Now releasing The Hidden Institute by Brand Gamblin
Brand Gamblin is back with his second book on the site. Check out The Hidden Institute:
Rising above your station can be deadly.
Cliffy is a child born on the streets of a Neo-Victorian world. Witnesses to a murder, he blackmails a nobleman, receiving a unique bribe. In exchange for his silence, the nobleman introduces him to the Malcolm Rutherford Holden Institute of Regentrification. There, Cliffy learns to walk, talk, and act like a nobleman, so that he may infiltrate high society. But that type of fraud is punishable by death, and when Cliffy uncovers a plot to assassinate a head of state, he’s hunted by more than just the aristocracy.
Royal intrigue, daring escapes, sub-dermal machines, and bear polo. A grand adventure in a not-so-distant world.
April 18th, 2011 at 5:40 am
Wonderful! I hope you do like it. I have other episodes already produced, so I should be able to keep the podiobook updated.
April 18th, 2011 at 7:55 am
Here’s hoping that Hidden Institute is as much fun as Tumbler was!
April 18th, 2011 at 11:07 am
@Barry : Some say it’s even better.
April 19th, 2011 at 12:46 am
Great book, I can’t wait for the next chapters. Brand is definitely a multifaceted author, I would never have guessed “The hidden Institute” and “Tumbler” are both from Brand Gamblin. Check out “Tumbler” if you haven’t yet it’s also great.
April 19th, 2011 at 5:28 am
@Mark : Thank you very much! We should have another five episodes up soon, and I hope you like them just as much.
April 21st, 2011 at 8:01 am
I’m thoroughly enjoying this story. I also listened to Tumbler, another good tale. Makes me wonder what other worlds you have spinning under the hood. More please.
April 21st, 2011 at 11:55 am
This really is a great book, which makes waiting on new episodes quite painful.
April 21st, 2011 at 8:13 pm
@Joan Thanks! As it happens, I’m just about done with my snowflake process, and ready to start writing on the next book, which is a slipstream futuristic/fantasy story. Hope to have more info on that soon.
April 21st, 2011 at 8:15 pm
@Aaron Sorry for the delay. I’ve uploaded the last five episodes, so they should be available soon. If it will help alleviate your pain, you can buy the print and e-book online at Amazon.
(shameless plug)
April 22nd, 2011 at 8:48 am
I’m enjoying the book so far. The only thing I would hesitantly complain of is the constant musical interlude. While the music is nice, it seems a little much to put such a long pause between every significant phrase of the story. Otherwise, good job! I look forward to more from you in the future.
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Great story. looking forward to more from this world. was truly an enjoyable story and the steampunk elements did not distract from the story telling as it does in most steampunk stories. Cliffy was a great hero, hope to hear more of his adventures. Well done, Brand
April 22nd, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Exceeding expectations! Vivid characters, great delivery. Ripping good stuff here!!!
April 25th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Fantastic story! Well written, like the characters as well as the reading. My one recommendation would be for less music. By episode 8 I was in the “Oh enough music already” phase. Music is to hyper for the story and there should be less.
April 28th, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Thank you very much for this book! It was wonderful! I listened to it in only three days.
May 6th, 2011 at 9:42 am
[...] an e-Book, and in print.He is currently posting his latest novel, The Hidden Institute, on Podiobooks.com.You can find Brand Gamblin around the web at:Blog Site: Brandg.comTwitter: @BrandgOther NotesOur [...]
May 23rd, 2011 at 8:33 am
What a great story that was over to soon, I could have used a whole other book from the time Cl iffy left the institute and the royal ball. On the audio side it was a superb narration a pleasure to listen to.
Now off to check out Tumbler
May 24th, 2011 at 4:24 am
@Damon: Thanks! I’m glad you liked it. And yeah, one of the big complaints about the story is that it’s over too soon. In my spare time, I’ve been working on a short story in the same world. More news as that develops.
May 25th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
What a pleasant listen! I’m a knit-picker, and i actually had so much fun listening to this story that i didn’t find anything bad about it! Fun, action packed, likable characters and superb writing. …I agree with one commenter about the annoying music breaks, but i wonder if i would have even noticed if i didn’t see it pointed out by someone else.
I would listen to anything else written by this author. 10 stars all the way!
May 31st, 2011 at 8:47 am
@cynikat: Thank you very much. It’s always a treat to hear that someone really enjoyed the book.
I’m currently working on another book, and while it is not in this same universe, I hope you’ll like it just as much.
June 6th, 2011 at 5:58 am
I have only one complaint, and one only….this book is way too short! I love your reading style and I found the story to be fresh and unique! Thank you very much.
June 7th, 2011 at 8:13 pm
@miz: Thanks very much! And yeah, I know it feels kinda short. If I ever re-do it, I’ll put in more Bear Polo and politically dangerous parties.
June 8th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Just finished listening to this and loved it. The story is excellent, the writing a treat, and the author does a great job bringing the characters to life with his voice. A very vivid experience all round.
July 11th, 2011 at 12:44 am
I have worked my way through episode 12 and agree that the story is very good. The narration and sound quality are equally good. I would tend to agree somewhat with ‘Asher’ about the musical interludes. They are somewhat too long for the intended service as ‘dramatic pause’ between segments and chapters. But that is a small point, since the production is really quite enjoyable as a whole. Thumbs up!
July 16th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
[...] He is currently posting his latest novel, The Hidden Institute, on Podiobooks.com. [...]
July 16th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
[...] He is currently posting his latest novel, The Hidden Institute, on Podiobooks.com. [...]
July 16th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
[...] He is currently posting his latest novel, The Hidden Institute, on Podiobooks.com. [...]
November 3rd, 2011 at 10:07 am
Loved the book. The narration was great and the story really hooked me. The only complaint I had, and this is just personal opinion, is that the musical interludes were too long. Looking forward to future works!
July 29th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Really enjoyed this book, it was like “David Copperfield” meets “A Clockwork Orange”. Personally I love the imagined neo-victorian language excellent very original and I wish there were more (as any good story should).
August 7th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
Thanks! I’m really glad you liked the story. Since you mentioned additional material, I should let you know that there’s a short story called “The Kody’s Shame, or Let Sleeping Bears Lie”, available from Flying Island Press. The Kody’s Shame is a short story about how our friend Dizzy has to figure out who’s been doping polo bears owned by a mafia gangster.
Also, I’m 20k words into the next book in the Hidden Institute series, called “Invito Rex.”