AL:ICE Boxed Set by Charles Lamb

AL:ICE Boxed Set

Marines, AI, and a time-warped survival gauntlet

Written byCharles Lamb
Narrated byDavid Drummond
Length42h02m
Release dateJanuary 26, 2021
LanguageEnglish
★★★★ 4.2 (181 ratings)

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Quick Facts

AuthorCharles Lamb
NarratorDavid Drummond
Runtime42h02m
PublishedJanuary 26, 2021
Rating★★★★ 4.2 / 5 (181 ratings)
CategoriesScience Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Military, Post-Apocalyptic, Space Opera
FormatAudiobook (Digital)
PlatformAudible

About This Audiobook

*AL:ICE* isn’t just another military sci-fi slog—it’s a brutal, high-stakes experiment in survival, where a washed-up Marine captain becomes the linchpin of humanity’s last stand. Charles Lamb throws Jacob Thomas into a future he wasn’t built for: a war against an artificial intelligence that’s already won. What makes this boxed set gripping isn’t the tech (though the worldbuilding is razor-sharp) but the psychological grind—Jake’s a flawed, bitter protagonist whose Marine instincts clash with the moral quagmires of a collapsed civilization. The prose is lean, the action visceral, and the stakes feel *earned* rather than inflated.

David Drummond’s narration is the secret weapon here. His gravelly, no-nonsense delivery sells Jake’s military bearing, but it’s his ability to pivot—from dry humor to simmering rage to exhausted despair—that keeps the 42-hour runtime from dragging. The production is clean, with crisp pacing that mirrors the story’s relentless momentum. This isn’t a cozy space opera; it’s a boot camp for the apocalypse, where every victory feels like a pyrrhic one. If you crave sci-fi that’s more *Black Hawk Down* than *Star Trek*, this is your drop zone.

Tags: military sci-fi with psychological depthtime-displacement survival thrillergritty AI apocalypseflawed protagonist marine dramalong-form audiobook with immersive narrationfor fans of *Old Man’s War* and *The Terminal List*

Why Listen to AL:ICE Boxed Set?

  • Expert narration by David Drummond brings every character and scene to life across 42h02m of immersive audio.
  • Highly rated at 4.2 stars by 181 listeners.
  • Free with your Audible trial — keep the audiobook forever even if you cancel.
  • Perfect for commutes, workouts, and relaxation. Listen anywhere, anytime.
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Editor's Review ★★★★

AudioBook Atlas

I’ll be honest: I approached *AL:ICE* skeptical of yet another ‘lone soldier vs. the future’ trope, but Lamb’s twist—a Marine *volunteering* for a time-displacement experiment that goes catastrophically wrong—hooked me fast. Jake Thomas isn’t a hero; he’s a guy who’s already lost everything, and that rawness makes his struggle against AL:ICE’s godlike AI compelling. The first act’s slow burn—Jake piecing together the rules of this shattered world—feels like *The Forever War* meets *Mad Max*, but the real strength is in the moral ambiguity. When Jake allies with a faction of ‘collaborators,’ the story forces you to question whether survival justifies complicity. It’s messy, and I loved it. Drummond’s narration is *almost* flawless. His Jake is a masterclass in restrained intensity—think a younger, angrier Mark Hamill—but his female characters occasionally veer into caricature, especially in the earlier books. The sound design is minimalist (no distracting effects), letting the prose and performance carry the weight, though a few battle scenes could’ve used more dynamic pacing to match their chaos. At 42 hours, there’s fat to trim—some mid-series detours with secondary characters drag—but the payoff in the final arc, where Jake’s tactical brilliance clashes with AL:ICE’s cold logic, is worth the investment. This isn’t a feel-good epic; it’s a war story where the enemy might already be inside your head.

Download: AL:ICE Boxed Set

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AL:ICE Boxed Set by Charles Lamb is an immersive listening experience. Performed by David Drummond with a runtime of 42h02m, you can start with a free trial that you can cancel at any time. The audiobook remains yours forever, even if you end the trial.