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The Tar-Aiym Krang: A Pip & Flinx Adventure Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Alan Dean Foster (Author), Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)
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Moth was a beautiful planet, the only one with wings - two great golden clouds suspended in space around it.

Here was a wide-open world for any venture a man might scheme. The planet attracted unwary travelers, hardened space-sailors, and merchant buccaneers - a teeming, constantly shifting horde that provided a comfortable income for certain quick-witted fellows like Flinx and his pet flying snake Pip. With his odd talents, the pickings were easy enough so that Flinx did not have to be dishonest ... most of the time.

In fact, it hardly seemed dishonest at all to steal a starmap from a dead body that didn't really need it anymore. But Flinx wasn't quite smart enough. He should have wondered why the body was dead in the first place...

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction written and read by author Alan Dean Foster.

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  1. Book 2 of 15
    Adventures of Pip & Flinx
  2. Listening Length
    7 hours and 11 minutes
  3. Author
    Alan Dean Foster
  4. Narrator
    Stefan Rudnicki
  5. Audible release date
    January 12, 2009
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  8. ASIN
    B001PLNCXK
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 7 hours and 11 minutes
Author Alan Dean Foster
Narrator Stefan Rudnicki
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 12, 2009
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B001PLNCXK
Best Sellers Rank #59,770 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1,195 in Space Opera Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#1,683 in Adventure Science Fiction
#3,895 in Space Operas

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,030 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the storyline excellent and interesting. They also appreciate the writing style as well-written and classic. Readers love the characters and universe they live in. They describe the book as entertaining and interesting, with great world building.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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StorylineWriting styleCharactersEntertainment valueWorld buildingOverall quality
24 customers mention "Storyline"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the storyline interesting, moving, and imaginative. They also say it's a great addition to the series, with interesting characters and mysteries. Customers also mention that the book is a marvellous long running series with interesting aliens.

"...It was a very interesting fantasy/science fiction mix with a touch of futuristic allure. Pip and Flinx are very interesting characters...." Read more

"a good read in scyfi. interesting characters,some mysteries and well thought out plot" Read more

"Alan Dean Foster is always entertaining and interesting! His books are never boring no matter how much time has passed since they were published!" Read more

"...of Mother Not is clearly earlier in Flinx's life but regardless it's a great story." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing style"11 positive2 negative

Customers find the writing style well-written, imaginative, and well-conceived. They also appreciate the exquisite dialogue and momentum.

"a good read in scyfi. interesting characters,some mysteries and well thought out plot" Read more

"...I read the well printed and well bound MMPB published by Del Rey in 1972. I have 2 or 3 copies including the newest that I just bought...." Read more

"...with myriad alien characters in highly imaginative worlds is wonderfully conceived. I am just glad that Foster is still keeping the series alive." Read more

"I would recommend the to work all ages. It has exquisite dialogue and momentum. Nothing is wasted in creating an exciting palatable experience...." Read more

8 customers mention "Characters"8 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters and the universe they live in.

"...Pip and Flinx are very interesting characters. I think most people who like either fantasy or science fiction or both would enjoy this book...." Read more

"a good read in scyfi. interesting characters,some mysteries and well thought out plot" Read more

"...I got the books and passed them on to my teenage grandsons. Really great characters." Read more

"...Most of all it creates lovable characters worth reading about. I cant stop reading. I cant help but be excited about the protagonists future...." Read more

7 customers mention "Entertainment value"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and interesting. They also mention that the story has interesting action.

"Alan Dean Foster is always entertaining and interesting! His books are never boring no matter how much time has passed since they were published!" Read more

"...I liked For Love of Mother-Not. There was lots of action and some mystery that wasn't fully resolved at the end...." Read more

"...Nothing is wasted in creating an exciting palatable experience. It promotes self reflection and curiosity...." Read more

"...It is still entertaining after a couple of decades. Mr Foster is a great author and there are a lot of good books of his in print" Read more

4 customers mention "World building"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the world building in the book great, thoughtful, and promotes self reflection and curiosity. They also say the dialog pros are fairly clunky.

"...Foster had got great world building but fairly clunky dialog pros.Also the main character is just about the most boring character in the script." Read more

"...I am captivated and entertained. He also weaves thoughtful problem solving in without being preachy or condescending. His character grows...." Read more

"...It promotes self reflection and curiosity. Most of all it creates lovable characters worth reading about. I cant stop reading...." Read more

"...Mr. Foster is a master world builder. I would love to see this on the big screen." Read more

3 customers mention "Overall quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the overall quality of the book. They mention that it is in great shape and holds up to the nostalgia glasses.

