Vagabonds Audiobook By Hao Jingfang, Ken Liu - translator cover art

Vagabonds

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Vagabonds

By: Hao Jingfang, Ken Liu - translator
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
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A century after the Martian war of independence, a group of kids are sent to Earth as delegates from Mars, but when they return home, they are caught between the two worlds, unable to reconcile the beauty and culture of Mars with their experiences on Earth in this “thoughtful debut” (Kirkus Reviews) from Hugo Award–winning author Hao Jingfang.

This “masterful narrative” (Booklist, starred review) is set on Earth in the wake of a second civil war…not between two factions in one nation, but two factions in one solar system: Mars and Earth. In an attempt to repair increasing tensions, the colonies of Mars send a group of young people to live on Earth to help reconcile humanity. But the group finds itself with no real home, no friends, and fractured allegiances as they struggle to find a sense of community and identity trapped between two worlds. Science Fiction Space Opera Mars Fiction Solar System Hard Science Fiction Cyberpunk

Critic reviews

"Narrator Emily Woo Zeller imbues this ambitious debut novel with meditative gravitas. In the year 2201, Luoying has returned to her home on Mars after spending five years on Earth as a student ambassador. Rather than being overjoyed at seeing her home planet, Luoying and her fellow ambassadors become disillusioned with their world, which is not the utopia they had thought. Zeller's measured narration mirrors Hao's elegant prose and deliberate pacing, allowing the story's careful revelations to unfold in their own time. Zeller's characterizations are consistent and multilayered, particularly in the case of Luoying, whose deepening maturity is conveyed in an intimate and reflective tone. A sophisticated and truly absorbing audiobook is delivered with thoughtfulness and care."
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In this crisp, but poetically expressed futuristic story, we are able to examine not only the real possibilities of human migration to other planets but also to truly query human motivation, evolution, and all the complexities of utopic and dystopic societies.
The solid science used to describe the Mars habitat allows one to engage fully in the reality of the story and appreciate the beauty and effectiveness of possible technologies, while also following the anxious unfolding of ideological and political struggles in a totally new environment. The listener is gently but inexorably drawn into the debate and encouraged to explore his or her own approach to humanity and society. It is a wonderful listen, as I am sure it is an exceptional read. The narrator captures every nuance, allowing the reader to assimilate the intriguing story while keeping the pace even and compelling.

Exceptional thoughts and concepts

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Pleasantly surprised by the scope and grandeur of this book. Especially gratified by the way Hao handled hope and loss. Well worth the time invested.

Poetic SciFi

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The first 1/4 is really great. The last 1/8 is incredibly mature writing.

Interesting but not mature

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this is a thoughtful somewhat abstract story. think I need to listen to it again to be sure I am understanding what it has to say. maybe 5 or 6 times more!

different

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I've seen some negative reviews of Emily Zoo Weller's narration. Usually I just don't comment on baseless negative reviews because it's unlikely that discussion on this topic will change anybody's mind. But this criticism is so baseless it kind of irks me.

I've listened to multiple books narrated by Emily Zoo Weller. I've selected books narrated by Emily Zoo Welder just because I know for sure at least the narration will be good. Her narration is always consistent with the given material. She's expressive but if anything it tends to be closer to understated than overstated.

I enjoyed Vagabonds. For me it was an interesting story drawing some interesting points of view and evolving character arcs.

However, the writing has a lot of rather dry third person narration and kind of dry conversation. Exactly the kind of story that doesn't map at all to the criticism of Emily Zoo Weller's narration.

I just don't see any credibility in criticism at all. None.

Emily Zoo Weller is a very good narrator.

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