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Dust Audiobook
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(3.45) - 810 listener ratings
Publisher Description
Hugo Award winner Elizabeth Bear has been called one of the best science fiction authors of her generation. In Dust she skillfully spins a classic science fiction trope-the lost generation ship-into a complex and compelling tale of fallen angels, secretive family politics, and sexual taboo. "Extraordinary ... [a] brilliantly detailed, tightly plotted, roller-coaster ... replete with a fantastic cast of characters." -Booklist, starred review
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"An interesting mix of fantasy and sci-fi, I really enjoyed the premise - what happens when a generation ship gets stranded before it gets to its destination? There were some unexpected twists, most of which I enjoyed, although I found the Rien/Perceval thing a little odd. I could definitely see the Amber parallels (Benedick was clearly Benedict, and I got a kick out of seeing Caithness, Cynric and Caitlin mentioned, having played Caitlin in "Seven for a Secret"). It did manage to wrap some things up, but it's definitely the first in a series. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Chill, when it comes out."
— Kris (4 out of 5 stars)
Dust Listener Reviews
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" Elizabeth Bear is one imaginative writer. Many of the concepts in this book such as "ship-fish" and the nano-tech angels are new to me and I loved hearing about them. I only wish she wouldn't have explored the incestual relationships that occured. I understand that while being stuck on a space ship for 500 years means that you'd be hard pressed to find someone you weren't related to in some way, but really. That's not a place I care to be taken to; it's a little too open-minded for me. "
— Ginn, 2/19/2014 -
" Luscious prose, but the characters are vapid, unsympathetic, fickle, inconsistent, and often juvenile. The world-building is interesting but under-utilized. This read like a first draft: there's a spark of potential, but it needed much more cultivation and care to build to a steady flame. I was so uninvested in the characters that I actually stopped reading with a mere 20 pages to go. Just didn't care how it ended. In my mind, the ship exploded and everyone died. "
— Leah, 2/4/2014 -
" Skillfully crafted and completely beautiful. Having said that: not entirely up my alley. But I appreciated it and will pick up the next two, if only to look around in wonder and go, "Whoa." "
— Christian, 12/28/2013 -
" Utterly brilliant. "
— Lynne, 10/16/2013 -
" One of the better sci fi books I've read recently. Characters are compelling, and the strangeness of the situation they find themselves in is compelling. "
— Erik, 10/10/2013 -
" One of the better Bear's that I've read, although her characters are still hard to connect with. Odd mix of feudalism and nanotech/astroscience. Too many angels. "
— kvon, 6/30/2013 -
" Really good book, first one I read for the Women of Sci-Fi book club. "
— Magen, 6/21/2013 -
" Definitely one of the better books I've read this year. And, it was encouraging to get to the end and discover that book #2 was scheduled for a 2009 release -- I just need to go looking for it. "
— Elsi, 12/9/2012 -
" I expected a lot more ... action, I guess. Was disappointed overall, so I doubt I'll pick up the next installment. "
— Rob, 7/9/2012 -
" Not my favorite piece by Bear, but not bad. "
— Josh, 5/19/2012 -
" This book was really good. Sometimes it was a little confusing and I had to look up some of the words but once you got past that the story was really good. "
— LadyCroft86, 3/8/2012 -
" Really good book, first one I read for the Women of Sci-Fi book club. "
— Magendhughes, 5/13/2011 -
" Very entertaining. I'll be interested to see if the author sustains this in the sequels. "
— Jon, 4/10/2011 -
" Pretty neat story. I might check out the sequel. It wasn't as memorable as some of the other books that I've read lately, though. "
— Miranda, 4/6/2011 -
" Superlative use of Arthurian mythology, generation ships tropes, and sprawling families. Yes, it all sounds a bit weird, but it meshes wonderfully well. "
— Aliette, 3/19/2011 -
" This book was really good. Sometimes it was a little confusing and I had to look up some of the words but once you got past that the story was really good. "
— LadyCroft86, 3/14/2011 -
" I just could not get into this story. Bear's story of a generation ship and a dying star dumps you right into the action with very little explanation, and the characters are almost universally cold or two dimensional. Eh. I don't think Bear is for me. "
— Celia, 2/12/2011 -
" Still not sure what I think about it. Got much better towards the end when explanations helped everything make more sense, but there's still a lot of really strange concepts going on. "
— dejah_thoris, 1/15/2011 -
" 3.5 stars. I liked it . . . I think. I have a feeling that parts of it were completely over my head. "
— Helga, 1/4/2011
About Elizabeth Bear
Elizabeth Bear, also known as Sarah Bear Elizabeth Wishnevsky, is an American author known for her speculative fiction. Among her many awards, she is one of only five writers who have gone on to win multiple Hugo Awards for fiction after winning the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. She also won a Sturgeon Award and the Locus Award for Best First Novel. She is the author of the acclaimed Eternal Sky series. Elizabeth Bear shares a birthday with Frodo and Bilbo Baggins.
About Alma Cuervo
Alma Cuervo is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and a stage actress and singer who has also performed in film and television. She holds an MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama, from which she graduated in 1976 alongside Meryl Streep. She starred in the role of Madame Morrible in the first national tour of Wicked.