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Audiobooks > Science Fiction >  Military > The Ghost Brigades

Download The Ghost Brigades Audiobook

Extended Audio Sample The Ghost Brigades Audiobook, by John Scalzi Click for printable size audiobook cover
4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 4.00 (13,553 ratings) (rate this audio book) Author: John Scalzi Narrator: William Dufris Publisher: Macmillan Audio Format: Unabridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download Audio Length: Release Date: February 2008 ISBN: 9781427205384
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John Scalzi's eagerly anticipated sequel to the extraordinary Old Man's War

The Ghost Brigades are the Special Forces of the Colonial Defense Forces, elite troops created from the DNA of the dead and turned into the perfect soldiers for the CDF's toughest operations. They're young, they're fast and strong, and they're totally without normal human qualms.

The universe is a dangerous place for humanity—and it's about to become far more dangerous. Three races that humans have clashed with before have allied to halt our expansion into space. Their linchpin: the turncoat military scientist Charles Boutin, who knows the CDF's biggest military secrets. To prevail, the CDF must find out why Boutin did what he did.

Jared Dirac is the only human who can provide answers -- a superhuman hybrid, created from Boutin's DNA, Jared's brain should be able to access Boutin's electronic memories. But when the memory transplant appears to fail, Jared is given to the Ghost Brigades.

At first, Jared is a perfect soldier, but as Boutin's memories slowly surface, Jared begins to intuit the reason's for Boutin's betrayal. As Jared desperately hunts for his "father," he must also come to grips with his own choices. Time is running out: The alliance is preparing its offensive, and some of them plan worse things than humanity's mere military defeat…

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Quotes & Awards

  • “Though a lot of SF writers are more or less efficiently continuing the tradition of Robert A. Heinlein, Scalzi’s astonishingly proficient first novel reads like an original work by the late grand master…The novel’s tone is right on target, too—sentimentality balanced by hardheaded calculation, know-it-all smugness moderated by innocent wonder. This virtuoso debut pays tribute to SF’s past while showing that well-worn tropes still can have real zip when they’re approached with ingenuity. Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Old Man's War

  • Solid…[Scalzi] sidesteps most of the cliches of military science fiction, delivers fast-paced scenes of combat and pays attention to the science underpinning his premise. San Francisco Chronicle on Old Man's War
  • Thought-provoking! Entertainment Weekly on Old Man's War
  • Smartly conceived and thoroughly entertaining, Old Man's War is a splendid novel. Cleveland Plain Dealer
  • Gripping and surpassingly original. It's Starship Troopers without the lectures. It's The Forever War with better sex. It's funny, it's sad, and it's true. Cory Doctorow on Old Man’s War
  • John Scalzi is a fresh and appealing new voice, and Old Man's War is classic SF seen from a modern perspective--a fast-paced tour of a daunting, hostile universe. Robert Charles Wilson
  • I enjoyed Old Man's War immensely. A space war story with fast action, vivid characters, moral complexity and cool speculative physics, set in a future you almost want to live into, and a universe you sincerely hope you don't live in already. Ken MacLeod
  • Nominated for Prometheus Award Nominee, 2007

Listener Opinions

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Thom | 2/15/2014

    " Very enjoyable sequel, would likely stand on its own very well. A very interesting expansion of the universe; looking forward to reading more. Also a quick read - started on one plane flight and finished before boarding for the return flight. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Spinch | 2/13/2014

    " Every bit as good as Old Man's War. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Vamshidhar | 2/13/2014

    " Pretty decent read. But lacking the fun discovery of the premise of the series in the first book, this one is a bit more ordinary. If you liked the first novel (Old Man's War), I would definitely read this one and The Last Colony, which is the follow on to this book. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jason | 1/23/2014

    " The sequel to Old Man's War, another fun read. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Mike (the Paladin) | 1/19/2014

    " Good follow up story to a good beginning. I like it. I still have it and am planning to read the next in the series. While this one is pretty good and readable, it doesn't hold up to the quality of the first. Probably why I haven't hurried on with the series. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Michael Pryor | 1/14/2014

