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The January Dancer Audiobook, by Michael Flynn Play Audiobook Sample

The January Dancer Audiobook

The January Dancer Audiobook, by Michael Flynn Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Stefan Rudnicki Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 8.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 6.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781483057552

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

34

Longest Chapter Length:

66:17 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

01:40 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

22:57 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

7

Other Audiobooks Written by Michael Flynn: > View All...

Publisher Description

Author Michael Flynn is a Hugo Award finalist and Robert A. Heinlein Award–winning science fiction writer. He has here written a space opera with stunningly successful results. The January Dancer tells the fateful story of an ancient prehuman artifact of great power and of the people who found it.

Starting with Captain Amos January, who quickly loses it, and then the others who fought, schemed, and killed to get it, we travel around the complex, decadent, brawling, mongrelized, interstellar human civilization that the artifact might save or destroy. Collectors want the Dancer, pirates take it, rulers crave it, and all will kill, if necessary, to get it. This is a thrilling yarn of love, revolution, music, and mystery, and it ends, as all great stories do, with shock and a beginning.

Download and start listening now!

"I read this first in a series second... something I don't normally do... and I am kinda sorry I didn't wait to read the second one. Both very good stories, and can stand on their own, but to have read this one first would have shown the unfolding of the worlds and the characters much better. I kept grinning because I knew the Fudir more intimately than I should have and knew his ways instead of learning them... however, I am very glad I read them both. Very good stories, wonderful characters and a very engrossing world. I'm loving Michael Flynn. Five out of five and I can't wait for the next in this grand, old fashioned space opera!"

— April (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “An epic tale of adventure, intrigue, suspense and mystery…The plot evokes old-school space opera with its whirlwind pace, immense scope and twist ending, but cutting-edge extrapolation breathes vivid life into this universe of scoundrels, heroes, and romantics.”

    — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
  • “With Stephan Rudnicki’s deep, lively voice masterfully delivering the narrative, the story comes alive and keeps the listener engaged throughout…Rudnicki does well with the layered storytelling and carries listeners along as the narrative shifts from one character’s perspective to another.”

    — AudioFile
  • “Stefan Rudnicki narrates with his usual expertise, adroitly affecting slight voice changes that communicate character when voicing dialogue.”

    — SFFAudio.com
  • “Michael Flynn has crafted an epic space opera in every sense of the word. His layered story has a large and distinctive cast of characters, and a fully realized intergalactic space-faring society that is remarkably complex. The careful plot contains story lines that jump organically among character points of view. Stefan Rudnicki’s clear, concise and richly dynamic reading starts strong and gets progressively stronger as the story continues; it is an excellent representation of Flynn’s story. The listener will find it quite difficult to step away from this very enjoyable audiobook.”

    — SoundCommentary.com

The January Dancer Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.28 out of 53.28 out of 53.28 out of 53.28 out of 53.28 out of 5 (3.28)
5 Stars: 4
4 Stars: 8
3 Stars: 7
2 Stars: 3
1 Stars: 3
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I know I'm going against what most people will probably say about this novel. The writing is excellent, the characters are interesting, and the plot while not entirely new is interesting to say the least. The problem I have is the entire book reads like a literary exercise that takes more joy in the form than the content. I struggled to read it and only found myself interested as I reached the last quarter of the book. It was when he finally seemed to unleash the story, give up on the tricks and just let it tell itself. For the ending alone I would say read it, but I know I couldn't slog through it again. "

    — Chris, 2/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A great sci-fi tale, with fascinating characters and an exciting story. Read it! "

    — Robert, 2/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I found the narrative style of this book annoying. The book's telling seemed overly oblique to me. Eschew Obfuscation. Also, the info dump of the first 80 or so pages didn't engage me. Maybe if I had read the book more quickly, in larger bites, I would have had a different take on it. I liked the story. I liked a good portion of it. I just got bogged down by connections I was slow to make. "

    — Jeff, 1/28/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I've read the first two chapters via e-reader, but looking for a copy to finish. Great so far. "

    — John, 12/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The interludes with the Harper were tiresome ... The book could have been a lot better with some tightening and without the affectation of a pidgin patois for the Terrans. "

    — Ray, 10/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not a bad book but, really, how likely is it that space pirates are gonna talk like Johnny Depp in those pirate movies? Also, I got tired of following the tangled plotlines of imaginary people from imaginary civilizations traveling to imaginary places. "

    — Sam, 8/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The ending was tied up far too quickly for a book that started out so slowly. It was ok, but I'm not running out to get the next book in the series. None of the characters were all that compelling so I didn't feel all that invested in their fates. "

    — Sam, 8/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Science fiction. Nicely avoids the grimdark and angst-ridden tone that a lot of sci-fi has had; instead, in this book, everybody is Irish. (They speak "Gaelactic.") "

    — Dan, 6/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " First sentence, "Everything in the universe is older than it seems." "

    — Douglas, 5/23/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " If I hadn't listened to this as an audio book, I am not sure I would have finished it. I didn't like any of the characters, so I didn't care what happened to them during the course of the story. "

    — Danny, 1/26/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Was interesting early on but ultimately a waste of time - incoherent plot with too many poorly defined characters. "

    — Michael, 12/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good space opera stuff with lots of references to Earth as remembered myth. A few too many story lines to keep track of during my on and off again reading but it all ties up well. It would make a fun movie. "

    — Paul, 6/15/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I won't be reading any more of these. It was sort of painful. The whole thing with the people telling the story was just painful filler. "

    — Neil, 4/19/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is a great sci-fi series "

    — Klever, 2/15/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not very good. Gave it up in 50 pages. Flowery prose trying to be cute. Didn't like it at all. "

    — Art, 8/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " it took me a long time to get into this story but it actually ended up being interesting... "

    — Missi, 5/10/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Read from 1/1 to 1/8. "

    — Kristin, 3/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I was put off by the uninteresting characters put in insufficiently compelling situations, even though I had the sense that the galaxy-spanning settings might have been put together well. "

    — Richard, 3/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " First sentence, "Everything in the universe is older than it seems." "

    — Douglas, 11/27/2010
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A lyrical space opera, densely written and beautifully thought out. What more could a scifi girl ask for? "

    — Michelle, 9/1/2010
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Good space opera stuff with lots of references to Earth as remembered myth. A few too many story lines to keep track of during my on and off again reading but it all ties up well. It would make a fun movie. "

    — Paul, 1/26/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " My first completed scifi, really enjoyed it, nice storytelling. "

    — Kazz, 6/16/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is a story within a story, encompassing revolution, commerce, the yearning for the ancestral homeland, love, sex, death, intrigue and power. A freighter captain finds a pre-human artifact on an uninhabited planet, starting a quest by several groups to obtain it. "

    — Suburbangardener, 4/3/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I don't know if this is one of the books in a series, but the characters come fast, there are multiple worlds, and several dialects; it gets kind of bewildering keeping track. <br/> <br/>Regardless, enjoyable read. "

    — Josh, 3/31/2009
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Read from 1/1 to 1/8. "

    — Kristin, 2/23/2009

About Michael Flynn

Michael Flynn lives in Easton, Pennsylvania. He is the winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award and was a Hugo nominee for Eifelheim.

About Stefan Rudnicki

Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.