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The Last Ship
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Christopher Lane
- Length: 29 hrs and 53 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure
Non-member price: $66.60
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Publisher's Summary
Hailed "an extraordinary novel of men at war" (Washington Post), The Last Ship is the book that inspired the TNT mini series starring Eric Dane, Rhona Mitra, and Adam Baldwin, with Michael Bay as executive producer.
The unimaginable has happened: The world has been plunged into all-out nuclear war. Sailing near the Arctic Circle, the USS Nathan James is relatively unscathed, but the future is grim and Captain Thomas is facing mutiny from the tattered remnants of his crew. With civilization in ruins, he urges those that remain - 152 men and 26 women - to pull together in search of land. Once they reach safety, however, the men and women on board realize that they are the earth's last remaining survivors - and they've all been exposed to radiation. When none of the women seems able to conceive, fear sets in. Will this be the end of humankind?
This thrilling tale of post apocalyptic suspense is perfect for readers of Going Home by A. American, Lights Out by DavidCrawford, The End and The Long Road by G. Michael Hopf, and One Second After by William Forstchen.
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What listeners say about The Last Ship
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Gareth Hughes
- 17-04-2020
Excellent Book
What an excellent book on leadership, seamanship, human spirit, strength and perseverance as well as a damn good yarn. I found it hard to believe the author of such a wonderful book that demonstrates the worse but also the best in us all ended his life by suicide.
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- Anonymous User
- 22-12-2018
bad, just bad
I can honestly say I have never been so disappointed in a book since the man in the high castle. fans of the TV show dont waste your time or money, it's a totally different setting and story.
very poorly read, the narrator has the distinctive honour of being the only one I've come across on audible that's managed to put me to sleep. a more talented narrator might have been able to salvage this waste of a credit.
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- Gail Johnston
- 20-01-2018
So slow and boring
The main character in this book comes off as a pompous ass and the pace of the book is far too slow. Is there a way to get my money back....?
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- Brodie
- 08-10-2016
Not good
The tv show was so much better than the book, never said that about a book before
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- J
- 27-03-2017
This is a tough listen, for more than one reason.
The subject is tough because though it is science-fiction, it is very plausible. There are a few things which don't make sense (Why they weren't concerned about contamination at the Suez canal for one?), but otherwise most of it is entirely plausible and that hits close to home. This is written from the point of view of the captain, who in my opinion is unnecessarily wordy which makes you yell at the narrator to get to the point and move on. At times this made me just want to say enough and stop listening, but I made it to the end. It gets interesting when it takes a sudden twist into an X rated sex book which was unexpected, but it is from the point of view of the Captain who is only human. Read this at you own risk and hopefully you are doing something else while listening as it is 30 hours of your life you'll never get back.
10 people found this helpful
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- Ryan
- 30-04-2015
Very punctilios word choices
First of all, the TV series if VERY loosely based on this book. About the only thing in common is the ship and a few of the sailors names. That's fine with me because the idea behind the book is very good. Yes, some of the information is a bit dated, but I was glad to hear the ship had a good supply of VHS and cassette tapes.
The word choice in this book was very punctilios (you can look it up too). Halfway through the book I was convinced the author was just starting to make words up. I even did a web search for a dictionary just so I could start looking words up to catch him. Perhaps due to the generational gap, but the authors literary style would have fit in better had the book taken place in the 1700's.
example:
"... the waters offering us a spondaic series of soft swells which gave a gentle roll and pitch so synchronized as to make the ship seem for once in fraternal rapport with the sea and to move through it with a serine swish. The sea all about lying in a melancholy splendor, luminous stillness the universe seemingly held in hands of tranquility ..."
The narrator didn't skip a beat in his reading of this book. There were no edits or stutters as he muddled through these words and his voices varied and were appropriate. Maybe the narrator read the same "word of the day" books the author did.
