Excellent presentation.. understand the use of AI for narration, but I think it would be better with a human narrator.. look forward to the next 2 books.. very good.. thank you..
Hey Brian - these will get the full human narrator treatment. The narrators I'm working with are doing Sever Squad at the moment, but they'll be moving on to the rest of my work eventually (including these). I'll post updates as they come out. Thanks for the kind words and for listening!
I find the voice irritating, bit the amount of work involved in organizing a full cast reading is massive, so, if you're in the process of doing that, I don't envy you. I'll adapt to the voice. Lol
Enjoyed this quite a bit. People are trashing the ai reader, but I find it kind of appropriate considering the content, hah. This feels like a real thriller and while I'm sure I could nitpick, I'm excited for the next one. Well done.
@@BlackKeyBooks absolutely. The concept and scope of starship is interesting and starting off from the point of view of Gamma in that part of the story's timeline was a cool choice. As the scope of the mission begins to expand before your eyes bit by bit and tidbits of the history are sprinkled more and more it really builds that tension. Already listening to book two now. Enjoyable on my commute. Keep up the good work.
With this one, the start was more challenging as I wanted to work with the idea of a machine waking up and learning how to 'operate'. Made for a bit slower start than most of my other stories, but the series picks up the pace as it goes along. As to your question - yes, the plan is to post the next two every other week (expect book 2 on the 31st). The whole trilogy is available in print/ebook as well if that's more your speed. Thanks for listening and glad you enjoyed the story!
I am really enjoying this story and would have to disagree with the comments about the AI narrator. I agree that it would be preferable to give the job of narration to a human, however this narration is vastly superior to some of those readers I have encountered. Apart from the occassional mistaken emphasis in a phrase the tone inflection speed and p colour in the AI voice is pleasing in my opinion.
Thanks for the kind words about the story - I'm continuing to 'get better' at working with the AI on these projects, but at the same time, I'm absolutely getting all of these professionally narrated as well. The Farthest Star is available (and its sequel will be out shortly, with the whole series completed by mid summer) on virtually all the retailers, narrated by Jay, who's done other narrated books on this channel. I enjoy making the AI editions because they're fun to create and upload here, and I'll always treasure the great performances the narrators turn in. Regardless, thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
The voice pattern is low tech and grinds against the supposed advanced brain of the AI/Computer on the ship. Listening this for a long while makes it bearable, sorta. An advanced brain with a low tech voice takes getting used to.The story is interesting. The vocabulary used is also advanced versus the voice... Like a well adapted child reading a novel aloud for the first time (pun intended). Ah, there is no tonality or inflection to the voice. Some might go find a stick to strike the Animatron across the head to get it to shut it up! Imagine me speaking in this voice saying - "I-have-to-leave-to-save-my-sanity... I-am-fading-fading-fading-fading-away." Blip!
Fair enough - I'm in the process of getting these pro-narrated (and will be making full-cast AI versions with an updated model), so that should make for a more dynamic listening experience. Appreciate the feedback/opinion, though, and thanks for listening!
Hey captain - I'd be curious to know what part of the video you're hearing a clicking noise. If there's an audio issue I'd be happy to try and fix it. Otherwise, thanks for listening, and take care!
Fair enough - you can get the ebook for The Farthest Star for free if you prefer (links are in the video description). Otherwise, pro-narrated versions will be coming eventually. Thanks for listening!
Hey Steven - totally fair to not be a fan of the AI Narrator. These books will (eventually) be professionally narrated - it just takes a lot longer for that to happen. You can find the first few Sever Squad books on Audible and such now (and Drop Zone's on here as an example) with the narrators I'm working with. The Farthest Star is also available in free ebook (and print) if you'd prefer the story that way. Regardless, thanks for dropping by and take care!
Point - it's definitely a balance between what's 'real' for the book and what's a pleasant listening experience. Both are so subjective that I'm working to provide different versions for different folks. Ultimately, if someone likes the story, I'd rather them not quit on it due to disliking the narration, no matter how appropriate a given style might be to the story itself.
