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The Signal
When the evidence points to two realities, which will you believe?
Two astronomers have detected a strange, pulsing signal from deep space. Within hours, the US government goes into lockdown, restricting airspace and scrubbing scientific data. Was the signal an intercepted communication revealing alarming plans for an enemy’s military strike? Or has humanity at long last found proof of extraterrestrial life?
Caught between two mind-blowing possibilities, Dr. Veronica Chapel leaves her job as a high school science teacher to search for answers with her old friend Malcolm Feldman, a determined journalist, and Ada Park, a brilliant astronomer. Oh, and it also happens to be Dr. Chapel's one chance to redeem her destroyed scientific reputation, no pressure...
As the group digs deeper, they uncover layers of mystery that challenge their grasp of the universe and their place in it. With time running out and the world hanging in the balance, they must navigate a tangled web of corporate secrets, government interference, and ethical dilemmas on a high-stakes journey to uncover a truth that will upend our understanding of the cosmos—and ourselves.
Two astronomers have detected a strange, pulsing signal from deep space. Within hours, the US government goes into lockdown, restricting airspace and scrubbing scientific data. Was the signal an intercepted communication revealing alarming plans for an enemy’s military strike? Or has humanity at long last found proof of extraterrestrial life?
Caught between two mind-blowing possibilities, Dr. Veronica Chapel leaves her job as a high school science teacher to search for answers with her old friend Malcolm Feldman, a determined journalist, and Ada Park, a brilliant astronomer. Oh, and it also happens to be Dr. Chapel's one chance to redeem her destroyed scientific reputation, no pressure...
As the group digs deeper, they uncover layers of mystery that challenge their grasp of the universe and their place in it. With time running out and the world hanging in the balance, they must navigate a tangled web of corporate secrets, government interference, and ethical dilemmas on a high-stakes journey to uncover a truth that will upend our understanding of the cosmos—and ourselves.
Audible Audio
Published December 5, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
December 14, 2024
I had high hopes for this audiobook, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. While the production quality and performances were excellent, the story itself fell flat. The plot felt bland and disjointed, with an unrealistic twist and an ending that seemed hastily put together. It started strong, but the follow-through was disappointing. Despite being an impressive audio experience, I can’t recommend this title. There are simply better options out there.
January 3, 2025
My rating with partial stars would be 2.75.
This audio experience was about middle-of-the-road for me; it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, but it didn't change my life or anything. I most of all enjoyed the voice performances and soundscaping. However, there were some problems that stuck with me and prevented me from feeling like it was great.
I'm sure real scientists would take issue with the way scientists and their field are depicted in this story. I was confused in the beginning with Veronica's decision to shoot down the answer of "observation" as the first step in the scientific method. I understand now that her answer was meant to lay out the themes of the book, but observation literally is the first step... Give that poor student some credit... Granted, there are different models of the scientific method, and it more so represents a base set of principles, but she could've said as much and segued into a discussion that served the same purpose for the story.
Speaking of Veronica, I did also find her to be a bit grating at times. I enjoy her base outlook that alien life must be real, as I like when characters hold a lot of conviction about a belief of theirs. However, the degree to which she is stubborn about this belief in the face of sound logic was a bit frustrating. I think it made sense for her character, but it has a sour aftertaste when her needed development occurs on a heel turn. I would've liked to see her struggle more openly with her final decision. (Although it is somewhat telegraphed, and I'll get to that.) I understand that we needed to feel a degree of suspense as we waited, and that this was a shorter story that needed to wrap up in time, but I would've loved to see a supposedly analytical mind in action.
I don't think that ending sucked quite as badly as people say, but it was an emotional let-down. I've greatly enjoyed two pieces of media recently that had people hating their endings: the book The Only Good Indians, and the game Firewatch. In both of those instances, I felt that the ending was perfectly justified and tied up the narrative and themes in a way that felt emotionally resonant. Here, I can see the threads that led us to the ending:
- Veronica feels conflicted about whether she would prefer to return to her old life of prestige or continue as a high school teacher. We also get varying opinions from other characters as to her worth in her current life. When, as she's mulling over the big decision, her substitute tells her outright that she's a great science teacher, this very well could have been what set in her mind that her current life is worth staying in, even if it's not her stated reason.