"...Rereading this was a great experience, and it held up to the nostalgia glasses." Read more

"In the Pip and Flinx series, I think this is one of the strongest entries, although I think it could have been a little longer, it still was a very..." Read more

"Fantastic deal. Book was in great shape so I could give it as a gift." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Jwb52z
5.0 out of 5 stars It's a very nice beginning to a series.
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2011
Verified Purchase
I got this book because I got another in the series for free on my Kindle quite a while ago, so I wanted to start from the beginning. It was a very interesting fantasy/science fiction mix with a touch of futuristic allure. Pip and Flinx are very interesting characters. I think most people who like either fantasy or science fiction or both would enjoy this book. I have one warning for people who read this series. The book order for this series is in the wrong order if you want to read the books in the order in which they were published. The correct order can be found at, and I hope this is ok to put in the review, the Fantastic Fiction website at [..] I have alerted Amazon to the series order problem twice, but I haven't gotten a response as of yet as I write this. I hope everyone who does either sample or buy this book does enjoy it.
4 people found this helpful
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J. Learman
4.0 out of 5 stars interesting aliens
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2021
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a good read in scyfi. interesting characters,some mysteries and well thought out plot
2 people found this helpful
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C. Kirk
5.0 out of 5 stars great characters
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
I absolutely loved this story. My son recommended it and so I listened to it on audible. I ended up getting the entire series. I got the books and passed them on to my teenage grandsons. Really great characters.
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Royalsean
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and classic read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2022
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Alan Dean Foster is always entertaining and interesting! His books are never boring no matter how much time has passed since they were published!
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Michael Lynn McGuire
5.0 out of 5 stars Book number two of a fifteen book space opera psi series
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
Book number two of a fifteen book space opera psi series. I read the well printed and well bound MMPB published by Del Rey in 1972. I have 2 or 3 copies including the newest that I just bought. I own all fifteen books in the series.

I first read this book in 1975 ? 1978 ? I loved it then and I love it now. I have reread this book at least 6 or 7 times. I have also read the entire series. This is actually one of my six star books.
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chequer
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining Sci-Fi Adventure
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
Written in 1972, I recently bought this series to re-read it recalling that I'd enjoyed them a lot when I first read them. The first in the series that introduces Flinx and Pip, this is a really entertaining read from one of the masters of Sci-Fi adventure. I sometimes wonder why this was the first one written, when For Love of Mother Not is clearly earlier in Flinx's life but regardless it's a great story.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book.
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
I first read this when I was young. My Dad had boxes of science fiction and fantasy books, and the cover caught my eye. The artwork was interesting, and the story inside did not disappoint. Now, 20 odd years later, I had forgotten all but that I enjoyed it. Rereading this was a great experience, and it held up to the nostalgia glasses.
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Justin and Makenna Zeck
3.0 out of 5 stars overly wordy but imaginative
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
Why use one or two syllables words when four or five could substitute?
Foster had got great world building but fairly clunky dialog pros.
Also the main character is just about the most boring character in the script.
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Top reviews from other countries

fireMUNKY
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the first books I ever bought
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2013
Verified Purchase
One of the first Science Fiction books I ever bought was The Tar-Aiym Krang. Brilliant. I would have liked the original artwork on this book which was brilliant. I don't know why companies are inconsistant with the book artwork especially as ADF has some of the best on his book covers. But that aside its a great book made even better by including the follow up Orphan Star which has a real curve ball storyline. Both books are truly excellent reads especially if you are into ADF's commonwealth series. If you enjoy these try For Love of Mother not which is the pre-quel to The Tar Aiym Krang and of course the End of the Matter which is the concluding part of the Tar Aiym - Orphan Star - End of the Matter trilogy. Also worth a read is the much over looked 4th book 'Bloodhype' which is slightly odd as Flinx and Pip appear in it in a slightly different context which makes it all the more enjoyable.
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Steven
2.0 out of 5 stars ... I was a teen & read this book I enjoyed it, but 30 years later it is clear ...
Reviewed in Australia on June 26, 2015
Verified Purchase
When I was a teen & read this book I enjoyed it, but 30 years later it is clear that ADF writes for kids, as his shallow style has no appeal for me know.
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S. Hardy
5.0 out of 5 stars A new author discovered
Reviewed in Japan on May 1, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is the second book by the author that I have read.
Luckily, the first that I bought (Nor Crystal Tears) was a prequel that helped put this book in a universe that I'd heard of before. I like the characters in this book and the plot was interesting. Everything even the sections giving background to the story was well written and well laced into the story. If you are looking for a believable series set in a space-faring culture that has rust on the ships, and mud on the tires like I was, here you are. I would recommend the prequel book to be read first, though it is not absolutely necessary.
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Daz
4.0 out of 5 stars Good old scfi
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2017
Verified Purchase
Read this in my early teens and great to revisit it now. ADF always makes great page turners and read many of his novels. Pip and flinx series one of my favs.
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MR D K BARBER
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
The first Alan Dean Foster novel that I read, and it is as good a read now as it was when I first picked it up almost 40 years ago.
One person found this helpful
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