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Circles in Hell, Books 1-4
- The Boxed Set Edition
- Narrated by: Michael Gilboe
- Length: 36 hrs and 14 mins
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Circles in Hell, Books 1-4
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Summary
Travel with Steve, doomed for eternity to serve as hell’s Mr. Fixit, on a wild ride through the circles of hell in this best-selling, humorous fantasy series. The box set includes a complete story arc originally published in:
Hell’s Super
A Cold Day in Hell
Deal with the Devil
The Reluctant Demon
Circles in Hell has been variously described as satire and humor, comedy fantasy, or paranormal humor in the spirit of Christopher Moore, Tom Holt, Douglas Adams, and Gary Larson. The series takes the everyday frustrations of modern life and expands them to hellish proportions.
You never know who you will run into in Cain's cracked inferno. You might encounter a great inventor, a movie star, a mythological being, a very large bat, and, of course, more than the occasional devil and demon.
What listeners say about Circles in Hell, Books 1-4
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ruth anderson
- 16-05-19
Loved them
I really enjoyed these books and the quirky way at looking at the afterlife, my only problem is the narrator's attempts at accents are just bad. But if you can listen past that they are great!
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hannah D
- 30-01-20
excellent
fantastic listen , really enjoyed it very entertaining well worth a listen . . .
2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Richard Williams
- 14-05-19
Boring, Boring, Boring
Narrator sounds like he's got somewhere else to be. Story is so slow moving it makes you wish it's you that's in hell, not wasting your time listening to this rubbish.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- michael mcgowan
- 18-03-19
Avoid this actor
The voice actor is quite frankly terrible. His staccato speech is very off putting, making fluid reading seem like some sort of sisyphean task. Unfortunately that isn't even the nadir of his performance, as his attempt at a Scottish accent is very possibly the weirdest mutilation of the accent I have ever heard.
Whilst the story has some redeeming features it isn't strong enough to cancel out such an atrocious performance.
I couldn't recommend anyone buying this set of 4 books unless it was re-recorded with a different actor.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Jo
- 31-12-18
Hell is clearly quite a boring place
There is nothing terrible about this audiobook, but I have just returned it.
The reader of this audiobook does a competent job, and I would go so far as to say is enjoyable to listen to with clear diction.
The stories are mediocre at best I feel. The audiobook is extremely long, and while there are stories being told they are not engaging or particularly entertaining in the telling. The comparison to modern humorous writers seems a little over complementary. The author underestimated the audience with needless explanations, moves very slowly and lacks wit and charm with humour coming from most obvious sources. There is no challenge in this book whatsoever, just many hours spent in hope of some.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 24-08-22
I Loved it!
It’s so different, so interesting. I really enjoyed the characters. Already bought books 5-7
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Charley Hinde
- 02-05-22
Good story Line
Good story lines, voices by the narrator can be a bit annoying, but definitely an easy listen.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ronald
- 08-03-22
A hell of a time
A really good listen. I found it a little difficult to stay awake.
not because of boredom but for listening in so long.
And having to find where I fell asleep.
And it's a damn good listen
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lone
- 10-10-21
Funny and good story
Started reading book one as wanted something a bit cheerful and loved it so much I immediately got the audible box set of the 4 books. Light hearted and funny and really enjoyed the narrators different characters. Would highly recommend
1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- carl burton
- 04-06-22
Boring narrator.
If this ever gets re-read by a narrator that seems to WANT to read the book then I'll try again but, until then, 2 chapters is as far as I can bare.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ScretSquirrl
- 31-08-18
The trials and tribulations of Hell's Super
If you liked the "Bobiverse" series, these books could be for you! It is set in Hell, vs the outer reaches of space.
Mark Cain's (I love the irony of his last name) writing reminds me of Dennis Taylor's style, or perhaps vice versa? But I love the details, the action, the drama, and the snark of the author as he spins the tail of Steve Minion, Super of Hell, a former economics professor who is all thumbs; but is great with duct tape!
I'm still listening and on book 2, but I couldn't resist giving my two cents! I am thoroughly enjoying the story - which makes a commute along I-95 so much more bearable – and am sure to enjoy the rest of the stories!
Michael Gilobe has a great range of voices for the main characters,(Tesla, Ford, Wells, etc.) although - I do have to admit, not so much with Flo (something doesn’t hit just right for my tastes, but it doesn’t take away from the narration), but I adore the voice of the woman who runs Hell’s supply warehouse. It’s reminiscent to Roz, from Monsters Inc., which does conjure her image vs. the one Mr. Cain was probably envisioning. My favorite character is Boo, the huge and literal, Bat out of Hell.
