Try free for 30 days
-
Outland
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for $48.69
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Buy it with
-
Roadkill
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jack Kernigan is having a bad day...a bad year...a bad life. After being booted out of MIT, he’s back in his Ohio hometown, working for the family business, facing a life of mediocrity. Then one day, out on a delivery, his truck hits...something. Something big...something furry...something invisible. And, it turns out, something not of this Earth. Fate can play funny tricks. Which is why Jack suddenly finds himself the planet’s best hope to unravel a conspiracy of galactic proportions that could spell the end of the human race.
-
-
Very similar to Expeditionary Force
- By Anonymous User on 07-08-2022
-
The Singularity Trap
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dennis E. Taylor, author of the best-selling Bobiverse trilogy, explores a whole different, darker world in this sci-fi stand-alone. Determined to give his wife and children a better life back home, Ivan Pritchard ventures to the edge of known space to join the crew of the Mad Astra as an asteroid miner. He's prepared for hard work and loneliness—but not the unthinkable. After coming into contact with a mysterious alien substance, Pritchard finds an unwelcome entity sharing his mind, and a disturbing physical transformation taking place.
-
-
Cardboard cutouts in space
- By Matthew willey on 27-05-2019
-
Heaven's River
- Bobiverse, Book 4
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 16 hrs and 57 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Civil war looms in the Bobiverse in this brand-new, epic-length adventure by Audible number one best seller Dennis E. Taylor. More than a hundred years ago, Bender set out for the stars and was never heard from again. There has been no trace of him despite numerous searches by his clone-mates. Now Bob is determined to organize an expedition to learn Bender’s fate - whatever the cost. But nothing is ever simple in the Bobiverse. Bob’s descendants are out to the 24th generation now, and replicative drift has produced individuals who can barely be considered Bobs anymore.
-
-
Ray Porter IS Bob!
- By Anonymous User on 27-09-2020
-
All These Worlds
- Bobiverse, Book 3
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The epic and highly anticipated conclusion to the listener-favorite series that had countless Audible listeners (and employees) hooked from the very first Bob - featuring, as always, a flawless performance from the inimitable Ray Porter. Being a sentient spaceship really should be more fun. But after spreading out through space for almost a century, Bob and his clones just can't stay out of trouble. They've created enough colonies so humanity shouldn't go extinct.
-
-
Awesome!
- By Anonymous User on 11-01-2018
-
For We Are Many
- Bobiverse, Book 2
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bob Johansson didn't believe in an afterlife, so waking up after being killed in a car accident was a shock. To add to the surprise, he is now a sentient computer and the controlling intelligence for a Von Neumann probe. Bob and his copies have been spreading out from Earth for 40 years now, looking for habitable planets. But that's the only part of the plan that's still in one piece.
-
-
That audio though....
- By Craig on 24-04-2017
-
We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
- Bobiverse, Book 1
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's a reason We Are Legion was named Audible's Best Science Fiction Book of 2016: Its irresistibly irreverent wit! Bob Johansson has just sold his software company for a small fortune and is looking forward to a life of leisure. The first item on his to-do list: Spending his newfound windfall. On an urge to splurge, he signs up to have his head cryogenically preserved in case of death. Then he gets himself killed crossing the street. Waking up 117 years later, Bob discovers his mind has been uploaded into a sentient space probe with the ability to replicate itself.
-
-
So much better than I expected
- By Rob on 13-09-2017
-
Roadkill
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jack Kernigan is having a bad day...a bad year...a bad life. After being booted out of MIT, he’s back in his Ohio hometown, working for the family business, facing a life of mediocrity. Then one day, out on a delivery, his truck hits...something. Something big...something furry...something invisible. And, it turns out, something not of this Earth. Fate can play funny tricks. Which is why Jack suddenly finds himself the planet’s best hope to unravel a conspiracy of galactic proportions that could spell the end of the human race.
