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Joe Golem and the Drowning City: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.04) - 306 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Mike Mignola, the acclaimed creator of Hellboy, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden present a dark fantasy adventure featuring their occult detective in Joe Golem and the Drowning City. An AudioFile Magazine Earphones Award-winning production! In 1925, earthquakes and a rising sea level left Lower Manhattan submerged under more than thirty feet of water, so that its residents began to call it the Drowning City. Those unwilling to abandon their homes created a new life on streets turned to canals and in buildings whose first three stories were underwater. Fifty years have passed since then, and the Drowning City is full of scavengers and water rats, poor people trying to eke out an existence, and those too proud or stubborn to be defeated by circumstance. Among them are fourteen-year-old Molly McHugh and her friend and employer, Felix Orlov. Once upon a time Orlov the Conjuror was a celebrated stage magician, but now he is an old man, a psychic medium, contacting the spirits of the departed for the grieving loved ones left behind. When a seance goes horribly wrong, Felix Orlov is abducted by strange men wearing gas masks and rubber suits, and Molly soon finds herself on the run. Her flight will lead her into the company of a mysterious man, and his stalwart sidekick, Joe Golem, whose own past is a mystery to him, but who walks his own dreams as a man of stone and clay, brought to life for the sole purpose of hunting witches. A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press
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"Awesome. The writing felt more like it should have been in comic book form than novel really, and the opening scene and its violence against the woman and vaginal flowering imagery didn't grab me, but once into the story you're in and it is full of wondrous imagination, fantastic characters and action-packed scenes that just keep getting better. I love the idea of New York half inundated, this world of water and crime and magic. The heroine is awesome if her fears and past a bit heavily dealt with (as true for all the characters perhaps, again, the comic book style trumping the potential interiorities of a novel), loved the occult detectives and Orlov and the gas-mask men and the rotten tree, a touch of the steam punk without the sentimentality and tweeness....well. I enjoyed it immensely. I wish it had had more illustrations, I liked them, but it didn't feel like they added much which was a shame!"
— Andrea (4 out of 5 stars)
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This outstanding audiobook improves upon its solid print version. If the book is a B-movie horror story, Robert Fass's narration makes it an Oscar-worthy movie. Fass has a gentle, genial tone that is effectively at odds with the horror tale he is reading. The story is dark, but his voice is light, and the contrast is alternately shocking and soothing.
— AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award winner
Joe Golem and the Drowning City Listener Reviews
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" The writing itself left a bit to be desired, but the concept, mood and story were fantastic. Loved it. "
— Darren, 2/6/2014 -
" I would say 3.5 stars. It's a good novel but it has slow points to it that make it seem like the two authors are arguing with which direction the story should go. It's not nearly as cohesive as the other stories they've written together. I look forward to the developing character of Joe Golem. "
— Ben, 1/23/2014 -
" Should really be called Molly McHugh and the Drowning City. Not a bad story, though, and the Joe of the title is a good guy. "
— Julie, 1/19/2014 -
" I am a huge Mignola fan. This book lived up to those expectations, however, there were many themes and ideas that seemed repetitive with the author's other works. That is why only four stars instead of five. There was an originality lacking from this work, but for new readers of this author this would be a great ride for sure. "
— Jeremy, 1/9/2014 -
" Not the Hellboy universe, but it has that feel. It claims to be an illustrated novel, but at least in the the Kindle version the illustrations are more the occasional atmospheric accent than illustrating the storyline. Still no one draws a rotting scull like Mignola. Liked it and will read further installments. "
— James, 1/1/2014 -
" It starts out slow. I wasn't sure I was interested for about the first chapter, then I got interested in the characters and story. Interesting premise and alternate vision. "
— Elene, 12/29/2013 -
" This is a great collaborative effort for Mike and Christopher. I love the world of magicians living in a sunken New York City. This story blends, pulp, alternative history and magic in a highly entertaining way. I hope there will be more. "
— Roxofspazhouse, 12/27/2013 -
" This book works best in the history of the characters and the atmosphere of the different scenes. It is kind of lacking and slow when you get to the big action. A great fun read all together, though. "
— Peter, 11/8/2013 -
" Interesting premise, especially as it ties into Mignola's Hellboy mythology, but the writing was mediocre. I would have enjoyed this a lot more as a graphic novel. "
— Mike, 10/13/2013 -
" I usually steer clear of steampunk but this was a great story, Mignola always delivers. "
— Lucas, 9/30/2013 -
" It sounds so amazing.. Satanic steampunk in an underwater city.. For some reason I just couldn't get into it. "
— Mason, 8/20/2013 -
" For all of its supernatural charms, I found the characterizations to be a bit flat, and the prose a little wobbly. "
— Amy, 8/16/2013 -
" 4 stars for the art, 3 stars for the story. I've never been able to connect to Christopher Golden's writing, and this book was no exception. Fascinating concepts and characters with middling execution. "
— Daniel, 7/24/2013 -
" Gritty, apocalyptic noir with plenty of occult flair. Possibly hits too close to home for the Hellboy writers, but still very enjoyable. "
— Tyler, 7/12/2013 -
" Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden have done it again. an alternate universe story that grips you and doesn't let go. "
— Blake, 4/10/2013 -
" From the creator of Hellboy, and I have to wonder, why not just make it a Hellboy novel? The similarities are painfully obvious. "
— Roland, 3/22/2013 -
" What a fun book. I look forward to more set in this alternate Earth. As good as Golden and Mignola's Lord Baltimore book. "
— Tamara, 1/13/2013 -
" Imaginative and interesting, but the ending dragged on a bit. "
— Tammie, 11/24/2012
About the Authors
Mike Mignola is best known as the award-winning creator/writer/artist of Hellboy. He was also visual consultant to director Guillermo del Toro on both Hellboy and Hellboy 2:The Golden Army films. Mignola lives in southern California with his family.
Christopher Golden is the author of many books of fiction and nonfiction, including Ararat and Cut!, both winners of the Bram Stoker Award. With Mike Mignola, he is the co-creator of two cult favorite comic book series, Baltimore and Joe Golem: Occult Detective. He is also the editor of such anthologies as Seize the Night, The New Dead, and Dark Cities, and the co-host of the popular podcast "Three Guys with Beards."
About Robert Fass
Robert Fass is a veteran actor and twice winner of the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. He has earned multiple Earphones Awards and been named in AudioFile magazine’s list of the year’s best narrations for six years.