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The Reservoir cover art

The Reservoir

By: David Duchovny
Narrated by: David Duchovny
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Summary

The Reservoir follows an unexceptional man in an exceptional time. We see our present-day pandemic world and New York City through the eyes of a former Wall Street veteran, Ridley, as he, in his enforced quarantined solitude, looks back upon his life. He examines his wins, his failures, the gnawing questions - his career, his divorce, his estranged daughter - and questions what it all means and who he really was. 

Sitting and brooding night after night, gazing out his huge picture window high above the Central Park reservoir, Ridley spots a flashing light in an apartment across the park as if a lonely quarantined person is signaling him in Morse code. His determination to find out who this mystery woman is, this fellow quarantine damsel in distress trapped in her own Fifth Avenue tower, leads him on an epic quest that will ultimately tempt him with either delusional madness or the fulfillment of his own mythic fate. Is he a dying man going mad or an Everyman metamorphosing into a hero? Or both? We accompany Ridley as he leaves the safety of his apartment window to save the Fifth Avenue femme fatale and descends into a dangerous, increasingly surreal world of the global conspiracies, madness, and sickness of this viral time; beyond that, into the enduring mysteries of love and fatherhood; and deeper still, into the bedrock mystery of life itself. As Ridley's actions grow more and more uncharacteristic, he realizes the key to all the mysteries of now and even all of history seem to lie deep beneath the freezing waters of the reservoir.

The Reservoir is a twisted rom-com for our distanced time when the merest touch could kill and conspiracy theories propagate like viruses - a present-day union of Death in Venice, Rear Window, and The Plague.

©2021 David Duchovny (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

What listeners say about The Reservoir

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A Good Starter Duchovny

Narrated fantastically by Duchovny, this novella is more a slice-of-life story rather than a full narrative, and so can feel somewhat empty by the end in that respect, but the journey itself was enjoyable thanks to some fantastic expressions and similes by Duchovny.

A good test to see if you enjoy the writer's style, but not one of his must-reads

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Great storyteller

it was good to hear David Reading his own story. intriguing and shocking. true to so many situations during covid and beyond.

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Reflections of a dying man!

I am moved to tears after listening to this short story by David Duchovny, and had to write a review. I have always loved his psychological approach to his writing and this was no exception. Also the way he combines abstract fantasy with hints of realism. This story of a dying man, losing himself in darkly, disturbing dreams of longing, with comical elements being thrown in haphazardly, was so very powerful! A figure drowning in his own delirium, reaching back to the past, where his daughter was and still is his shinning light. My only problem was the sound itself which was rather distorted at times - too much bass which made it resonate. Hope he releases this in print, or maybe write a book of short stories?

Oh, and I also hate mobile phones!

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Fox Mulder

What the heck was that all about, I'm not sure if it was good or bad.

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Short and sweet

Another great story from David. I love his words and the way the story has a twist. This was funny and sad and I really enjoyed it. Thanks David

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Unexpectedly enthralling!

Went in not knowing anything about the author, but loving his voice from his acting roles I thought I'd give it a go. Turns out the man can write! What started as "at least it's not too long" quickly turned into "it's not enough!". The story flowed effortlessly but very compelling despite of or because of (still pondering that) the few characters. And having it read to you gives lots of free head space for thinking. Very glad I tried it and now of to find more books from Mr D.

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Poetic and moving

Beautifully written and evocative. Taking a short journey with a complicated hero with a moving and oddly heartwarming conclusion. There are descriptions within the piece that evoke emotions that at some time or another every human has to have felt even if quite intangibly.

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well that took a turn...

beautifully written but my god that took a turn. shame really. it started so well

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Great delivery from the author

I really liked the integration of recent events with the timeless themes of desire, loneliness and agency (or lack of) in death. Life is a mystery.

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