The Return: The Darwin's World Series, Book 4

By: Jack L Knapp

Narrated by: Scott Cluthe

Life on Earth prime is easy - too easy. There are no challenges, virtually no unrealized desires.

People interact largely through personal communicators, a 25th century version that combines the personal computer and the cell phone. Much of the interaction is done through the worldwide semi-sentient computer net known as Central. Prime's population is declining. The primary cause of death is self-termination. Few children are being born.

The futurists, aided by Central, conceive a desperate gamble: retrieve people from the past, from a time when populations were growing. Reconstitute their failing bodies, then winnow out those who might have the qualities Prime needs. Transplant the selected persons to Earth on a parallel dimension, an ice-age version of Earth where humans didn't survive. This is Darwin's World, a world where survival depends on personal qualities and a certain amount of luck. A world of bloody anarchy, where humans are prey, not predator; a world of not only lions and grizzlies but the even large shortfaced bears, sabertooth cats, and packs of calf-size dire wolves.

The plan is to transplant the survivors to Earth Prime, but there's only one problem: They like it on Darwin's World. Some are willing to visit Prime, but they have no desire to remain. Bear, a child born on Darwin's World, has spent years on Prime, educating himself. Task completed, he intends to return to Darwin's World soon. The futurists, a group on Earth Prime who are attempting to reverse Earth's population decline, ask him to escort two of Earth's few children to Darwin's World, where they'll hopefully pick up the qualities that have disappeared from Earth Prime; ambition, curiosity, determination to survive, and hopefully produce children themselves. But...among the helpers are three sisters. Teenagers, Titian-haired triplets - and trouble. Bear is just what they've been looking for! Poor Bear; you just know he's going to have his hands full!

©2016 Jack L Knapp (P)2019 Jack L Knapp

Well Done

Very unique, with strong characters and realistic dialogue. The Return is well written and well read, a pleasure to listen to.
I found myself interested from the beginning. I look forward to exploring the rest of the series.

Great series, but not my favorite book in series.

As always, I have to state that this book was given to me for free in exchange for a review.
I always like to state that this does not impact my review or my opinion of the book. My reviews are honest and my own opinion of the story, performance, and overall thoughts on the book.

I think Knapp should have ended the story with book 3. He could have wrapped it up with a nice little bow without taking anything away from the original story.

New world to me

I’m afraid my original review was lost.
This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would like to listen to the others in this series. I really enjoyed the whole concept and world he created. Great integration with the AI and theories on the hows and whys of how the ended up going to Darwin’s World. Despite starting with book 4, I did not feel too lost and I found I connected well with the characters.

This is the first book I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Scott Cluthe ) and I would listen to another. His narration style never allowed me to forget that I was being read to, however I still enjoyed listening. He has some variation in character voices but not all were differentiated, yet this was not really an issue. due to the writing.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing. There is some background audio noise from recording.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.