. And there were far too many "with one bound, Jack was free" moments i.e. timers running down to the last few seconds, rescuers appearing when someone was seconds away from being devoured etc. Regarding the performance, while the speaking voices of the characters were well enough done, the narrative sections were read in a very pedestrian way.

Not recommended

Cliched

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so much absurd unneeded sex. The book runs on male wish fulfillment. Everyone is apparently a double agent or triple agent... it's silly.

Silly plot. Terrible female characters

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