
The Dispatcher by John Scalzi
Narrator: Zachary Quinto
Published by Audible
Published on: October 4, 2016
Genres: Science Fiction
Length: 2 hours and 19 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Freebie




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One day, not long from now, it becomes almost impossible to murder anyone - 999 times out of a thousand, anyone who is intentionally killed comes back. How? We don't know. But it changes everything: war, crime, daily life.
Tony Valdez is a Dispatcher - a licensed, bonded professional whose job is to humanely dispatch those whose circumstances put them in death's crosshairs, so they can have a second chance to avoid the reaper. But when a fellow Dispatcher and former friend is apparently kidnapped, Tony learns that there are some things that are worse than death and that some people are ready to do almost anything to avenge a supposed wrong.
It's a race against time for Valdez to find his friend before it's too late...before not even a Dispatcher can save him.___
Zachary Quinto - best known for his role as the Nimoy-approved Spock in the recent Star Trek reboot and the menacing, power-stealing serial killer, Sylar, in Heroes - brings his well-earned sci-fi credentials and simmering intensity to this audio-exclusive novella from master storyteller John Scalzi.
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This was an Audible Freebie. I’ve see John Scalzi around Twitter, but haven’t read anything by him. I remember when it first came out and saw several reviews for it, but I forgot about it until I was texting with Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. She was looking for a short listen between books. She really enjoyed it and reminded me about it, so I gave it a try. I’m really glad I did.
I can say that I didn’t remember much about this book when I started this book. However, everything was very clearly explained by the author. Tony Valdez is a Dispatcher. He basically murders people as a job, but with the intent that come back to life. In this world that Scalzi has created, people can die of natural causes, but not by murder. They will just wake up back in their home, in their bed, naked. Tony works mostly at a hospital during surgeries and if it looks like the patient might die, he kills them so that they come back. There are private jobs that people will also do, say if someone wants to try a experimental treatment or something a little more illegal, like for people fighting in particularly brutal cage matches or duels.
Anyway, a cop convinces Tony to help her investigate the disappearance of another Dispatcher. He helps with the expertise of the job, knowing some questions to ask and to help understand some of the details. They have some pretty interesting conversations about if what he was doing was right, killing people for the right reasons. See, there’s no guarantee that if you’re dispatched, that you will come back, just more likely than if you just die.
This a very short, but mysterious story. I loved listening to it. It isn’t often that an author can write a standalone story that is only about two hours in length. I was very impressed with how he had to go into character development, worldbuilding and mystery in so few words. I know that I’m definitely very interested in reading more that this author has written.
Narration
The narration for this short story was spot on. I thought he did a great job with the attitude of the main character, the grief of one man’s wife who was a failed dispatch, the mobster type guys and the female cop. There aren’t very many women in this story, but I thought he did a great job with what was there.
Yea! Glad you enjoyed this one as well! It was such an interesting premise and well told in such a short space.
Thanks so much for getting me to listen to this one. I really enjoyed it. It isn’t often that you can find a stand alone story that feels so complete and still be such a quick read.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
Nothing I love more than a freebie 😀
blodeuedd recently posted…Carole’s Sunday Review: For all time – Caroline B Cooney
Can’t beat the price. 🙂
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
Normally sci fi isn’t my thing and I tend to struggle with it but I’ve found a few good ones lately and have done just fine with them. I might have to consider this one as well, especially since if the narration was short, the story will be as well.
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: Skitter by Ezekiel Boone
This isn’t real sciencey. It is mostly the aspect of “not dying” that makes it science fiction. It is mostly police investigation.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
I have this one and need to listen too, heard it was good. 🙂
Stormi recently posted…The Week In Review #139 ~ Flooding 🙁
It has been great. It is fun listen between longer books too.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
I read the book and will be listening, but not posting a review on my blog, as Sophia is sharing it on er monthly visit. I love this author.
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Sunday Post #263 Send Chocolate
This is my first book with this author. It will not be the last.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
This sounds so interesting! It also puts to mind that movie with Forrest Whitaker and Jude Law where they repossessed organs (can’t think of the name). It sounds like it packed a punch for a short story.
Leona recently posted…Ascent of the Aliomenti by Alex Albrinck
I don’t know if I know the movie, but I don’t know a lot of movies. It was a great short story.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
Very interesting premise! Wondering if it’s still free actually or if that was a special sale. Think I will go look. Thanks Melanie for sharing
I think it was a special sale. You could see if the library has it.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
I loved this one, too. It was my intro to Scalzi’s writing. Loved the combined elements of detective noir and sci-fi.
This is my first one with him too. It will not be the last, that is for sure.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
Oh cool, a short standalone that’s good! I’m adding this to my wishlist.
Christy LoveOfBooks recently posted…Violet Grenade by Victoria Scott
It is nice to have a short standalone story, especially when it is well written.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
WHELP. Zachary Quinto narrated this book?! SOLD!
Joy // Joyousreads recently posted…Life Lately
🙂
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
I’m so glad you liked this one as much as I did! Really loved the narration as well. Have you read Scalzi’s blog? Sometimes he has really good real life content there.
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Follow Me down by Sherri Smith
I haven’t read his blog. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks so much for pointing it out.
Melanie recently posted…Audiobook Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane (@mlsimmons, @CarolynCrane, @audible_com)
This author sounds familiar, although I haven’t read anything by him either so far. The concept with how people can’t die when murdered does sound very original and I can only imagine how that would change things. 2 hours is pretty short for an audiobook right? That’s awesome the author pulled of a completely story within that time You have me curious about this one now. Great review!
Lola recently posted…Review: Faerie Hunt by Emma L. Adams
2 hours is really short for an audiobook. Most average between 7-12 hours. Goodreads shows the Kindle Edition of this book at 102 pages.
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