Definitely not, though at the start of this book, the robotic feel of some things is intentional. The narrator is, after all, a machine, and part of this series (books 2 and 3 will be coming soon) is how Gamma grapples with human influences on their code and core functions, and the changes that brings about. Also, I primarily write action adventure sci-fi, so I promise, there's plenty of that in here too. Anyway, thanks for listening!
@@BlackKeyBooks My I make a suggestion - the beginning is where you (obviously) hook in your reader, with that in mind this computer 'gimmick', for want of a better word, might benefit with you giving more information; state in italics that this is a AI record, add a date, maybe a place, the reader can then forgive the robotic feel straight away and wants to know more?! You've succeeded more than 99% of us by writing a book 1, so good luck with 2 & 3.
That's a neat idea - while this trilogy is already written, that'd be a fun thing to try for a future series. Always appreciate considerate feedback, so thanks for offering it!
While I am having my books professionally (human) narrated (see Drop Zone's version on here for an example), it's more time-consuming and (far) more expensive. The AI is reasonably good enough to enjoy, and allows things like unique voices for characters, that simply aren't feasible for all but the most well-off authors. You're going to see a lot of stories in audio that otherwise would never have the sales to justify it, thanks to this, while the quality voice actors are, at least for now, going to continue putting out a premium performance. Best of both worlds, in my opinion.
Fair enough - this trilogy is getting the human narrated treatment likely early next year (the Riven Trilogy and The Skyward Saga are currently being narrated). I'll also be producing them with the full-cast audio you'll find in the currently going Hero's Code series here, so you'll have options. Appreciate you giving it a shot regardless!
AI narration is garbage. Makes for a very unpleasant experience. Not available as a legit audiobook, so this is the only option aside from reading an actual physical book 🤮
So these are early audio versions I made while editing the books themselves - the whole series is getting professionally (human) narrated early next year, and full cast versions (like the current Hero's Code series on here) as well. It just takes much longer to make either of those other versions (and, in the case of human narration, much more money as well), so we'll get there eventually. Appreciate you giving it a shot though - take care!
This one does start a bit slower than some of the other stories, in part because of what the narrator is. Boring is, of course, subjective, and you're going to like what you like, so thanks for giving this one a shot and take care!
For what it's worth, this one's available in free ebook, and will be coming out with human-narrated editions later this year/early next. Thanks for giving it a shot regardless, and take care!
That's fair - a couple things: 1. The Farthest Star is available on Audible/Spotify and elsewhere with professional (human) narration (the rest of the trilogy is coming soon!) 2. I'll be updating this version to match the full cast quality on most of the other series here in a few weeks, so check back then to get a 'more lively' edition. Regardless, thanks for stopping by!
This is an older AI edition (and will be updated soon). That said, you can get the professionally narrated version through the link in the video (it's on all the various stores and Spotify). I put the AI versions on RUclips more or less for fun, because narrated audio is very expensive to produce (rightfully so - artists and actors gotta eat too), so feel free to check that edition out, because Jay did an awesome job with the narration. Regardless, thanks for stopping by!
Excellent presentation.. understand the use of AI for narration, but I think it would be better with a human narrator.. look forward to the next 2 books.. very good.. thank you..
Hey Brian - these will get the full human narrator treatment. The narrators I'm working with are doing Sever Squad at the moment, but they'll be moving on to the rest of my work eventually (including these). I'll post updates as they come out. Thanks for the kind words and for listening!
After 4min. I have decided the same. I don’t think I can stand this style of narration for 10 hour.
I find the voice irritating, bit the amount of work involved in organizing a full cast reading is massive, so, if you're in the process of doing that, I don't envy you. I'll adapt to the voice. Lol
Perhaps the an AI narrator for an android is not the worst. lol
Great job . I'm really enjoying the book . Keep up the good work
Glad you're liking it - thanks for listening!
Enjoyed this quite a bit. People are trashing the ai reader, but I find it kind of appropriate considering the content, hah. This feels like a real thriller and while I'm sure I could nitpick, I'm excited for the next one. Well done.
Thanks for the kind words - it's comments like these that make a writer's day. Have a good one!
