Beacon 23

By: Hugh Howey

Narrated by: Peter Ganim

Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

For centuries, men and women have manned lighthouses to ensure the safe passage of ships.

It is a lonely job and a thankless one for the most part. Until something goes wrong. Until a ship is in distress. In the twenty-third century, this job has moved into outer space. A network of beacons allows ships to travel across the Milky Way at many times the speed of light.

These beacons are built to be robust. They never break down. They never fail.

At least, they aren’t supposed to.

©2015 Hugh Howey (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Slow burn through a healing mind

Great performance as we witness one man gradually unfold his own wartime trauma. The book focuses on the inner monologue of the protagonist, delivering a more personal experience than the tv show.

It makes you think !!

I really enjoyed this book. I had no idea where it was headed. Hugh did a great job with an old topic and very few characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

Such a great story!

The story was great. The characters were wonderful. I wish there were more to the book.

Only thing missing is more of it…

Loved it deeply, wish there was more but thankful for its beautiful short simplicity and truth.

Interesting Story

This was an interesting story. At first it seems a bit slow but picks up quickly. Before I knew it I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I had to find out what happened next. There are some intense moments that have you holding your breath. check it out.

Character driven story

I enjoyed the characters in this book in the different stories And it was a nice conclusion

The Rock and Cricket

I love the character development, especially for Rock and Cricket. The inner dialogue is so human.

the pain of loss

I did not know of the book until I saw that the show (unknown to me) existed.
I was curious, since I can't watch the show, so could I read the book?

I'm not sure how they pulled off this book in a TV show, since it's mostly read from the heart, and not the mouth.

The book is good. It was hard to concentrate on so much desolation of the soul of the main character. I've never felt that way and I hope not too. I love the (pet) and the other characters are well defined enough for how long they are needed to keep the story going. Everything that happens, even the surprises, and welcome. You feel the ending come and think that this was a pretty good book, until you realize there's another hour to go. Then, it's a very good book. A more pleasing ending.

I battled a herniated abdomen, a broken shoulder and cancer, all in one year. My bad things of three, and somehow have beaten it so far, but as the character says many times, bad things are always just around the corner.

I hope I have a very very long road ahead of me, until that corner comes at all.

Great read for veterans and sci fi fans

Excellent portrayal of the emotional struggles faced by those who have served in combat. As a veteran myself this book me laugh and cry. Howey was able to put in words emotions and feelings we find hard to describe. I wish the show had used the story instead of making a loosely inspired tale.

Beacon 23

I enjoyed this short story. I can understand why it wouldn't be for everyone. I found it to be slow but surprisingly I didn't mind that it was slow. One of the few books I have read that literally made me laugh out loud in a few places but it's definitely not a comedy. For most of the book I thought it was just going to be one man's story and the ending changed that. Great ending. No cliffhanger ! I thought the narrator was perfect for the story. I believe I will remember this for a very long time so I'm not sure I will read it again but then again maybe I will. Maybe knowing the ending only enhances the rest of the story. I was going to give this three stars when I started this review mainly because it was a slow quiet story but in the end I decided to bump it up to four.