- Veronica also feels an almost feral urge to be right about her convictions. This much I could sympathize with, but it's also the thread that felt like it had a murkier progression in the home stretch. She seems to cool off very quickly in proportion to how strongly she felt before.
With this in mind, I certainly can't say that her choice came out of nowhere. But it's all a bit off.
I think the best reason (among others) that I can identify as to why it would've felt iffy is this: the big decision, on top of being wishy-washy in how it was choreographed, doesn't actually represent that much of a change for Veronica. Sure, she decides to take Malcolm's words to heart that he knew she was more than her need to be right. In making the climactic decision - as far as she says - based on this, is she not just picking a new thing to be right about and sticking to it? In leaving the door open for an exposé on Benjamin Wells, is she not just deciding instead to be right about her hatred for billionaires? It's very messy and human, but I think the issue is that it feels like the resolution of a self-contained story about people being people, and this story is supposed to have stakes on a global scale. So when a global-scale decision is made with the logic of a more character-focused story, it leaves one feeling both disappointed and a little horrified for how this cast's world will look after the events of the plot.
The Signal was hardly all bad, otherwise it wouldn't be in the ballpark of 3 stars! As I said before, I greatly enjoyed the audio experience, which is certainly important for an Audible Original. (This is my first, and I didn't know that some of these leaned closer to podcasts than books, which was an interesting surprise.) I felt that the line delivery propped up the dialogue where it was lacking and brightened it where it shone. I also found the premise intriguing and fun. It was sort of cheapened by the twist, but I don't feel that either side could have been proven fully right while keeping the story satisfying.
There are some other, more minor gripes that didn't fit neatly into the body of this review. "Shook"? "Mansplain"? In 2024? Whatever, I can begrudgingly accept that these characters are the target audience for such terms. Veronica's morals also felt a bit performative; kind of funny for a character to hold up the megaphone and say "I hate billionaires!" in an original released by a company richer than God. These are less pressing than the story complaints, though, and don't detract so much from my enjoyment of this as something of a popcorn read.
But also, fuck you for making me think about the Cascadia subduction zone. 0 stars.
This audio experience was about middle-of-the-road for me; it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, but it didn't change my life or anything. I most of all enjoyed the voice performances and soundscaping. However, there were some problems that stuck with me and prevented me from feeling like it was great.
I'm sure real scientists would take issue with the way scientists and their field are depicted in this story. I was confused in the beginning with Veronica's decision to shoot down the answer of "observation" as the first step in the scientific method. I understand now that her answer was meant to lay out the themes of the book, but observation literally is the first step... Give that poor student some credit... Granted, there are different models of the scientific method, and it more so represents a base set of principles, but she could've said as much and segued into a discussion that served the same purpose for the story.
Speaking of Veronica, I did also find her to be a bit grating at times. I enjoy her base outlook that alien life must be real, as I like when characters hold a lot of conviction about a belief of theirs. However, the degree to which she is stubborn about this belief in the face of sound logic was a bit frustrating. I think it made sense for her character, but it has a sour aftertaste when her needed development occurs on a heel turn. I would've liked to see her struggle more openly with her final decision. (Although it is somewhat telegraphed, and I'll get to that.) I understand that we needed to feel a degree of suspense as we waited, and that this was a shorter story that needed to wrap up in time, but I would've loved to see a supposedly analytical mind in action.
I don't think that ending sucked quite as badly as people say, but it was an emotional let-down. I've greatly enjoyed two pieces of media recently that had people hating their endings: the book The Only Good Indians, and the game Firewatch. In both of those instances, I felt that the ending was perfectly justified and tied up the narrative and themes in a way that felt emotionally resonant. Here, I can see the threads that led us to the ending:
- Veronica feels conflicted about whether she would prefer to return to her old life of prestige or continue as a high school teacher. We also get varying opinions from other characters as to her worth in her current life. When, as she's mulling over the big decision, her substitute tells her outright that she's a great science teacher, this very well could have been what set in her mind that her current life is worth staying in, even if it's not her stated reason.
- Veronica also feels an almost feral urge to be right about her convictions. This much I could sympathize with, but it's also the thread that felt like it had a murkier progression in the home stretch. She seems to cool off very quickly in proportion to how strongly she felt before.