-
-
Very similar to Expeditionary Force
- By Anonymous User on 07-08-2022
-
The Singularity Trap
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dennis E. Taylor, author of the best-selling Bobiverse trilogy, explores a whole different, darker world in this sci-fi stand-alone. Determined to give his wife and children a better life back home, Ivan Pritchard ventures to the edge of known space to join the crew of the Mad Astra as an asteroid miner. He's prepared for hard work and loneliness—but not the unthinkable. After coming into contact with a mysterious alien substance, Pritchard finds an unwelcome entity sharing his mind, and a disturbing physical transformation taking place.
-
-
Cardboard cutouts in space
- By Matthew willey on 27-05-2019
-
Heaven's River
- Bobiverse, Book 4
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 16 hrs and 57 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Civil war looms in the Bobiverse in this brand-new, epic-length adventure by Audible number one best seller Dennis E. Taylor. More than a hundred years ago, Bender set out for the stars and was never heard from again. There has been no trace of him despite numerous searches by his clone-mates. Now Bob is determined to organize an expedition to learn Bender’s fate - whatever the cost. But nothing is ever simple in the Bobiverse. Bob’s descendants are out to the 24th generation now, and replicative drift has produced individuals who can barely be considered Bobs anymore.
-
-
Ray Porter IS Bob!
- By Anonymous User on 27-09-2020
-
All These Worlds
- Bobiverse, Book 3
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The epic and highly anticipated conclusion to the listener-favorite series that had countless Audible listeners (and employees) hooked from the very first Bob - featuring, as always, a flawless performance from the inimitable Ray Porter. Being a sentient spaceship really should be more fun. But after spreading out through space for almost a century, Bob and his clones just can't stay out of trouble. They've created enough colonies so humanity shouldn't go extinct.
-
-
Awesome!
- By Anonymous User on 11-01-2018
-
For We Are Many
- Bobiverse, Book 2
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bob Johansson didn't believe in an afterlife, so waking up after being killed in a car accident was a shock. To add to the surprise, he is now a sentient computer and the controlling intelligence for a Von Neumann probe. Bob and his copies have been spreading out from Earth for 40 years now, looking for habitable planets. But that's the only part of the plan that's still in one piece.
-
-
That audio though....
- By Craig on 24-04-2017
-
We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
- Bobiverse, Book 1
- By: Dennis E. Taylor
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There's a reason We Are Legion was named Audible's Best Science Fiction Book of 2016: Its irresistibly irreverent wit! Bob Johansson has just sold his software company for a small fortune and is looking forward to a life of leisure. The first item on his to-do list: Spending his newfound windfall. On an urge to splurge, he signs up to have his head cryogenically preserved in case of death. Then he gets himself killed crossing the street. Waking up 117 years later, Bob discovers his mind has been uploaded into a sentient space probe with the ability to replicate itself.
-
-
So much better than I expected
- By Rob on 13-09-2017
-
Match Game
- Expeditionary Force, Book 14
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 20 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For years, the ancient alien AI known as Skippy (the Magnificent, don’t forget that part) has been able to do one impossible thing after another. What is his secret? It’s simple: 100 percent Grade-A extreme awesomeness. And also because he had never been faced with an opponent of equal power. Until now. This time, he might need a little help from a band of filthy monkeys.
-
-
Craig and RC Bray what's not to love
- By Anonymous User on 10-08-2022
-
Contact
- Alien Invasion, Book 2
- By: Sean Platt, Johnny B. Truant
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Find the missing. Fear the found. Three months have passed since the aliens' arrival, but little has changed in the skies. Motherships still hover, impervious to attack and communication. Spherical shuttles ferry about with unclear intentions. But the abductions of select humans have ended, and most of those taken have been returned - dazed, incoherent, and prophesying glory or doom, but home where they belong. Still, nine seemingly unconnected people remain missing.
