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‘48
- Narrated by: Robert Slade
- Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
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‘48
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Editor reviews
With this riveting work of science fiction, James Herbert imagines an alternate history in which Hitler detonates a lethal biological weapon, unleashing an apocalyptic plague known as the Blood Death. The story follows American pilot Hoke, one of the few surviving humans with a natural immunity to the illness. Hoke is chased through war-ravaged London streets by Nazi thugs, desperate to steal his blood so they might escape a slow death from the deadly disease. In his drawling, husky baritone, actor Robert Slade personifies the rugged Hoke, weary and jaded from life on the run, but tough as nails nevertheless. Slade matches the action and suspense of Herbert’s thriller, the urgency in his voice ebbing and flowing as Hoke defies his pursuers time and again.
Summary
The running man. In 1945, Hitler unleashes the Blood Death on Britain as his final act of vengeance. Hoke, an American pilot and one of a tiny minority with a rare blood group unaffected by the deadly disease, has survived alone among the debris and the dead of London for three years. Now, in '48, a slow-dying group of Fascist Blackshirts believe their only hope is a complete transfusion of blood from one of Hoke's kind.
Ever more desperate as their deaths approach, they're after his blood. Running for his life, Hoke is rescued by other survivors and together they're pursued in a spectacular but deadly chase through London's ravaged streets and historic landmarks, reaching a dramatic and explosive climax at the top of Tower Bridge.
James Herbert was one of Britain’s greatest popular novelists and our #1 best-selling writer of chiller fiction. Widely imitated and hugely influential, he wrote 23 novels which have collectively sold over 54 million copies worldwide and been translated into 34 languages. Born in London in the forties, James Herbert was art director of an advertising agency before turning to writing fiction in 1975.
His first novel, The Rats, was an instant best seller and is now recognised as a classic of popular contemporary fiction. Herbert went on to publish a new top ten best-seller every year until 1988. He wrote six more bestselling novels in the 1990s and three more since: Once, Nobody True and The Secret of Crickley Hall. Herbert died in March 2013 at the age of 69.
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What listeners say about ‘48
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Peter Jenkins
- 14-03-19
48 James Herbert.
Not as good as the Fog and noway as good as the Rats trilogy, but not that bad either. I enjoyed the alternate historical line that James took but got so dammed frustrated that the hero was once again an American, as the book was set in London, what was wrong with a Brit? I suppose he had to pander to the American market. That aside i would give the book a 3 out of 5. I felt that his over descriptions of the guns and motorcycle were used as filler, that he had to get so many words in to complete the novel. Not a bad read but not one of his best. I will give this an extra star due to the narration of Robert Slade. Excellent narration.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Antony Allen
- 30-04-22
smash the fascists
Great story that could easily be a movie. action packed from start t9 finish. However this action isn't carried by the narrator. having listed to most of James Herbert's books on audible most narrators have a urgency in their voice building excitement when the story builds. For some reason this is lacking here?
Apart from this one small niggle I would recommend this book to anyone after a shortish exciting story .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 05-12-22
Herbert smashes it out the park again
As usual James doesn’t fail to entertain. I was unable to stop listening to this one
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customerm
- 08-09-20
pure phantasy
well written keeps you spell bound great narrative great to listen to on the train brilliant 🦻
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sam Taylor
- 08-01-23
Loved it
Huge fan of end of the world / apocalypse stories and this didn’t disappoint. Good performance throughout by the narrator. Found the ending needed a bit more focus than the rest of the story but that could have been me, easy to re listen and very enjoyable
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-05-14
I so wanted to like this book but...
What did you like best about '48? What did you like least?
The story had great premise, but dwelt far too much and far too much on decaying bodies. Plus the story line has some glaring holes in it about survival of the 'plague'
What was most disappointing about James Herbert’s story?
It was all a bit dull. I did persevere until the end, and I really wanted to like the book, as I think it was James Herbert's last book.
Have you listened to any of Robert Slade’s other performances? How does this one compare?
This is the first Robert Slade performance I've listened to, and thought he did a good job with rather poor material.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Hazel
- 07-06-22
enjoyable
despite the horrors of a dieing world their are many sweet scenes with human and animal but also many heart ranching... the books story along with its naration kept me hooked and finding myself staying up to listen to just one more chapter.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Cindy
- 18-06-22
Need to be in the right mood to listen.
Could not get into this story. I had it on in the background but my mind kept wandering. I will try and listen to it again when in a better mood so I can concentrate. I've given it an overall of 4 stars as narrator was good and the bits I was able to listen too were ok . A typical James Herbert book.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 19-06-22
Started good
Really enjoyed this book, but the last half an hour spoilt it,
Dragged on for no reason.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mixed feelings
- 16-07-22
Great read
Fast paced story relevant to current circumstance, we a pandemic virus, with good historical context..
Would recommend if you enjoy, also read Lockdown, by different author.
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