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The Messengers
A mysterious plague ushers in an intergalactic war that ravages the galaxy for decades. A soldier and a pilot are tasked to deliver a package. A messenger and a refugee decide to work together on a dying alien planet. A love letter is lost that could be the key to a new future. A dark comedy about the messages we carry in our bones.
2 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 5, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews
March 25, 2020
Lindsay Joelle's The Messengers is a short tale about the occupation of an alien world (and oppression of alien species thought to have spread a plague to their occupiers).
Focusing on two relationships, one between a soldier and pilot and the other between a messenger and refugee, this short story had elements that could have worked out in a longer work. Overall, The Messengers was a quick audible listen with interesting perspectives as well as humor; however, some of the dialogue seemed clumsy and it didn't quite satisfy as a short story. 2.75 stars
Focusing on two relationships, one between a soldier and pilot and the other between a messenger and refugee, this short story had elements that could have worked out in a longer work. Overall, The Messengers was a quick audible listen with interesting perspectives as well as humor; however, some of the dialogue seemed clumsy and it didn't quite satisfy as a short story. 2.75 stars
December 1, 2020
A nice short distraction about both sides of an intergalactic war. The execution as an audiobook was quite good, though in this instance I was missing the nuance that comes with narration. Conversation alone comes close to carrying this tale, but ultimately misses a few of the finest points that the author was trying to make.
A slight stumbling block was the juxtaposition between humour and statement. This certainly feels like the story itself is meant to be a “Messenger”; it has a point to make about the misunderstandings and blind hate in conflict. While billed as a 'dark comedy', the humour itself isn't so much dark as it is somewhat slapstick and, at times, heavy handed. Not to say it isn't funny, though. I found myself chuckling often, but it was just a bit too much. The simplicity of it seemed to lessen or lighten the impact of the more serious goals of the story.
Still, it was an easy listen with good intentions. I appreciated its aim and felt it was the perfect length for a one-sitting consumption.
A slight stumbling block was the juxtaposition between humour and statement. This certainly feels like the story itself is meant to be a “Messenger”; it has a point to make about the misunderstandings and blind hate in conflict. While billed as a 'dark comedy', the humour itself isn't so much dark as it is somewhat slapstick and, at times, heavy handed. Not to say it isn't funny, though. I found myself chuckling often, but it was just a bit too much. The simplicity of it seemed to lessen or lighten the impact of the more serious goals of the story.
Still, it was an easy listen with good intentions. I appreciated its aim and felt it was the perfect length for a one-sitting consumption.
July 21, 2021
This had so much potential to be a good SciFi story and would have benefited greatly if it was an actual full book instead of a short story.
Again audible does great with their audio, they make everything come alive.
Again audible does great with their audio, they make everything come alive.
March 6, 2020
I didn't actually like it at first but it tied together and grew on me and then I really did.
September 19, 2020
The Messengers by Lindsay Joelle is a really sci-fi gem! Very clever and witty. Two pairs of space travelers, each have a story, but each have secrets. The stories are told with humor, a bit of dark humor, and each seeking survival.
Various people as narrators.
Various people as narrators.
March 11, 2020
This was the second of my free Audible Originals for the month. It's a quick listen with a sci-fi story that is written with amusing dialogue, but an ultimately poignant message. I enjoyed it all, but would have preferred the dialogue between the two women to be a bit more relaxed. Listening to their scenes was like listening to a volley between automatic rifles. . . per se. ;)
December 22, 2020
Star Rating: —> 3.5 Stars
Ay yiy yiy! Third time in a week that the GR app glitched as I was wrapping up a review. This one definitely isn't worth me writing it up again lol.
Quick Review Version:
I found this to be somewhat entertaining, but I think that is majorly due to the production & execution of the audiobook, rather than the story itself. Even for a short story, it had way less substance than you would expect in something like this, but the audible narration cast, the production team... they brought life into this otherwise very average SFF novella.
It is fun to listen to, though, and a pretty freakin' quick one at that (about 2 hour listening time)... so why not give it a try?
My suggestion? Its up to you.
Ay yiy yiy! Third time in a week that the GR app glitched as I was wrapping up a review. This one definitely isn't worth me writing it up again lol.
Quick Review Version:
I found this to be somewhat entertaining, but I think that is majorly due to the production & execution of the audiobook, rather than the story itself. Even for a short story, it had way less substance than you would expect in something like this, but the audible narration cast, the production team... they brought life into this otherwise very average SFF novella.