-
-
I lost the plot
- By beaver on 17-04-2017
-
Dead Moon
- By: Peter Clines
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the year 2243, the Moon belongs to the dead. The largest graveyard in the solar system, it was the perfect solution to the overcrowding and environmental problems that had plagued mankind for centuries. And the perfect place for Cali Washington to run away from her past. But when a mysterious meteor crashes into one of the Moon’s cemeteries, Cali and her fellow Caretakers find themselves surrounded by a terrifying enemy force that outnumbers them more than a thousand to one. An enemy not hindered by the lack of air or warmth or sustenance. An enemy that is already dead.
-
-
Not bad, but not really part of the series
- By Ben on 19-02-2019
-
The Fold
- By: Peter Clines
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The folks in Mike Erikson's small New England town would say he's just your average, everyday guy. And that's exactly how Mike likes it. Sure, the life he's chosen isn't much of a challenge to someone with his unique gifts, but he's content with his quiet and peaceful existence. That is, until an old friend presents him with an irresistible mystery, one that Mike is uniquely qualified to solve.
-
-
Worth the money
- By Linda on 21-08-2015
-
From Beyond
- From Beyond, Book 1
- By: Jasper T. Scott, Nathan Hystad
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Commander David Bryce is scheduled to lead a routine re-supply run for the Orbital Development Group (ORB) to the fledgling colony on Mars. Without warning, he’s taken away by government agents and told the mission parameters have changed. They’ve discovered something. And it’s drifting closer to Earth. Atlas Donovan tirelessly hunts for an artifact, and tracks the piece to Lake Como, Italy. After the recent news from ORB, Atlas is more drawn to the trail than ever.
-
14
- By: Peter Clines
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s.
-
-
Precisely what I look for in a story!
- By C.J.R Flanagan on 03-02-2014
-
Paradise
- Expeditionary Force, Book 3
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While the crew of the starship Flying Dutchman have been trying to assure that hostile aliens do not have access to Earth, the UN Expeditionary Force has been stranded on the planet they nicknamed "Paradise". The Flying Dutchman is headed back out on another mission, and the UN wants the ship to find out the status of the humans on Paradise. But Colonel Joe Bishop warns that they might not like what they find, and they can't do anything about it without endangering Earth.
-
-
This is one of the best books I've read/listened to for a long time
- By Kaz on 29-07-2017
-
SpecOps
- Expeditionary Force, Book 2
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Colonel Joe Bishop made a promise and he's going to keep it; taking the captured alien starship Flying Dutchman back out. He doesn't agree when the UN decides to send almost 70 elite Special Operations troops, hotshot pilots, and scientists with him; the mission is a fool's errand he doesn't expect to ever return from. At least, this time, the Earth is safe, right? Not so much.
-
-
Not as good as book one but still interesting
- By Anonymous User on 24-04-2019
-
Infinite
- By: Jeremy Robinson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Galahad, a faster-than-light spacecraft, carries 50 scientists and engineers on a mission to prepare Kepler 452b, Earth's nearest habitable neighbor at 1400 light years away. With Earth no longer habitable and the Mars colony slowly failing, they are humanity's best hope. After 10 years in a failed cryogenic bed - body asleep, mind awake - William Chanokh's torture comes to an end as the fog clears, the hatch opens, and his friend and fellow hacker, Tom, greets him...by stabbing a screwdriver into his heart. This is the first time William dies.
-
-
Amazing! Can not rate this book highly enough
- By Jake on 08-02-2018
-
Convergence
- Convergence, Book 1
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
My name is Kazimir Wolfe. People call me "Kaz", except they don’t. I never use my real name; it’s too dangerous, for me and for anyone I meet. I’m on the run from the law, who think I killed my aunt, and from whoever did kill her, because they want to finish the job. So, I move around a lot, working construction or whatever job I can find. It’s a lonely life. I don’t let anyone get close...people who get close to me end up dead. Why? I’m a wizard. The world’s only wizard, as far as I know.
