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The Original
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
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The Original
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Summary
Hugo Award-winning authors Brandon Sanderson and Mary Robinette Kowal team up in this exclusive audio-first production of The Original, a sci-fi thriller set in a world where one woman fights to know her true identity and survive the forces that threaten her very existence.
In the near future, humans choose life - for a price. Injectable nanite technology is the lifeblood that flows through every individual wishing to experience the world through the lens of their own theme. While death from mortal wounds is still possible, life is made easier in a socially liberated society where automation and income equality allow passion pursuits to flourish over traditional work. Renewal stations are provided to every law-abiding citizen for weekly check-ins, which issue life-sustaining repairs in exchange for personal privacy. But what becomes of those who check out, of those who dare to resist immortality and risk being edited under the gaze of an identity-extracting government surveillance system?
When Holly Winseed wakes up in a hospital room, her memory compromised and a new identity imposed on her, a team of government agents wastes no time stating their objective. With intent to infiltrate and defeat the terrorist group ICON, the agents tell Holly that she is now a Provisional Replica and has one week to hunt down and kill her Original for the murder of her husband, Jonathan. If she succeeds, she’ll assume her Original’s place in society. If she fails, her life will end. Holly’s progress is monitored by an assigned contact that feeds her information as she confronts the blank, robotic world around her, discovering that others view life through the theme of their own choosing.
With her newly implanted combat and deduction skills, Holly fends off both attacks by terrorists and doubts about her own trustworthiness as clues lead her to her Original - and to the truth about Jonathan. In the end, one body remains and one walks away. Although questions persist, one thing is certain: Life will never be the same.
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What listeners say about The Original
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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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
- Wiktoria Agnieszka Kaczorowska
- 03-11-20
Great short audiobook
It grabs you right away and since it's only 3 hrs long you can finish it in one go. The music can be a bit annoying, but the narration and story are awesome and make up for it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Neil Ellis
- 27-03-23
Please offer a none musically “enhanced” version
A good story. Thought provoking. But the additional music throughout the entire story is not needed and at times jarring.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 28-04-23
Short but sweet sci-fi mystery
The exploration of sci-fi tech and its effects on people and society reminded me a lot of Black Mirror. But it has more mystery stuff and (gun) action.
Not the type of book I usually listen to, but I found it a very refreshing well-written change of pace, with great audio production.
The ending is left a bit open, which may frustrate people who don't like open endings. For me it didn't matter, because I enjoyed the ride a lot, and I didn't need it to also end in a splash or with everything fully resolved.
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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
- Gosia Furmanik
- 18-07-21
Really good!
I really enjoyed this story, it raised so many interesting questions. But I hated the background music, it was distracting and I felt like it was trying to force certain moods which didn't necessarily align with how I read the story.
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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
- Amazon Customer
- 23-02-22
Brilliant, thought provoking!!
This is a fabulous listen, highly recommended. Great ending!!
The narration is really good, a very enjoyable purchase.
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1 person found this helpful
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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
- Kindle Customer
- 02-05-21
Loved it!
For such a short story it was so well executed. I loved the world. It really made me think and have discussions about ethics. The narration was nice although at times the extra sounds/music were annoying.
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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
- Charlotte
- 29-09-20
5 stars!
This was excellent! I loved every minute of it. I hope there's more audiobooks in this world.
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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
- Warren O'Keefe
- 07-04-22
Well-paced, introspective sci-fi excellence
I am not often inclined to review a product, but this title needs some serious praise on my part.
If you enjoy high-tech futurism ask setting for a cerebral, introspective story that, for my part, gripped my attention ruthlessly a d refused to let go until completed, this is a good purchase for you.
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1 person 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
- J. Matias
- 04-07-21
Good story but the loud background music ruins it
It is a very good story. The entire thing is very much shown, not told - which I deeply appreciate.
However, the background music is so loud in places I could barely understand the narrator, and it pretty much ruined the experience for me :(
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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
- P Quirk
- 29-01-24
Great story. Stunning performance.
As ever Brandon Sanderson creates an immersive world. This short story is told from the point of view of the main character who is given the mission to hunt down a murderer. She has unique qualifications to do this job. The story is all about what she discovers about her world and the motivations of her target. The final reveal of those motivations leaves her with a choice to make.
Great story.
The narrator is totally convincing as the protagonist. Brilliant performance.
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