Podcast Review #38: Taken Liberty – A Tale from the Arbiter Chronicles
Originally posted July 19, 2010
Title: Taken Liberty
Author: Steven H. Wilson
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: 31 March 2006 – 25 May 2006
Located: iTunes, Podiobooks
Formats Available: Podcast and Dead Tree
Rating: R for sexual situations and some violence
Occasionally, I listen to a podcast for no apparent reason. This is one of those times. After having listened to the first couple of eps, I was interested enough to continue with it, but I’m not sure who recommended this story to me. If YOU did, please let me know and I’ll be sure to give you credit.
So, on to the review.
Synopsis: Aer’La only wants to be free…
The Confederated Worlds are unparalleled as a society of free people, yet, somehow, slavery still manages to exist. Aer’La, a non-human, was bred to serve as a pleasure slave. Years ago, she escaped her masters and masqueraded as a human, joining the Confederate Navy, where she worked her way up to ship’s Bos’n under the heroic Captain Jan Atal. Now, Aer’La’s secret has been discovered by Atal’s superiors, the media, and the world at large. Branded a sociopath, she learns that even a free society isn’t willing to grant freedom – or justice – to all.
Production: The production on this story was really well done and I was fine with the results. I know that production really seems to get the least knocks from me, but the reason is that as long as the production doesn’t interfere, or really enhance, I can give it a pass. So, again, the production for Taken Liberty was well done, but nothing extraordinary.
Cast: The story was a straight read by the author, Steven H. Wilson. He does a nice job and does a good bit of differentiating the voices both with modulating his tone and inflection. Well done indeed when you figure a good number of his characters are women.
Story: The story is actually quite a bit different from what I was expecting after the first episode. In that first episode, you meet the crew of the Titan, flagship of the Confederation. I was expecting a space fairing tale of daring do. What I got was a future version of JAG. Kind of.
More of that in the verdict.
The thing you should know coming into this story, which I didn’t, is that the Arbiter Chronicles seems to be a series of stories prodcast from Prometheus Radio. I really don’t anything about Prometheus Radio and am neither recommending or suggesting you avoid them. However, Taken Liberty, is a novel taken from season 2 of their series. I was still able to follow easily enough, but you definitely got the feeling that there was a depth to the characters that somehow you were missing. I also can’t recommend you listen to season one, as I have not. So, are you feeling brave?
Verdict: Taken Liberty was a very interesting story for most of the story. I can say I enjoyed it. I can’t say the big reveal was really as unexpected as I would have hoped. I love a twist. I felt this was more of a speed bump.
So, do I recommend it. No. Not really. Do I suggest you avoid it. Again no. I did find it interesting, and it is a rather short novel, so if you feel like giving it a chance, it really isn’t a huge investment of your time. I didn’t hate it. I didn’t find anything that really frustrated me, I just didn’t finish it and think “good story”, either. So, if you’re a fan of space law, you might find this interesting. If you give it a shot (or all ready have), let me know what you think!
Disclosure: I do not believe I know Mr. Wilson, or follow him on Twitter (you can’t always be sure). I can say, for sure, that I was not asked to write this review, or offered anything in return for it.
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