-
-
Done it again
- By David on 13-08-2022
-
Black Ops
- Expeditionary Force, Book 4
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The elite crew of the pirate ship UNS Flying Dutchman had a simple mission: determining whether the Thuranin are sending another starship to Earth. Along the way, they became sidetracked by securing a future for the UNEF troops on the planet Paradise. When asked whether Earth was now safe, their ancient alien AI responded "Not so much"...now they have to deal with the consequences.
-
-
Love it
- By Mike on 20-10-2017
-
Fallout
- Expeditionary Force, Book 13
- By: Craig Alanson
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 22 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The problem with lying about having a super weapon is that the bad guys might believe they have nothing to lose by doing something stupid that both sides will regret. Or, they might just call your bluff. Either way, the Merry Band of Pirates need a plan to deal with the Fallout.
-
-
good but
- By Richard McKenna on 15-01-2022
Publisher's Summary
When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, it's up to six college students and their experimental physics project to prevent the end of civilization.
When an experiment to study quantum uncertainty goes spectacularly wrong, physics student Bill Rustad and his friends find that they have accidentally created an inter-dimensional portal. They connect to Outland - an alternate Earth with identical geology, but where humans never evolved. The group races to establish control of the portal before the government, the military, or evildoers can take it away.
Then everything changes when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts in an explosion large enough to destroy civilization and kill half the planet. The team has just hours to get as many people as possible across to Outland before a lethal cloud of ash overwhelms them.
Nothing has prepared the refugees for what they find - a world of few resources and unprecedented dangers. Somehow, they must learn to survive, because Outland may not just be a safe haven - it could be their new home.
More from the same
What listeners say about Outland
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr M J Tack
- 06-12-2019
A great sci-fi take on Armageddon
Dennis E Taylor has smashed it again. I loved the Bobiverse series and when I started listening to Outland I was thrown for a loop as it was so different. But after a short time I realised Dennis had taken his gift for excellent pacing and structure and applied it to a whole new idea that is no less ambitious in scope than the Bobiverse.
The sci-fi concepts feel real, and the focus is more on well-paced action and inter-personal character development than most science fiction writing, where too often it feels like a revel in tech for tech's sake.
My only gripe is that I think Dennis shouldn't put out one book in a series without releasing the next two immediately. ;)
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Patris
- 23-05-2019
Outstanding
Another brilliant novel by Dennis E. Taylor. The story is unique and engaging. The characters are likable, smart and funny. I loved every second of it.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Adam
- 28-11-2020
mediocore
like the Bobiverse books, the story is to self aware and trying too hard with the nerd pop culture. basic storyline is fine but fairly standard
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michael Harrison
- 11-08-2019
Worth a shot
Had me coming back to it when I could, was a good story although some of the characters made me fee like I was watching a B grade sci-fi film, feels like it's aimed at an under 20's audience. That being said would still buy the next in the series
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kindle Customer
- 28-05-2019
Addictive.
I wasnt sure I could get into a science fiction novel, but after two chapters I couldn't put it down.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- David Maher
- 26-05-2020
The optional required headline
A very enjoyable dystopian novel. Even when read by a John Wayne impersonator.
David M
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 09-01-2020
polarizing
once again Dennis delivers a trademark feast of geek shiek with colour and intensity. A journey into the human condition shaped by the mirical of the natural world. loved it.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- julie ann
- 12-10-2019
A fun book with a marvelous narrator
Ray Porter is an amazing narator and I found this book as I worked my way through most everything Ray has done but it was a great find. An interesting twist on tbe disaster genre with fun characters and engaging dialogue. Bring on book 2!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Liane Mills
- 24-07-2022
Fabulous concept really well executed
My partner and I listened to this book together on long drives and we were totally entertained. The characters are largely fun and really well developed so you don’t get confused. The reader is fantastic but after listening to the Bob series with the same reader, it wasn’t so fresh and new.