@@BlackKeyBooks absolutely. The concept and scope of starship is interesting and starting off from the point of view of Gamma in that part of the story's timeline was a cool choice. As the scope of the mission begins to expand before your eyes bit by bit and tidbits of the history are sprinkled more and more it really builds that tension. Already listening to book two now. Enjoyable on my commute. Keep up the good work.
Was a little slow to get into it but I am glad I persisted - Enjoyed the book and wonder if more of this series will be posted?
With this one, the start was more challenging as I wanted to work with the idea of a machine waking up and learning how to 'operate'. Made for a bit slower start than most of my other stories, but the series picks up the pace as it goes along.
As to your question - yes, the plan is to post the next two every other week (expect book 2 on the 31st). The whole trilogy is available in print/ebook as well if that's more your speed. Thanks for listening and glad you enjoyed the story!
I like this story with AI narrator I’m using 1.25 speed player works for me thanks for uploading.
What if the hooky pokey is what it’s all about?
Then we've been working too hard.
I was addicted to the hokey pokey, but I turned myself around....that's what it's all about
@@sethystevenson2021 😂
I am really enjoying this story and would have to disagree with the comments about the AI narrator. I agree that it would be preferable to give the job of narration to a human, however this narration is vastly superior to some of those readers I have encountered. Apart from the occassional mistaken emphasis in a phrase the tone inflection speed and p colour in the AI voice is pleasing in my opinion.
Thanks for the kind words about the story - I'm continuing to 'get better' at working with the AI on these projects, but at the same time, I'm absolutely getting all of these professionally narrated as well. The Farthest Star is available (and its sequel will be out shortly, with the whole series completed by mid summer) on virtually all the retailers, narrated by Jay, who's done other narrated books on this channel. I enjoy making the AI editions because they're fun to create and upload here, and I'll always treasure the great performances the narrators turn in. Regardless, thanks for listening, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
Thanks
You're welcome - thanks for listening!
Found this book on my phone while randomly searching for free books to read . Im on chapter 29 and im mcloving it lol
Awesome - glad you're enjoying it!
The voice pattern is low tech and grinds against the supposed advanced brain of the AI/Computer on the ship. Listening this for a long while makes it bearable, sorta. An advanced brain with a low tech voice takes getting used to.The story is interesting. The vocabulary used is also advanced versus the voice... Like a well adapted child reading a novel aloud for the first time (pun intended). Ah, there is no tonality or inflection to the voice. Some might go find a stick to strike the Animatron across the head to get it to shut it up! Imagine me speaking in this voice saying - "I-have-to-leave-to-save-my-sanity... I-am-fading-fading-fading-fading-away." Blip!
Fair enough - I'm in the process of getting these pro-narrated (and will be making full-cast AI versions with an updated model), so that should make for a more dynamic listening experience. Appreciate the feedback/opinion, though, and thanks for listening!
Well done. Can't tell if it's AI read.
Yes I feel something it’s better than nothing thanks
Appreciate the kind words - glad you enjoyed the story!
Found the robot
01:27:43
Some kind of clicking going on I can't stay here
Hey captain - I'd be curious to know what part of the video you're hearing a clicking noise. If there's an audio issue I'd be happy to try and fix it. Otherwise, thanks for listening, and take care!
AI READER GREAT
4:20:00
I love the story but the AI narration is unpleasant.
Fair enough - you can get the ebook for The Farthest Star for free if you prefer (links are in the video description). Otherwise, pro-narrated versions will be coming eventually. Thanks for listening!
@@BlackKeyBooks Thank you for the upload and the reply. It's an excellent story and much appreciated.
@BlackKeyBooks keep us posted on that!! I vet the pro narration will be epic!
AI reader. Awful.
Hey Steven - totally fair to not be a fan of the AI Narrator. These books will (eventually) be professionally narrated - it just takes a lot longer for that to happen. You can find the first few Sever Squad books on Audible and such now (and Drop Zone's on here as an example) with the narrators I'm working with. The Farthest Star is also available in free ebook (and print) if you'd prefer the story that way. Regardless, thanks for dropping by and take care!
It’s about robots I would imagine that’s how they would sound, use human voice for robots might be weird.