13 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ed Pegg Jr
- 22-07-18
The saga of Minion, Hell's Super
This is a modern retelling of Dante's Inferno. Just as Dante met many familiar to people of his era, Minion meets many people familiar to our era.
Some primary characters are Orson Welles, Florence Nightingale, the Howard brothers (3 Stooges), Tesla, Ford, Pinkerton, Braille, and Freud. I liked how the author handled Orson as a character, as well as the others.
Michael Gilboe does a fine job with the narration, but his Orson Welles impression is terrible. I can overlook that, he does keep all the voices recognizable and distinctive. He is particularly effective in book 3 during an interrogation by Azazel.
The title and cover of Book 4 is a bit of a spoiler.
Recommended.
10 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- catlover55
- 15-06-19
He shrugged
If you take a drink every time someone shrugs you'll be dead in 20 minutes.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Miss Haha
- 15-03-19
Fun story. Irritating narration at times
The series is amusing — fun idea. But the narration is excruciating on some characters — anytime an accent is required and the succubus — her voice got so irritating I was skipping those sections by the last book.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Lucciola
- 18-02-19
Hard to get started, but...
I was not thrilled with the audiobook at first but once it got started, I enjoyed it. When I bought it, I was expecting something different. After about a half hour or so I found it a fun listen, even though it is more for guys and the point of view is aimed for them.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ronald Shaw
- 05-02-19
Hell is What We Make it
Warning, if you are offended by religious (both good and evil) or historical figures being portrayed in ways other than their accepted roles, then this book collection is not for you! As the name implies this collection of books is set in a loose interpretation of the circles of hell with some interaction with the gates of heaven, where key decisions about a soul's destination are made. The author has the audience view this satirical version of hell through the eyes of one Steve Minion a poor soul doomed to both an ironic name and the impossible job of being the apartment superintendent or 'Mr. fix it' for all of hell. The narrator does an excellent job of switching between the forlorn-ness of Steve, the deviousness of the 'dark one' himself, and every growly or flamboyant demon or demoness in between.
In the first book we see a day in the life of Steve which includes mostly impossible tasks, futility and forlorn-ness along with the fears and futile struggles of everyone around him. However we also see how easily Steve can make friends when misery loves company, and the lengths he must go to to keep these friendships safe.
In book two Steve is assigned another impossible task, saddled with unlikely companions and told he must fix a problem that no one can explain or identify the source of. In the course of his preparations we see the power of words used carelessly, unlikely help from even more unlikely places, and a display of Steve's one and only superpower.
In book three Steve is thrown into a race against time mystery against a villain so foul, it has other denizens of hell cowering in fear at the mention of it's name. Steve has been lucky so far but even 'he' might not be able to claim victory on this one.
In book four we see the consequences of Steve's confrontation with the villain. Further Steve must once again do the impossible as all the resources of hell come bearing down upon him.
Having all of these books in one collection saves the audience several yards of fingernail biting as they await the release of the next book. Unfortunately this 4 book set does not include book 5, so nail-biting still ensues.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dakota
- 17-05-19
80% good
I liked all the books but the last one. The main character was so infuriating
3 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Michael Lewin
- 10-05-19
Does the narrator know what a Scotsman sounds like?
I’m halfway through Hell’s Super and enjoying the story but every time i hear Michael Gilboe try to do a Scottish accent I want to stick gasoline soaked rags in my ears and light them on fire.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Joseph
- 18-04-19
Attempt at comedy misses the mark
A dreary story about hell's maintenance man. I found this audiobook hard to finish, the story was lackluster almost to the point of being boring. The attempts at comedy all fall a little short and seem more silly than humorous.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Georgy
- 05-11-18
OKish. For teenagers.
Please note that this review is based on only the first book, and only the first couple of hours thereof. Which is where I stopped wasting my time.
Plot: non-existent - at least not more so than in a dumb sitcom. Stuff keeps happening, but that's not the same as a plot.
Humor: bland and, at best, clownish. (Unless you consider "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" accompanying a fall of a character to be extremely hilarious). No smart wordplays, no quotes worth remembering. Nothing to write home about.
Writing: average. Not bad, as such, no stupid errors or misused words. Good enough for a beginning writer with a professional editor. But not more than that.
Useless fillers: decorations and "game rules" are described in boring and unnecessary details; stuff that is well-known to anyone who knows anything (like what the seven sins are) is explained as though it were a revelation; etc.
Performance: OK, but not on par with what I'm used to. Nothing is mangled or mispronounced, but not inspired.
I'm sure there are folks who would not agree with me. That's OK. There are also people who love sitcoms.
Me? I'm refunding.
3 people found this helpful