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Orion: Orion Series, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Ben Bova (Author), Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)
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John O'Ryan is not a god...not exactly. He is an eternal warrior destined to combat the Dark Lord through all time for dominion of the Earth. Follow him, servant of a great race, as he battles his enemy down the halls of time, from the caves of our ancestors to the final confrontation under the hammer of nuclear annihilation.

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  1. Book 1 of 5
    Orion
  2. Listening Length
    11 hours and 31 minutes
  3. Author
    Ben Bova
  4. Narrator
    Stefan Rudnicki
  5. Audible release date
    November 16, 2010
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  8. ASIN
    B004CR3BLM
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 11 hours and 31 minutes
Author Ben Bova
Narrator Stefan Rudnicki
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 16, 2010
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B004CR3BLM
Best Sellers Rank #224,396 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#645 in Science Fiction Anthologies & Short Stories
#940 in Hard Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#2,918 in Science Fiction Anthologies (Books)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
231 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the story idea brilliant and beautifully told. They also appreciate the great concept and fast read.

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FictionPremise
6 customers mention "Fiction"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the story idea brilliant and beautifully told. They also appreciate the fantastic combination of science fiction.

"Absolutely brilliant story idea, beautifully told. I wish Ben Bova had stopped with one...." Read more

"Wonderful story, bit rushed but satisfying for the first book in there series. Well worth the purchase and read. Great" Read more

"This is my absolute favorite type of book: Well written science fiction with historically-based story lines...." Read more

"...Can't help but go back and read it again. Fantastic combination of science fiction, history, and mythology all wrapped up in single tale." Read more

3 customers mention "Premise"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the premise of the book great and explores many possibilities.

"Not "Lord of the Rings" by any stretch but a great concept. Fast read. I look forward to getting the rest of the series." Read more

"This is one of my favorite books. It explores so many possibilites. Great series to read or listen to. I've done both. Many times...." Read more

"Great story with an innovative perspective and very in depth character development, we loved it!" Read more

jacket summary
3 out of 5 stars
jacket summary
from the back cover of the April 1985 Tor paperback edition:cover art by Boris VallejoJohn O'Ryan is not a god...not exactly. He is an eternal warrior destined to combat the Dark Lord through all time for dominion of the Earth. Follow him, servant of a great race, as he battles his enemy down the halls of time, from the caves of our ancestors to the final confrontation under the hammer of nuclear annihilation.
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Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant story that sucked me into a lacklustre series
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2021
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Absolutely brilliant story idea, beautifully told. I wish Ben Bova had stopped with one. No sequel in the series lives up to the promise of this first book.
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Paige
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2020
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Wonderful story, bit rushed but satisfying for the first book in there series. Well worth the purchase and read. Great
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Brian Bunce
5.0 out of 5 stars Great concept.
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2021
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Not "Lord of the Rings" by any stretch but a great concept. Fast read. I look forward to getting the rest of the series.
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Dawn Doerr
5.0 out of 5 stars timeless
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2022
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I read this book the first time over 30 years ago and it left such an impression… I reread it again with all the same fervor and enjoyment. One to book 2!
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Michael M. Keohane
4.0 out of 5 stars Old friendship renewed
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2013
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I first read the Orion series when they were first published in paperback. I enjoyed them and re-read them until the paperbacks fell apart. Ben Bova's stories were always interesting and, when I found the Orion series on Amazon, I brought them. I have re-read the series and, after all these years, the books still held my interest,
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mrliteral
3.0 out of 5 stars Great potential, so-so execution
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2003
Ben Bova has been a big name in the world of science fiction for a long time. Although he has no truly classic stories, his body of work as both an author and editor has at least carved out a niche for him. In Orion, he takes a bit of a break from his usual hard science fiction to pen a tale of the title character, divinely appointed to fight against an evil entity.
The premise to the book is intriguing enough, even if not completely original. Taking pages from various mythologies, but focusing primarily on Zoroastrianism, Bova puts Orion at war with Ahriman, a Satanic figure intent on destroying humanity. Ahriman has pinpointed certain key points in human history and tries to alter them to his benefit. Orion is out to stop him.
The story is told episodically, with Orion being reborn in different eras but with memories of his past (actually his future, since he is moving back in time) and with the same exceptional physical abilities. In every era, he also encounters a woman who he is in love with but whose true origins are a mystery to him (though not the reader).
While interesting enough in theory, this novel is only okay in execution. Bova's writing is not particularly good; while not bad either, it is rather flat and none of his characters are all that compelling. Although he has a decent enough plot twist towards the end, it is not that difficult to figure it out, and his epilogue is really bad, as it cheapens the sacrifices that the hero has made. This is not an awful book, but I know Bova is capable of better. He may never be in the top tier of science fiction writers, but this is not even second-tier material. It is mid-level quality, a basic three-star book.
12 people found this helpful
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Muse
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this series!
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2014
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This is my absolute favorite type of book: Well written science fiction with historically-based story lines. Usually fight scenes are a real snoozer for me, but none of the four Orion books put me to sleep. I just wish there were more books in this series!
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Steve B.
4.0 out of 5 stars A classic and must read for those who enjoy sci-fi
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2018
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Recommended to me by author Marc Alan Edelheit (A great writer himself). I enjoyed this book and it is a classic.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Kane
5.0 out of 5 stars Legendary auther
Reviewed in Australia on September 29, 2023
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Every book this author has written is totally beyond epic, for over 20 years he’s kept my sifi dreams alive, OMG if they could only make a searies out of this, it would put everything else to shame, absolutely 100/100,
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M. Myers
5.0 out of 5 stars This story was a great concept & tied in Science Fiction quite nicely with ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2015
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I'm a Ben Bova fan, having red 'Saturn' many years ago in a hotel in Moscow. This story was a great concept & tied in Science Fiction quite nicely with some major historical events. Really enjoyed it.
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IlSolitoRedz
3.0 out of 5 stars Il destino di un eroe
Reviewed in Italy on June 16, 2022
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Fantasy attraverso il tempo, nel quale un campione viene incaricato di affrontare in diverse ere un'oscura entità intenzionata ad annientare l'umanità. Il romanzo è stato scritto nel 1984.

PRO:
- Premesse semplici, storia semplice.
- Lettura relativamente breve, ideale per rilassarsi.

CONTRO:
- La scrittura dei personaggi è di un'altra epoca, forse un po' troppo semplicistica nei giorni moderni.
- Chi cerca una storia complessa rimarrà deluso.
One person found this helpful
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Rhys
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2017
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Rereading a book that I first read over 30 years ago
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Michael Schalla
4.0 out of 5 stars Manchmal hat man es nicht leicht...
Reviewed in Germany on August 13, 2003
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Das Leben ist nicht immer leicht. Selbst wenn man übermenschliche Fähigkeiten besitzt, ist man manchmal ziemlich angeschmiert.
Alles was Orion will ist ein ruhiges Leben zusammen mit seiner Geliebten. Statt dessen wird er von einem undurchsichtigen Auftraggeber durch die Zeitgeschichte geschleudert und muss einem übermächtigen Feind bekämpfen. Er kann diesen Feind nicht besiegen, bestenfalls gelingt es ihm immer wieder ein Unentschieden zu erringen. Außerdem bedrängt ihn immer mehr die Frage: Kämpft er für die richtige Seite?
Dieses Buch ist er Anfang einer ganzen Serie, aber es steht auch sehr gut für sich allein.
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