Sten

Sten Series, Book 1

By: Chris Bunch, Allan Cole

Narrated by: Jerry Sciarrio

The first book in an action-packed new science-fiction adventure series.

Vulcan is a factory planet, centuries old, company run, ugly as sin, and unfeeling as death. Vulcan breeds just two types of native: complacent or tough. Sten is tough.

When his family is killed in a mysterious accident, Sten rebels, harassing the Company from the metal world’s endless maze-like warrens. He could end up just another burnt-out Delinquent. But people like Sten never give up.

©2000 Chris Bunch & Allan Cole (P)2010 Books In Motion

The Adventures of Sten

This was a great find and it reminded me a little bit of a Heinlein read. This story follows the life and adventures of a boy called Sten. This book can be broken up into 4 parts revolving around his life, and things look promising for the continuing books in this series.

Sten is born on a corporate world named Vulcan to a lower class family of workers. This oppressed class of employees (and their families) are subject to a greedy company that has tricked them into servitude by shady contract dealings. With unfair practices, brutality, and disregard for human life, there are many reasons to dislike the system and conflict that follow our young adventurer. Dealt a hard hand from birth into this unfair system Sten must use intelligence, ingenuity, quick thinking, a little bit of luck and force to find himself a better life. This book is classified as four books in one with each story taking place at separate times in his life (but apparently close in time span). They also wrap up very nicely. Each part was great for its own purpose and we get to see the protagonist progress through harsh conditions that bring about loss, love, leadership, and success.

Narration was good for the most part. Jerry Sciarrio did a find job distinguishing between characters he read. I only have one minor criticism. It would have been nice to have some chapter breaks or pauses because I had to back track a few times when I wasn't completely focused on the story.

I would have been satisfied using a credit on this one. Give it a try, be ready to cheer on Sten and enjoy the ride.

In a rush to save the world?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I liked the characters and the basic plot-line, but there wasn't much character development and some of the novel's crises were introduced and resolved very, very quickly. It would've been a much better story if there was a bit more evolution of the story instead of a rush to reach the novel's climax.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Pretty much what I expected! Not bad, but not surprising, either.

What three words best describe Jerry Sciarrio’s performance?

I don't know that accents are the way to go, here. Every male character had a distinct regional accent...the Bronx guy, the Scotsman, the Englishman, the Aussie. Maybe work more on changes in register or range than going all out on giving characters accents.

Do you think Sten needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It's a likeable enough novel, so follow-ups seem obvious.

NOT BAD!

I wasn't sure what to make of this book when I first bought it. But it held my intrest. I wounder what book 2 has install for me.

enjoy the best of space

If you could sum up Sten in three words, what would they be?

fun, intrigue, relief

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

the reader gives a great set of voices to help keep track of who is who.

Any additional comments?

this was a fun book from a great era.

Sten

Read this book years ago. Still a good space opera. A great way to pass a commute.

VERY Good

I'd never heard of the Sten series, and now I'm hooked. On the same level as David Drake, if you like War Sci-Fi, with the technical details to make it real, these guys are for you.

fun fast read

This book left me wanting more! it was fun, and fast paced, characters were believable, and likable as well. Fortunately for us all there are a bunch of books in this series! Do go in order, you don't really have to, but you'll tank me later if you do.
highly recommended.

THE MASTERPIECE BY JERRY SCIARRIO

The whole series is a masterpiece of science fiction, it deserves solid four stars, but narration by Jerry Sciarrio moves it to extraordinary FIVE STAR MASTERPIECE!!!!!

PS
My only regret is that only book 1-5 are narrated by Jerry Sciarrio.

Mediocre narration of a good, fun book

It was not a terrible narration, just not very good. The narrator's idea of giving each character a unique voice tended to come down to assigning them random bad accents.

For those who've read the series: He gives Mahoney a bad British accent. That's gotta be some kind of sacrilege to commit on an Irishman. And apparently the Eternal Emperor is an Aussie now.

It doesn't ruin the experience altogether, but it does detract from what ought to be a fun military SF action-adventure. I probably won't get the second in the series, unless it's free or cheap. "Sten" is a better read than a listen.

brain candy... delicious entertainment.

loved every minute... fabulous performance. his accents and voices added so much to the story! true entertainment.