I listened to The Dispatcher by John Scalzi on audio, read by Zachary Quinn. It’s a short novel which was originally written for audio and so the medium suits it well. It’s a clever story which I enjoyed a lot and I see that there are now two sequels. I like John Scalzi’s fiction and have written some reviews of his books here and here.
One day, the world changes and anyone who is murdered returns immediately to life in the place they love the best. This makes murder impossible but also introduces the new profession of dispatcher – people who kill others who are in a near death situation so that they can try again. Tony Valdez is a dispatcher who has to join with the police to find a missing best friend before he dies permanently.
The book explores the concept with lots of stories and examples of what could happen and looks at how this new situation could be used for good and for evil. It’s very clever and the author is good at showing the impact of the change and the unexpected outcomes. Tony has worked on the shadier side of the business and introduces us to people who use the new situation very much to their own advantage.
I’m not sure that the concept would hold up for a full length novel but this short length is absolutely ideal and this book is captivating. I was completely gripped by the story, I enjoyed the witty way in which it is told, and I connected with Tony and his way of looking at life. I recommend this book and suggest that you might enjoy the audio version which is brilliantly told.
Anne Is Reading 