Scan barcode
jessica3h's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
silenttardis's review against another edition
5.0
This was an awesome audiobook, I finished a couple of days ago the Hail Mary (audiobook) and I must say that this one is as good, if you liked the hail Mary you will like this one, maybe is not that big on science, but in the other hand the main character in this book sounds more relatable, he is a broken human with his fears, flaws and traumas just like you and me and I did enjoy that a lot.
And when Ray thinks about his past is not as detailed as in Andy weir books and that for me was a plus. The only down of this book is, that it is a trilogy and we will need to read what comes next to know the end of the story, but that is not a deal breaker for me.
Also the person that was reading this book, Scott Aiello was the PERFECT voice to give life to Ray, and all the cast of this book, this was 5 out of 5 I loved each minute of this audiobook. I highly recommend this Audiobook.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for the Wonderful AAC and this is my honest opinion.
And when Ray thinks about his past is not as detailed as in Andy weir books and that for me was a plus. The only down of this book is, that it is a trilogy and we will need to read what comes next to know the end of the story, but that is not a deal breaker for me.
Also the person that was reading this book, Scott Aiello was the PERFECT voice to give life to Ray, and all the cast of this book, this was 5 out of 5 I loved each minute of this audiobook. I highly recommend this Audiobook.
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for the Wonderful AAC and this is my honest opinion.
ljimenez89's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nicholeigh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bonzaklibo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
wolfmantula's review against another edition
4.5
I absolutely loved every moment of this! Last Man Standing is a riveting hybrid sci-fi, apocalyptic, mystery-thriller that’s tense, twisty and loads of fun! While I was reading this, my mind kept trying to find something that reminded me of this, it went all over the place from Gravity to Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day… but eventually I realized there was a perfect comp that was staring me right in the face with the title, and that’s when it hit me, the Fox sitcom starring Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth! TLMoE takes place on Earth, while LMS takes place on space station, though it does have a few elements, the story revolves around solving the mystery of how his fellow space station companions all died, who did it, and is happening everywhere else.
What hit me most about this was just how likable the main character, Ray Barclay is, Falconer did such a great job of making him a character to want to root for, from the moment he’s introduced, he just gave off a vibe that I really liked. As the story went on, I just started to like him even more, especially when he mentioned that everything he’s doing is to get back to his family. The development he went through and learning more about his past that lead to his growth to who he is now. With the comparison of the sitcom, Ray actually reminds me a bit of Forte’s character, of an ill-fated character that seems to always accidentally put himself into precarious situations while trying to fix something and causing another issue at the same time, it led to some fantastic giggles while being edgy. On top of all that, we must not forget the parrot, that’s another addition that made me giggle throughout the story.
“Curiosity killed the cat and it almost just got the human and the parrot, too.”
I love the decision to not only go with short chapters, but also go with a first person POV for the story, it made it a lot more engaging and a lot more fun when Ray got himself into situations that he had to get himself out of, I would like to talk about a lot of it, but at the same time, people need to experience it without knowing and have fun for the ride. The way this ends was perfect, I’m not gonna call it a cliff-hanger, but it had a somewhat happy-ish ending that left a tinge of excitement to see where things were going to lead in book 2. The narration by Scott Aiello made this story and Ray absolutely come alive, without his narration, I think this would’ve still been good, but it wouldn’t be near as good without him getting deep into character with Ray.
geirrka's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
mialeyden's review against another edition
5.0
This one was an easy 5 stars. It was entertaining, interesting, and light to read. I also liked Ray as a protagonist. He was smart and resourceful, but he didn't know what every single button in the station was for, so not everything came easy for him.
Also, I have nerve damage in my right hand as well, so I've never felt more identified with a character in such a fundamental way. Reading about all the little (and not so little) struggles Ray experienced regarding his hand was incredibly relatable.
If I had to nitpick something, I would say that Ray repeats himself often. But since that could be interpreted as a coping mechanism to deal with his situation, it didn't really bother me.
Definitely reading the next book soon.
Also, I have nerve damage in my right hand as well, so I've never felt more identified with a character in such a fundamental way. Reading about all the little (and not so little) struggles Ray experienced regarding his hand was incredibly relatable.
If I had to nitpick something, I would say that Ray repeats himself often. But since that could be interpreted as a coping mechanism to deal with his situation, it didn't really bother me.
Definitely reading the next book soon.
swilson4995's review against another edition
3.0
Last Man Standing is, as its title indicates, the story of one man's survival skills in the face of massive catastrophe. A scientist in the field of bleeding-edge energy sources, Ray is a visiting researcher on board a corporate-owned space station in near-future Earth's orbit. But when the day of his research breakthrough, a day meant to be filled with congrats and plans for home, gets interrupted by disaster, he'll call on every skill he has to make it home and save humanity.
Heavily reminiscent of Andy Weir's near future fiction, I nevertheless highly appreciated the mundane bend to the main character, Ray. He's an expert in his field, all right, but that doesn't mean he has a lick of sense or a clue where comes to any topic beyond the research that he's devoted his life to. I liked the realism inherent in that characterization: the myopia of advanced research that means, contrary to how scientists are often portrayed in fiction, they are not experts in everything.
As the readers, we are tightly wound up in Ray's perspective and backstory. The effect is humanizing, but can lean towards repetitive at times. He's not the most interesting character out there. However, beyond his thoughts about the matter the turning points and plot happenings carry on a stellar clip, with some reveals expected and others wholly surprising. Last Man Standing would be an enjoyable read (along with its follow-ups) for anyone enamoured of The Martian and looking for more.
Heavily reminiscent of Andy Weir's near future fiction, I nevertheless highly appreciated the mundane bend to the main character, Ray. He's an expert in his field, all right, but that doesn't mean he has a lick of sense or a clue where comes to any topic beyond the research that he's devoted his life to. I liked the realism inherent in that characterization: the myopia of advanced research that means, contrary to how scientists are often portrayed in fiction, they are not experts in everything.
As the readers, we are tightly wound up in Ray's perspective and backstory. The effect is humanizing, but can lean towards repetitive at times. He's not the most interesting character out there. However, beyond his thoughts about the matter the turning points and plot happenings carry on a stellar clip, with some reveals expected and others wholly surprising. Last Man Standing would be an enjoyable read (along with its follow-ups) for anyone enamoured of The Martian and looking for more.