Title: REALER
Author: DAVID HEWSON
Narrator: GEMMA WHELAN
Genre: FICTION, SCIENCE FICTION, SPECULATIVE FICTION, DYSTOPIAN FICTION
Length: 8 HOURS and 35 MINUTES
Publisher: W.F. HOWES LTD.
Type of Book: AUDIOBOOK
Received From: NETGALLEY
Release Date: OCTOBER 29, 2020
Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
star Gemma Whelan
DESCRIPTION:
AN AUDIOBOOK EXCLUSIVE, PERFORMED BY GAME OF THRONES STAR GEMMA WHELAN.
‘Life is real…but this is Realer…’
Realer promises a new virtual reality, a safe and sanitised window into a virtual existence without the risks of the real, crumbling, post-pandemic society beyond the door. Sixteen year old Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Mackintosh is a loner whose father works for the company. He gives her Realer for her birthday – only to be murdered as she watches through her high-tech hood at home. Alone in a tense, post-lockdown world, Charlie has to turn to Realer to find his killers. She’s soon trapped in a murderous conspiracy behind a system that’s steadily beginning to take over people’s lives. Charlie comes to understand that she can only hide from outside dangers for so long. In the end, the only way to defeat them is face-to-face, in the real world. A place she fears more than any.
Audie award-winning author David Hewson’s edgy dystopian, near-future thriller gives us a chilling glimpse into what our post-pandemic world could become.
Click on the photograph to get this free Audible interview.
David Hewson joins Robin Morgan in the Audible Studios to discuss Romeo and Juliet: A Novel, the latest in the series of original audiobook adaptations of Shakespeare plays, narrated by Richard Armitage. The audiobooks are imaginative reworkings of the original plays using contemporary language but retaining the original historical settings.
©2016 Audible Ltd (P)2016 Audible Ltd
MY REVIEW:
Not your typical Dystopian fiction tale.
This tale could (and probably should) be taken as a warning.
The story begins not long after a full year of lockdowns because of the Covid19 pandemic. (Although Covid19 is never specifically named.)
A corporation that is eerily similar to the Amazon corporation of today is at the center of this speculative fiction tale.
A new technological gadget has begun to take the world by storm. It is called a “Realer.” The company tagline is:
‘Life is real…but this is Realer…’
This piece of technology allows the user to visit anywhere in the world through a sort-of virtual reality.
Instead of being themselves, users create avatars and when in “Realer World,” it is those avatars that people see and interact with – meaning you could be talking to anyone, from anywhere and their real identity remains secret.
Fears of the Virus coming back have been a boon for the Realer Corporation. Why actually go on holiday and chance catching the virus when you can “visit” anywhere – from the comfort of your own home?
Charlie (short for Charlotte) is attacked while sketching at a nearby lake. After the attack she is terrified to leave her home. She receives a Realer from her father as a birthday present as a way to coax her back outside and to prove it is safe.
Her father goes for a walk in the nearby woods while wearing Realer glasses. Charlie is able to tag along from her Realer in the safety of her home. She starts to enjoy herself and even begins to think her father is right and that there is nothing to be afraid of.
Suddenly, three cartoon devil monsters appear in her father’s path. He is brutally murdered while she could do nothing except watch it happen.
So begins this unique Dystopian/Speculative Fiction story.
Charlie may be only sixteen, but she is determined to find out who killed her Dad.
With the dogged determination of the youthful, Charlie finds herself not only caught up in a murder investigation, but also in what might prove to be life-altering events not only for herself, but for the entire planet.
With non-stop intrigue, believable technological innovations, a pandemic causing long term lockdowns and the detrimental mental health issues it caused, this story could easily be our near future.
There are a variety of social issues tackled in REALER, along with a mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
David Hewson has created characters that readers will recognize as either similar to themselves or to others they know.
If you want to take a look at one of our society’s potential futures, this Audiobook is a must listen.
I will be looking for more audiobooks narrated by GEMMA WHELAN. She is a professional actress and was a member of the award-winning cast of Game of Thrones. Her acting experience shines through in her narration as she knows exactly what intonation to use for each chapter. Her narration deserves a 5 Star review of its own. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It is the combination of great writing, exceptional narration and professional production that combine to make REALER an audiobook not to miss.
A 5 Star rating is exactly what this Audiobook deserves.
5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*** Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this audiobook. ***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
David Hewson is a contemporary British author of mystery and thriller novels. His work includes the Nic Costa series and Romeo and Juliet, an expansive and rich retelling of the Shakespeare classic which was awarded Best Original Work at the Audie awards.
To learn more about this author, visit the following links:
ABOUT THE NARRATOR:
Gemma Whelan is an actress and comedian, best known for playing Yara Greyjoy in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones.
She plays detective Eunice Noon in The End of the F***ing World on Netflix.
To learn more about this Narrator, visit the following links:
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