Audio_Al Presents: “The Wheel of Darkness” -- Audio Book Review. Discussion is welcome!

Title: The Wheel of Darkness

Authors: Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child – collaborated on Pendergast novels since 1995.

Narrator: Rene Auberjonois – Turns in another excellent performance; has been the narrator of choice for all of the Pendergast audio book novels; has been acting on TV most recently as Paul Lewiston on Boston Legal, earlier on as Odo on Star Trek Deep Space Nine and in many other roles spanning a period of more than 40 years; has contributed his voice performances to enumerable movies and TV productions.

Unabridged:
Number of CDs: 12
Number of Hours: 13
List Price: $49.98
Downloadable: www.audible.com

Abridged:
Number of CDs: 5
Number of Hours: 6
List Price: $31.98
Downloadable: www.audible.com

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Publication Date: New Release August 28, 2007

Hardback/Paperback: In Hard Cover from Grand Central Publishing

Synopsis: FBI Agent Pendergast has taken his ward Constance Greene on a whirlwind Grand Tour, hoping to give her closure and a sense of the world that she's missed. They head to Tibet, where Pendergast intensively trained in martial arts and spiritual studies. At a remote monastery, they learn that a rare and dangerous artifact the monks have been guarding for generations has been mysteriously stolen. Pendergast agrees to take up the search. The trail leads him and Constance to the maiden voyage of the Britannia, the world's largest and most luxurious passenger liner - and to an Atlantic crossing fraught with terror.

Other Background: This the latest in a series of books out by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child that are centered on Special FBI Agent Aloysius Pendergast. He is a mysterious, suave, worldly, resourceful and gentlemanly hero. In addition, he can hold his own very well in any kind of a scrap and is well schooled in the art of disguise. Only his evil brother Diogenes had the ability to surpass him in altering his appearance.

I have listened to and enjoyed two of the earlier novels in this mystery series. One is “Dance of Death” that I will shortly review separately, since it has recently been reissued as a “Replay Edition”. The other is “Book of the Dead.”

“The Wheel of Darkness” is the eighth Pendergast novel. The others in chronological order are:

Relic
Reliquary
Cabinet of Curiosities
Still Life with Crows
Brimstone – Part One of the Diogenes Trilogy
Dance of Death – Part Two of the Diogenes Trilogy
Book of the Dead – Part Three of the Diogenes Trilogy

Note that while it is great fun to have Preston and Child offer us more adventures based on characters from their earlier works, each book appears to stand quite well on its own. I personally intend to seek out the earlier audio book versions in this series and you may decide to do this as well once you have introduced yourself to the intriguing Aloysius Pendergast.

Internet Audio Sample: www.HachetteAudio.com, www.audible.com

Just started it but I gotta go to bed, too sleepy to stay up much longer.

Get some rest tonight.

I haven't heard of this book but my friends have. Since you are inviting discussion I would love to hear what you have to say about this book. I love a good book.

I liked it alot, but then I've read and liked all Preston/Child books. Think it's now my favorite Pendergast and partly because I like stories set on ships. My previous favorite was "Still Life with Crows."
Haven't always cared for the solo versions. Was disappointed in Preston's "Tyrannosaur Canyon" and thought "The Codex" was somewhat tedious.