Review of Hell Divers 3 by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Series: The Hell Divers Series, Book 3
Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins
Release date: 05-15-18
We dive so humanity can survive. (the tagline of the Hell Divers)
This book was pretty decent. It definitely moved things along from the last book.
I was originally thought that this was the final book in a 3-part series, but it seems like it could go on for a bit.
Click for my review for Hell Divers (book 1) & Hell Divers: Ghosts (book 2).
Plot
But to recap, the basic premise of this series is that humanity is just barely clinging on in its fight for survival after World War 3 poisoned the planet and created an apocalyptic wasteland. Humans have been living in the sky in giant airships, and sky diving down to the radioactive surface to pick up supplies like much needed medicine, spare parts and food rations etc.
Book 1 introduces the fact that after living in the sky for around 200 years with the easier spots scavenged till there’s nothing left, they need to drop down on the more radioactive places, and find that there are weird creatures that seem to thrive in that environment. And it seems everything is trying to kill the Hell Divers.
Book 2 – shows the progression of a mutiny and a changing of direction by humanities leaders, as well as a poor decision to leave a man behind.
Book 3 –Deliverance, jumps between Xavier Rodriguez’s story in the past, the remaining people still living on the airship commanded by captain Jordon, their trials and tribulations…and the wrestling for control, a small group who have recently been abandoned on the ground and are making it their mission to see if Xavier is still alive.
This book also managed to wrap things up nicely and explain a few key things which you were kind of already guessing at anyway.
General Recommendation
It’s decent. If you’ve listened to the 1st 2 parts, I would say, yeah why not. It’s a nice change, because in reality it’s a book that you can relax listening to.
You’re not completely engaged in the story, and as long as you loosely follow along its ok.
And every so now and then, you need a book like this.
I think it’s a perfect kind of series book if you’ve just listened to an educational or lecture series book where your mind has had to be really attached to the book, and what they’re saying.
I guess you could treat this book like a detox listen.
I also wouldn’t say that it’s a repeat listen kind of book like… the Off to be the Wizard series for example (which I just listen to again for the 8th time or something)
It’s a science fiction book. And at that, an apocalyptic, dystopian wasteland, dark and scary monster kind of book, one filled with struggles, wars and slight triumphs.
If none of that appeals to you in any way… then of course, this book is not for you.
Narration/ Performance
Read by R.C. Bray. This guy is actually a fantastic narrator. He also did the Expeditionary Forces narration and voices, and was fantastic in that.
Whilst listening to book 1, I originally thought that R.C. Bray didn’t have much range, as many of the voices sound similar, however the fact that its an apocalyptic wasteland, everyone is stressed and have some kind of cancer… then the fact that everyone has a gravelly voice makes a whole lot more sense.
Potential for the series
As I said, I thought this was a trilogy and to be honest I’d be ok with the story ending here.
The ending happens in a way that it COULD go on if it really wanted to… but I don’t think I’d be that keen to keep on going.
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