We look forward to the next book!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 08-06-2022
Another great work by Dennis E. Taylor and performance by Ray Porter
After binging through the Bobiverse books, The Singularity Trap, and now Outland… I feel the least I can do is leave a positive written statement here. I’ve been deeply engaged in each of the worlds that Dennis E. Taylor has created and I couldn’t imagine the stories being narrated by anyone other than Ray Porter. And ‘Outland’ is no exception to the rule. While eagerly waiting for Taylor to pump out more books including an ‘Outland’ sequel, I intend to go track down other performances on audible by Porter. Bravo ☺️ 👏
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Bob Bunton
- 26-09-2019
COFFEE!!
I loved the Bobiverse books. It is one of my favorite series of all time. Bob's coffee addiction and frequent sci-fi movie/tv references were character quirks. But Bob was intended to be a quirky character, and it made sense for all of his copies to be similar.
But in this book, the characters are supposed to be separate human beings, presumably with their own brains and personalities. So it makes the CONSTANT and mindless chants of "coffee" unbearable. The book reads like it was written by an alien whose only exposure to humanity was that "don't talk to me until I've had my coffee" McDonalds commercial. There are entire conversations where the only word is "coffee."
I finally gave up on the book when the world ending event occurs, and the 200+ individuals have zero emotional response. No crying, no panicking, nothing. They just coldly and efficiently organize an evacuation. But then the next morning they learn there will be a 45 minute wait for coffee, and they absolutely lose it. It is just several minutes of unnamed characters ranting about coffee with occasional cutaways to characters who have coffee obsessing about how great coffee is. I had turn it off.
Do not waste your credit on this. If you are really interested, find that McDonald's commercial on Youtube and play it on a 10 hour long loop. That will give you the gist of the book.
130 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Linda Herring
- 19-11-2019
Fun read
I have enjoyed this book a couple of times now. Excellent character building, fascinating premise. Narration is outstanding. Wish there was a sequel, so much more there to build on. Definitely worth the $ and time.
33 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Joshua
- 11-08-2020
Interesting concept but amateur execution
First the good: It was a fun, light story, with some imagination, and fast-paced action.
The bad: This story reads like a promising first draft of a story that could have been great. But it needed a LOT of editing that didn't happen.
What I can say WITHOUT SPOILERS beyond what's written in the audible synopsis:
The entire novel suffered from a rookie sci-fi writer's mistake: it had TWO obscenely improbable premises acting simultaneously. First you had the explosion of Yellowstone, and then independently you had the invention of an inter-dimensional portal. Right there, you've made suspension of disbelief pretty much impossible.
The only cure for this would have been to have one improbable event CAUSE the other. But that wasn't the case here... instead we're left with the laughable COINCIDENCE that an extremely improbable disaster happens at the exact same time that the perfect remedy for that disaster is invented. It's a too-rosey, childlike plot.
Further rookie mistakes: All the characters are flat, and most of them speak with essentially the same voice. Also, there is WAAAAAY too much exposition (don't TELL me. SHOW me.)
NOW SOME DISCUSSION WITH SPOILERS:
The key point that ruins this book is the neverending coincidences of all shapes and sizes: Yellowstone erupts at EXACTLY the moment that humanity develops a way to escape the earth? A Yellowstone-obsessed geology student is VISITING yellowstone as her boyfriend is BUILDING the world-portal. Come. On.
And then our heroes of COINCIDENTALLY prepared for EVERY contingency, and everything they imagine might go wrong DOES go wrong IMMEDIATELY after they plan for it.
None of our heroes ever comes CLOSE to having a real problem because they are protected by the world's thickest plot armer.
Next up: The flattest characters in the world.
We have an entire cast of the most boring people on Earth. We have the nerds. We have the geeks. We have the militant chicks. None of them have any personality, desires, interests, or anything beyond the generic labels they've been given.
