Contact email: mesreads AT gmail.com
###Winner Announcement Posts are linked here.###

GIVEAWAYS ARE NOW LOCATED ON THEIR OWN PAGE - CLICK ON TAB ABOVE; Giveaways also linked on right sidebar.
Showing posts with label Ray Jay Perreault. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ray Jay Perreault. Show all posts

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Audio Book Review: Virus: Earth's Last Battle by Ray Jay Perreault

This is an entertaining, full of action Sci Fi.
Virus: Earth's Last Battle
By: Ray Jay Perreault
Narrator: George Napier

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 10-25-17
Publisher: Ray Jay Perreault
Genre: Military, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Publisher's Summary
This is the second book in the Virus series, which parallels the SIMPOC series.
A suspicious virus has killed 99.99997 percent of the people. A ruthless warlord who moved into the White House attacked the government at Camp David. The president moved the remaining government to an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic and left a military unit to deal with the warlord.
The decimated US Navy is still functional. They must defend themselves from the remnants of militaries with a grudge against the US that use the opportunity to get revenge.
Joan Herl and her remaining space station Oasis crew returned to Earth, and a computer playing by different rules attacked them. Their only ally was the first thinking computer SIMPOC and his surrogate Alpha. Dr. Julius, who was one of the moon colony crew members, steals the research for thinking computers, and with his expertise he creates another computer that rivals SIMPOC and who starts making its own plans.
Eventually, they all find out why the virus started and who is responsible.
©2015 Raymond J Perrealt (P)2017 Raymond J Perreault


Review:
A sudden, world-wide plague has killed over 99% of the people on earth. It was not a slow infection but simultaneous outbreaks throughout the earth that spread rapidly before there was a chance to identify and try to contain the virus.

The President and some staff support have been holed up at Camp David after a warlord and thugs took over the White House. A handful of survivors find themselves stranded on a naval ship. They are able to make contact and get support from the US Navy which still has some ships manned by uninfected survivors. There were some military attacks as certain power seekers tried to take advantage of the decimated forces. The Admiral fought off the initial attacks and is gathering what strength remains. They plan to move the President to a ship where they think he will be safer.

Joan Herl and the crew from the Oasis space station have returned to earth and are monitoring things from the space center in Florida. They received help from a sentient, growing computer known as SIMPOC, and his mobile assistant, Alpha. There are concerns about whether the computers will remain helpful since Dr. Julius stole the technology and created a rival computer that has no compunction about harming humans. This concern has cause to be addressed when Alpha steps in during a deadly attack by rogue humans who are intent on stealing Joan’s resources.

Meanwhile a group on Mars and another on the Moon try to decide if they should evacuate. There is no likelihood of supplies in the near future especially since the last shuttle out with relief staff and supplies is stranded in space as it is unknown if they carry the virus.

The story follows numerous threads of action which keep it moving and interesting once the reader/listener distinguishes the settings and groups. Unfortunately, this is a second book and it seemed to pick up where the first book ended and it was hard to tell quite what was missed in the first installment. Much of the society infrastructure is gone but radio or computer communication remains although it is not clear how unless it is because it is computer aided. It was also unclear why some pockets of people survived the virus.

Some of the storyline falls in the line of super hero/villain mode, which made me think of XMen. Still, I liked the action and am curious how the different groups survive the next wave of villain computer threat.

Audio Notes: George Napier does a good, if not stellar, job of narrating although some of the voices, particularly the women, seemed immature to me. There are background sounds that give the performance more of a movie element. I enjoyed the quick listen which I found entertaining.

I received this audio from the author. It qualifies for my Audio Book Challenge and as part of Sci Fi Month.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Audible Review: Good Morning... Processes Must Be Improved by Ray Jay Perreault

This is a quick, ironic portrayal of management concerns.
Good Morning... Processes Must Be Improved
Written by: Ray Jay Perreault
Narrated by: Christopher M. Allport

Length: 59 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-01-16
Publisher: Ray Jay Perreault
Genre: Sci Fi, Short Story
My Rating: 4.0 0f 5.0


Publisher's Summary
What happens when a man and a computer is put on Saturn's Titan for a year to mine methane? The relationship doesn't always work out the way everyone plans. The relationship should be based on trust, but what if one member of the team isn't doing what the other expects?
©2015 Raymond J. Perreault (P)2016 Raymond J. Perreault


Review:
Ah – irony strikes again in sci fi. Robert felt shorted at his last posting and it seems the company officials have punished him by sending him to a remote station to work in solitary, except for a computer companion. He is transferred to Saturn’s Titan production station to work with the AI in producing methane for shipment to the corporate overseers. The advanced AI computer has been developed to work with the single human operative and improve production in any way possible. As management, the computer applies different methods to motivate the human operative. The computer is still testing what is the best approach for humans – praise, fear, nagging, comparisons?

The story is told through the dialogue between the two characters. It progresses through the monthly changes and challenges addressed by Robert and "Tessi", the AI. Robert has to deal with typical factory type struggles that include shorted supply requisitions, failed deliveries, and overheard conversations that are shared by Tessi. How successful will the year of work be?

This was a quick, interesting vignette of large company issues. I liked the incorporation of the computer as a character and management tool. Anyone having to deal with quota production might find this humorous .... or at least appreciate the irony. I recommend this to readers who would enjoy a quick, ironic view of a computer in management position.

Audio Notes: It took me a bit to get used to the voices portrayed by Christopher M. Allport. Initially
I thought the computer voice could be more distinctly robotic but then I realized that, like HAL in 2001 Space Odyssey, it was intended to have more of a personality. Then the narration made sense and I appreciated how Mr. Allport succeeded in conveying the escalating tension and frustration between the two characters.

I received this from the author through Audiobook Blast. This qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge and G on Alphabet Soup.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails