Podcast Review #23: New World Orders
Title: New World Orders
Author: E.G. Talbot
Genre: Science Fiction, Conspiracy Theory
Released: 21 May 2008 – 12 November 2008
Located: iTunes, Podiobooks, Author’s Site
Formats Available: Podcast only at this time.
Recently I was trolling for new podfiction and stumbled upon a trailer for New World Orders by Edward G Talbot. I found the trailer intriguing enough to give it a listen. I know that isn’t much of a backstory for a review, but hey, it’s the truth.
So, on to the review.
Synopsis: In the nineteen-sixties, a group of wealthy men concludes that it’s already too late to stop global warming from destroying the planet. But they have a plan to save themselves.
Twenty years later, Jack Crowley and Jim Patterson stumble onto the conspiracy, and every answer they find is accompanied by more questions – and more deaths.
Jack is a former idealist, turned cynical by his years working as a New York tabloid editor. But his enthusiasm returns as he looks into the work of a NASA scientist who tells Jack about cover-ups at the space agency. Jim is a detective with little patience for conspiracy nuts. But he hates loose ends, and is unable to let go of the inconsistencies in another suspicious NASA death. Soon, his investigation leads him to Jack, and they join forces.
As Jack and Jim dig deeper, they are targeted by the type of killers that don’t usually miss. From Washington to Las Vegas to the Middle East, they manage to stay one step ahead of their pursuers in a race to expose the truth, and maybe, just maybe, save the world.
Production: New World Orders is another example of a podcast that begins completely satisfactorily and then continually. New World Orders does make use of a The Story So Far, and unfortunately, it would fall in to the category of a bit of a cumulative recap in some places. All production elements are fine and the podcast is enjoyable to listen to.
Cast: The cast for New World oder is fairly small, but is still a voiced podcast. There are, I believe three regular cast members. Considering the number of characters being voiced and the number of accents available, this is fairly remarkable. I won’t say that each accent is “dead-on” but each voice is distinct and recognizable, and really, what else could I ask for?
Story: I am not a conspiracy theorist. The few conspiracy theorists I know personally are grating and annoy me in a unique way. Although I enjoy a good espionage or military novel on occasion, I don’t usually purchase fiction based on conspiracies. I also don’t subscribe to the science of climate change. New World Orders is, in it’s simplest form, a novel built upon the premise that climate change has been covered up by a world wide conspiracy. The story also “flashes” forward in several places. It does so usually with a transition chapter siting newspaper headlines about the intervening passage of time, usually tying those headlines into the conspiracy. The writers are often brutal to their characters and no character is truly safe.
Verdict: With the previous paragraph stating so many things I am not a fan of, you might think I would give this story a pass. Nope. You see, even if a story isn’t my exact favorite, I will try to recommend it to a particular audience and not just pan it. With New World Orders, I don’t have to try that hard because I DID enjoy it. One thing I’ve never understood is how come so many people get perturbed over fiction. Dan Brown’s stories suck because he is a terrible writer, but he can write whatever fiction he wants and it won’t sway my beliefs. In a similar fashion, New World Orders was an interesting story all on its own and I really enjoyed the characters. The authors had fun with this story, and I appreciated the sarcasm poking fun at themselves in several places. This really was a very large story, and the authors did a nice job tying in a number of actual headlines into their conspiracy theory. If you like Michael Crichton type stories, with a bit of non medical Robin Cook thrown in, I would definitely suggest you give New World Orders a try.
Disclaimer: Ed Parrot, featured in last weeks “How I do it!” started following me on Twitter (@egtalbot) when I announced I was going to give New World Orders. I have returned the follow, and though not the most verbal, his tweets are quite steady and full of community (both things I approve of). I wasn’t offered, nor did I accept, anything in return for this review.
View from Valhalla 
I too have been reminded recently that sometimes one has to be willing to try fiction outside ones usual genres. I’ve recently found a couple of real gems that way. The time to listen to an episode or three to see if a story is something you might like, can be a very wise investment in your personal entertainment.
That being said, I usually venture off the proverbial beaten path almost always because of a recommendation from someone I respect, rather than just trolling around. This is why blogs like this one is such a service to people like me.
Also, it helps to follow people like Odin1Eye on Twitter or other social media. That way you can find out what they might be listening to now (keep in mind that Odin only writes reviews for finished works – there are are other cool audio books in progress that he is listening to even as I comment). It is also nice to be able to send out a message like, “I’m in the mood for ‘The Bionic Woman’ done right. Are there any Podiobooks like that?” {To which I could point to the in-process “Cybrosis” at http://www.cybrosisnovel.com/ }
Yet another reason why Odin1Eye and this blog are such a treasure.
Discalimer: No Odin1Eye isn’t paying me, and I don’t have any sort of fiction for him to review. I am just the appreciative listener of several podcast novels and reader of this blog. 🙂
I do follow Odin1Eye on Twitter, but only because he is a great guy and occasionaly shares cute pictures with his Twitter followers. 🙂
Wow. Thanks Mainframe.
I definitely agree with your suggestions. Join Twitter. Start talking. Ask questions. Be part of the community.
You are correct, I do only Review complete books. I do this for two reasons. The first is so that I can make sure of the recommendation. There have been books I wouldn’t have recommended to anyone, and then the last couple of chapters are amazing. The second is simply due to the fact that not everyone that starts a fiction podcast finishes it.
Cybrosis is definitely a good ride so far and if anyone is interested in what i’m currently listening to, all they need do is tweet me!
I am a fan of New World Orders, too. I started listening before podcast was complete and occasionally had the fun of emailing Ed, telling him to take out hte curse words he accidently left in when he made a mistake! We have been friends since and I have even contributed to his short story collection. I still receive his reviews.
The two writers made the characters believeable and the three voices werevariabe enough to make them distinct. I LOVED the gangster garbage collector uncle.
Thanks Odin for another good review!
Thanks Arlene! I appreciate the feedback. Somehow I missed NWO as it was being released. I don’t know how, but occassionally it happens. I can understand why so many people have enjoyed it though. I also enjoyed the cast poking fun at themselves when voices were similar.
Thanks for the review, we appreciate you listening and taking the time to share your thoughts on the book!
I’ve enjoyed reading your reviews – you have a talent for communicating interesting things about the podcasts and honing in on the positives and negatives. In recent months I’ve been writing reviews of thriller print and ebooks, and I have discovered that it is a lot harder than I would have expected.
I thank you for providing a podcast, free of charge, for the listeners enjoyment.
I am glad you’re enjoying the reviews and I appreciate your kind words. Occassionally I have a bit of a tough time trying to get across exactly what I’m feeling, but most of the time I just say what I feel. So far it has worked for me.
Thanks again!
This review as always well done. I also and not a fan of conspiracy and don’t know where I stand on climate change, but this sounds like a good book to listen to. I am of the opinion that if a story is well done that even if I don’t like the topic I could read it. There are a few exceptions to this rule but there are to all the rules aren’t there. I am adding this to my podiobooks subscribe list.
Always a few exceptions. That is life. Without an exception though is the best comment I ever receive on this blog is when a reader says they are going to subscribe to one of the reviewed podcasts. I hope you enjoy it.
I really enjoy your reviews, this one included. The only thing that would make them better would be a rating system. Something a long the lines of, this podcast is rated TV-17 for graphic violence, and death described in so many ways it puts Baskin Robin’s to shame. Or This Podcast is rated G due to the fuzzy pink bunnies and can be considered safe for everyone but parents who will have the sudden urge to empty their stomaches due to the cuteness factor.
This is a really interesting idea and one that I think I will try to remember to put into effect. Thanks for the suggestion!