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  • Iron War

  • Dave Scott, Mark Allen, and the Greatest Race Ever Run
  • By: Matt Fitzgerald
  • Narrated by: Seth Michael Donsky
  • Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (156 ratings)
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Iron War cover art

Iron War

By: Matt Fitzgerald
Narrated by: Seth Michael Donsky
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Summary

The 1989 Ironman World Championship was the greatest race ever in endurance sports. In a spectacular duel that became known as the Iron War, the world's two strongest athletes raced side by side at world-record pace for a grueling 139 miles.

Driven by one of the fiercest rivalries in triathlon, Dave Scott and Mark Allen raced shoulder to shoulder through Ironman’s 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike race, and 26.2-mile marathon. After 8 punishing hours, both men would demolish the previous record - and cross the finish line a mere 58 seconds apart.

In his new book, Iron War, sports journalist Matt Fitzgerald writes a riveting epic about how Allen and Scott drove themselves and each other through the most awe-inspiring race in sports history. Iron War goes beyond the pulse-pounding race story to offer a fascinating exploration of the lives of the world’s two toughest men and their unquenchable desire to succeed.

Weaving an examination of mental resolve into a gripping tale of athletic adventure, Iron War is a soaring narrative of two champions and the paths that led to their stunning final showdown.

©2011 Matt Fitzgerald (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Iron War

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, narrator is a turd

What did you like most about Iron War?

Excellent and in depth biographies of Dave and Mark, to give a clear lead up to the story of the race. Good and well timed additions of scientific research at the right places regarding running types, endurance science, sports psychology. Really well written words.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Iron War?

The actual race was gripping and emotionally charged for me, because it was so well lead up to by the preceding biographies. (Also, I'm training for my first Ironman and I listened to it while on my training runnings and cyclings)

What didn’t you like about Seth Michael Donsky’s performance?

This narrator is a total TURD and his performance should be flushed.

He ruined a great book.

Someone told him to record an audiobook and he enunciates EVERY frigging syllable as if his singing teacher will slap him for missing every consonant.

It's sh-- when listening to him talk as a narrative. It's HORRIBLE when listening to him read out the speech bits. Imagine, in the heat of battle, after struggling for hours, if you heard a prissy toad say in perfectly eloquent speech, "I'*m* goin*g* To Bury *Y*ou. You won'T wiNN *T*his *T*ime , *M*ark." [each starred letter is accentuated, each capital letter is spoken loudly, the double letters are drawn out and the pause... oh god, the pauses at the wrong places...]

Really, I work in IT and I've heard computer text-to-speech programs with more emotion during dialog than this loser.

A message for Mr Seth Micheal Dropkick: they have battled side by side for 8 hours. They don't give a sh-- about pronouncing every god-damned T and D. Oh, and pausing between "Iron" and "Man", every time, doesn't add suspense, it just shows how much of a turd you are.

Like I said: the narration ruined a great book.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Pumped my fists in the air at their victories. Shouted a "yes" at their challenges. (Yes, I was listening while I was training for my first ironman).

Filled me with rage and nausea listening to the idiot read it like a musical dictation class.

Any additional comments?

Sue the narrator. Use the money to pay a an experienced narrator to read it like a human.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

sounds like a robot

couldnt finish this book was so boring. i would ask for my money back but i only paid £3

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story, terrible narration!

Such a shame the narration was so painful. The story is fabulous, well written and incredibly exciting. However the narration is so poor you have to force yourself to keep listening. Please please please do not use this guy again!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb story!

Such a captivating story about 2 phenomenal athletes and an epic race. There’s no need for you to be into triathlons to enjoy this amazing story!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome account. Worst narrator

Love this book remember watching it happen as a kid and found it immensely inspiring. Read the paperback a couple of times over. Got it on audible to listen to while training on bike or running......

However the narrator should be reading a lord of the rings epic not an account of an era defining event. He is hard work to listen to. He sounds like he has no clue about his subject, and stutters and stumbles on blindly. A very poor choice and miss match of narrator to theme.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story. Horrible tedious narration.

This is a great story and I loved the way Matt weaved in so many elements beyond the actual race.

BUT the narration is awful. Tedious to the extent I almost gave up listening a few times. The narrator shouldn’t narration non-fiction. He would be great for fantasy children’s tales. He over enunciates so many words, overemphasises phrases for dramatic effect, and stumbles over simple phrases as he is simply trying too hard. Nothing wrong with his effort or passion, but who listened to a first cut and allowed him to continue?

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The narrator almost killed this for me

Gripping story - how could it not be? But the narrator’s bizarre tempo, emphasis and sound quality were awful. Shame

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Boring

one of the greatest stories in ironman read by the most bored person in the world

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Terrible narration, I sent the book back, I’m so disappointed as it feels like an amazing story

Unlistenable! Such terrible narration, story could be good but I just didn’t get a chance to listen! Awful

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Dissapointed in the narration

I just couldn't listen to it after 5 minutes it is clear the author does not capture the magnitude, or gravity of this book. It is read with zero emotion and feels clinical.

Sub heading of this book says Greatest Race Ever Run and yet it makes it feel like the most boring race ever run.

was so excited to listen to this as i am just beginning IM training and feeling inspired this sadly killed it good job Chrissie wellingtons book hits the mark

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