Altered Carbon

Unabridged
Author: Richard K. Morgan
Narrator: Todd McLaren
Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction
Publisher: Tantor Media
Date: December 2004
Length: 17 hours
Ratings:
Formats:
  • CD

Overview

In the twenty-fifth century, humankind has spread throughout the galaxy, monitored by the watchful eye of the U.N. While divisions in race, religion, and class still exist, advances in technology have redefined life itself. Now, assuming one can afford the expensive procedure, a person’s consciousness can be stored in a cortical stack at the base of the brain and easily downloaded into a new body (or “sleeve”) making death nothing more than a minor blip on a screen.

Ex-U.N. envoy Takeshi Kovacs has been killed before, but his last death was particularly painful. Dispatched one hundred eighty light-years from home, re-sleeved into a body in Bay City (formerly San Francisco, now with a rusted, dilapidated Golden Gate Bridge), Kovacs is thrown into the dark heart of a shady, far-reaching conspiracy that is vicious even by the standards of a society that treats “existence” as something that can be bought and sold. For Kovacs, the shell that blew a hole in his chest was only the beginning. . . .

Reviews (5)

Altered Carbon

Written by Anonymous on August 6th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Haunting. Best science fiction I've heard in a long time

altered carbon

Written by Anonymous on July 1st, 2007

  • Book Rating: 1/5

The beginning of this story was a bit confusing but that is tpical of SciFi. It held my interest for about 4 CDs and then I just wanted it to end. I didn't even finish it I got so bored.

Altered Carbon

Written by Anonymous from Yuma, AZ on March 31st, 2006

  • Book Rating: 3/5

If you like violence, drug enhanced sex and torture all in a surreal future, this book is for you. I gave up after the first five CD's. The writing is capable, and the author's vision of a possible future is fascinating. Based on the half I listened to, the plot (a varient of the classic murder in a room locked from the inside) seemed a bit thin, but likely to thicken. I would like to see the same future vision explored in a less violent way.

Altered Carbon

Written by Anonymous from Chandler, AZ on March 16th, 2006

  • Book Rating: 4/5

Future life is very complex! Had a hard time keeping everything about our fantasy future straight, but found the story line really interesting. Can't wait to see the movie! The special effects will have to be amazing.

Cool Premise...Cool Story...Cool Character...Cool Book!

Written by Dan Pressley from Fort Worth, TX on July 22nd, 2005

  • Book Rating: 5/5

I only heard about this from a friend. I trusted his judgement and listened to it. This was an exceptionally well-written story with likeable characters and a futuristic twist. Although there is an aspect of science fiction in the book, it is easily believable and does not detract from the story and the message of ethics issues it presents.