New Audiobooks Cascading Your Way: Dragons in the Stars

The Rapture Effect was just a start. All of my Star Rigger novels are getting new audiobook recordings (with the exception of Eternity’s End, which already has a terrific recording). Just released: Dragons in the Stars. It’s a lovely recording, and is working its way into stores as we speak.

This project is, to put it mildly, a big deal on my end. No publisher is doing this for me (well, okay, I am as Starstream Publications). I commissioned Stefan Rudnicki and his partner, Gabrielle de Cuir, to record the books. They are two of the finest narrators in the business.

Why am I doing this, when there were already audiobooks available in Audible for these titles? Simple. I was not happy with the earlier narrations, which were produced by Audible many years ago, without input from me. They are now gone from the store, and in their place, I want the best possible versions for readers and listeners to enjoy. Stefan and Gabrielle have a wealth of experience in theater and music as well as audiobook recording, they are fans of the material, and working with them is a rewarding collaborative experience.

But Jeff, you say—isn’t this an expensive proposition? Yes. It is. You get what you pay for in this business, and I’m getting a lot. Am I crazy for doing it, when I probably won’t earn back the cost for years, and possibly not in my lifetime? Maybe. But I am fortunate to have some funds that make this possible, and I consider it an investment in the art and the stories. You could say it’s an investment in my permanent legacy to readers. These recordings will outlive me, and I hope that the audience will, also. I like to think they will help in a small way to make this world a more beautiful place.

Please check out Dragons in the Stars! The sequel, Dragon Rigger, will be along shortly.

The Rapture Effect Reborn

My novel The Rapture Effect, originally published some years ago, is now out in all-new clothes! I gave you a look at the new cover a few weeks ago, but here it is again:

The first print edition since the Tor hardcover and paperback
Buy at | Amazon |

An all-new narration for audiobook by Stefan Rudnicki
Buy at | Apple | Chirp | Spotify |
Discounted for a limited time!

New cover and interior reformatting for the ebook
Buy where you like | The Rapture Effect |

The ebook is available pretty much everywhere, the audiobook is gradually rolling out in various stores, and the print edition is available now from Amazon and will soon make it into other stores, as well.

In case you have no idea what this book is about, here’s the description:

War between the stars…

It was started by an AI. Few humans even knew there was a war at all. But now people are dying—and the AI wants it to stop. But a war is easier to start than to stop, and the computer can’t alter its course without outside help. When the Gnostic Control System searches for co-conspirators, it chooses its friends carefully.

  • Pali: a brooding public relations director.
  • Ramo: a flamboyant senso-dancer, who prefers a musical jamdam to serious conversation.
  • Sage: a systems designer for whom the AI rapture-field is realer than life.
  • And three of the alien Ell: Harybdartt, who would rather die with dignity than betray his people; Lingrhetta, who tries to unravel the meaning of human dance and music, pain and love; and Moramaharta, the binder, who must persuade his fellow decision-makers to risk everything for the sake of a fragile bridge of understanding across the stars.

A thought-provoking novel from the award-winning author of Eternity’s End and The Chaos Chronicles, and recipient of the Frank Herbert Lifetime Achievement Award for science fiction writing.

“A lively dance of ideas… well-worth the trip ticket.” —Roger Zelazny

Hint: Any of these editions could be an excellent gift for the holidays!

Spiffy New Editions for The Rapture Effect

I’ve been working on a new print edition of The Rapture Effect—the first print release since the original Tor publication. Following The Infinity Link, The Rapture Effect was my second long novel, about an interstellar war being waged by an AI, which now wants to find a way to stop it. The new print version is nearly ready, along with a reformatted ebook edition. Even better, principal recording has wrapped on a new audiobook—narrated by Stefan Rudnicki. This should really rev your engines. The old audiobook currently in the Audible store is not at all what it should have been, and it will soon be going away. The new version will get wide distribution.

To celebrate all this, I hereby present a brand-new cover*, with wonderful graphics magic by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff. She found a way to weave a whole new fabric from a collection of images I sent her way. I hope you like it. Yes, this is a cover reveal!

All this should be breaking free in the next few weeks. Check back for updates.

*BTW, I love the old cover, with art by David Mattingly. But it’s had a good, long run, and its sales mojo has sort of run out of steam. It will be retired with honors.

New Audiobook Sale!

It’s high time I ran a sale. The audiobook of Eternity’s End is on special at Chirpbooks for a limited time, for just $1.99. That’s crazy cheap for a 22-hour audiobook read by a Grammy-winning narrator. It’s one of my favorites. (Warning, one reviewer didn’t like it because there’s some mild swearing in it.) While you’re there, you can pick up some of the Chaos books on sale, as well. They even put together a special bundle.

