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  • The Dispatcher

  • By: John Scalzi
  • Narrated by: Zachary Quinto
  • Length: 2 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,574 ratings)

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The Dispatcher cover art

The Dispatcher

By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Zachary Quinto
Free with 30-day trial

$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

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Publisher's Summary

Winner, 2017 APA Audie Awards - Original Work

Zachary Quinto - best known for his role as the Nimoy-approved Spock in the recent Star Trek reboot and the menacing, power-stealing serial killer, Sylar, in Heroes - brings his well-earned sci-fi credentials and simmering intensity to this audio-exclusive novella from master storyteller John Scalzi.

One day, not long from now, it becomes almost impossible to murder anyone - 999 times out of a thousand, anyone who is intentionally killed comes back. How? We don't know. But it changes everything: war, crime, daily life.

Tony Valdez is a Dispatcher - a licensed, bonded professional whose job is to humanely dispatch those whose circumstances put them in death's crosshairs, so they can have a second chance to avoid the reaper. But when a fellow Dispatcher and former friend is apparently kidnapped, Tony learns that there are some things that are worse than death and that some people are ready to do almost anything to avenge a supposed wrong.

It's a race against time for Valdez to find his friend before it's too late...before not even a Dispatcher can save him.

©2016 John Scalzi (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"The hero of this book is narrator Zachary Quinto, who makes a potentially confusing story simple and compelling. With a voice that sounds trained, he reaches right through the speakers and grabs listeners, making them want—no, need—to listen." (AudioFile)

"Quinto has a perfect hardboiled noir manner, which is exactly what you’d want for Valdez." (Locus Magazine)

What listeners say about The Dispatcher

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting read.

I started this book with no information on what it was about and quickly became interested in the phenomena that had occurred and the philosophical debate.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great sci fi thriller

The concept is great and it is explored in a variety of ways which I appreciated. Quinto is delightful to listen to. My only negative would be the book tends to be dialogue heavy but this is hardly affects the enjoyment. I wouldn't be surprised to see this adapted to film one day.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Speculative, not hard SF. Worth the time.

An excellent detective story riffing off the logical consequences of a speculative idea.
Masterfully read, the characters were differentially voiced without being overly done.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Amy
  • 06-03-2017

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Perfect, perfect pairing. The short was a little different from the Scalzi books I've read, and I loved it. Quinto is a perfect narrator. Loved it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

WOW!

I just loved the story and it was made so much better by a great narrator.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A very original crime story

The story worked so well, it was perfectly cinematic. Download this, buy it, and indulge in all the wonders of this gritty, imaginative and thrilling crime drama.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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very interesting idea for a story

this was a very enjoyable story it wasn't predictable and looks like a great prelude to more stories about the same character

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Interesting Story

This was very much out of my comfort zone. But, I really enjoyed(not quite the right word) this book.
Such an interesting premise and then with a mystery thrown in. Made for a book that I really had to listen to till the end.
I think it would also make a good start for anotger book. I'd really love to know some more about the main characters Valdez (The Dispatcher) and the police lady .
If you want to listen to something different I would highly recommend this book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great short story, brilliant narration!

Zachary Quinto has done an AMAZING job narrating this very good story. His ability to craft individual voices for each character is phenomenal.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very surprised by this one.

I downloaded this book because it was free. one of the best I've listened to.

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