It is fun to listen to, though, and a pretty freakin' quick one at that (about 2 hour listening time)... so why not give it a try?
My suggestion? Its up to you.
May 5, 2021
It was a really good surprise. The narration was impeccable. The book follows four characters in two different stories/scenes. It's science fiction with humor. It's quite rare for me to find a book this funny. I enjoyed it so much, I was smiling throughout the book, it was such a good feeling reading it because of the way it made me feel. I was shocked at the end. I even teared up a bit. I wish it was longer, but I loved it. I can't wait for the next book by this author.
April 5, 2020
It was free so I listened to it but there was barely any story there. And once it finally got interesting it was over. Premise was promising but too short and horrible execution.
March 11, 2020
2.5 / 5
Pros:
- At just over an hour long, it is well within reason to finish the work in one sitting
- I appreciate the inter-woven nature of the story and the "pay-off" in the final chapter, but ... (see cons)
- There are occasional striking passages of prose (i.e. how scars are a map of the body that show where you've been), but those are admittedly few and far between
Cons:
- The story lacks a sense of place. There are a lot of proper nouns thrown around (like names of alien species), but no sensory details or "meat" to hold the story together
- (from pros) ... the "message," being carried was pretty bland.
- There was an extended passage about barfing in the first chapter. Ick.
- I can appreciate the cleverness of the story, but it almost seems like the twist / pay-off was chosen first, and the rest of the story written around that. It gives an air of, "too clever for its own good," to the proceedings.
Conclusion:
It's fine for a freebie, but it's far from earth-shattering. If you can get it for free AND the premise sounds interesting, or if you are a super-fan of Sci-Fi, it may be worth a listen. Otherwise, there are almost assuredly better options out there.
Pros:
- At just over an hour long, it is well within reason to finish the work in one sitting
- I appreciate the inter-woven nature of the story and the "pay-off" in the final chapter, but ... (see cons)
- There are occasional striking passages of prose (i.e. how scars are a map of the body that show where you've been), but those are admittedly few and far between
Cons:
- The story lacks a sense of place. There are a lot of proper nouns thrown around (like names of alien species), but no sensory details or "meat" to hold the story together
- (from pros) ... the "message," being carried was pretty bland.
- There was an extended passage about barfing in the first chapter. Ick.
- I can appreciate the cleverness of the story, but it almost seems like the twist / pay-off was chosen first, and the rest of the story written around that. It gives an air of, "too clever for its own good," to the proceedings.
Conclusion:
It's fine for a freebie, but it's far from earth-shattering. If you can get it for free AND the premise sounds interesting, or if you are a super-fan of Sci-Fi, it may be worth a listen. Otherwise, there are almost assuredly better options out there.
June 26, 2021
Narration: 4 stars 🌟
Story/characters: 3 stars 🌟
Not much background info, but I liked the back and forth between each set of characters. The little twist at the end had a few touching moments.
Wish this had been a novella at least but I enjoyed the story and would listen to it again
3.25 stars 🌟🤩
So far I love all the narrators Audible has recruited for these originals:)
Story/characters: 3 stars 🌟
Not much background info, but I liked the back and forth between each set of characters. The little twist at the end had a few touching moments.
Wish this had been a novella at least but I enjoyed the story and would listen to it again
3.25 stars 🌟🤩
So far I love all the narrators Audible has recruited for these originals:)
March 6, 2020
Audible Original Audio Drama. Short, sweet. Crisp dialogue. Interlaced narratives that hit a satisfying end. Just what I look for in AOs.
March 24, 2020
Warning:
Audible originals are nice, they provide so many cool audio dramas and being a member I get to enjoy them. Some are good, some are bad and then there's the rare occasion of a story that has a really big potential to be incredible and it get scrutinize. This is one of those occasions it happens and it's not because of the incredible performances by the actors or the script it's because of how short it is. A one hour drama isn't bad by all means, it's exactly like a length of a prime time tv show airing for you to enjoy. You'd either enjoy the ep or find it weak but for me I am a bit meh about it. It could had been so good for many reasons.