AI readers have improved so much over the years. I'm more impressed than anything else. Not as good as human narrators, but those cost $$
@@BlackKeyBooks . I don’t understand the big issue with robot reading this book because most of the characters are robots.
Point - it's definitely a balance between what's 'real' for the book and what's a pleasant listening experience. Both are so subjective that I'm working to provide different versions for different folks. Ultimately, if someone likes the story, I'd rather them not quit on it due to disliking the narration, no matter how appropriate a given style might be to the story itself.
sounds like its AI written too...
Definitely not, though at the start of this book, the robotic feel of some things is intentional. The narrator is, after all, a machine, and part of this series (books 2 and 3 will be coming soon) is how Gamma grapples with human influences on their code and core functions, and the changes that brings about. Also, I primarily write action adventure sci-fi, so I promise, there's plenty of that in here too. Anyway, thanks for listening!
@@BlackKeyBooks My I make a suggestion - the beginning is where you (obviously) hook in your reader, with that in mind this computer 'gimmick', for want of a better word, might benefit with you giving more information; state in italics that this is a AI record, add a date, maybe a place, the reader can then forgive the robotic feel straight away and wants to know more?! You've succeeded more than 99% of us by writing a book 1, so good luck with 2 & 3.
That's a neat idea - while this trilogy is already written, that'd be a fun thing to try for a future series. Always appreciate considerate feedback, so thanks for offering it!
👏 "Promo SM"
Dear Listeners AI is going take lot of books narrating on You Tube
While I am having my books professionally (human) narrated (see Drop Zone's version on here for an example), it's more time-consuming and (far) more expensive. The AI is reasonably good enough to enjoy, and allows things like unique voices for characters, that simply aren't feasible for all but the most well-off authors. You're going to see a lot of stories in audio that otherwise would never have the sales to justify it, thanks to this, while the quality voice actors are, at least for now, going to continue putting out a premium performance. Best of both worlds, in my opinion.
I think i would really enjoy this book if it was read by a human and not some ai, such a buzzkill
Fair enough - this trilogy is getting the human narrated treatment likely early next year (the Riven Trilogy and The Skyward Saga are currently being narrated). I'll also be producing them with the full-cast audio you'll find in the currently going Hero's Code series here, so you'll have options. Appreciate you giving it a shot regardless!
I didn't buy this book but I still want money back.
I mean, the ebook for this is free, so you're all set. Regardless, thanks for stopping by and giving it a listen. Take care!
AI narration is garbage. Makes for a very unpleasant experience.
Not available as a legit audiobook, so this is the only option aside from reading an actual physical book 🤮
So these are early audio versions I made while editing the books themselves - the whole series is getting professionally (human) narrated early next year, and full cast versions (like the current Hero's Code series on here) as well. It just takes much longer to make either of those other versions (and, in the case of human narration, much more money as well), so we'll get there eventually. Appreciate you giving it a shot though - take care!
Boring.
This one does start a bit slower than some of the other stories, in part because of what the narrator is. Boring is, of course, subjective, and you're going to like what you like, so thanks for giving this one a shot and take care!
Crap
Ah well, can't please everyone. Thanks for giving it a shot anyway!
Terrible AI reader
For what it's worth, this one's available in free ebook, and will be coming out with human-narrated editions later this year/early next. Thanks for giving it a shot regardless, and take care!
Very flat AI narration 😔
That's fair - a couple things:
1. The Farthest Star is available on Audible/Spotify and elsewhere with professional (human) narration (the rest of the trilogy is coming soon!)
2. I'll be updating this version to match the full cast quality on most of the other series here in a few weeks, so check back then to get a 'more lively' edition.
Regardless, thanks for stopping by!
Trash robo reader!!!!
This is an older AI edition (and will be updated soon). That said, you can get the professionally narrated version through the link in the video (it's on all the various stores and Spotify). I put the AI versions on RUclips more or less for fun, because narrated audio is very expensive to produce (rightfully so - artists and actors gotta eat too), so feel free to check that edition out, because Jay did an awesome job with the narration.
Regardless, thanks for stopping by!