With this in mind, I certainly can't say that her choice came out of nowhere. But it's all a bit off.
I think the best reason (among others) that I can identify as to why it would've felt iffy is this: the big decision, on top of being wishy-washy in how it was choreographed, doesn't actually represent that much of a change for Veronica. Sure, she decides to take Malcolm's words to heart that he knew she was more than her need to be right. In making the climactic decision - as far as she says - based on this, is she not just picking a new thing to be right about and sticking to it? In leaving the door open for an exposé on Benjamin Wells, is she not just deciding instead to be right about her hatred for billionaires? It's very messy and human, but I think the issue is that it feels like the resolution of a self-contained story about people being people, and this story is supposed to have stakes on a global scale. So when a global-scale decision is made with the logic of a more character-focused story, it leaves one feeling both disappointed and a little horrified for how this cast's world will look after the events of the plot.
The Signal was hardly all bad, otherwise it wouldn't be in the ballpark of 3 stars! As I said before, I greatly enjoyed the audio experience, which is certainly important for an Audible Original. (This is my first, and I didn't know that some of these leaned closer to podcasts than books, which was an interesting surprise.) I felt that the line delivery propped up the dialogue where it was lacking and brightened it where it shone. I also found the premise intriguing and fun. It was sort of cheapened by the twist, but I don't feel that either side could have been proven fully right while keeping the story satisfying.
There are some other, more minor gripes that didn't fit neatly into the body of this review. "Shook"? "Mansplain"? In 2024? Whatever, I can begrudgingly accept that these characters are the target audience for such terms. Veronica's morals also felt a bit performative; kind of funny for a character to hold up the megaphone and say "I hate billionaires!" in an original released by a company richer than God. These are less pressing than the story complaints, though, and don't detract so much from my enjoyment of this as something of a popcorn read.
But also, fuck you for making me think about the Cascadia subduction zone. 0 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2025
Space Echos: Carl Sagan's "Contact" Reimagined
Eric Buchman's 2024 audio novella The Signal feels like a condensed and derivative version of Carl Sagan's Contact. The story revolves around Dr. Veronica Chapel, a disgraced astrophysicist, who partners with journalist Malcolm Feldman and astronomer Ada Park to investigate a mysterious deep-space signal that could be proof of alien life—or something entirely different, like military technology or a cover-up.
But make no mistake, The Signal draws heavily from Contact. Chapel mirrors Jodie Foster's Ellie Arroway—a brilliant scientist with unwavering confidence in the possibility of extraterrestrial life, whose obsession derails her promising astronomy career. Then there's Wells, the story's wealthy, enigmatic tech mogul, reminiscent of S.R. Haddon from Contact, wielding boundless resources and ambiguous motives. The one sliver of originality lies in Malcolm, the journalist, who approaches his work with refreshing ethics—a rarity that highlights the fictional nature of the story.
Ultimately, while mildly entertaining, The Signal struggles to rise above its brevity and striking similarities to Sagan's masterpiece. Its derivative nature leaves it feeling more like a pale shadow of a richer, more thoughtfully crafted tale.
Eric Buchman's 2024 audio novella The Signal feels like a condensed and derivative version of Carl Sagan's Contact. The story revolves around Dr. Veronica Chapel, a disgraced astrophysicist, who partners with journalist Malcolm Feldman and astronomer Ada Park to investigate a mysterious deep-space signal that could be proof of alien life—or something entirely different, like military technology or a cover-up.
But make no mistake, The Signal draws heavily from Contact. Chapel mirrors Jodie Foster's Ellie Arroway—a brilliant scientist with unwavering confidence in the possibility of extraterrestrial life, whose obsession derails her promising astronomy career. Then there's Wells, the story's wealthy, enigmatic tech mogul, reminiscent of S.R. Haddon from Contact, wielding boundless resources and ambiguous motives. The one sliver of originality lies in Malcolm, the journalist, who approaches his work with refreshing ethics—a rarity that highlights the fictional nature of the story.
Ultimately, while mildly entertaining, The Signal struggles to rise above its brevity and striking similarities to Sagan's masterpiece. Its derivative nature leaves it feeling more like a pale shadow of a richer, more thoughtfully crafted tale.