The story is set in the future where there;s an intergalactic war going on, people are dying, in pain, or worse. Discrimination is everywhere, madness seeping into the soldiers, and a plague is on the loose destroying lives. Our story forces on a two pairs, two federation soldiers on a mission with a mysterious package and the other a soldier and his refugee assisting him with letters translations. It is a basic sci fi premise and yet it was really engaging with the assistance of audible originals amazing soundtrack production and talented actors, Kaliswa Brewster, Ana Reeder, Zoë Winters and Alex Weisman. However it does not save it from it's pacing problem regardless of how much I liked the characters few more then others.
I don't know what to tell you, should you give it a shot? Why, yes it's only a one hour what's there to lose. Is it worth purchasing? Not really, I would wait until it's on sale. There's other better audible originals out there like Interview with A Robot, The Mystwick School of Musicraft, The Bridge Kingdom or Alien: Out of the Shadows. Go check them out instead.
Audible originals are nice, they provide so many cool audio dramas and being a member I get to enjoy them. Some are good, some are bad and then there's the rare occasion of a story that has a really big potential to be incredible and it get scrutinize. This is one of those occasions it happens and it's not because of the incredible performances by the actors or the script it's because of how short it is. A one hour drama isn't bad by all means, it's exactly like a length of a prime time tv show airing for you to enjoy. You'd either enjoy the ep or find it weak but for me I am a bit meh about it. It could had been so good for many reasons.
The story is set in the future where there;s an intergalactic war going on, people are dying, in pain, or worse. Discrimination is everywhere, madness seeping into the soldiers, and a plague is on the loose destroying lives. Our story forces on a two pairs, two federation soldiers on a mission with a mysterious package and the other a soldier and his refugee assisting him with letters translations. It is a basic sci fi premise and yet it was really engaging with the assistance of audible originals amazing soundtrack production and talented actors, Kaliswa Brewster, Ana Reeder, Zoë Winters and Alex Weisman. However it does not save it from it's pacing problem regardless of how much I liked the characters few more then others.
I don't know what to tell you, should you give it a shot? Why, yes it's only a one hour what's there to lose. Is it worth purchasing? Not really, I would wait until it's on sale. There's other better audible originals out there like Interview with A Robot, The Mystwick School of Musicraft, The Bridge Kingdom or Alien: Out of the Shadows. Go check them out instead.
March 15, 2020
What the heck did I just listen to? This was just bad. The actors was bad. The story was bad. The entire thing was annoying. I just can't even. Literally the only good thing about this was that it eventually made a teensy bit of sense at the end. But I regret this entire experience.
March 20, 2020
This is a 90-minute play performed with four actors. Produced by Audible for sale as an audiobook. Features two separate storylines intercut scene by scene.
In the first story, two female Federation soldiers--one a messenger, one a security officer--embark on a spaceflight mission to deliver a package to another planet. As their relationship unfolds, their backgrounds and family secrets begin to come to light…
On a planet far away, a young cowardly courier (a "runner") befriends an enemy combatant and finds his loyalties torn between his sense of duty and this budding friendship to a woman he barely knows…
This play feels like it was written for a middle school audience. The humor is decidedly juvenile. It is science fiction in only the barest sense. There is no world-building, no science. Alien cultures are sketched in primarily to explore surface-level themes of friendship, prejudice, and the horrors of war. It feels like a particularly lame episode of Star Trek.
The play's only saving grace is a plot reveal in the final five minutes that links the two narratives unexpectedly and provides a sense of full-circle closure.
In the first story, two female Federation soldiers--one a messenger, one a security officer--embark on a spaceflight mission to deliver a package to another planet. As their relationship unfolds, their backgrounds and family secrets begin to come to light…
On a planet far away, a young cowardly courier (a "runner") befriends an enemy combatant and finds his loyalties torn between his sense of duty and this budding friendship to a woman he barely knows…
This play feels like it was written for a middle school audience. The humor is decidedly juvenile. It is science fiction in only the barest sense. There is no world-building, no science. Alien cultures are sketched in primarily to explore surface-level themes of friendship, prejudice, and the horrors of war. It feels like a particularly lame episode of Star Trek.
The play's only saving grace is a plot reveal in the final five minutes that links the two narratives unexpectedly and provides a sense of full-circle closure.
July 2, 2021
This was exactly what I needed it to be to close out the month! A surprisingly funny sci-fi audiodrama, "The Messengers" was fun, and I find myself still thinking about it. Recommend this one if you've got a short amount of time but want something fun to listen to.
