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Legacy: A Prequel to Eon Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Greg Bear (Author), Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)
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In this prequel to Eon, Greg Bear continues to explore the possibilities presented by the asteroid Thistledown, a remnant of a lost human civilization. The Way is a tunnel through space and time that leads to other worlds, some more like planet Earth than Earth itself. It is perhaps the most formidable discovery in Thistledown and with it come disputes as to the nature of the Way and how it should be used.

The Way can be reached only through Axis City, the only space station of Thistledown. The ruling body of Axis City, the Hexamon, has decreed that other worlds reached by The Way must be left untouched as an insurance against future needs of the human race. But then the Hexamon hear of a group of clandestine colonists who have settled on one of the new worlds.

Olmy Ap Sennon is an eager young career soldier who must go and investigate this illegal colony, and at the same time confront his own humanity. As he witnesses the hardship and beauty of the outlaw human colony, he learns what it means to struggle with war, ecological disaster, love, and death.

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  1. Book 3 of 3
    The Way
  2. Listening Length
    15 hours and 53 minutes
  3. Author
    Greg Bear
  4. Narrator
    Stefan Rudnicki
  5. Audible release date
    March 27, 2012
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  8. ASIN
    B007P07664
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 15 hours and 53 minutes
Author Greg Bear
Narrator Stefan Rudnicki
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date March 27, 2012
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B007P07664
Best Sellers Rank #103,563 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#7,608 in Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#31,062 in Science Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
506 global ratings

Customers say

Customers say the story brings a story to life. However, they find the content boring and not as good as the series.

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StoryContent
8 customers mention "Story"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the story brings a story to life, with great imagination, fabulous descriptions, and an interesting concept. They also say the twists and turns are good.

"...that the story could've used a little more depth but the twists and turns were good...." Read more

"...Will Lamarkia be any different?Bear really brings a story to life. A remarkable author writing of a remarkable world...." Read more

"There are some interesting and clever ideas about how humans could live on planets woth dfft ecos. I'll be moving on to the next book in the series." Read more

"Greg Bear creates a very fascinating world, but he doesn't go anywhere with it...." Read more

3 customers mention "Content"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the content of the book boring.

"Not as good as the series. A little boring." Read more

"I think Greg Bear is a genius but this book is too wordy and boring." Read more

"Dull and way too weird, even for sci-fi." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

MHHC
5.0 out of 5 stars Legacy: A Novel (The Way Book 3)
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
My favorite of the three books in this trilogy. It is the last but also a prequel of sorts to the first two and reminds me of some G Wolfe books I’ve read, in terms of tone, themes and craftsmanship. This is the story of how Ser Olmy became who he is, within a larger play of human and plant ecologies sorting out who they will be and why, told from the first person perspective of Olmy, as a retrospective accounting.

I have nothing bad to say about this book and only advise that it not be read out of order with the first two. It is really well done.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Another decent book from Bear
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2016
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I had just finished Moving Mars and doc into this book. I may have wanted to start with the first book written but thought I would approach the series chronologically.

In terms of sci-fi the book was light in science but heavy on the politics of following visionary leaders and strong governments. I kept thinking this was like Timeline in a way. The characters were well thought out and the story was good. I felt that the story could've used a little more depth but the twists and turns were good.

It does bring up great thoughts of changing ecosystems to fit our needs and the damage that could be done. That was the main takeaway from the story and it shows that we're minor players in this system.
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Customer 2030
3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best from Bear.
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2023
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Not sure what Bear did here, but not his best work by far. A story of an alternate ecology, but done poorly. Even the vagueness if intelligent subplot was done poorly. And sending in a powerless person sans means of communication to examine a lost world? No means to report back? Not exactly what any sane society like the Hexagon would do. Beyond credulity.
3 people found this helpful
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D. E. Garcia
5.0 out of 5 stars Legacy is a must read in the Greg Bear trio
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2018
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If you have the other 2 books in this trio, you must read this one. I bought this book from DRs Books. Received as shown in timely manner from across the country. It was weather-proof wrapped, and came with a nice book marker and a thank you card
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Allen King
4.0 out of 5 stars Lamarkian Introduction
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2014
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This prequel to Eon is an interesting introduction to the remarkable world of Lamarkia and its inhabitants. Bear's imagination never seems to diminish. His new world is an interesting concept . His treatment of the human reaction to it is somewhat predictable, but also quite reasonable given humanities previous interactions with new worlds. An unfortunate inclination for violent intercourse and power grubbing seem to follow us wherever we go. Will Lamarkia be any different?

