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April 8, 2013
The fate of humanity is at stake in this ambitious satirical thriller from Australian author Barry (Machine Man). Picked off the streets of San Francisco after displaying a “natural aptitude” for persuasion, 16-year-old magician/hustler Emily Ruff joins a group of prodigies at “the Academy,” where “poets” learn the magic of controlling others’ minds with words. Meanwhile, hapless Wil Parke, the key player in an internal war between highly trained poets called Eliot and Woolf, is the only person known to survive the infamous “bareword” Woolf set loose in Broken Hill, Australia, two years before—an event that killed thousands and wiped Wil’s memory clean. Eliot believes Wil to be the only one capable of stopping this word that “can persist... like an echo,” and is determined to use Wil in his quest to elucidate the word’s elemental code. Emily’s story and Wil’s story converge in a violent denouement that amuses as much as it shocks.

Listeners may either love or hate this latest from Max Berry. Love it because of the unusual plot--centered in the present day but futuristic in concept. The story features two warring factions of "Poets," people who can control others and events with words. Listeners will also love Zach Appelman's performance of the male characters, especially that of Wil Jamison, who hails from Australia and is caught between the two factions. Once Appelman gets going, his performance is like an express train. However, listeners may hate the other main character, Emily, as played by Heather Corrigan, who makes her sound whiny and younger than the character is supposed to be. Notwithstanding the criticism, those who have patience will prevail. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine