Ascendance

By: John Birmingham

Narrated by: Mark Zeisler

As a hardworking monster slayer, Dave Hooper tries not to bring his work home with him. But nowadays it's hard to keep them separate. Email, cellphones, empath daemons, they never let a guy rest.

The Horde has been raising hell and leveling cities from New York to Los Angeles, keeping Dave and his fellow monster killer, Russian spy Karin Varatschevsky, very busy. But when the legions of hell invade the small seaside town his boys call home, Dave has to make a call. Save the world? Or save his family?

Not as easy a choice as you'd think, since Dave's ex-wife expects to be saved, too. And there's no convincing her that the super sexy Russian spy isn't his girlfriend. She's just his sidekick - and an assassin.

©2015 John Birmingham (P)2015 Recorded Books

Humor but without campiness

As a woman, Dave is a little hard to like or admire but somehow he creeps up under your skin, with his fast and witty responses. I truly enjoyed the series. The characters in the story so very easy to relate (I'm also a veteran). It has a concept that is different from the usual alien/zombie apocalypse, that made the story itself extremely exciting because who knows what is gonna happen next.

A great addition to a great series!

I am a huge fan of this series. It is a completely different direction of urban fantasy than some of my other favorites, like Dresden and The Nightside books, but thats what I like so much. The main character, Dave Hooper, has more in common with Sandman Slim than Harry Dresden, while not quite crossing the line to anti-hero. In this book, the third in the series, the monsters/demons, are finally using the knowledge stolen from the scientist they captured earlier, who know how to strategically and tactically cripple the human defense. Lots of twist and turns, lots of reversals for the humans, although we are introduced to several more human champions, and find out how they are created. Well plotted, the story never seemed to drag, and I never felt any lulls. There is a lot of good character exploration, deepening the feeling you know the characters and their motivations. The story leaves you fulfilled, but wanting to read the next installment. Mark Zeisler's narration is excellent, differentiating the voices, never monotone, with a genuine snark in all the right places. I recommend this to any fan of Jim Butcher, Simon R. Green or Richard Kadrey.

Pt3 of a great tale

The series is addictive. Flawed hero. Current references. Great humor. Where's part 4? open-open-open... Hurry up!

Loved it, and I hope the story continues

Would you listen to Ascendance again? Why?

Maybe. It's definitely a favorite, but I know what happens now. I would probably reread it, just a couple years after finishing it

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dave. He's a dick, but an honest and entertaining dick

What does Mark Zeisler bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

More action that reading alone wouldn't provide

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no, but enjoyed it all

still good but Dave doesnt learn

Any additional comments?

the story is good and goes along with the other two. i like the series but find myself not liking dave as much. i know there are tons of guys out there that are very Dave, but how is this guy the hero and doing the right thing.
i can see his personality allowing him to continue being a good guy while having unlimited power. so it becomes unbelievable.
BUT THE STORY IS GOOD and the other characters make up for him.