Also, all of them speak in movie references, or at the very least understand movie references, or nerdy references... even our kick-but non-nerd National Guard girl casually references LARPing, as if that's not an incredibly niche interest.
The author has failed TWICE here. He's made everyone kind of a nerd, and simultaneously hasn't found a way to realistically portray a nerd as anything other than the crudest stereotype.
There is no ambiguity in any character anywhere. We have good guys and bad guys. There's no middle ground. No nuance. Just a child's view of how the world works.
What's worse is that the author is trapped in his own head. When HE has an idea, all of his characters have that idea, or understand that idea and agree with it instantly. For a prime example, look at how this author discusses coffee. In fact, this whole book reads like a long coffee ad. SOOO many characters are obsessed with it... it's brought up over and over again... it's weird considering that this is the apocalypse, and people have other things to think about.
Another MAJOR PROBLEM with this novel is the absolutely psychopathic lack of interest that the author has in the fact that all of humanity is dying; that all the main characters' families are dying. It's BARELY mentioned in this book. It doesn't weight on the characters. They don't discuss it. It doesn't dampen their mood. It doesn't stop them from having entirely lighthearted conversations throughout the entire world-ending, family killing disaster. It's utterly bizarre.
The narration didn't help matters... it had an oddly flippant, light tone. Not that he had a lot to work with... but... it just felt completely mismatched with the weight of the story.
I wish I could have sat down with the author and given him some notes before he published this:
1. Find a way to make the world-portal dependent on the eruption of yellowstone, or make it the CAUSE of the yellowstone eruption. Then you only have ONE obscenely unlikely event driving the plot, instead of the most improbably coincidence in all of history.
2. Spend some time fleshing out your characters. What do they want. How do they speak. What references will they get? Which will they miss? Will they have any tolerance for joking during a the end of the world? Make them REAL.
3. Make your characters suffer. Put them in danger. Make us worry about them. Make us CARE. Make us sympathize. DON'T MAKE THEM PREPARED FOR EVERY DANGER. You've made them omnipotent as well as invincible. That's no fun.
4. It's the end of the world. Make us care about that. Make it color the entire tone of the novel. Make it affect the mood of all the characters. Grief is NOT optional. You can't choose not to include that. Also... you know... have them try to save their families like any normal, feeling person would.
I really hope the author reads this review and takes it to heart. Because I believe that with real effort he could become a very good writer. There was some witty dialog in there. There was some very imaginative scenarios... he has the potential to write something great someday. Most of all he needs to find an editor who will tell him what ISN'T working.
25 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- RJPF
- 26-05-2019
I made myself finish. Glad I did.
I love love love DETs other 4 titles and was too excited for this one to come out. I knew that this was his first (self published) book that Audible "bought" for their Originals library. I was tempted to quit listening after about an hour. Ray Porter is fantastic as usual but DET has come a long way since these early days. I really do not understand all the 5 star reviews. Are we so afraid to be critical - not nasty - but point out that not every output from an author is perfect?
This is a practice novel with very limited character development and coincidences that pushed me way past my belief that the operative word in the term "science fiction" is fiction - that you suspend belief or accept unproven ideas for the sake of the story. Undergraduates who seem to have knowledge well beyond even four years of college, a group of undergraduates (or maybe grad students) who discover this portal while working with an apparently uninterested and unimaginative professor, etc.
The one thing I got from this story is that DET has honed his craft . It's too bad that he didn't rewrite this update to make the story somewhat believable.
191 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Josh
- 14-07-2019
Feels very "Young Adult"
The book started off promising, but once the clataclysm happened and the characters migrated to the new dimension every problem they faced was solved by transporting back to earth and looting x resource or recruiting y person, often within a few pages of the problem occuring. This plot simplicity made it feel like a YA novel. I found myself far more interested with what was happening to the people on the dying earth.
