New Lamps

By: Robert Moore Williams

Narrated by: Daniela Acitelli

Length: 1 hr and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

On Mars, the dust is yellow, and microscopically fine. With the result that it penetrates to the sensitive lung tissues of a human being, causing distress. Crossing the street toward the dive set into the towering wall of the cliff overhead, Jim Ronson sneezed violently. He wished fervidly that he might get another glimpse of what Robert Heinlein, two centuries before, had nostalgically called The Cool Green Hills of Earth, and again smell air that had no dust in it. Deep inside of him, a small voice whispered that he would be very lucky if he ever saw the green hills of Earth again.

Public Domain (P)2016 Daniela Acitelli

Decent short story but predictable. Reader awful.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was fairly enjoyable but lacked interesting twists. The plot was a bit predictable and the characters could have been better developed. Still it was like reading something from the 50's which can be fun. The worst part was the narrator. She was absolutely awful and took the whole audio book down.

Would you be willing to try another book from Robert Moore Williams? Why or why not?

Yes, but not read by the same woman.

What didn’t you like about Daniela Acitelli’s performance?

Drole & unimaginative. She lacks any real enthusiasm and reads like a 3rd grader.

Could you see New Lamps being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Not likely. Plot needs to be re-developed.

Any additional comments?

I would pay $5 or less for this audio. This book was given to me free courtesy of the author.

Entertaining short listen

Would you listen to New Lamps again? Why?

Sure, it's a good short story over breakfast

What was one of the most memorable moments of New Lamps?

At the end where Jen reveals her feelings

Which character – as performed by Daniela Acitelli – was your favorite?

ALL, Good articulation of the individual characters. The whole story was good as far as the feel of it

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher

Entertaining short listen.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Sure, it was a good, short story over breakfast coffee.I'm sure others are looking for a quality breakfast experience.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jen, because she seemed very "real" to me.

What about Daniela Acitelli’s performance did you like?

Good articulation of the individual characters. The whole story was good as far as the feel of it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, at the end where Jen reveals her feelings. (no spoilers).

Feels like classic philisophical sci-fi

What did you like best about this story?

It felt like classic Isamov or Vonnegut. Imaginary tales of a future where man has mastered spacew ithout being so fanciful as to be ridiculous. The tale is quick and delivers a lot to consider without getting in the way of itself.

What does Daniela Acitelli bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Naturally, all narrators offer you the ability to enjoy a tale without doing the reading yoursrlf, but Daniela's style complimented this story.

She does seem to struggle a bit with male voices, but she has the pleasant voice of a school teacher reading a class one of Aesop's fables. Given the subject matter of the story, it works very well.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No real reaction, but I did get the brain juices flowing. The story doesn't dwell on the moral implications of what the protagonist discovers on Mars, but the seed was sown.

Any additional comments?

It should be noted that I was provided this audiobook for free in exchange for a fair review. The gift had no bearing on my review above. I enjoyed the story and the narration.