April 23, 2025
2.5 ended up going in a very uninteresting direction
May 7, 2025
A full cast dramatization is always good and this was no different. The storyline and pacing were slow for me even though it’s a short narration at under 3 hrs. Liked the concept and the protagonist’s backstory, just never felt the vibes I was hoping for.
April 4, 2025
I was really intrigued by the concept of this Audible short story and even though the story did not end the way I thought it would, the production and overall story kept me engaged troughout and the ending wasn’t bad at all. Would I have enjoyed some action “scenes� or something like that, sure! But overall this was a well crafted story of secrets, space, science, and second chances.
I was very impressed with the production value of the story. The sound was excellent and the voice actors were all really good. I was even more intrigued when I saw that Paget Brewster was one of the narrators, as I’ve been a fan of hers since her Criminal Minds days) and her performance was really great! This story “read� like an episode of a thriller on TV or an old radio drama and was nice, but I think I would have cut out some of the extra “fluff� to help things scoot along a bit quicker.
All-in-all, a really good little story and I really enjoyed it!
I was very impressed with the production value of the story. The sound was excellent and the voice actors were all really good. I was even more intrigued when I saw that Paget Brewster was one of the narrators, as I’ve been a fan of hers since her Criminal Minds days) and her performance was really great! This story “read� like an episode of a thriller on TV or an old radio drama and was nice, but I think I would have cut out some of the extra “fluff� to help things scoot along a bit quicker.
All-in-all, a really good little story and I really enjoyed it!
May 3, 2025
This book has a really intriguing concept that builds and builds, but I did not find a "payoff" to the drama. The ending felt a bit weak and Dr. Chapel's character drove me a little crazy. I'd give it a 2.5/5. Not terrible, but not great.
April 24, 2025
what an annoying main character!
December 18, 2024
i had high expectations for this one�.i am only glad it was free! it started amazing and then transformed into a bland boring wtf type of everyday story…would NOT recommend.
February 20, 2025
Meh! Audible was great though! The story was mid. 🤷🏼♀�
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March 18, 2025I thought this was a fantastic short story. It was suspenseful and intriguing, and it brought up a lot of good moral and ethical dilemmas that were fun to ponder what I would do if I were in those same situations. The audiobook was produced really well making it easy to see the story and characters in my head as if I were watching a movie.
March 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this audio drama! The production and cast was fantastic, and the story kept me engaged. The ending was a little weak, but I don't think it should hurt the overall rating as much as others are saying. I can think of worse ways to spend a couple of hours.
March 18, 2025
The audio performance was pretty good but other than that it was very average overall. Just perfectly okay
April 1, 2025
*3.5 stars*
Good, entertaining, and fun to listen to during my drives or cardio days!
Good, entertaining, and fun to listen to during my drives or cardio days!
May 8, 2025
what a cute little book
January 18, 2025
Decent scifi conspiracy theory type story, but unfortunately a predictable ending.
December 11, 2024
I'm trying to get the most out of my free month on Audible, so I gave this a go. The production of the audiobook itself and the voice acting were great and very immersive. 4 out of 5 stars for that.
On the other hand, the story honestly felt like a waste of time. It started off fine and it could've been interesting, but for some reason, the author decided to add a twist that rendered the whole thing pointless and boring, in my opinion.
On the other hand, the story honestly felt like a waste of time. It started off fine and it could've been interesting, but for some reason, the author decided to add a twist that rendered the whole thing pointless and boring, in my opinion.
January 13, 2025
Audiobook review.
So disappointing.
The story was subpar.
Acting was bad from relatively talented actors.
It sounded like a group of actors who were inexperienced and not certain how or when to emote, yet these are all experienced actors with decades of experience. It sounded more like they were cold reading the script.
I'm not trying to be overly critical or negative. I was just really disappointed because I read what the story was about and who the vocal performers were and overly built up how good I thought it would be, in my mind.
Maybe you'll enjoy it, and possibly I sabotaged the story for myself because it wasn't what I was expecting.
Regardless of how I felt about it, listen to it for yourself and make up your own mind.
I can't tell you how many times I've missed out on a story I ended up really enjoying just because I listened to someone else's opinion instead of just reading it for myself.
