Paraworld Zero (Parallel Worlds) | 
| Author: Matthew Peterson
Publisher: Parallel Worlds LLC
Category: Book
Buy New: $39.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Format: Mp3 Audio, Unabridged
Media: DVD-ROM
Edition: Unabridged
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 23.8 x 4.9 x 0.2
ISBN: 0981922724
EAN: 9780981922720
ASIN: 0981922724
Publication Date: July 31, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Twelve-year-old earthling, Simon Kent, stumbles upon a secret that thrusts him into a bizarre adventure filled with magic, technology and deadly out-of-this-world creatures. He discovers a true friend, confronts his inner demons and becomes the savior to a peculiar race of people, when all he truly wants is to find his way back home.
Parallel to Simon's adventures is a mystery involving a catlike spy and a magical swordsman who both struggle to maintain peace among the paraworlds. But evil lurks in unexpected places, and few people can be trusted. Their paths ultimately lead them to Simon: the one boy who might be able to prevent the biggest assassination attempt in the known paraverse.
Paraworld Zero placed in five book/audiobook contests. This unabridged MP3-DVD audiobook edition runs 12 hours and 28 minutes and includes over 100 character voices from the author and his wife. Bonus features include nearly 4 hours of audio/video extras such as bloopers, video trailers, video interviews of the cover models, the making of the cover and audiobook, radio interviews, photo gallery, etc. Also includes the PDF E-Book!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Great for the Whole Family December 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Okay, I have to admit I found myself laughing out loud several times during this audio book. The characters are so fun to listen to as they banter, joke, cry, etc. Paraworld Zero takes you through many emotions and leaves you feeling well entertained. There are some deeper parts dealing with slavery and self-esteem issues, but in general the book doesn't take itself too seriously. The narration and pacing was spot on. There's a female and a male narrator, by the way, which I like, since a male trying to do female voices often sounds strange to me. I was impressed with the narrators' ability to change their voices so dramatically. This is a kid's fantasy, mind you, so many of the voices are somewhat cartoonish, but don't let that stop you from listening if you're an adult. There's a whole storyline with adult characters interwoven within the plot, and this really did keep my interest. I'd like to see more of these older characters in future installments. Since there are multiple storylines going on, the book keeps you on your toes, especially the climax, which brought everything together superbly. I'm not usually one to be surprised at the end of a mystery, but this one threw me for a loop. I can't wait for the next book.
Paraworld Zero December 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Never before have I read a book that I Loved With Just Reading One Chapter! Matthew Peterson Grabs His Readers And He Does Not Let Go Until The Final Word Has Been Read And I Am Very Anxious To Read The Next Three, I Can Safely Say That My Grandchildren Will Just Adore Brave Little Simon!
 Pick it up and give it a try... October 27, 2008
Now, when somebody compares a book to Stars Wars and Harry Potter I am more likely to burn the book than read it. To me Stars Wars is only good sci-fi to people who don't read or watch good sci-fi. And Harry Potter is, I think, just a lot of hype. Also the latter books got very depressing. I enjoy them but I don't think of them as the best in their field.
But I picked up this book anyway. For a young adult book it did seem a tad darker. Few books, even adult books, deal with slavery for example. While the main character is a boy who many would call a loser I can't help but think of him as normal. Problems at school, problems at home, problems with girls. Good grief, that's everybody who ever lived. Simon Kent is the 12 year old we all know because at one point we were all him. Even when he finds himself an important alien on another planet things don't become better. He is looked at as an outsider, the food sometimes winks at him and he finds the culture he lives in upsetting in many ways.
Frankly, the secondary plots remind me more of Japanese anime/manga, that kind of soft fantasy, soft science fiction, that fills their stories. Cat girls with energy weapons. And my copy was autographed, so why not just grab it when it was also free?
The mixture did hook me and I finished it in a day. A rainy day but I can only take a point away because it, sometimes, seemed to lack in detail. I kept forgetting that some of the action was happening in New York. You could have easily replaced the city's name with Washington or Hollywood or Pete's World and it won't have caused a problem with the action. And there was action, adventure, some romance, perfectly blended together. I never felt the need to stop and question anything, there was never a bump in the road, the swift, of the story.
A must for anybody who just wants a easy, enjoyable read or for any young kid who like anime, soft sci-fi or, yes, Harry Potter.
Excellent start for a new Series May 16, 2008
This was a great book with an interesting concept. I can't wait to read future books. After my husband finishes the book, we're going to pass it to our children (11 and 12) to read.
More fun than Sliders April 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In this alternate reality Slider-like adventure, once again the underdog finds that he isn't a total loser after all. This is a fantasy that teen and junior high boys can enjoy as well as girls, filled with themes that appeal to Young Adult readers. Just about everyone can identify with the characters, even though Tonya comes from a world where magic is a commonplace commodity and they study it in school. Simon, an orphan who knows nothing of his mother, is a really sad case who is seriously bullied by some nasty classmates. It seems like he is always running away from them. Then Tonya suddenly pops in and blows the bullies away with her magic skills. Unfotunately, she also demolishes some buildings and cars in the process. Somehow Tonya had gotten separated from her classmates, who were going on their first field trip. Everything she does makes matters worse until they finally manage to get into the jet stream, if you will, the superhighway between alternative worlds. But Butch, the worst of the bullies plaguing Simon, manages to get in with them and even steal the paratransmitter that is used to pass from one world to another. They end up in a world neither knows anything about, Simon nearly dying in the process.
From that point, everything is foreign to Simon, and Tonya finds herself frustrated by things she is no longer able to do. They are taken in by a family and go to school, where Tonya is embarrassed because the younger Simon is faring better than she is. She hates the world they are stuck on.
I will say that they eventually leave this world of Pudo, but there are some major changes in both characters before that happens. In the meanwhile there are some spies, assassins, traitors, rulers of various worlds, and Tonya's parents that enter into the story. More than once demons are summoned by the bad guys. These guys are a lot meaner than I expected at the beginning, and it was soon obvious that no one was safe from their evil deeds and murders. Simon and Tonya are pulled into the intrigues in some unsuspecting ways, leading to a rather tense and exciting tale.
Matthew Peterson has a sense of humor that teen and pre-teen guys will really appreciate. I like the detail that Tonya's hair changes color depending on her mood. Some scenes are a bit reminiscent of Harry Potter, like the car that flies (by magic) up the side of a high building when they are escaping the police on earth. A lot of the dialog between Tonya, Simon, and their Pudan friend Thornapple is full of kid sarcasm.
This book is quite moral, built on high values and a definite God-view of the universe. The magic is not of 'real' magic, but has to do with electro-magical waves that are in the air. God is constantly brought into the story, quite naturally, although not everyone believes or gives him control of their lives.
I definitely recommend this as a good read for Young Adults, both girls and boys. Full of action, humor, moral values, suspense, and some mystery.
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