WHAT LIFE CAN BRING

Release Date : 2023–01-13

Duration : 8 Hours 49 Mins

Publisher : Donald Zing

SYNOPSIS

What Life Can Bring is three connected science-fiction stories that revolve around the author’s fascination with time. It was written on an antique Olympia analog typewriter. The author finds that the analog experience helps him put thought behind every word.

The first story, “The Journey Home”, opens with a handsome, tattooed young man who goes by the nickname “Poly” being released from jail on a beautiful August day in 1994. Poly has high hopes for a fresh start, but he’s not able to find a job. Struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over his head, Poly can find only one option: to join up with his old crew in a bank heist. Things don’t go entirely to plan, but he manages to meet some kind people along the way.

The second story, “Within Matter”, is set in the present day and starts with a group of graduate students celebrating a discovery of a lifetime: a new form of matter that could potentially solve the Earth’s energy crisis. But when a sinister group of wealthy and powerful elites find out about it, the graduate students are placed in mortal danger. One of the students, Stephan, experiences a psychotic break, which he assumes is due simply to life stress. But his whole understanding of himself and the world is upended after he receives a letter.

The third story, “96 Hours”, refers to an attack by thousands of spaceships that kills half the world’s population. A small settlement of scientists on Mars have their communications knocked out after the attack, and they imagine another world war must have happened. Survivors on Earth believe the attack is an alien invasion. Two teenagers, a brother and sister, must try to stand up against the attackers.

REVIEW

What Life Can Bring is a set of three interconnected science fiction short stories that explore the intricacies of time, energy, and human consciousness. The storylines are highly imaginative and compelling, yet completely different, easily resonating with all kinds of readers.

The first story, “The Journey Home,” follows Poly, a troubled man being released from a short prison sentence in 1994. Despite his best intentions to leave his sordid past behind, his need to pay his enormous bills leads him to reunite with old shady friends for a bank heist. Months later, evidence of the heist surfaces, causing Poly to flee to the west coast. His tumultuous journey sees him encounter dangerous characters and become stuck in a strange town in Oregon. Zing’s storytelling prowess is on full display as Poly seeks a path of redemption and is desperate to find a place in the world where he belongs. The plot unfolds through a complex time-travelling narrative with storybook-type characters that keeps readers thoroughly engaged. All the characters Poly encounters are vividly described, and it becomes easy to emphasize with Poly as he navigates many obstacles. The central themes of human kindness and non-judgmental compassion are beautifully woven in this story, making it quite memorable.

The second story, “Within Matter,” takes place in the present day and begins with a group of graduate students celebrating a groundbreaking discovery of a new form of matter. Unbeknownst to them, a group of malevolent elites have been tracking them and plan to terminate them and take ownership of their discovery. The topic of mental health is explored as one of the students, Stephan, experiences a breakdown of his reality after being exposed to the new matter. The story culminates in a thrilling conclusion where Zing masterfully incorporates supernatural forces and a shocking revelation.

The final story, “96 Hours,” takes listeners to a post-apocalyptic world where what’s left of humanity believes they have been attacked by dark extraterrestrial forces. In reality, the same malevolent elites from the previous story have concocted a plan to decimate the world’s population to create a new world order. Zing utilizes multiple perspectives and a parallel storyline of teenage siblings trying to survive the new world to create a captivating story that has the feel of a post-apocalyptic film. Zing’s vivid descriptions transport you to this dystopian world, and the action-packed plot will leave you fully entertained.

This audiobook is narrated by the author, Andrew Zachman, who goes by the pen name Donald Zing. As Zachman narrates the audiobook with a wide range of emotions, distinct character voices, and an enormous amount of authenticity, listeners get a captivating listening experience with the added benefit of hearing the stories as they were intended!

Zachman may not have much experience narrating audiobooks, but the average listener wouldn’t be the wiser, as he paces the stories extremely well, using a clear, expressive tone that is very easy on the ears. With the addition of sound effects and original musical interludes, written and performed by the author, the audiobook feels more like the audio of a series of independent short films. With all of these unique attributes and some very thought-provoking storylines, this audiobook becomes something quite special!

Overall “What Life Can Bring” is a highly original and captivating set of short stories that will delight fans of science fiction, time travel, and unpredictable narratives. In the length of a regular audiobook, listeners are given three riveting storylines that encompass multiple timelines, geographic locations, and a vast array of compelling characters from good to bad to everything in between! If you’re interested in listening to something that’s both highly original and thought-provoking, this is definitely an audiobook you should consider!