The First Boxer cover art

The First Boxer

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The First Boxer

By: Christopher Ride
Narrated by: Tyler Coppin
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $24.99

Buy Now for $24.99

About this listen

 Randall Chen, Overseer of the Mission of Ezra, has been sent back to 19th century China to protect a priceless treasure hidden in the Forbidden City. A treasure beyond compare on which hangs the fate of the world, a treasure for which men will destroy nations... Stuck between the armies of the British Empire, The Chinese Emperor and the Mongol Lord, Randall must ensure that history stays on course and the future is safeguarded. But no one can predict what Randall Chen will do when faced with the Empress Ci Xi, an irresistible woman with an insatiable lust for power. Has he betrayed the mission or been betrayed by The Enterprise Corporation who sent him into the past? And will Wilson Dowling get there in time to save the future?©2009 Christopher L Ride. (P)2009 Bolinda Publishing Science Fiction Fiction China

Editorial reviews

As the British and French descend upon China following the end of the Second Opium War, time traveler Randall Chen has been sent back to protect a sacred tree from destruction and keep history on course, but his mettle is tested when faced with the temptations of Empress Ci Xi. Chris Ride blends historical fiction and fantasy in this imaginative tale, which is given a palpable intrigue by Tyler Coppin, who has a smoky and deliberate tone. Coppin's wide array of accents is impressive and crucial, helping to make Ride's characters well-defined and memorable.

Critic Reviews

"Time traveler Randall Chen is sent on a mission to nineteenth-century China. Narrator Tyler Coppin rises to the challenge of presenting a story that weaves together time travel, real life historical events, the elixir of life, and a mission to safeguard the future. Coppin develops the broad and diverse cast, which includes Chinese, British, American, and Australian characters. He distinguishes them with a consistent use of accents and tone. His pace allows the plot to unfold energetically, without the listener feeling rushed. As Coppin guides the listener through nineteenth-century China with a skilled narration, disbelief is suspended, making the implausible seem possible." (AudioFile Magazine)
All stars
Most relevant  
Ride's first novel 'The Schumann Frequency' was fresh and exciting with the perfect mix of history and futurism. This spent 3 hours at the very beginning of the book explaining confusing Chinese history with very little action or forward momentum. It feels more like a history textbook.

When we finally get transported to 2082 the storyline progresses, however the dire narration is monotonous and lacks any form of enthusiasm. The narrator also takes poorly timed breaths and very strange pauses that makes the flow of the story disjointed and unenjoyable.

I got 5 hours in and had to stop. Such a shame as I would like to continue following this series.

Terrible Narration and a laborious storyline

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I am so disappointed with this book having read 2 of his other books that were fantastic reads. Unless your into Chinese history big time give this a miss. A very "boy" book.

Boring

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The narrator for this audio book killed it. I just cannot listen to him. No personality. No emotion. Makes for hard listening. A good story but ruined by bad narration ;(

Horrid narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.