Narrated by Christopher Ryan Grant, The River Saga: The Complete Series by Nathan Hystad has a runtime of 54 hrs 33 mins on Audible.
Publisher’s Summary
Contains books 1–4 of The River Saga.
First Life, book one:
A dangerous expedition. Extraterrestrial alliances. Unpredictable enemies.
Colton Beck has six months to live. He works for the Angor near Los Angeles, aware that any day could be his last.
The Angor arrived twenty years ago, resolved to help mankind survive, but not everyone believes their motives are honorable.
When the Angor offer humanity a colony world, Colton is determined to see another planet before his final breath. He’s been diagnosed with Xeno, a rare disorder that surfaced with the Angor’s arrival, but he won’t let this stop him.
With the help of his old friend Indie Hart, now the single most powerful human on Earth, he joins the Expedition to Dicore. They access the River, an alien technology that allows nearly instantaneous travel between worlds, and their universe is quickly expanded. What they find on Dicore is far from idyllic, and Colton struggles to navigate their new existence while coping with his impending death.
Second Chance, book two:
A fresh start. An old friend. A terrible enemy.
Colton Beck has a new lease on life. His alliance is confident they can find their enemy in the Alruna system, and it’s all hands on deck. After the revelation of his origins from the mysterious woman on Dicore, Colton is at odds with where his loyalties stand.
The truth behind Indie Hart’s dedication to the Angor is revealed, making Colton doubt her motives as well as the Angor’s.
When Earth is threatened, it’ll take a lot more than one man to save the planet.
With the help of Colton’s allies, they find the source of the River and discover its connection to the Rusa.
All pieces come together for a cataclysmic resolution, but who can Colton truly trust?
Third Party, book three:
A missing ally. A secret world. A second colony.
With the Surial gone, Colton Beck has a chance to rebuild the Rusa race. Colton embarks on a dangerous journey to find answers, bringing his closest allies along for the ride. Each objective is a step toward repopulating Nulit, but the ultimate price might be higher than they’re willing to offer.
Now that the truth about the Angor has been realized, the Unity Accord will never be the same. Colton is determined to ensure his people’s position over the fabled Ocean, even if it tears the Unity apart.
When someone from Desmond’s past returns to haunt him, history threatens to repeat itself.
The Realms, book four:
A dangerous mission. A fresh beginning. A worthy opponent.
Colton Beck has done the improbable. With the aid of his allies, he managed to save the Rusa. Just when they think it’s time to focus on their new planet, Desmond returns, asking for a favor.
The Ministry of Realms, thought to be destroyed by Drunal years before, still exists, and they’re hiding in the deep reaches of the River.
To find them, the team follows a trail of clues, leading to a surprise, no one could have expected.
Audiobook Details
- Narrated by: Christopher Ryan Grant
- Length: 54 hrs 33 mins
- Publisher: Podium Audio
- Release year: 2024
- Audible category: Science Fiction & Fantasy / Science Fiction / Military
Listener Ratings
The River Saga: The Complete Series holds an average listener rating of 4.3/5 from 479 Audible ratings.
On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:
- Performance (narration): 4.6/5
- Story: 4.2/5
- 5-star ratings: 59% of all ratings
What Audible Listeners Are Saying
5/5 stars — “The characters are incredible! “
I must say, this author is an incredible science fiction writer. I often find myself completely absorbed in the story. Occasionally, I encounter little distractions that pull me out of the experience—one of my biggest frustrations in science fiction is when authors fail to adequately describe their characters. However, that is more than compensated for by the sheer creativity on display here.The scope of this author’s imagination is astonishing. The alien races are unusual, fascinating, and richly developed. Their social structures, histories, and interactions are layered with remarkable depth and complexity. What impresses me most is the way the author creates not just individual characters, but an entire universe of interconnected civilizations, each with histories spanning thousands, millions, and sometimes even billions of years. Somehow, it all feels cohesive and believable.
The storytelling is clever, creative, and deeply engaging. The characters are unique and compelling; they constantly leave me wanting to learn more about them and the worlds they inhabit. The entire River saga was an incredible experience. I am completely hooked and eager to read every piece of literature this author has written.
This, to me, is what great science fiction is all about. Science fiction should challenge the imagination, expand the boundaries of possibility, and introduce readers to worlds and beings unlike anything they have encountered before. Too many modern science fiction authors neglect the art of creating truly memorable and imaginative characters. This author embraces it wholeheartedly.
Well done. An engaging, creative, and unforgettable work filled with extraordinary characters and a universe that continually inspires wonder.
— KM, Audible listener
4/5 stars — “Four for One pretty good”
Want a long book/series to keep you entertained? The River is a good one. There were times that I zoned out while listening (in fairness can happen with any book) but I never found myself lost. Characters had some interesting arch’s and changes. Story was interesting, but maybe slightly rushed. Worth a listen.— The Great Cornholio, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “good series “
This is a good series. It keeps you interested and you start understanding all about the characters.— Monteac79, Audible listener
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