So disappointing.
The story was subpar.
Acting was bad from relatively talented actors.
It sounded like a group of actors who were inexperienced and not certain how or when to emote, yet these are all experienced actors with decades of experience. It sounded more like they were cold reading the script.
I'm not trying to be overly critical or negative. I was just really disappointed because I read what the story was about and who the vocal performers were and overly built up how good I thought it would be, in my mind.
Maybe you'll enjoy it, and possibly I sabotaged the story for myself because it wasn't what I was expecting.
Regardless of how I felt about it, listen to it for yourself and make up your own mind.
I can't tell you how many times I've missed out on a story I ended up really enjoying just because I listened to someone else's opinion instead of just reading it for myself.
February 21, 2025
Free Audible book
I thought it was a semi interesting premise and the character work was really good. All the voice actors did an amazing job. It kind of felt like a half developed character novel with a sci-fi pinch for marketing purposes idk.
The actors carried this to a four star so good on them!
I thought it was a semi interesting premise and the character work was really good. All the voice actors did an amazing job. It kind of felt like a half developed character novel with a sci-fi pinch for marketing purposes idk.
The actors carried this to a four star so good on them!
December 22, 2024
I really liked the way this was formatted. It was almost like listening to the episode of a TV show. The scientific aspects of this were really awesome, and the story was really good. It didn't go in the direction that I thought it was going to, and I don't think that is a bad thing at all.
February 11, 2025
Another absolutely insufferable female lead
May 10, 2025
One whole star is just for the audio production - the voice actors were great, sound effects nice. I didn’t like weird soundtrack during narration/dialogue in some places, because it was distracting, but it didn’t happen too often.
The story is full of cliches - the tired “having to work with your ex�, “old relationships problems being constantly brought up�, “guaranteeing people complete anonymity/safety, when you have no means of achieving that�, “breaking into a someone’s office dressed as security/cleaning crew/etc.�, “finding everything you need in someone’s office/on someone’s computer within 5 minutes�, “government coverup involving men in black suits and sunglasses acting all mysterious and making ham-fisted attempts at intimidation�, “threatening messages being delivered in a threatening anonymous voice that sounds computer-generated�. Some of these were acknowledged as being “movie-like� cliches within the story. But most were just there.
The plot is pretty thin and unoriginal, but could still be entertaining, if not for the glaring fact that the author/authors don’t seem to have a very good idea about how a real scientist would operate. I’m not saying there aren’t idiots among people with science degrees or even that all of them are going to default to objective and analytical thinking in the face of some startling data/phenomena. But what I don’t believe they would do is hear some “structured� noise from space and automatically think “aliens�. They would start with checking the origin of the noise, triple-checking equipment, checking for any interference, errors in recording, errors in software, etc. Then they would go see if anyone else got the same noise on their equipment - other observatories, amateur astronomers, etc. Compare and analyze. Even assuming all of that confirms it’s legit, they would then start with theories about how this noise could be generated “naturally�, without involvement from any intelligence. I believe pulsars were discovered in this way. Aliens would be the last ever explanation and would have to meet a lot of other criteria (such as, you know, meaningful change in signal in response to new stimuli), before it would even be thought to be a plausible. In this story, not one, but two, and possibly more scientists immediately arrive at the “aliens�, as soon as they hear the noise. I have no knowledge of sound/music theory, so I’m just accepting that it’s possible for humans to tell immediately, just by listening, if the sound is “structured� or not.
Finally, the lead female character, Veronica, comes across as a subconsciously misogynistic man’s idea of a modern feminist woman. The fact that she has a doctoral degree in astrophysics (or something similar) and is supposed to be highly intelligent and accomplished in her field has no effect on her being extremely unreasonable, emotional, highly subjective, narrow-minded, rash, and plain-hysterical most of the time. Her driving force through life is the need to be right, even when she is wrong or when there is no question of right or wrong. And who is the voice of reason in contrast to her, urging her to consider the burden of proof (before coming out with “it’s aliens� claims), the larger repercussions of making controversial news public, the importance of optics in making such a proclamation, and just, you know, the need to chill the fuck out? Well, it’s her male mentor and her journalist ex. Oh, another female scientist is there too, but she agrees with Veronica in principle - it is aliens. Oh, and of course, while behaving this way, Veronica doesn’t miss an opportunity to scoff at people trying to tell her things or argue with her, and to complain about “mansplaining�. It was as if the author just took your standard, severely outdated portrayal of an average woman (emotional and lacking any common sense), gave her the “smarts� on paper, sprinkled some modern terms into the dialogue to show she (and the author) is very much in step with the feminist movement - and considered the job done. It would be funny if it weren’t so dispiriting.
