Another Fantastic Technothriller

For some reason, when I read an Eliot Peper novel – I end up highlighting lots of passages and quotes from it. In this one, I ended up highlighting 9 different quotes – but that’s because I slowed down as I really started getting into the story. Peper is able to write these insane-sounding futuristic stories that end up feeling real and like they’re about to happen. I could tell that Peper really gave this book his all – this story was insane in all the best ways possible.

I remember reading an interview (or a post) from Peper where he said (paraphrasing) that he would look into what certain niche groups were researching or looking into and make that niche group or product a real thing – then write about what would happen if it did. This feels similar here, I haven’t read anything that feels like Reap3r but that doesn’t mean it’s not based on true research or true products that people are building towards.

Reap3r was probably the most thriller of Peper’s technothrillers – allowing the reader to go along for a ride as things kept getting worse and worse. It really felt like there was no way that certain people were going to get out of this with their lives and/or their dignity. But every time I thought the book was over or there was no way things would get better – something would change.

I’ve been reading Peper for years now, starting with his Uncommon Stock series and each one of them blows me away for different reasons. I know that I’m going into it and learning about technology in a way I never expected. Peper is able to write tales that scare the technology out of me and make me pay better attention to what’s going on in the tech world.

It wouldn’t be an audiobook review if I didn’t talk about the narrator. Now, Peper undertook the overwhelming task of narrating his own book. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous. Being friends with narrators with 100+ books under their belt – I know that getting started is really hard and it’s something that isn’t for the faint of heart. But, I can tell that Peper took this seriously – he seems to have worked with a mentor/teacher to learn the skill and then partnered up with a producer so that it sounds great. And honestly, I couldn’t tell that this was Peper’s first narration. He was able to provide a great story AND great storytelling ability to write us Reap3r, then perform it.

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Captivating, thought provoking, and beautiful

This book is beautifully written and it brings you into the story and keeps you there. the characters are complex, consistent, and artfully constructed. The settings form a gorgeous backdrop for a thrilling story that you'll want to listen to or read in one sitting. Don't miss this unique book!

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compelling weave of plots and thoughts

several threads come together to tell a compelling story highlighting the challenges of wealth sequestration, information advantage, and the struggle to do good in a world where knowledge is so easily misused. filled with wonderful descriptive prose and poetic expositions that give depth to gripping action scenes. fun and thought provoking. definitely worth a listen!

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speculative fiction at it's finest!

Eliot Peper has done it again!
well worked story with characters that really come alive as they navigate a complex web of intrigue. I've enjoyed many of Eliot's stories and this was one of his best.
great example of speculative fiction, setting the story in a near future where technology, climate change, entrepreneurism, and ethics all colide. clearly well researched. also, really enjoyed the narration, which the author himself preformed!
i finished this audiobook in 3 days, so yeah, i would definitely recommend this book

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Thrilling Near Futuristic Quick Read

Scarily possible in a bit too distant future, Eliot narrates an exciting page turner with unexpected twists melding the state of the art in technology with present life.

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probably good

Probably a good story but the story acting really lacks and made it hard to follow. Neil Gaimen can narrate his stories, not this author.

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Awesome book you can’t go wrong with picking it up today!

This book was just awesome! I had been looking for a book to read and this one dropped into my lap at the right time.

Eliot does it again by doing a great job of keeping the book relevant enough in today’s world in both technology, political, and environmental issues that help make a near future book seems believable and real. With out spoiling too much some of the things he brings up in the book is crazy to think he wrote those parts more than 2 years before publishing and some of the ideas and thoughts he put in the book came true 😳. I think that is why I love his books so much. No matter how fast-paced or near future he makes the books they don’t feel that far out on the horizon of technology and the issues seem like they might be something we will need to address in our lifetime.

The story has many key characters that each have their own stories and at the start, you keep trying to figure out how everything is going to fit together. That is where the magic of his writing takes place as he weaves each of the characters' stories together. There are past friendships / acquaintances with secrets to hide which is how they ended up where they are today. Then there are newer characters that have created something amazing and are now being thrust into the mix and trying to put all the pieces together.

Not to mention Eliot’s attention to detail throughout the book I always appreciate as I can picture the places he is talking about and it makes me feel like I am there seeing the sights and sounds. Also, how can I forget if you have read some or all of Eliot’s books you might find some tie-ins or mentions of technology, and/or people from his previous works 😉.

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Great Story

Really fun to listen too. Has some action, determination, moral dilemmas, a villain. Fun listen!!

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Virtue signaling, lack of character depth

This book got some great recommendations from people I respect, and it may be exactly what you are looking for.
The book is read by the author who is a podcaster - he reads well but doesn't "perform" the book like a professional narrator.
I felt there was too much virtue signaling (more left than Bill Maher), shallow character depth, and a slow pace.
For reference - to see if you are a listener like me, I love the following authors and read/listen to everything they come out with:
Brandon Sanderson, John Scalzi, Michael J. Sullivan, Craig Alanson, Dennis E. Taylor, Daniel Suarez, Joshua Dalzelle, Marko Kloos, Eric Ugland, B.V. Larson, Shirtaloon, Neal Stephenson, Will Wight, Andy Weir...

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near future scifi...

as in I will be surprised if this storyline *doesn't* happen within the next decade. let's hope reality is half as exciting as this version;)

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