“The Wanderer” by Fritz Leiber is a science fiction novel that follows a group of people living in New York City who are forced to confront a massive object that has suddenly appeared in the sky, known as the Wanderer. The audiobook version is narrated by Norman Deitz. As the Wanderer draws closer and begins to affect the world’s climate, the characters must navigate the chaos and disaster it brings, including massive earthquakes, tidal waves, and deadly storms. Among them are a group of strangers who come together to try and survive the cataclysmic events. Deitz’s narration is engaging and dynamic, capturing the tension and excitement of Leiber’s writing. He creates distinct voices for each of the characters, helping listeners easily differentiate between them and immerse themselves in the story.
Overall, “The Wanderer” is a thrilling and thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores the human response to crisis and disaster. Deitz’s narration adds to the experience, making it a great choice for fans of the genre.
-
The Wanderer
- Narrated by: Norman Deitz
In the future, men and women have colonized the moon and brilliant technological advances have created a better life for those on Earth. But the arrival of “The Wanderer” could change all that.
A giant sphere, it suddenly appeared one night during a lunar eclipse, causing devastating earthquakes on the Moon and catastrophe on Earth. Now, Lieutenant Don Merriam must find a way to reach the Tramp and discover its purpose.
If you’re old enough to know the culture of the early 1960s and were an sf reader at the time, you must love this novel! Modern readers may balk at the depiction of African-American characters, but I assure you they are not intended to be demeaning. As you read, take a close look at all the actors; before, during and after, and you’ll see the author’s delicate strokes. Fast paced, fun POV jumping technique; very intuitive. Yes, I love it because it was fundamental to that moment of my life when the Beat Generation was dying and right before the hippy/revolutionary generation. Of course, the characters that read like they were drawn from an sf reader club of the time also surprised me.
The reviewer reflects on their experience of reading “The Wanderer” by Fritz Leiber, which they first read as a teenager and which still terrifies them decades later. They praise Leiber’s skill in gradually revealing the true scope of the danger faced by humanity, and creating a large cast of memorable characters. Though some aspects of the book may seem dated to modern readers, the reviewer considers it a true science fiction epic that all SF fans should read.