The story is full of cliches - the tired “having to work with your ex�, “old relationships problems being constantly brought up�, “guaranteeing people complete anonymity/safety, when you have no means of achieving that�, “breaking into a someone’s office dressed as security/cleaning crew/etc.�, “finding everything you need in someone’s office/on someone’s computer within 5 minutes�, “government coverup involving men in black suits and sunglasses acting all mysterious and making ham-fisted attempts at intimidation�, “threatening messages being delivered in a threatening anonymous voice that sounds computer-generated�. Some of these were acknowledged as being “movie-like� cliches within the story. But most were just there.
The plot is pretty thin and unoriginal, but could still be entertaining, if not for the glaring fact that the author/authors don’t seem to have a very good idea about how a real scientist would operate. I’m not saying there aren’t idiots among people with science degrees or even that all of them are going to default to objective and analytical thinking in the face of some startling data/phenomena. But what I don’t believe they would do is hear some “structured� noise from space and automatically think “aliens�. They would start with checking the origin of the noise, triple-checking equipment, checking for any interference, errors in recording, errors in software, etc. Then they would go see if anyone else got the same noise on their equipment - other observatories, amateur astronomers, etc. Compare and analyze. Even assuming all of that confirms it’s legit, they would then start with theories about how this noise could be generated “naturally�, without involvement from any intelligence. I believe pulsars were discovered in this way. Aliens would be the last ever explanation and would have to meet a lot of other criteria (such as, you know, meaningful change in signal in response to new stimuli), before it would even be thought to be a plausible. In this story, not one, but two, and possibly more scientists immediately arrive at the “aliens�, as soon as they hear the noise. I have no knowledge of sound/music theory, so I’m just accepting that it’s possible for humans to tell immediately, just by listening, if the sound is “structured� or not.
Finally, the lead female character, Veronica, comes across as a subconsciously misogynistic man’s idea of a modern feminist woman. The fact that she has a doctoral degree in astrophysics (or something similar) and is supposed to be highly intelligent and accomplished in her field has no effect on her being extremely unreasonable, emotional, highly subjective, narrow-minded, rash, and plain-hysterical most of the time. Her driving force through life is the need to be right, even when she is wrong or when there is no question of right or wrong. And who is the voice of reason in contrast to her, urging her to consider the burden of proof (before coming out with “it’s aliens� claims), the larger repercussions of making controversial news public, the importance of optics in making such a proclamation, and just, you know, the need to chill the fuck out? Well, it’s her male mentor and her journalist ex. Oh, another female scientist is there too, but she agrees with Veronica in principle - it is aliens. Oh, and of course, while behaving this way, Veronica doesn’t miss an opportunity to scoff at people trying to tell her things or argue with her, and to complain about “mansplaining�. It was as if the author just took your standard, severely outdated portrayal of an average woman (emotional and lacking any common sense), gave her the “smarts� on paper, sprinkled some modern terms into the dialogue to show she (and the author) is very much in step with the feminist movement - and considered the job done. It would be funny if it weren’t so dispiriting.
April 15, 2025
This one had such an intriguing setup—otherworldly signals, shady government cover-ups, and a chase for answers that could shift the foundation of everything we know. I was hooked from the opening scenes. Two astronomers detecting a pulsing signal from deep space? Yes, please. And the immediate governmental clampdown gave it the kind of urgency that should’ve carried the story straight into “edge-of-your-seat� territory.
The themes hit some fascinating notes: truth versus propaganda, the ethics of discovery, humanity’s place in the universe, and the cost of redemption. The main character, Dr. Veronica Chapel, brought a mix of vulnerability and grit. I liked that she wasn’t some flawless genius but a woman with baggage—burned by her past, desperate to prove herself, and drawn back into the scientific world with high stakes riding on her return. Her dynamic with Malcolm and Ada added some good contrast—Malcolm’s journalistic skepticism and Ada’s unshakable curiosity made for a solid trio.