I liked this book but now feel like I have neglected my study of the English language and will endeavor to broaden my vocabulary so I can talk good too. 😀
47 people found this helpful
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- As happy as a monkey with two bananas in his hands
- 08-03-2015
Sailor Beware
This is one of the books in which I both loved and hated. The loved the premise of the book. However, at times the style of writing drove me to the point of going postal! Strangely, at other times I found it like a drug which left me wanting more. At times it felt like the author was using words for the sake of using words! At other times the descriptive nature of the language was like sweet music to my ears.
I couldn't help but think about the author. What sort of person was/is he? Did he really speak and think like this in real life? I bet he would be the life of a party. I imagine he could insult me in 15 different languages.
I would like you to imagine me saying this in the voice of Forrest Gump; “I’m not a smart man, but I know what…” it takes to finish this book. It takes commitment. It takes a certain type of mood. Perhaps a certain type of insanity because unless you like to examine every last thing in detail. If you are the type of person who goes out into the rain to try and count the rain drops then you will love this one!
My advice is simple, listen to the sample not once, not twice, but over and over again for at least an hour. If you can still stomach the style of writing then go for it! You will have what it takes! This is the title for you. It will certainly give you a good credit per hour ratio, which is very important if you have to watch your cash flow like me (cheap skate actually for me).
If you have any doubts about the style, then do yourself a favour and let this one pass. You will go mad in an attempt to make it to the end. Because, frankly the story is good enough for you to attempt it. If you buy it and don't make it through to the end you will hate yourself. If you do make it through to the end you will still probably ending up hating yourself. It will only be worse for you if you work in a industry in which you have to deal with people. I know my tolerance dropped sharply while listening to this one... If I have to tell one more person "have you tried turning it off and on again' I will hit them over the head with my keyboard while asking myself the question why did I spend 29 hours of my jam packed week listening to "The Last Ship"?
So you have been warned sailor!
47 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 27-02-2015
Not what I expected
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
The Last Ship was totally unexpected. When I finally got through all 29 hours I felt it was time well spent, although again, it left me with mixed feelings.
What did you like best about this story?
Books like this are simply not written any more. It had the feel of post-apocalyptic novels like On the Beach or Earth Abides. However it was written in an almost 19th century style. Think Melville or even Poe. Very formal and philosophical.
Did The Last Ship inspire you to do anything?
Pick up Moby Dick again.
Any additional comments?
As I said before, the author was extremely erudite. In other words he would not use a fifty-cent word if a two dollar word was available. This book would be a treasure-trove for scrabble fans. Because it was written in the late 80's it is a bit anachronistic technology-wise. The author also allowed some glaring errors in order to heighten the plot.
16 people found this helpful
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- Pauline
- 24-07-2015
Just mostly sh-t
Sh-t and sh-t and sh-t. That's what you'll think after listening to this book.
I think the author was trying to write in a older literary style. Not successfully; it was just frustrating.
3 people found this helpful
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- Gavin
- 08-07-2015
meandering through tangent after tangent
barely got three hours in.....before I cound not bare it any more
tangent after tangent of pointless crap. too pointless to remember
3 people found this helpful
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- Lemar
- 10-11-2016
Redundant and R-rated
The descriptions were grand at first but soon became verbose and repetitive.
The sex scenes were needlessly detailed and vulgar and were out of character with the rest of the book.
The TV show that is very loosely based on this book is much better.
Is was not worth the read.
However, the reader did a fantastic job with the voices and accents.
13 people found this helpful
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- Alice
- 25-08-2019
Worth Every Minute!
A truly fine experience in reading/listening, had to catch myself there. William Brinkley has a magical way with words and uses them both to express the beauty and the horror of a destroyed world. This book is a keeper, it brings the results of a global nuclear war forward in your own imagination. What an excellent writer he is! And Christopher Lane uses his voice like a finely tuned instrument, he does different people clearly and is one of our best narrators imho. His voice completes the magic of this fine book. Unlike any other post apocalyptic book I have listened to.