Bear really brings a story to life. A remarkable author writing of a remarkable world. Follow The Way to his world of Lamarkia.
4 people found this helpful
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John Daly Jr
5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoy Greg Bears Books
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2016
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I enjoy Greg Bears Books. Legacy is a kind of sequel to Eon, but you needn't read Eon to enjoy Legacy. The book moves fast enough for me to follow without taxing me too much. The imaginative characters are great. A few alien life forms I have never imagined. O.K. a few alien eco-systems I have never imagined.
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Granddude
3.0 out of 5 stars It's OK, but slightly tedious
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2018
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I liked the general plot line of a group of people that had been traveling through space for hundreds of years in search of a new planet inside of an asteroid used for mining operations. I also liked the interactions of the protagonist with his lady friend during their ocean adventure. I also found interesting the subjugation of women once these explorers found their "Eden". Leaving nearly all their technology behind, a sect leaves the asteroid via The Way to an uninhabited planet, where a Lord of the Flies scenario begins to unfold.
4 people found this helpful
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CDMS
4.0 out of 5 stars It was ok. Worth the read.
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2018
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There are some interesting and clever ideas about how humans could live on planets woth dfft ecos. I'll be moving on to the next book in the series.
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Top reviews from other countries

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fastreader
5.0 out of 5 stars fastreader
Reviewed in Canada on August 31, 2011
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Greg Bear is another science fiction writter who knows how to spin a tale and keep you page turning to find out what's going to happen next. Highly recommended author and this series of 3 books is also recommended
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8ightball
5.0 out of 5 stars Eon Book 3 Legacy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2013
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Only got into Greg Bear recently. Found his work facinating. Hi tech scifi very well written. Read 2 previous Eon books. This one is a spin off when leading character was a young man. This was written in the 80's but very advanced for it's time. Can't wait to read more Greg Bear's work. Would highly recommend.
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Czar
1.0 out of 5 stars Tutto sommato deludente
Reviewed in Italy on August 14, 2012
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Nonostante fossi lanciato nella trilogia Eon-Eternity-Legacy, questo terzo volume è deludente per limitatezza di respiro e proposta di temi.

Sinossi:
Il romanzo narra di un giovane Olmy, uno degli eroi della saga, che nella sua giovinezza si è arruolato in una missione alla scoperta di un gruppo di ribelli rifugiatisi su un pianeta che avrebbe dovuto essere un nuovo paradiso per questo gruppo di reietti. Olmy si intrufola sul pianetca come "spia" e ne segue le vicende, trovandosi suo malgrado sempre più coinvolto negli eventi.

Commento:
Nonostante la presenza di temi interessanti, come la biodiversità, la biocontaminazione, la cronica sconsideratezza dell'Uomo (come insegna la storia) o l'uso della guerra e delle stragi per fini "machiavellici", questo romanzo è una delusione. La trama si sviluppa lenta in una ricerca che ricorda molto una delle avventure del capitano Aubrey di Patrick O'Brian. Il contenuto "fantascientifico" si espone lentamente, senza grande spessore ed è facilmente intuibile decine di pagine in anticipo, una volta compresa la "biologia" del pianeta. Olmy si salva, come annunciato, visto che deve essere vivo per il clou della saga Eon-Eternity che si svolge centinaia di anni nel futuro. Lettura conclusa con fatica.

Versione ebook:
Buon libro ben impaginato senza errori e con divisione bookmark/capitoli.
One person found this helpful
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mac
4.0 out of 5 stars Eon 3
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2012
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I enjoyed this story. It's not a continuation of the story of the Thistledown which was what I was expecting in the third book. Instead it concentrates on the adventures of Olmy ( a younger Olmy than in the previous two books) as an undercover investigator on a planet colonised by dissidents from the Thistledown. It's completely different to the previous two books in setting and content and I found it quite absorbing.
One person found this helpful
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Rob Stevenson
3.0 out of 5 stars Odd and oddly compelling
Reviewed in Canada on December 7, 2016
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This book was supposed to be part of a trilogy. It's not, not at all. Yes, it's a prequel, but the only thing it has in common with the other two books is one character and a bit of background.

It was difficult to like at first, and difficult to read, filled as it is by odd names and settings. For a good part of the book it seems to be a typical sailing yarn, only with different terms for the ship parts. But it's also a tale of ecosystems, and of human societies and their interaction with the ecosystems. But none of that hangs together well enough for my taste.

Read the other two for mind stretching science fiction. Read this one only if you're a completist.
2 people found this helpful
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