18 Wheels of Science Fiction

A Long Haul into the Fantastic

By: Eric Miller, Paul Carlson, Alvaro Zinos-Amaro, Terry Bisson, John DeChancie, Michael Bailey, Bond Elam, Lisa Morton, Gary Phillips, Kate Jonez

Narrated by: Graydon Schlichter, Jennifer Knighton

Take a trip through the imaginations of 18 visionary writers as they explore the future of trucking in this new science fiction anthology! There's something for every genre fiction fan in this follow-up to the hit 18 Wheels of Horror: A Trailer Full of Trucking Terrors.

An alien fuel additive shows just how fast a big rig can go.... A disembodied driver wages war on self-driving trucks.... A haul through time takes an unexpected turn.... Reality shatters for a trucker using an experimental delivery device.... Stargazing gives an overweight driver a new lease on life.... A young girl risks her life to hitch a ride out of an apocalyptic wasteland....

The highways of the universe will never be the same!

©2018 Eric Miller DBA Big Time Books (P)2019 Eric Miller DBA Big Time Books

Adventures in trucking on the highways & in space

This is a very enjoyable collection of science fiction and trucking. Some trucks still traveling the roads of Earth, some "trucking" in space, and even some time-traveling trucking.

They all involve artificial intelligence in some form.

One uploaded, former flesh-and-blood, trucker is on a war of revenge against the AI takeover of his former profession. Another progresses from live trucker signing on as a driver for testing, and partnering with, AI-assisted trucking, through an increasingly mechanized body, in ways that may seem very disturbing to many readers. Yet he remains convinced the company has treated him very well, and kept the promises they made him.

One story involves a young girl living in a bleak, dystopian wasteland, and making a desperate attempt at escape.

Others involve happier partnerships between AIs and human truckers, and enjoyable adventures in the new world of trucking.

Not all the stories completely worked for me, but that's normal for any anthology. Overall, it's highly enjoyable. Recommended.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

Reminded me of when driving was a pleasure

This book is a collection of varied and imaginative stories of the road - on earth, among the stars, wherever things have to be moved from one place or time to another. Stories from different points of view: those who police and protect the roads and the drivers of the big rigs, the human drivers who are last of breed as Artificial Intellegence moves into the driver's seat, the things that fill the long hours away from home. There is something for everyone in this excellent collection. Some I enjoyed immensely, some not so much, but I give 5 stars across the board.

Grand way to pass long trips or chores-

This collection of stories is indeed a collection of stories with a common element but all stories are very different and intriguing. This is definitely a great way to pass the time on road trips and stare down semi trucks in wonder. I would recommend a jacket as some take place in cold environments and you may want to bundle up .

I want to start off this review talking about my favorite stories, and there was some great ones. I very much enjoyed "Thin Ice", not only was the story intriguing and made you feel chilly, The female narrator, Jennifer Knighton, did a fantastic job with it. Her voice for the child melts your heart and will make you fall in love with her as much as our lead is. I also thought the male narrator, Graydon Schlichter, slayed the story "Everything Looks so Small". His transformation in voice as the character changed was something that had me pause in the middle of what I was doing and just stand in place. It also had me looking at the sky the night I heard it. I also really enjoyed "Over Flat Mountain" (I found that world fascinating), "Indica Asterion and the Wizard of Ozymandias", (This one painted a different world and way to travel that was refreshing)," Speed Trap" (Which I would call the humor piece of this collection.) "Human Trafficking" (Again Graydon hit the voice that was needed for this story out of the park and the story made you think it could be going on all around you and that you hadn't noticed. And "A Flicker of Bright Light", I wanted this story to go on and on and Jennifer really made you cringe and hope for the best in this one. I truly wish it had been an entire novel)

Now, as it was with Hell Comes to Hollywood II, I really wish these stories had been gone through with a sharper eye. Some of these stories were amazing, some where enjoyable and some missed the mark. I was most disappointed with "Job No. 34264"- Boy did I start off loving this story and excited to see where it would go and boy did it end missing the mark and answering basically none of the questions the story presented. I really wish there was a different version out there that I could track down as I really enjoyed the beginning.

All in all, this audiobook is an enjoyable experience and will give you more things to ponder when you are passed by a Semi- Truck. And just wait untilyou hear the effects and voices of the robots. They are so much fun!

A plethora of fantastic!

After listening to story one with a guy Jake and his son I thought this has to be the best story, but no I was wrong speedbump made me laugh and it just got better from there. If you like science fiction well detailed entertainment this is the book for you. To be honest I don’t even likeScience fiction you will love the story. I am not even a big fan of science fiction and I absolutely 100% loved it!

Keep on truckin

The stories in this audio were interesting and the writers have great imagination. I liked most of the stories but some of the narrations was a little flat. But all in all worth the time to listen to these. I suppose that in the near future, automated transportation in on the way. These stories may give some insight as to what is to come.
I would recommend these to teens and older.

I would like to thank Eric Miller of Big Time Books for letting me listen to this audio

Nice escape from reality!

Although I’ve never driven-or rode in an 18-wheeler I found these stories very entertaining and well written. I like the performers’ voices too. I recommend this book to anyone looking to escape from reality!

awesome

Loved it, wanted the story to go on for a bit longer even though it was a long story I wanted more, I was so into the story, great book.

Sci-Fi Trucking into the Future

Really enjoyed this mix of real life trucking and science fiction. If you are at all familiar with trucking you will enjoy this anthology of short stories

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.