62 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Sky
- 01-07-2019
meh its ok
If like me you've gone through every other book audible has to offer that you want to read then this isn't the worst way to go. It's kind of amazing to me that the author didn't have anyone to look over his work and tell him maybe don't have the characters obsess over coffee like a badd pun constantly or not add the words "he glared at her, or she glared at him" every other paragraph but the story over all was amusing enough
26 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Kenneth Wieland
- 19-05-2019
Just plain fun and never dull.
Take a dash of Stargate, Sliders and a hint of Terra Nova mix well and sever over ice. It’s not a new cocktail but boy is it tasty. I don’t write many reviews. But this was just a fun listen and a start of a wonderful new series. I really look forward to many more books to come. You can’t go wrong if you like lite sci-fi just for the enjoyment of getting lost for a few hours. I like heavy sci-fi with deep character development and believable science as much as the next guy. But darn it sometimes I just want some fun.
166 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- pat kenaston
- 15-11-2019
Want to buy the movie rights!!!
Engaging characters, fascinating sci fi/Armageddon/New World plot. Very cohesive, entertaining storyline, and Porter gives a terrific performance giving voice to multiple characters. Would love a sequel...?
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Gary
- 16-05-2019
More! Take my money!
Fabulous story, very original premise as fast as the apocalyptic books I've read. I couldn't stop listening. I literally spent the whole day listening. Well done. ...more please.
126 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- TK2.0
- 27-05-2019
Bit of a drop off. OK, silly almost YA feel
I loved Bob. clever deep thought on endless possibilities. this felt almost YA. Felt like two separate stories quickly written together. Some students very casually create inter dimension travel and casually just have fun with it while by coincidence the world ends the same week. every challenge just solves itself. and survival is just let's hang out and use these handy building kits we threw up. Felt super light on content and everything just falls into place. I think it's the opposite of world building, just world's with no real effort.
Narrator great as always, book fun enough but felt like super light 8th grade adventure stories.
75 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Adam
- 22-05-2019
Bright young things
How far you go along with and enjoy 'Outland' will depend on your ability to swallow the central premise; that a handful of young US University students crack the secret of hopping between dimensions and are able to build a collection of interdimensional portals as and when needed.
Given the breadth of talent it takes to launch a shuttle into space, or build a particle accelerator, to put it mildly, this is a bit of a stretch. One engineering graduate (Bill, the wisecracking one with a penchant for movie references) is able to build the portals. One mathematical whizz cracks the maths. And an alpha male jock called Richard pulls it all together. Matt is pulled in because he is also good at science and has a trust fund. His girlfriend gets suspicious and joins him. And her bff, Monica, incredibly 'hot' and with a penchant for guns, and access to same (second amendment) later, handily, joins them.
They discover alternative Earth's, a grim future where humanity has been wiped out be greenhouse gases, and a world where humans haven't evolved, full of prehistoric mammals and hungry apex predators they christen 'Outland.'
Meanwhile, in the background, the Yellowstone Park super-volcano rumbles ominously. People read the danger signs but others do the mayor in Jaws thing and deny there is any danger. Said super-volcano erupts (the blurb tells you this, so this isn't a spoiler) and the kids evacuate, along with other students, to Outland. They also have to deal with some irate local thugs, an insurrection amongst the students, and the National Guard (who are ok really). The baddies telegraph their badness by calling the women 'bitch.' A lot.
So this isn't Issac Asimov. It is purely pulp science fiction, and it is no worse for that. It is a lot of fun. The writing is brisk, the volcano stuff is done well, with tension building slowly, and the young leads are on the whole quite likeable.
Kudos to Ray Porter, the narrator of the audiobook, who swings from character to character with effortless voice acting ease, and never flags or tires.
102 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mr. Paul J. Reid
- 01-06-2019
Missed the target
I liked the concept and listened all teh way to the end but the book lacked substance. The two major themes - inter-dimensional travel and end of the world event - are not explored and developed sufficiently to do either justice.