Here's my breakdown:
Characters 4/5
Plot 4/5
Storytelling/Writing 5/5
Enjoyment 5/5
Atmosphere 4/5
Here's my breakdown:
Characters 4/5
Plot 4/5
Storytelling/Writing 5/5
Enjoyment 5/5
Atmosphere 4/5
March 22, 2020
Oh, a plague. How topical.
This audio play was over before I really had a chance to relate to the characters or get a feel for what was going on. You could hang a pretty powerful and profound story on this scaffolding with another couple hundred pages or so.
Not bad but too short, or maybe too ambitious for its length. Yeah, that's it, that's what I think.
This audio play was over before I really had a chance to relate to the characters or get a feel for what was going on. You could hang a pretty powerful and profound story on this scaffolding with another couple hundred pages or so.
Not bad but too short, or maybe too ambitious for its length. Yeah, that's it, that's what I think.
March 15, 2020
A lovely short story read by a full cast. It won’t significantly change you, but it’s a lovely pass-time-type-of-story
October 28, 2020
This was an audible freebie. It wasn't my favorite, but I did like the way the story built momentum. I think this could have been a longer work. The world building could have used more finesse. But as far as these short freebies go, I'm usually not a fan, but this one created interest. So 3 stars.
May 1, 2022
What a surprise. I am not a huge fan of YA or the Amazon free selections but this was short and I was delighted by some complicated characters in an intergalactic war riddled by "plague." The length and constant discourse made it feel like a play, but this could have been lengthened into a full and interesting novel with more descriptive and interior writing.
April 2, 2020
It's an hour and a half long and I fell asleep listening to it.
May 25, 2020
I never heard or read anything by Linsay Jolle before but I liked this short story. This has an ensemble cast who do a great job of bringing the characters to life. It had me laughing out loud from the very beginning and considering that I was at work that says a lot.
A mysterious plague brings with it an intergalactic war that brings havoc to the galaxy for decades. A soldier and a pilot are given the task of delivering a package. There is also a messenger and a refugee who decide to work together on a dying alien world.
This is a dark comedy about the message we carry in our bones.
A mysterious plague brings with it an intergalactic war that brings havoc to the galaxy for decades. A soldier and a pilot are given the task of delivering a package. There is also a messenger and a refugee who decide to work together on a dying alien world.
This is a dark comedy about the message we carry in our bones.
May 30, 2022
The book is made up with two sets of conversations that goes back and forth and I didn't see the twist was coming so it was a good surprise and I enjoyed it. The narration/performance was on the point too.
May 4, 2021
I loved this book. The way that the narrators follow the story was incredible.
I laughed in parts that the characters made some ridiculous sounds and when I was finishing the book, my best friend and I were commenting how it was shocking the final parts.
The story could have been longer but that's okay. I wish we can read a next one from this author.
I laughed in parts that the characters made some ridiculous sounds and when I was finishing the book, my best friend and I were commenting how it was shocking the final parts.
The story could have been longer but that's okay. I wish we can read a next one from this author.
March 19, 2020
I truly enjoyed this little gem. The voice acting was incredible. The story is touching in multiple ways. This is a quick one that will have you feeling all sorts of emotions from laughing to tears of love.
March 11, 2020
Audible original that was absolutely worth the read. Had a perfect balance of humour, drama and sadness.
March 9, 2020
Cute little hour long listen on Audible this month. Humor reminds me of the tv show The Good Place.
July 27, 2020
A short audio play that tackles weighty topics concerning imperialistic occupation, xenophobia, and class privilege. Overall it efficiently and succinctly hits all of the notes in its messaging as well as it can due to its bite-sized format. However, I feel that the tone and themes that the narrative wishes to play around with are significantly undermined and squandered by overly saccharine and twee dialog.
May 4, 2020
Very interesting concept and beautifully performed, but would really benefit if it were a full length story. It's very short. Just a small glimpse into a vast world. I would read a whole book about this, but it is hard to learn all the concepts in this short experience. I found the characters to be interesting and wished I could have gotten more than the 1hr this story is.
March 27, 2020
If you're going to do any kind of social commentary, then this is how you should do it. This is clearly political in nature - but the acting is just so good and the script so funny that it doesn't really matter. It becomes poignant without being campy. Very quick, exceptionally well done.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 351 reviews