by Rudy Rucker
Published 2019
"Rucker’s four Ware novels—Software, Wetware , Freeware , and Realware—form an extraordinary cyberweird future history with the heft of an epic fantasy novel and the speed of a quantum processor. Still exuberantly fresh despite their age, they primarily follow two characters (and their descendants): Cobb Anderson, who instigated the first robot revolution and is offered immortality by his grateful “children,” and stoner Sta-Hi Mooney, who (against his impaired better judgment) becomes an important figure in robot-human relations. Over several generations, humans, robots, drugs, and society evolve, but even weird drugs and the wisdom gathered from interstellar signals won’t stop them from making the same old mistakes in new ways. Rucker is both witty and serious as he combines hard science and sociology with unrelentingly sharp observations of all self-replicating beings. This classic series well deserves its omnibus repackaging, particularly suitable for libraries." — Publisher's Weekly. "Rudy Rucker is one of the modern heroes of science fiction, one of the original cyberpunks. The early cyberpunks only had a few writers who could be meaningfully called punks — writers like John Shirley and Richard Kadrey — but there was only one who could truly be called cyber: Rudy Rucker. Rucker is a mad professor, a mathematician and computer scientist with a serious, scholarly interest in the limits of computation and the physics and mathematics of higher-dimension geometry. But that’s just about the only thing you can describe as 'serious' when it comes to Rucker. He’s a gonzo wildman, someone for whom 'trippy' barely scratches the surface. His work is shot through with weird sex, weird drugs, weird brain chemistry, and above all, weird science." — Cory Doctorow
These are AI narrators you can listen to with your own EPUB on ElevenLabs or Fish Audio. How does it work?
Top voices for narrating this book
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Excited
“This voice's bright, upbeat energy and playful expressiveness perfectly capture the narrator's dynamic and eccentric nature, ideal for conveying complex, 'cyberweird' concepts with wit.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Upbeat
“The energetic and upbeat tone of this voice lends itself well to the high-energy demands of the narrator, ensuring engagement across both witty and serious observations.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Intense
“With a dramatic and passionate delivery, this voice offers the range and expression needed to navigate the wild and complex narrative of the future, adding depth to the storytelling.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Excited
“A life-like, deep-toned voice with wide emotional range, this choice provides the narrative presence required for a storyteller who must convey both intricate scientific ideas and the book's unique atmosphere.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Upbeat
“The cheerful and energetic quality of this voice makes it suitable for a narrator who needs to maintain a lively pace and engaging tone throughout the audiobook, balancing serious moments with a vibrant delivery.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
The brilliant, long-lived instigator of the robot revolution. His voice should convey deep intelligence, a sense of history, and quiet authority, perhaps with a touch of weariness.
American · Old · Male · Narrative Story · Confident
“This voice's rich, resonant baritone, carrying the weight of experience, perfectly embodies Cobb's long-lived history and deep intelligence, offering a sense of gravitas.”
Male · Old · Deep · Calm · Wise · Middle-Aged · +6 more
“The deep, calm, and wise qualities of this voice are an excellent match for Cobb Anderson, conveying his quiet wisdom and the weariness of a revolutionary leader.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Modulated
“Evoking ancient wisdom and calm gravitas, Reuven's deep, measured baritone is ideal for a character like Cobb, who possesses immense intelligence and a historical perspective.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Deep
“Declan Sage's wise and deliberate delivery, coupled with a slight husky quality, provides the perfect texture for a character with deep intelligence and a touch of weariness, fitting Cobb's profile well.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Wise
“The wise and seasoned narration, blending stoic philosophy with real-life lessons, makes this voice a strong contender for Cobb, highlighting his deep understanding and historical significance.”
A stoner who unexpectedly becomes a pivotal figure. His voice should be relaxed and somewhat laid-back, perhaps a bit hesitant or unenthusiastic at times, reflecting his 'impaired better judgment'.
American · Young · Male · Narrative Story · Relaxed
“Kevin's gentle, calm, and relaxed American boy's voice is a perfect fit for Sta-Hi Mooney, capturing his laid-back, unenthusiastic, stoner persona with a soothing tone.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Soft · Breathy · Intimate · +3 more
“This soft-spoken, intimate voice with a gentle, breathy quality and measured pace accurately reflects Sta-Hi's relaxed demeanor, making it ideal for his somewhat hesitant character.”
American · Young · Male · Narrative Story · Gentle
“Jay's calm, smooth, and slightly sleepy American voice is excellent for Sta-Hi, conveying his relaxed and somewhat introspective nature, fitting his 'impaired better judgment' trait.”
American · Young · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Lowy's soothing, gentle, and warm young male voice with an American accent works well for Sta-Hi, providing a soft and calm presence that underscores his laid-back personality.”