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The Explorer

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The Explorer

By: James Smythe
Narrated by: Rich Keeble
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About this listen

A tense, claustrophobic and gripping science fiction thriller from the author of The Testimony.

When journalist Cormac Easton is selected to document the first manned mission into deep space, he dreams of securing his place in history as one of humanity’s great explorers.

But in space, nothing goes according to plan.

The crew wake from hypersleep to discover their captain dead in his allegedly fail-proof safety pod. They mourn, and Cormac sends a beautifully written eulogy back to Earth. The word from ground control is unequivocal: no matter what happens, the mission must continue.

But as the body count begins to rise, Cormac finds himself alone and spiralling towards his own inevitable death … unless he can do something to stop it.

©2013 James Smythe (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers Action & Adventure Genre Fiction Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Science Fiction Space Exploration Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Interstellar Fiction Paranormal Adventure

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Critic reviews

‘It's like an episode of Star Trek written by JM Coetzee’ Guardian

‘The Explorer has the dreamlike detachment of an Ishiguro novel’ Financial Times

‘Beautifully written, creepy as hell. The Explorer is as clever in its unravelling as it is breathlessly claustrophobic’ Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls

‘As you marvel at this twist-laden deep-space exploration thriller, it’s hard not to draw comparisons with Duncan Jones’ film Moon’ Shortlist

‘A fascinating character study that could only exist in a science-fictional world’ io9.com

'The SF novel everyone should read' Foyles
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Far too long and incredibly boring. Hours of my life that I won't get back again. I only struck with it to find out the explanation and it turned out not to be worth it.

Tedious

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Initially placed this title on my list, though not 'next purchase?' status. Then - along came "The Echo" and I had second thoughts - that gestalt logic - you feel me? So - next credit: "The Explorer". My earlier reservations were ratified - unfortunately! First off you get a 'death-per-page' until it's just Cormac; then the weird thing happens; that's the high point I'm afraid - it's pretty much downhill from there; you then are treated to an ex----tended recap of everything you've just been swept through, though from a different point of view, PLUS other material from the pre-launch preparations - not especially illuminating... this entire story is essentially a foreword to "The Echo"; if you can take that then maybe Part 2 will have made Part 1 worth the trip. Watch that helmet seal lol

In space no one can hear you grind your teeth!

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First part of the book was really interesting, second part really let me down. It's one of the worst books I have ever read.

So so so disappointed

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Partly classic sci-fi, partly modern thriller. so refreshing to read (hear!) something unexpected in the genre. Great characters, superb pacing. Loved it. Very happy to know there is a sequel.

Exciting story that keeps you guessing

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