The Ultimate Weapon


Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)

(4 stars; 825 reviews)

The star Mira was unpredictably variable. Sometimes it was blazing, brilliant and hot. Other times it was oddly dim, cool, shedding little warmth on its many planets. Gresth Gkae, leader of the Mirans, was seeking a better star, one to which his "people" could migrate. That star had to be steady, reliable, with a good planetary system. And in his astronomical searching, he found Sol.

With hundreds of ships, each larger than whole Terrestrial spaceports, and traveling faster than the speed of light, the Mirans set out to move in to Solar regions and take over.

And on Earth there was nothing which would be capable of beating off this incredible armada—until Buck Kendall stumbled upon THE ULTIMATE WEAPON.

(Introduction by John W. Campbell) (3 hr 39 min)

Chapters

01 - Chapter 01 19:13 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
02 - Chapter 02 15:16 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
03 - Chapter 03 12:21 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
04 - Chapter 04 15:35 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
05 - Chapter 05 13:58 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
06 - Chapter 06 10:20 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
07 - Chapter 07 27:55 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
08 - Chapter 08 23:19 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
09 - Chapter 09 22:50 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
10 - Chapter 10 15:05 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
11 - Chapter 11 22:26 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
12 - Chapter 12 17:55 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)
13 - Epilogue 3:08 Read by Richard Kilmer (1942 - 2022)

Reviews

Richard Kilmer's monotonous story time


(2 stars)

This book started out fairly entertaining, however I couldn't get past chapter 7 due to Richard Kilmer's monotonous reading style. He has a great voice, but it's that of a flat radio broadcaster reporting the weather. At the end of EVERY SINGLE SENTENCE is a tone drop. There is zero excitement or feeling in his voice and it made the book not worth listening to. It's hard to get into the excitement of a scifi book when it's read by a droning disconnected voice.

Very entertaining


(5 stars)

I really didn't have very high hopes for this book. The science was interestingly far fetched and very engaging. Very satisfied. And the narrator was great.

Perfectly captures the essence of Campbell


(5 stars)

Campbell is a wonderful author, and Richard Kilmer’s method of reading perfectly captures the clinically-detached writing style that runs throughout much of Campbell’s work. His voice is clear, and he doesn’t stumble over the vast array of techno-jargon involved. It would be great to get this kind of treatment for the Don A. Stuart stories, when they eventually enter public domain.

very enjoyable read


(3.5 stars)

This story was excellently read. The story itself is entertaining in the style of old us vs. them sci-fi. It is a bit lacking in compelling and realistic characters and the science is questionable even for sci-fi. Still a fun read that can get the blood flowing.

Good SciFi story


(5 stars)

Lots of techobabel but an enjoyable book. Reader was good. Much technology based on 1950s knowledge and has a great hope for the future feel to it that many books and movies had back then.

Great story


(5 stars)

After listening to this book I do highly recommend it to anyone who likes audio books like science fiction or just like a good story


(4.5 stars)

A great read, complete with serious tech jargon and very well paced. Very Well read. Best I have heard in a long time


(5 stars)

Great story. Sci- fi of the old school. I wonder if Douglas Adams found inspiration here for his infinite improbability drive.