    " Good. It's the pacing that works so well, I think. No flat spots, and the necessary exposition is neatly handled. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Ray Charbonneau | 1/14/2014

    " The situation is less original than Old Man's War, and just not as much fun. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Chip Underwood | 12/26/2013

    " Pretty good, expanding on the human tech of the soldiers in a interesting way. Good story. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Nicholas Hansen | 12/8/2013

    " One of the best books I've read in a long time. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Shannon Appelcline | 10/20/2013

    " A good continuation of the series. It's a little info-dump-y at the start, but by the end it's dealing with interesting topics and characters. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Mike Matteson | 9/29/2013

    " Loved the shift in perspective and characters in this book. At least as good as the first in the series, this story expands on the Special Forces and the mystique and technology surrounding them. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jack | 5/4/2013

    " The Ghost Brigades is a superbly written sequel to Old Man's War which builds on that novel's mythology in so many interesting and exciting ways that it easily stands on it's own as one of the greatest science fiction novels of our time. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Diane | 12/25/2012

    " Entertaining, in the way of a blockbuster film, but not much substance. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 jonathan berger | 12/11/2012

    " Solid. Not as good as the prior Old Man's War, but a fun read. I tore through it in no time. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Lea Kawaletz | 6/21/2012

    " Definitely one of the best reads this year. Easy to read but far from being a light topic. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Vivian Blaxell | 3/10/2012

    " Disappointing sequel with a great story but way too much exposition instead of story. Show, don't tell. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jones | 12/27/2011

    " Yay, I like "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Mathew | 10/31/2011

    " Good example of examining existentialism in a science-fiction setting. Not as good as the first book. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jon Mountjoy | 6/4/2011

    " Not as good as Old Man's War "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jim | 5/19/2011

    " Quite different from the first one - much more of a military adventure novel with some interesting SF twists.
    "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Daniel | 5/3/2011

    " Not as witty or laugh-out-loud funny as "Old Man's War",this installment is more somber, and brings much depth to what felt like a superficial universe in the first novel. All in all, a great SF novel, with killer ideas and some awesome action. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Uri | 4/26/2011

    " I can totally see where he cribbed a bunch of his ideas from, but the way he put them together is lots of fun. Also, since the book deals with some of my concerns about the CU from reading 'Old Mans War' it gets extra bennies for assuming the reader is thinking critically about the story. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Moses | 4/25/2011

    " Just like Old Man's War, but with different names. I don't even remember any of the details of the story, and I don't particularly care--it's a summer afternoon book, but I'm probably not going to read any more of the series. Not for $10 on the kindle, anyway. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Buzz | 4/21/2011

    " I am really enjoying this series. This one (Book Two) was even better than the first one (Old Man's War). Fun stuff. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Cole | 4/21/2011

    " Great!!! Action packed and very, very interesting discussion on ethics and technology. A must read if you're a Military Sci-fi fan. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Andrew | 4/16/2011

    " A very different book to Old Man's War. A few of the same characters but not the expected sequel. Great concept, really well written, he knows what he's doing does Mr Scalzi. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Eric | 4/10/2011

    " Might be better than Old Man's War. Definitely deeper. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Rhianne | 4/8/2011

    " I enjoyed this follow up to Old Man's War as much as I did Old Man's War itself. I was mildly disappointed by the lack of John Perry, however Scalzi more than made up for this by introducing some new rather kick-ass characters, and keeping Jane Sagan, who is perhaps even more kick-ass. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Jodie | 3/23/2011

    " It's Scalzi. What more can I say? Two green thumbs up! ;) "

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About the Author
Author John Scalzi

John Scalzi is a popular and acclaimed science-fiction author whose debut Old Man’s War won him science fiction’s John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include Fuzzy Nation, Lock In, and Redshirts, which also won the 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novel. He also writes nonfiction on subjects ranging from personal finance to astronomy to film. He served as the creative consultant for the Stargate: Universe television series.

About the Narrator

William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.

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