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The Gone-Away World

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The Gone-Away World

By: Nick Harkaway
Narrated by: Matt Bates
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About this listen

The Jorgmund Pipe is the backbone of the world, and it's on fire. Gonzo Lubitsch, professional hero and troubleshooter, is hired to put it out - but there's more to the fire than meets the eye. A story of love and loss; of ninjas and pirates; and of a friendship stretched beyond its limits. But it is also the story of a world, not unlike our own, in desperate need of heroes - however unlikely they may seem.

©2008 Nick Harkaway (P)2014 W F Howes Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Funny Thought-Provoking Witty Mind-bending

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Critic reviews

"Breathtakingly ambitious... A bubbling cosmic stew of a book, written with such exuberant imagination that you are left breathless by its sheer ingenuity." ( Observer)
"A post-apocalyptic triumph... Immensely rewarding... Genuinely terrifying." ( The Times)
All stars
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So many twists and great characters. Just as you think you know where it's going, the story changes direction. A brilliant tale that I will do again.

A fascinating tale

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Nick Harkaways books are very odd. I really enjoyed this one and Gnomon, but they both took me a while to get into. When I am listening to them they are sometimes outrageous and sometimes mundane but they always give me a feeling that I am skirting around the edges of an idea, or a reality, which I can't quite grasp. I don't really know how else to describe them. A coherent story does emerge, but it requires patience. This one gave me nightmares. The narrator is very good.

very odd

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Nick Harkaway has a distinctive writing style that takes a while to get used to. The only problem I had with this book was that it was quite 'baggy in places with lengthy digressions and descriptions. In some ways it is like one of Chris Brookmyre's tales but without the brevity and pacing that mark out Chris B's style.

A baroque tale that takes you by surprise halfway

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The narrator’s ability to bring it to life is as excellent as the story. I cannot imagine my internal dialogue doing this tale justice, and it really does feel like Matt Bates (narrator) and Nick Harkaway (author) planned each and every word.
I can not recommend this book enough.

Incredible.

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Good performance. Unusual story . Enjoyed it very much though a bit side tracking at times

Very unusual twist in the tale

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I first tried to read the book but couldn't grasp it. so then I tried it on audible and I tried hard to grasp the story but I just could not get into it. very back and forth and I found that the story kept skipping parts.

I can see why this book is loved by many as the concept is great. However, this book just wasnt for me

Hard to get into

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Hey bumhole! Pay attention. Haven't read this steaming pile of stuff yet? Then suck in your tackle and. read it! Read it already? Read it again! And again. And again.

Ghost palm of the voiceless dragon fucker!!

with love Ronnie.

As good as half pint of STUFF in a nameless bar

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I'm not a sci-fi fan in general but after this perhaps I'll explore more of this genre. I expected it to be space missions or zombies and, although other-worldly, it's almost dystopian in a way. The world has been destroyed as we know it because of human greed and agression. in this new world we follow 2 men, friends from childhood, as they try to make sense of it.

I really warmed to the characters. there wasn't too much sentimentality and they weren't complicated, but I liked the simplicity and it endeared me. I can't exloaj more without throwing spoilers, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story telling and how the writes leads the reader through a past, present and how it all comes together.

Really excellent and thoroughly entertaining.

Great story telling, really enjoyed it

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The narrator performed well to try to get across what was a jumble of ideas, concepts and timelines. The plot flitted and seemed disjointed to me. Might be to some tastes, but not really mine. A shame.

A jumble

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Too many early teenage trying to be clever style meanderings. Interesting ideas, shame not written by J G Ballard.

interesting ideas, often painful narrative

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