The Falls

A Diving Universe Novel

By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Narrated by: Flora Plumb

Fleet sector bases close as the Fleet moves on. Everyone knows and expects it. But still, the announcement that Sector Base E-2 will close - although still 30 years in the future - breeds a mood of tension and anxiety.

So when Rajivk Agwu finds two pairs of shoes on a trail near Fiskett Falls but no sign of their occupants, his already heightened senses warn of danger.

Those on the base fare no better. Bristol Iannazzi, working on the notoriously delicate anacapa drive for a runabout, also notices something strange, something out of place, something dangerous.

Expanding the rich history of Kristine Kathryn Rusch's captivating Diving Universe, The Falls provides an exciting and crucial backstory for future events.

©2016 Kristine Kathryn Rusch (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Kristine Kathryn Rusch is best known for her Retrieval Artist series, so maybe you've missed her Diving Universe series. If so, it's high time to remedy that oversight." (Don Sakers, Analog)

monotone

story was a little slow. listened to this book as it said there was crucial info to rest of story. still trying to figure it out. narrator had a monotone voice thru whole book, made listening difficult so may have missed crucial info.

Hard read

I love the Diving series however this book takes too long to the to the other books. The only mention to tie the good to the series is at the end and it is onl y a brief mention. the reader did not help. She is the most mo intoned reader I have ever heard. Her performance almost had me put this one on thew shelf.

Not the adventure I was expecting

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, this issue of the diving universe drags through anti-tech baggage of even minor characters for most of the plot. Breakdowns, poorly trained crew members and bad management decisions don't make a good adventure story for me.
Earlier stories had a sense of unbridled adventure, archaeology and characters optimisticically driven to understand discovered tech.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Have characters with a positive drive and depth of tech interest

Great murder mystery with a lousy ending

This was a good story, up until the ending/resolution. There it fell apart for me. The ending is like the old adage ' kissing your sister', or maybe HUH, what the...that's it? The dialog at the very end also mad me think the Ad Counsel had written it. To bad. The mystery got interesting but the ending just killed it.

What lies on the other side of a door

This is a great addition to the Dive universe. When the first point of view to the last, their were four. Each person with a unique perspective on things. A tough style of book to write. That is what you can come to expect from one of Mrs Rusch's books. I liked the anncoppa drive tech leader. Her character is well written and rounded. Rodgeivic the walker by the falls that finds something.I don't want to spoil the story for you. If you have read the other books this is a great addition to your collection. Mrs Plumb does a great job at reading the story.

blah blah blah

I've loved all of the diving series but I just couldn't finish this one. Seemingly endless ruminations from seriously neurotic people... very little action

bad narration I'll not buy anymore of this series

I can't listen to this woman narrate this story it's really bad you've lost me.

not what I was expecting horrible oration

I was expecting another great book from the diving universe. I thought that the murder mystery would be cool. This book would have been way better with someone else reading it I found Flora pPlumb's voice to be grating. her voice over was horrible everyone sounded the same and she just has a bad voice for this. I don't know who thought she was a good idea to have reading books but they need to pick somebody else maybe her voice is good for radio but it's not good for this. I liked the orator they have for the other. Books much better it really does make the difference and how well a book is received. I think her boys pretty much ruin this book for me. the book does tie in with the other four books of the diving universe but only in the last chapter 2 and has none of the familiar characters. that by itself Would Have Made It hard read. but the slow pacing of the orator and her horrible voice made it really hard to listen to this. I will not ever buy another book with her reading it

Horrible Performance

I abandoned this book after a few chapters because the Narrator did such a lack luster reading that I could not pay attention. The characters are new, as is the setting. That would be OK if the Narration was even acceptable. I am surprised that this reading of the book was released. A computer voice synthesizer would have done a better job. I urge Audible to do some quality control with books like this. If I can't return it, I feel cheated. Free is the only price I would be willing to pay for such an inferior product. I bought it at the end of a series and I won't be alone in realizing that as a stand alone book, this reading only sells because people like the series and assume that the quality will continue. Please don't use sales techniques like that. My time and money are valuable to me.

Terrible characters and terrible voice actor

Performer had no inflection and it was extremely hard to differentiate her character voices. Quite possible her voice(s) made me hate the characters more than I otherwise would have.

Very poorly written overall (if I never hear the phrase "death scene" again it will be too soon). The captain, head researcher, and death examiner are all completely obnoxious and terrible people with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The idea that the fleet could be a myth to people living on a planet with an active base on it is so completely unbelievable that it almost ruins the rest of the series and its more thought out mysteries and twists.

Honestly, hard to believe that this was written after any of the books in the series and by an established author. It seems more like a fan fiction written by a teenager.