The characters lack depth, and much of the narrative and dialogue is weak and predicatble. The best I can compare it with is a movie which promises much but lacks the depth or excitement and goes straight to DVD.
28 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Asbjørn
- 07-03-2020
Not recommended
Taylor is not able to follow up on his Bobiverse success. His writing style is to directly transcribe his imaginings and publish. This works well on a space odyssey with mainly one character. It falls flat here in a universe with more characters and ironically more closely related to our world. All characters are caricatures. The plot is poorly expressed, and both politics and science are embarrassingly naïve.
23 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Jonathan
- 06-12-2020
Too american for this listener
Which sounds like a stupid criticism, american author writing for an American readership, no big surprise. This is Taylor's first novel and its interesting enough in terms of plot but has little of the moral complexities of his later work. The protagonists are University students but behave and sound like adults - spoiler - a world changing volcanic eruption threatens every living person and it seems to mean so little to them, they worry about coffee, they get guns, lots of guns, and millions die, including friends and relatives and in seems to mean so little.... And more guns, Americans and their love of firepower. Six hours into this I stopped, gave it a good chance, but I didn't care about any of them because they didn't seem real or worthy of my interest... Actually disliked the characters, so vapid... And did I mention the guns. The narrator is professional but can't bring across the age of the characters, they sound like thirty year olds.
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Béa
- 15-06-2019
On the edge at every end of chapter
When is someone going to make a movie out of this amazing book?!? I loved it so much I devoared it much quicker than expected. Dennis E. Taylor I can't wait to read your other books. As for Ray Porter I can't express how much I am grateful that you narrate books. YOU. ARE. SO. GOOD! Thank you! ❤️ On to the next book!
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- grace
- 28-07-2020
Insufferable characters
The overall story is fairly interesting but what ruins it is the absolutely insufferable characters. All very stereotypical 'geeks' and incredibly annoying, and not what actual nerds actually speak like . I find the dialogue completely cringe worthy, noone speaks like that. I physically rolled my eyes at the dialogue many times.
I loved the Bob tribology however it must be said this author seems to only be able to write one type of woman, the sassy snappy, incredibly intelligent. They all seem the same. But to be honest his male characters don't vary much either.
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Paul Coomber
- 17-07-2019
Dennis e Taylor saves humanity again
cant wait for book two. love the style of this book. geek scifi at its finest.
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Steve
- 09-08-2019
Chewing gum for the ears
After the excellent Bobiverse and enjoyable Singularity I was looking forward to this book.
Sadly, it was a disappointment. The book doesn't live up to or really follow the preface and is a generic 'Magic Door' to another universe book. Extremely simple story with obvious plot 'twists' resulting in a shallow two-dimensional listen that ignores any of the scientific challenges to such a gateway in divergent universe.
Well narrated which made it listenable but overall it's more a book to pass that time that to stir the imagination hence chewing gum for the ears.
I doubt I'll buy any more in this series though will consider other Dennis Taylor books in the future.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 18-05-2019
I find that I like everything by this Author
Loved it. Finished it too fast, and not because it's a small book. Try Bobiverse as well.
25 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Paul Hamer
- 04-10-2019
Interesting premise, well executed
I found the concept very similar to The Long Earth series by Sir Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. It takes its time getting to the action, but there is a steady build up of tension. You can guess (as the listener/reader) what is coming, but the protagonists do not. The narrator provides a good dynamic for each character hence I found it well executed too as he keeps the narrative tension going.
I assume that there will be a second book in the series. I will be buying it.
5 people found this helpful
16 Best Audiobooks by Aboriginal Authors
Across genres, there’s no shortage of brilliant titles from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers of Australia.



16 Audiobooks Full of Life Hacks to Live By
Looking to improve yourself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually? This is where to start.



14 Feel-Good Audiobooks to Brighten Up Your Day
The Audible library is packed with feel-good audiobooks that will lighten the soul and fill the heart with joy.