The setting shifted from small classrooms to secretive labs to places that felt much bigger than they appeared—wide stretches of space compressed into covert government corners. That contrast between cosmic wonder and bureaucratic red tape was a clever narrative choice. But sometimes, the pacing worked against it. The middle dragged just enough to dull the tension, and I kept waiting for things to spiral into something more thrilling than what actually unfolded.
The writing style itself was clean and cinematic, with a few standout lines that nailed the weight of wonder and paranoia. The audio production helped a lot—solid narration, good emotional range, and a pace that mostly kept things moving even when the plot didn’t quite match that energy.
What held me back from fully loving it was the way the story danced around its central mystery without delivering a truly satisfying punch. The buildup was excellent, but the resolution felt just a little too neat, like the edges had been smoothed over for the sake of conclusion rather than letting the uncertainty breathe.
Still, it was a thought-provoking listen with strong characters and an eerie premise. Not perfect, but definitely memorable.
Read more here:
The themes hit some fascinating notes: truth versus propaganda, the ethics of discovery, humanity’s place in the universe, and the cost of redemption. The main character, Dr. Veronica Chapel, brought a mix of vulnerability and grit. I liked that she wasn’t some flawless genius but a woman with baggage—burned by her past, desperate to prove herself, and drawn back into the scientific world with high stakes riding on her return. Her dynamic with Malcolm and Ada added some good contrast—Malcolm’s journalistic skepticism and Ada’s unshakable curiosity made for a solid trio.
The setting shifted from small classrooms to secretive labs to places that felt much bigger than they appeared—wide stretches of space compressed into covert government corners. That contrast between cosmic wonder and bureaucratic red tape was a clever narrative choice. But sometimes, the pacing worked against it. The middle dragged just enough to dull the tension, and I kept waiting for things to spiral into something more thrilling than what actually unfolded.
The writing style itself was clean and cinematic, with a few standout lines that nailed the weight of wonder and paranoia. The audio production helped a lot—solid narration, good emotional range, and a pace that mostly kept things moving even when the plot didn’t quite match that energy.
What held me back from fully loving it was the way the story danced around its central mystery without delivering a truly satisfying punch. The buildup was excellent, but the resolution felt just a little too neat, like the edges had been smoothed over for the sake of conclusion rather than letting the uncertainty breathe.
Still, it was a thought-provoking listen with strong characters and an eerie premise. Not perfect, but definitely memorable.
Read more here:
January 22, 2025
**Title:** *The Signal*
**Author:** Eric Buchman
**Review:**
"The Signal" is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that expertly blends elements of technology, mystery, and human intrigue. Buchman masterfully crafts a narrative that is both fast-paced and thought-provoking. The story follows the protagonist as they delve into the mysterious and potentially dangerous world of signal intelligence, navigating a labyrinth of deception and danger.
What stands out in "The Signal" is Buchman's ability to weave complex technological concepts into the storyline without overwhelming the reader. Instead, these elements add depth and realism to the plot, making the stakes feel incredibly high. The characters are well-developed, each with their own motivations and secrets, which keeps the reader guessing until the very end.
As an audiobook, "The Signal" truly shines. The narration is compelling, with a perfect balance of suspense and clarity that keeps listeners hooked from start to finish. The voice actor(s) bring the characters to life, adding another layer of immersion to the already gripping story.
Overall, "The Signal" is a must-listen for fans of thrillers and techno-mysteries. Eric Buchman has delivered a story that is both entertaining and intellectually stimulating, leaving listeners eager for more.
Happy reading 📡
December 17, 2024
This book is essentially Watchmen without the superheroes. If you enjoyed the big reveal at the end of that story, then you will probably enjoy The Signal and the moral decisions that confront the hero and heroine at the end of the novella. I admit that I didn't know what they would decide, but I found the ultimate decision satisfying.
