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The Orphan Master's Son
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Tim Kang, Josiah D. Lee, James Kyson Lee, Adam Johnson
- Length: 19 hrs and 20 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 2013
An epic novel and a thrilling literary discovery, The Orphan Master’s Son follows a young man’s journey through the icy waters, dark tunnels, and eerie spy chambers of the world’s most mysterious dictatorship, North Korea.
Pak Jun Do is the haunted son of a lost mother - a singer “stolen” to Pyongyang - and an influential father who runs Long Tomorrows, a work camp for orphans. There the boy is given his first taste of power, picking which orphans eat first and which will be lent out for manual labor. Recognized for his loyalty and keen instincts, Jun Do comes to the attention of superiors in the state, rises in the ranks, and starts on a road from which there will be no return.Considering himself “a humble citizen of the greatest nation in the world,” Jun Do becomes a professional kidnapper who must navigate the shifting rules, arbitrary violence, and baffling demands of his Korean overlords in order to stay alive. Driven to the absolute limit of what any human being could endure, he boldly takes on the treacherous role of rival to Kim Jong Il in an attempt to save the woman he loves, Sun Moon, a legendary actress “so pure, she didn’t know what starving people looked like.”
Part breathless thriller, part story of innocence lost, part story of romantic love, The Orphan Master’s Son is also a riveting portrait of a world heretofore hidden from view: a North Korea rife with hunger, corruption, and casual cruelty but also camaraderie, stolen moments of beauty, and love. A towering literary achievement, The Orphan Master’s Son ushers Adam Johnson into the small group of today’s greatest writers.
From the Hardcover edition.
Critic Reviews
- Winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
What listeners say about The Orphan Master's Son
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- B_R
- 21-05-2018
Unexpected brilliance
As this book had been recommended to me, I had no idea what it was about before I listened to it - I'm not one for back cover blurbs. So The Orphan Master's Son's unique and poignant story line about a North Korean intelligence agent surprised me at every turn. Johnson's brilliance is demonstrated not only in the crazy plot, but also in his portrayal of life in North Korea and his construction of the cast of characters. This novel is Orwellian, satirical, witty and educational all at once. It certainly offers the reader insights as to the value of freedom and of life itself.
The narrators were brilliant also, adding authenticity to the tale. It was always clear which character was speaking or narrating. I particularly loved the voice of the Dear Leader.
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- Anonymous User
- 22-09-2020
A great novel from start to finish
Loved this book and a fascinating tale about a fictional but real North Korea
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- Dylan C.
- 06-04-2023
Loved this book
Why does the selective outrage of the Western woke hypocrites not extend to North Korea?
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- Ballina Beach
- 29-07-2015
Fabulous journey with John Doe (Jun Do)
Extraordinary insight into life of the people under the completely mad dictatorship. Much more compelling following the life of Jun Do. And in part 2 of the interrogator as well as the new jun do. Very clever. Could not stop reading/listening!!
Marvellous & imaginative.
Narrators excellent
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1 person found this helpful
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- Louise
- 03-08-2015
Informative and entertaining
An amazing story , cleverly written and well performed. Exposes a lot about North Korea and it's tyrannical leader.
Best audio I have listened to this year.
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- sam
- 25-09-2019
Great story but so hard to listen to!
This is a magnificent story and beautifully told but it is so tragic that it’s hard to listen to in long blocks.
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- B Nilsson
- 02-05-2024
Eye Opening, bleak, gripping
Wow, if even part of it was modelled on truth, that is some bleak way of existence. Story was gripping, well told from different perspectives. This was my first fiction book in a long time. Glad I took the recommendation of a friend.
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- Sketcher
- 02-11-2015
Even for North Korean standards unbelievable s
This was my first fictional story about North Korea after reading a couple non fictional books. Can't say I was impressed. Even for North Korean standards this story seems to be a bit out there and not very convincing. Many things just don't make sense. Happy it's finished. Going back to non fiction for now.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-06-2019
Slow storey
It took a while to get into this and I was engaged for a while and then it jumped to a new section and I couldn't get back into it
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