Play Audiobook Sample
Dreamsnake Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.01) - 3,039 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
They summon and she travels: Snake, the healer. Through the blasted landscape of a post-holocaust world, she carries her three serpents. From the venom of two, she distills her medicines; but it is the third, the alien dreamsnake—whose bite can ease the fear and pain of death—that is the most valued.
When the dreamsnake is killed by those she has come to help, her powers as a healer are all but lost. Her only hope now lies in the treacherous journey to far-off Center City, where Snake will be pursued by two implacable followers: one driven mad by love, the other by fear and need.
Download and start listening now!
"This is a lyrical, dreamlike book which represents Vonda McIntyre at her peak: nothing else she's written comes close to it. Her book The Exile Waiting is a loosely-connected and vastly inferior first part, written years earlier, but each book can be read without any knowledge of the other."
— Dan (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“An exciting future-dream…An excellent, readable story.”
— Frank Herbert, author of Dune -
“This is a book like a mountain stream—fast, clean, clear, exciting, beautiful.”
— Ursula K. Le Guin -
“Anna Fields narrates with her usual mastery of the nuances of plot, mood, and character…Fields adds to the haunting sense of reality and possibility that underlies the events set forth.”
— AudioFile -
“[Anna Fields’] deep and resonant voice is perfect for the complex character of Snake and the rich nuances of the story…Fields delivers a terrific, award-winning tale to a new generation of listeners and readers.”
— Kliatt
Awards
-
Winner of the 1979 Locus Award for Best Novel
-
Recipient of the 1979 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award
-
Winner of the 1979 Hugo Award for Best Novel
-
Winner of the 1978 Nebula Award for Best Novel
Dreamsnake Listener Reviews
-
" This book has an interesting premise - post apocalyptic - regarding healers and how they operate. Its pretty well done, although in the end I am still not sure what the dreamsnake really does. Definitely worth reading. "
— Kevin, 2/16/2014 -
" Post-apocalyptic fantasy with magic snakes and true love- it's as though McIntyre wrote it for me. I wish I'd read it in the late 70s, when it was new. I found the story to be a bit dated stylistically but very absorbing and nicely done. "
— melody, 2/16/2014 -
" Not a bad book; sometimes failed to hold my attention "
— Jay, 1/25/2014 -
" An interesting take on a post nuclear war future where a snake healer travels the desert in search of an alien snake. Heavy on the woman power, the main character, Snake, is strong, self-sufficient and lonely. A fun read. "
— Chrysta, 1/15/2014 -
" This book has become an heirloom in my family, soon to be read to its fourth generation. As a young girl taught me to suspend belief, and to learn from the journeys of others. I have read it no less than ten times in twenty years, and I will soon read it again. "
— Jennifer, 1/14/2014 -
" Vonda sticks it to sexist, male dominated, classic sci-fi with her heroic she doctor. Ah, Snake. "
— Mike, 1/10/2014 -
" I read this book when I was a teenager, and read scifi/fantasy almost exclusively. This was one of my favorite books at the time. "
— Julia, 1/7/2014 -
" This is my favourite book of all time about to re-read again "
— Ruth, 11/5/2013 -
" First chapter-the award winning novella-the best part but the rest not bad at all. Like strong, interesting, independent women lead characters and interesting worlds- the has both. Another one I re-read occasionally. "
— Regina, 9/11/2013 -
" Read it back when it was new. "
— Lindig, 7/29/2013 -
" Almost tempted to add a "post-apocalyptic" tag. This is really, really good - I will have to look out more of McIntyre's work. "
— Electric, 4/14/2013 -
" I read this almost forty years ago, and loved it. At the time, a lot of women were writing good sci-fi/fantasy with their own 'take' on the future -- and there was beauty, heart and compassion in it. This is not for lovers of 'edgy', but a wonderfully engaging read in its genre. "
— Sophia, 2/11/2013 -
" Enjoyed this visit to an alternate universe. Absorbing characters. Made me think about my preconceptions of gender roles and sexual mores. Happy to see equal opportunity adventure. "
— Pam, 2/5/2013 -
" Well done. First chapter I'd read in Women sci-fi collection. The book was as good as the short story promised. "
— Mckinley, 7/20/2012 -
" My review for this book can be found on Examiner. "
— Sunnie, 5/28/2012 -
" I think this was written in the late 70's, and was probably very good at the time. Today, it's just average in my opinion. "
— Peter, 9/27/2011 -
" Solidly enjoyable, but lots of set up for not quite enough payoff. Very 70's - all nuclear holocaust and free love. Not enough sense of direction for me - not enough of the action served the thrust of the plot. "
— Tim, 9/23/2011 -
" Award-winning SF classic from 1978 that's marvelous for two-thirds of its length but feels too cut off to satisfy the way The moon and the sun did. It's very easy to forget that heroines like Snake weren't necessarily plentiful c. 1978 "
— Cynthia, 7/1/2011 -
" As with all post-apocalyptic books by women, this one has a wonderful gentle tone. Maybe it is because men always cause the destruction of the world. So their story must be a redemptive one. The stories by/about women are much more about healing and remembering. "
— Tudor, 6/20/2011 -
" kinda cheesy beach book i picked up at this little island guest house ~ closest i get to fantasy! "
— Katie, 4/19/2011 -
" As with all post-apocalyptic books by women, this one has a wonderful gentle tone. Maybe it is because men always cause the destruction of the world. So their story must be a redemptive one. The stories by/about women are much more about healing and remembering. "
— Tudor, 4/1/2011 -
" This is an all time favorite of mine. I've read it at least three times, but it's one of those books that you enjoy in different ways depending on where you are in your own life. "
— Sandy, 2/11/2011 -
" Well done. First chapter I'd read in Women sci-fi collection. The book was as good as the short story promised. "
— Mckinley, 2/8/2011 -
" I liked Vonda McIntyre's so much when I was a teenager, and I haven't thought about her in ages. But I was over at a friend's house for a party, and he had a bunch of her books, so I thought I should list them. "
— Valerie, 7/3/2010 -
" Post-apocalyptic mystery adventure and unsurprising but pleasant romance. With a tone of fantasy but a scientific rather than magical explanation. Dreamsnakes are a strikingly original element. "
— Kari, 5/20/2010 -
" Probably my favorite book EVER. Great use of snakes and post-apocalyptic settings. "
— Cathy, 2/21/2010
About Vonda N. McIntyre
Vonda N. McIntyre (1948–2019) was an award–winning and New York Times bestselling author of science fiction. She was one of the earliest successful graduates of the Clarion Science Fiction Writers’ Workshop. She gained prominence with the 1973 publication of “Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand,” which won a Nebula Award for Best Novelette and served as the initial section of Dreamsnake, which won both a Nebula and a Hugo award. The Crystal Star made the New York Times bestseller list.
About Anna Fields
Kate Fleming (a.k.a. Anna Fields) (1965–2006), winner of more than a dozen Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award in 2004, was one of the most respected narrators in the industry. Trained at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, she was also a director, producer, and technician at her own studio, Cedar House Audio.