Carver-Eternity's End Audiobook cover

https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/eternity-s-end-by-jeffrey-a-carver

 

New Sale on Audiobooks!

The Infinite Sea audiobook cover

Can we talk books for a minute? Chirpbooks is currently featuring The Infinite Sea in audiobook, price knocked down from $14.99 to a mere $.99. Can you even buy a pack of gum for that little? I don’t know. I do know that this is a great chance to pick up a few of my audiobooks for a great price.

Several other books in The Chaos Chronicles are also on sale for a limited time, including the series starter, Neptune Crossing. Click the link and you’ll see them all! Insanely good narration by Stefan Rudnicki. If you jump now, you can get it before the promotional email goes out! That ought to be worth something.

If you prefer Barnes & Noble or Spotify, several of them are on sale there, too. Prices may vary.

But they won’t last forever!

NOT a Black Friday Sale!!

The Reefs of Time by Jeffrey A. CarverBecause the whole Black Friday thing really bugs me. This is more of a “Have you listened yet and would you like to listen for really cheap?” Yes, another Chirpbooks sale has started (Cheep! Cheep!), and as a result you can get the audiobook of The Reefs of Time for some ridiculously low price, so low I don’t even want to remember what it is. The timing of it was completely up to the Chirpbooks people—just my luck of the draw that it’s right at Thanksgiving time. (In fact, the promotional email is going out on Thanksgiving Day, but the price has already been dropped.)

Most of the other Chaos books are discounted, too, because why not. These are all really good narrations. If you’re not into audiobooks yet, maybe it’s time to give them a try, what?

Or give them to somebody you love. Note, I did not say “gift” them to somebody you love. Because that would bug me even more than calling it a Black Friday sale.

*Footnote. I just checked the link and saw the display page for the book, and right there’s a nice quote that Greg Bear gave me for the book. Damn. That, I think, was the last time we communicated. Why did he have to go so young?

 

Eternity’s End Audiobook Just $1.99. Wait, What?

Carver-Eternity's End Audiobook cover

Audiobooks are kind of pricey, especially when they’re narrated by top narrators. So why is Eternity’s End just $1.99 at Chirpbooks, through April? Is someone off hir rocker? Screw loose? Idiot? Probably all three. Whatever the case, you can buy Eternity’s End, finalist for the Nebula Award, read by a Grammy-winning narrator, for just 2 bucks. Two frickin’ dollars. At Chirpbooks only. What are you waiting for? (If you like it, please post a review! Seriously, it makes a difference!)

Oh, The Reefs of Time and Crucible of Time are both more than half off for the same period, just to keep it company. See the Eternity’s End page for details.

Why are you still here?

Audiobook Featured Deal: Sunborn!

Sunborn audiobook cover

I’m not sure launching an audiobook special on the same day the new Dune movie releases is the best timing, but there you have it. In a great deal from Chirpbooks, Sunborn in audiobook is just $1.99 for a limited time! (Normally it’s $14.99 at Chirp, which is already way less than the price at Audible.) Grab it while you can! It’s a book I’m especially proud of, with a wonderful narration by Stefan Rudnicki.

Neptune Crossing is also deeply discounted. The rest of the Chaos series is supposed to be marked down, but I haven’t seen the prices drop yet, so check back. I may need to shake a few branches.

Edit: They came through for me! All the volumes of The Chaos Chronicles are marked way down. There will never be a more economical way to stock up on the whole series!

 

End Times!

posted in: audiobooks, specials 0

This is the final day to get a really deep discount on The Infinite Sea audiobook, as well as the rest of the Chaos books! At Chirpbooks.com, until midnight tonight in some time zone (Pacific, I think). It’s been a terrifically successful sale, and you can still get in on it. Go forth!

Also…it’s the final day to get in on the Kickstarter for Shaper of Worlds II, with a huge pile of great rewards (including free audiobooks of The Reefs of Time and Crucible of Time, plus loads more). And it’s a great project. Right here.

Eternity’s End Audiobook!

Carver-Eternity's End Audiobook cover

It’s finally out! Eternity’s End is a BIG audiobook, carried along effortlessly by the smooth rumble of Stefan Rudnicki’s voice. It’s now available at Audible, Apple, Amazon, Chirp, Nook, Kobo, Play, and other stores! Stefan really outdid himself on this one. When I listened to the recording for review, I almost forgot that I was supposed to be listening with a critical ear; I just got carried away. This book was a Nebula finalist in 2001, but this is the first time it’s been in audiobook. This is my last new audiobook project for now, and I feel like a cat full of c/a/n/a/r/y catnip.

By the way, although it’s tagged as Book 5 of the Star Rigger Universe, you do not need to have read any of the other books first. You can dive right in.

The best prices are currently at Apple, Nook, Play, and Chirp. No guarantee how long those discounts will last. (The final prices are at the discretion of the retailers.)

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