2 people found this helpful
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- mark
- 07-08-2019
torture for me
eventually, i stopped reading after several chapters the author is still describing the ship and introducing the characters, too much words, i wish i got the abridged, and also i wish i could return this. man, get to the point, my time on earth is limited.
2 people found this helpful
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- Joseph Green
- 09-08-2016
Pretty Boring
You never learn what happened. Person reading it is to monotone. Very boring to listen to.
5 people found this helpful
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- Zelda
- 01-11-2016
Tragic. Beautifully written
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
One of the best books I have listened to. Beautifully written with unbelievable use of language. Comparable to Moby Dick or some other classic.
Tragic, frightening, but very relevant story
What other book might you compare The Last Ship to, and why?
The Road. This is much longer but worth every minute. Not for those who are impatient for action.
What about Christopher Lane’s performance did you like?
Voices really suited the characters. The measured manner of speech of the Captain was beautiful to listen to - it really expressed his character
Any additional comments?
A classic dystopian novel.
2 people found this helpful
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- O. Ashford
- 13-04-2015
Thoughtful deep contemplation on a possible apocal
Where does The Last Ship rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
It's definitely in the top audiobooks I've read.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Last Ship?
The wistful reminiscences of the captain juxtaposing the current scenario and world with that of his memories brings into focus what has been lost.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
The island
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It would be if not for the fact it's ~30 hours long!
Any additional comments?
It's not a super fast based book but it is so well worth the listen, part of the charm is the seeming peace that punctuates the moments of fear and disaster. The narration is fantastic and Christopher Lane's voice is rich and deep but also versatile enough to cover all required situations. Although the book did reach a satisfying conclusion I could have definitely listened to another 30 hours!
1 person found this helpful
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- Kenny
- 02-01-2021
my god this is dull
got this after seeing the TV series. other that the names there is nothing similar about the 2. it is a long winded monologue from the captain set in the 60s with sexist overtones prevalent at the time. every time it seems something is about to happen the captain rambles on about nothing for another hour. couldn't finish.
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- John McSherry
- 07-12-2020
Very Disappointed with this Book
The monotonous reading tone of the narrator does nothing to lift the lengthy discourses that the author has written in this book. For example the thoughts of the captain about having woman sailors goes on far to long infact was beyond tedious. This book so far is just a length discourse by the author and I honestly think it could be far shorter. Nine words in ten could be deleted.
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- Ben R Gray
- 16-05-2019
Great Story Good Narrator
Well written story of what would have occurred if the cold war had really started. How the survivors travel the world in the USS Nathan James in the hope of finding a new Eden. It is well told by Christopher Lane. I have to say though the TV Series did take the book's concept and make it better. Brinkley's post apocalyptic ending was quite morose and saddening. It is a great book to read to give a what if version of history.
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- Amazon Customer
- 11-10-2017
Worth bearing with it
I will admit the first section was a struggle, I have no idea why the author felt the urge to use every word in the language at least once.
But both the languege and voice artists delivery worked well in the rest of the book detailing the ships journey and the crews reaction.
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- bob
- 26-02-2017
Slow
Disappointed slow ,could not get into it at all main character just goes on and on
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- chris cain
- 03-01-2017
Long
The story was good but I felt had a lot of repetition, needlessly long and struggled to finish it. It was a slog! Well written, and a good story but could have been more exciting a real "page" turner but took me over a month to finish. The narration was excellent
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- Sam
- 02-11-2016
Good book
Starts off a bit slow but becomes a really good story to listen to wold definitely recommend listening to it
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- P. Stewart
- 17-07-2016
Captivating
It's long...but afterwards you will wish it was longer. There are times when the descriptive passages become close to painful and you just want to shout "just tell me what happens". But you need to persevere! There are still questions left unresolved throughout but...in reality of course those involved would also be in a position of not knowing. Highly recommended especially if you've ever served at sea.
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