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  • The Very First Damned Thing

  • An Author-Read Audio Exclusive
  • By: Jodi Taylor
  • Narrated by: Jodi Taylor
  • Length: 2 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (2,310 ratings)
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The Very First Damned Thing cover art

The Very First Damned Thing

By: Jodi Taylor
Narrated by: Jodi Taylor
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Summary

Audible is delighted to bring you an exclusive, author-read production of The Very First Damned Thing. Hear it here first, months ahead of the EBook publication.

Jodi Taylor reads the long-awaited prequel in her Chronicles of St Mary’s series, as Dr Bairstow struggles to set up St Mary’s as we know it in a world still scarred by the ravages of civil war.

Ever wondered how it all began? It’s two years since the final victory at the Battersea Barricades. The fighting might be finished, but for Dr Bairstow, just now setting up St Mary's, the struggle is only beginning.

How will he assemble his team? From where will his funding come? How can he overcome the massed ranks of the Society for the Protection of Historical Buildings? How do stolen furniture, a practical demonstration at the Stirrup Charge at Waterloo, students’ alcohol-ridden urine, a widowed urban guerrilla, a young man wearing exciting knitwear and four naked security guards all combine to become the St Mary’s of the future?

©2015 Jodi Taylor (P)2015 Audible Ltd.

What listeners say about The Very First Damned Thing

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,263
  • 4 Stars
    586
  • 3 Stars
    314
  • 2 Stars
    77
  • 1 Stars
    70
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    973
  • 4 Stars
    500
  • 3 Stars
    399
  • 2 Stars
    136
  • 1 Stars
    120
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,252
  • 4 Stars
    490
  • 3 Stars
    255
  • 2 Stars
    68
  • 1 Stars
    58

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Surprised

Something attracted me about the cover an the title and it was free so so thought I've give it a listen and found myself presently entertained not sure where the plot's going so I'll definitely be giving the first full story a listen

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable but sadly lacking Zara Ramm

I'm always going to enjoy the fantastic freebies in this series, but just didn't find it as engaging as usual.

Jodi Taylor was fine, but no Zara.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

super opening to the series

enjoyed the short story. you need to read all of the series. good light listening

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Iffy narrator- but it's the author

A prequel to the St Mary's stories but the second half of the story mainly focuses on how each of the cast members ends up on the team. The first half is almost a standalone episode.
The narration by the author starts off really quite poorly and does not improve much. The other stories are narrated by Zara Ram, for all Zara's faults she does a better job. Jodie should stick to writing in my opinion.
For fans of the chronicles of St Mary's this is worth having a listen to. But don't start out with it: listen to the other books, or some of them, first.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

If this series is new to you....

If this series is new to you, you are in for a treat. This is the first book chronological but it might help to know the main characters. Having said that, it is still a good listen..

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

"ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC" !!! WITTY, & ENTERTAINING !

This 'short story' chronicles how St Mary's History Department came into existence & gives some insight into some of the outrageous characters that will appear in the "St Mary's Chronicles" as a whole !!!
Jodi Taylor brings her own brand of witty insight into some major historical events and an amazingly DARK sense of humour,........
Which, with BRILLIANT story telling, combines into a hugely entertaining listen & a thoroughly enjoyable experience !!!!!!
I am VERY eagerly looking forward to enjoying further instalments of the St Mary's Chronicles !!!!!
The St Mary's Chronicles, follow a bunch of mad cap historians, as they bump & bash their way, back & forth through time & history !!!
With HUGE calamities, disastrous enterprises, fun & games & some history sometimes getting done, we follow the group & join them on their expeditions & delight in the humour & the sheer stupidity of some, share in their highs & lows !!!
All resulting in a brilliantly funny, twisted sense of humour, with some history in the mix, make for a thoroughly FANTASTIC listen !!!!!
I ĺove Jodi Taylor's writing & am EAGERLY looking forward to enjoying further instalments of the St Mary's Chronicles !!!!!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A refreshing approach to science fiction

I Thoroughly enjoyed this fun and cleverly humourous story. I look forward to how the characters and stories develop in the future and in the past More Please

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love it but please can we stick with Zara

Story was good and gave background.
Unfortunately while Jodi writes great books her skills may not lie in the narration of them.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not as badly narrated as others have said

Read by the author as if reading a bedtime story to a child. I found it quite amusing, and she read it very clearly. The story sets out how St Mary’s came to be, and provides a few clues to the origin of some of the key characters in subsequent books.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very First

Excellent short story written and preformed by the author. Quite entertaining, VERY British, good fun.

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