That being said, I do have a major bone to pick with the author. When people are trying to hide a really important secret from the government and they know that the government is about to become very interested in what they are doing, they should not hold a lot of telephone conversations discussing the problem. The NSA records phone conversations in its quest to ensure national security, and I think everyone who reads the story will agree that the government would feel justified in calling this a national security situation and listening to those recordings.
That being said, I do have a major bone to pick with the author. When people are trying to hide a really important secret from the government and they know that the government is about to become very interested in what they are doing, they should not hold a lot of telephone conversations discussing the problem. The NSA records phone conversations in its quest to ensure national security, and I think everyone who reads the story will agree that the government would feel justified in calling this a national security situation and listening to those recordings.
April 27, 2025
my rating is mainly starred for a good audio performance. but as for story? voice? thought provoking content? yeah. no.
Which brings me to 2 stars.
I rather enjoy audio dramas. I grew up listening to them. this has a well done performance, so it was all to the - in my mind- poorly written characters who, sort of all sounded like the same person with just different opinions or views , and it was sad that such an exiting start became a struggle to get through.
It felt. . . immature? as if - could I really see all of these professionals and scientists acting , speaking and doing this story? I was trying to think of what exaggerated 80s movie it was reminding me of, but couldn't manage it.
This became another to add to the pile of - i just cant like newer released stories.
So for and audio drama. Voice acting was good, and has quality audio.
For story?
left everything to be desired.
Which brings me to 2 stars.
I rather enjoy audio dramas. I grew up listening to them. this has a well done performance, so it was all to the - in my mind- poorly written characters who, sort of all sounded like the same person with just different opinions or views , and it was sad that such an exiting start became a struggle to get through.
It felt. . . immature? as if - could I really see all of these professionals and scientists acting , speaking and doing this story? I was trying to think of what exaggerated 80s movie it was reminding me of, but couldn't manage it.
This became another to add to the pile of - i just cant like newer released stories.
So for and audio drama. Voice acting was good, and has quality audio.
For story?
left everything to be desired.
April 2, 2025
This was an entertaining short story. I thought the audio quality was high as these audible Originals usually are.
When a signal is discovered, a disgraced astronomer sees it as her chance for retribution in the scientific community. Dr. Victoria Calhoun knows this is her shot to prove that alien life does exist, and she teams up with a former classmate, an upcoming astronomer, and her old professor/mentor to present her case. Along the way, some surprises will be revealed. Can she hold onto her integrity and be right at the same time?
I thought this was a fun romp about space discoveries and second chances. I liked the question of ethics when it feels like the greater good is at stake. The audio quality was fantastic. I would definitely read more about this character if there were follow-up stories.
When a signal is discovered, a disgraced astronomer sees it as her chance for retribution in the scientific community. Dr. Victoria Calhoun knows this is her shot to prove that alien life does exist, and she teams up with a former classmate, an upcoming astronomer, and her old professor/mentor to present her case. Along the way, some surprises will be revealed. Can she hold onto her integrity and be right at the same time?
I thought this was a fun romp about space discoveries and second chances. I liked the question of ethics when it feels like the greater good is at stake. The audio quality was fantastic. I would definitely read more about this character if there were follow-up stories.
February 16, 2025
This audible original just popped up on my Kindle and it looked intriguing, so I invested 2 hours plus to listen. This is like an old fashioned radio play, performed by several actors and is very well done. The story: a radio telescope picks up a signal coming from a galaxy about 5 light years away. The signal is not random space noise but has characteristics suggesting it was generated by intelligent life. Then the facility is burned down and it appears that a massive cover-up is taking place, but by whom and why? Only two hours in length, this story is tightly plotted. Some interesting questions are raised about the role of science in society and the manipulation of information in order to control political outcomes. All in all, a good story.
March 3, 2025
More like a radio play than a book. It reminded me of - the people who are listening for signs of extra-terrestrial intelligence hear something in the static that's organized sound, not random noise. A reporter and a scientist try to find out what's going on as the evidence seems to be immediately destroyed. There's a billionaire, and at one point I'm pretty sure I heard him (or somebody) literally say "move fast and break things," which was maybe a little too close to current events for comfort.
I found it entertaining. It's only a couple of hours long; I'd recommend it for listening while doing something else.
I found it entertaining. It's only a couple of hours long; I'd recommend it for listening while doing something else.
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