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The Sky People Audiobook
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(3.01) - 886 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Marc Vitrac was born in Louisiana in the early 1960's, about the time the first interplanetary probes delivered the news that Mars and Venus were teeming with life—even human life. At that point, the "Space Race" became the central preoccupation of the great powers of the world.
Now, in 1988, Marc has been assigned to Jamestown, the US-Commonwealth base on Venus, near the great Venusian city of Kartahown. Set in a countryside swarming with sabertooths and dinosaurs, Jamestown is home to a small band of American and allied scientist-adventurers.
But there are flies in this ointment—and not only the Venusian dragonflies, with their yard-wide wings. The biologists studying Venus's life are puzzled by the way it not only resembles that on Earth, but is virtually identical to it. The EastBloc has its own base at Cosmograd, in the highlands to the south, and relations are frosty. And attractive young geologist Cynthia Whitlock seems impervious to Marc's Cajun charm.
Meanwhile, at the western end of the continent, Teesa of the Cloud Mountain People leads her tribe in a conflict with the Neanderthal-like beastmen who have seized her folk's sacred caves. Then an EastBloc shuttle crashes nearby, and the beastmen acquire new knowledge... and AK47's.
Jamestown sends its long-range blimp to rescue the downed EastBloc cosmonauts, little suspecting that the answer to the jungle planet's mysteries may lie there, among tribal conflicts and traces of a power that made Earth's vaunted science seem as primitive as the tribesfolk's blowguns. As if that weren't enough, there's an enemy agent on board the airship...
Extravagant and effervescent, The Sky People is alternate-history SF adventure at its best.
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"Inspired by pulp fiction of the early 20th century, this book takes place on venus, where dinosaurs roam along with sabertooth tigers and neanderthals (don't worry it makes sense). This book zoomed by, I can't wait to read the sequel. "
— Brian (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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McLaren imparts a sense of adventure that does justice to the...book.
— AudioFile
The Sky People Listener Reviews
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" A interesting concept. The lack of plotting and intrigue are refreshing. Yet I won't be reading the second book. "
— Ralph, 2/18/2014 -
" I read it in the wrong order, Great Tribute to ERB's Version of Venus and throws in a nod to David Brin's view of Evolution and a certain Celestial People helping Humanity. "
— Jeffrey, 2/4/2014 -
" Damn Good Book. Stirling is highly imaginative and does his homework. "
— Jason, 2/2/2014 -
" Decent book, classic S.M. Stirling, if you've read any of his work before, you'll recognize most of the characters. It has a very '50s-ish pulp kind of feel but it's done on purpose and with the author's tongue firmly implanted in his cheap so I don't really mind. It's certainly no Dune, but if you're looking for a nice little adventure novel, this is perfect! "
— Matt, 2/1/2014 -
" Now there is some old school sci fi. Life on Venus. Dinosaurs. Beastmen. Humans. Women in fur bras. "
— Elaine, 1/29/2014 -
" Good solid adventure story in a well made alternate Earth setting. Stirling is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors "
— Gene, 1/25/2014 -
" I've only read his Nantucket series prior to this book. It was good and I can see some of his patterns in it. I enjoy how he creates his characters and plots. He also added some amusing references to pop culture icons - okay, at least one that I caught. I'm *sure* there were others. "
— Samantha, 1/20/2014 -
" Clever & enjoyable concept, a clean and quick read. Wonderful capture of the atmosphere. Recommend. "
— Kevin, 1/18/2014 -
" Had to put it down once I read that towns on Venus exactly replicated Middle Ages feudal colonies. What??? More creativity please. "
— Chris, 12/21/2013 -
" There is too much contrived tension in this book. "
— Matthew, 11/11/2013 -
" Supposed to be in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs' SF, but I couldn't get past 50 pages. "
— Craig, 10/25/2013 -
" interesting idea. i wonder how the second book is? "
— Paul, 5/2/2013 -
" Stirling had a lot of backstory to build into this to set up for the followup books, but it managed to be an interesting story in its own right. Venusian adventures ahoy! Cave men, dinosaurs, etc. "
— Daniel, 10/19/2012 -
" Poorly written and not engaging at all. I bought this book at the airport and wish I hadn't. Definitely the worst plane read I've had. "
— Helen, 8/16/2012 -
" This read felt like retro sci-fi, partly because this fantasy takes place on a planet that can not support life. Yet this was a fun diversion that left me wondering what master race is really behind the mystery. "
— Mark, 6/24/2012 -
" A pretty good space opera story "
— Clay, 1/16/2012 -
" An excellent Panetary Romance, with just enough hard science to ALMOST make it believable. "
— Michael, 10/22/2011 -
" Had to put it down once I read that towns on Venus exactly replicated Middle Ages feudal colonies. What??? More creativity please. "
— Chris, 2/8/2011 -
" I loved this "almost-pastiche" of Edgar Rice Burroughs and, as usual, Stirling writes a gripping yarn! "
— Mieczyslaw, 1/11/2011 -
" A clear return to classic fiction, breech -clout and all. A truly enjoyable read from start to finish Stirling's flair for alternate history shines! A definite for my re-read list! "
— Drew, 9/29/2010 -
" I really enjoyed this book. It is new take on "what would it be like if" there was life on Mars . . . & they look just like us!? "
— Rebecca, 9/15/2010 -
" A interesting concept. The lack of plotting and intrigue are refreshing. Yet I won't be reading the second book. "
— Ralph, 7/1/2010 -
" Was good. Will definitely be listening to the sequel. "
— Joe, 5/11/2010 -
" Now there is some old school sci fi. Life on Venus. Dinosaurs. Beastmen. Humans. Women in fur bras. "
— Elaine, 3/15/2010 -
" I liked this. It's not one of S.M. Stirling's best, but I find myself hoping he starts a new series based on this, so that's pretty positive. "
— Hatton, 12/13/2009 -
" This read felt like retro sci-fi, partly because this fantasy takes place on a planet that can not support life. Yet this was a fun diversion that left me wondering what master race is really behind the mystery. "
— Mark, 12/10/2009 -
" Damn Good Book. Stirling is highly imaginative and does his homework. "
— Jason, 10/14/2009
About S. M. Stirling
S. M. Stirling is the author of science fiction and fantasy fiction, including three stand-alone novels and many novels in eight series, as well as novels in five more series in which he collaborated with Anne McCaffrey, Jerry Pournell, and David Drake, among others.
About Todd McLaren
Todd McLaren, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, was involved in radio for more than twenty years in cities on both coasts, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He left broadcasting for a full-time career in voice acting, where he has been heard on more than five thousand television and radio commercials, as well as television promos; narrations for documentaries on such networks as A&E, Discovery, and the History Channel; and films, including Who Framed Roger Rabbit?