Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Last Page: A Tale of Scryunne
- Author: Richard Fierce
- Narrator: Kevin E. Green
- Length: 01:48:54
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 09/02/2018
- Publisher: Findaway Voices
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, Short Stories, Teen, General
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s something uniquely intimate about an audiobook experience, isn’t it? It’s like having a storyteller whisper directly into your soul, guiding you through uncharted territories of imagination. ‘Last Page: A Tale of Scryunne’ is a short story that packs a visceral punch, and listening to it felt like stumbling upon a hidden, haunted village during one of my travels. The story unfolds like a storm brewing over a desolate landscape – brooding, intense, and heavy with unspoken pain. Richard Fierce crafts a narrative in the Fiction & Literature genre, specifically a short story with a Teen focus, that doesn’t shy away from darkness. It’s a tale of destruction, betrayal, and lost love, narrated by a protagonist whose moral compass is as shattered as the lives they’ve destroyed. From the opening lines, you can almost feel the weight of regret and cruelty seeping through the words, as if the air itself is thick with ash.
This audiobook experience reminds me of a time when I was driving through the Atacama Desert in Chile, the driest place on Earth, listening to ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude.’ The surreal landscape outside my window mirrored the magical realism of García Márquez’s words, and the narrator’s voice felt like a wise elder recounting ancient lore by a campfire. Similarly, ‘Last Page’ carries a haunting quality, though its tone is far grimmer. It’s not a sprawling epic but a sharp, piercing vignette that cuts deep in its brevity. I found myself reflecting on another memory – staying with a family in Oaxaca, where their grandmother spun tales each evening. Her voice, her pauses, her timing were a masterclass in oral storytelling. That same intimacy is what I crave in a listening experience, and this audiobook delivers in parts, though not without its challenges.
The core of ‘Last Page: A Tale of Scryunne’ is a meditation on light and darkness, both literal and metaphorical. The protagonist’s confession – ‘Perhaps every story does begin in light – a cruel and unforgiving one’ – sets the tone for a narrative that wrestles with guilt, power, and the consequences of wielding it recklessly. It’s a story that would resonate with teen listeners and adults alike, especially those drawn to General Fiction & Literature that explores the shadowy corners of the human psyche. Fierce’s writing is raw, almost confessional, as the narrator recounts atrocities committed with chilling detachment. There’s a sense of inevitability to the tragedy, as if love and loss were always destined to collide in violence. You can almost taste the bitterness of regret in every word, a flavor as sharp as the mezcal I sipped during those Oaxacan nights.
Now, let’s talk about the audiobook performance. Kevin E. Green’s narration brings a gravitas to the text that suits its somber mood. His voice has a rough-hewn quality, like weathered stone, which matches the protagonist’s hardened, cynical perspective. He captures the emotional undercurrent of the story well, especially in moments of quiet reflection where the weight of past sins hangs heavy. However, there are times when I wished for more dynamic shifts in tone. The story’s intensity could have been heightened with greater variation – perhaps a sharper edge during scenes of destruction or a softer tremble when speaking of lost love. The audio quality itself is crisp, with no distracting background noise, making for a seamless listening experience. Still, I found myself yearning for the kind of immersive storytelling I experienced in Oaxaca, where every pause felt like a heartbeat. Green’s performance is solid but doesn’t quite reach that transcendent level of connection.
One of the strengths of this short story audiobook is its ability to evoke a visceral response in such a short duration – clocking in at just over 4 minutes, it’s a quick yet potent journey. For fans of dark Teen Fiction or Short Stories in the General Fiction & Literature genre, it offers a bite-sized dose of tragedy that lingers. However, its brevity is also a limitation. The story hints at a larger world and deeper backstory, but we’re left with mere fragments. I wanted to know more about the priest father, the love that was extinguished, and the specific atrocities that shaped the narrator’s nihilism. Without that context, the emotional impact, while strong, feels somewhat incomplete.
Comparing ‘Last Page’ to other works in the genre, it echoes the brooding introspection of some of Edgar Allan Poe’s shorter tales, though it lacks the gothic flourish that defines Poe’s style. It also shares a thematic kinship with contemporary dark fantasy short stories, where moral ambiguity reigns supreme. For listeners who enjoy this kind of narrative, I’d recommend exploring other works by Richard Fierce or diving into anthologies of dark Teen Fiction. The audiobook experience might appeal to those who appreciated the raw honesty of narrators in similar short-form audio content, though it doesn’t quite match the emotional depth of longer, character-driven audiobooks I’ve encountered on my travels.
Who would I recommend this audiobook to? It’s ideal for listeners seeking a quick, intense escape into a world of moral decay and haunting reflection. Teens and young adults who gravitate toward dark, introspective stories in the Fiction & Literature category will find much to ponder here. It’s also a great pick for anyone who enjoys Short Stories that don’t pull punches. If you’re on a road trip or simply looking for a brief but powerful listening experience to fill a quiet moment, ‘Last Page: A Tale of Scryunne’ fits the bill. And while I don’t have information on whether this audiobook is free, I encourage you to check platforms like Audiobooks.com for potential deals or a free audiobook trial to experience this tale firsthand.
Reflecting on this story, I find myself drawn back to the idea of light and darkness, a theme that mirrors so many of the human connections I’ve made on my journeys. Whether it’s the stark beauty of the Atacama or the warmth of a shared story in Oaxaca, every tale carries its own interplay of shadow and illumination. ‘Last Page’ leans heavily into the shadows, and while it’s not a comforting listen, it’s a necessary one – a reminder that not all stories end in redemption, and sometimes the cruelest light is the one that reveals our own flaws.
Until our paths cross again, keep seeking out the stories that challenge and transform you. This is Marcus Rivera, signing off with a nod to the dark and the light within us all. Safe travels, amigos.
