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The Terminal Experiment

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The Terminal Experiment

By: Robert J. Sawyer
Narrated by: Paul Hecht
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About this listen

 An experiment has gone terribly wrong. Dr. Peter Hobson has created three electronic simulations of his own personality. One will test life after death; another, immortality. The third one is the control unit. But now all three have escaped from Hobson's computer into the worldwide electronic matrix. And one of them is a killer.

Robert Sawyer has won many awards for his science fiction, which is praised for its blend of high-tech mystery and suspenseful pacing.

©1995 Robert J. Sawyer (P)2003 Recorded Books Science Fiction Technothrillers Thriller & Suspense Exciting

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Critic reviews

  • Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1995
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I love Sawyers work and this one is great. a bit of a thriller but with a relaxed pace. As ever the idea is clever and I love the way the world handles the discovery of the soul wave.

for a mid-90's tale it is fascinating to see Sawyer speculate on 2011 and how we will be using technology. we can make people almost immortal but are still using VCR and teletext.

despite this, the story has aged very well and seems to me to be as relevant now as it was 25+ years ago

Huge Sawyer fan

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I picked this from the Audible ‘free download’ selection, Not having previously read the author and based upon only the story’s summary.
Apart from a rather dodgy Scottish accent, I was pleasantly surprised by the story, and after only a few chapters was ‘drawn in’ to the ‘comfy chair’ that is The Terminal Experiment.
I’m so glad I wasn’t put off by the one and two stars review. The journey was both thought provoking and reflective of life in general.

A very pleasant surprise

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The plot is relentless but the questions raised are timeless and so fascinating. Thoroughly recommended.

Not just a good read

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This book has a really cool concept and was very well executed. It was an interesting mix of existentialist philosophy and techno thriller that had me hooked throughout. Very well deserving of the Nebula Award. Paul Hecht is also an excellent narrator.

Classic 90’s techno thriller

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This was the first audiobook I ever listened to. Sawyer is not the best writer, but the ideas are great, the story is fun, and the pacing is just right.

My first-ever audiobook; still fun

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takes you on a journey that blends science with the spiritual. I loved that I could not predict what would happen next

thought provoking

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While any sci-fi (or fantasy here) is taken with a pinch of salt, I couldn't get over that this was only a blatant attempt at pandering to religious rubbish. Loosely based on technology but with an obvious complete lack of understanding.

I wouldn't completely recommend avoiding, but go in understanding, it's more a religious fanfantasy then anything else.

Trying to shoe horn in religious tripe

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I had expected “something different” when I purchased this book, based on the synopses that I had read on various websites. How “different”, I can’t really say – perhaps something with more hard science cross-referenced with known technological & theological facts. What Robert Sawyer delivers, though, is a very enjoyable story with warm, well-developed characters immersed in a fast-paced plot that aims to explore the concept of mortality. The author doesn’t allow the reader to get swamped with explanations as to how all the necessary new science comes into being and, in my opinion, the story is all the richer for this. Though published twenty years ago, the writing and ideas hold up very well. A great read that I recommend to everyone.

Fast Paced, Interesting & Original

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I have listened to several of Robert J Sawyer’s books and never been disappointed, and this one is in the same vein. I like the “whodunnit” aspect and as always Sawyer’s tech always makes his works enjoyable.

Another good creation by Sawyer

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