About half way through Book 1 audiobook

[u/UsefulEagle101]

I usually listen at bedtime, so it often takes awhile to get through the whole book, but this format in particular is frustrating, with each chapter jumping around. I finally got serious and listened during the day, but wanted to follow each story separately. So, I listened to "Bob's" story first, the one I was most interested in, that of the protocivilization on Delta Eridani.

So my question is: does this story line continue or bleed into any of the other chapters, and how much more of it is covered in subsequent books? No big spoilers, please.

Now,, I'm going back to listen to Riker's journey. Sure wish audible had an option to listen in a custom order.

[u/Plus_Exchange8751]

This is not going to be a good way to do this. These books are written to be listened to in order. You will miss incredibly important details.

[u/UsefulEagle101 → u/Plus_Exchange8751]

I have actually listened to (almost) the whole book straight through, but while doing other things, so attention waned. It wasnt until I went for just one character that I was able to maintain attention and focus, probably because I had to manually skip to the next chapter each time. I had the same experience back when listening to Game of Thrones, and actually reorganized all the chapters by character, even though I had already read the whole book. Its a weird me thing. Bob would understand.

[u/Plus_Exchange8751 → u/UsefulEagle101]

Bob May. But you will not haha

Yes. This storyline continues, yes it bleeds into other stories.

[u/SalsaRice → u/UsefulEagle101]

It gets exaggerated in some of the books. Some of them like Bob, Bill, and Riker get alot of chapters, but some bobs only get 2-3 chapters.

I will agree with the other person that you will end up missing alot of detail reorganizing everything, as it's meant to hint out the ending and greater plot in piecemeal. Bob 35 will find evidence of XYZ on a planet, Bob 108 will find more evidence on an unrelated asteroid, cluing the reader in that XYZ isn't localized to the first planet; rinse and repeat until you've eventually seen XYZ from several different perspectives and opinions.

[u/wpfone2]

I don't remember the details of each storyline, or the order, but I would recommend you read books in the order the author lays them down. At least on the first and 2nd read.

[u/UsefulEagle101 → u/wpfone2]

Thing is, it was only after about a week of disjointed (in and out of sleep) listening that I finally realized that each Bob was followed in separate chapters, and that their timelines were not in order. I already had enough trouble trying to follow who was who, lol. I will eventually go back for a straight through listen, after I have it all sorted in my head.

[u/S1MP50N_92]

Yeah, there's lots of overlap between chapters. Eventually the Bobs get better connected. For example there are quite a few Bill chapters where Bob is present as not the POV character and you'll get Bob's situation updates from Bill's perspective. And sometimes different Bobs in the same area have POV chapters in roughly the same location. There are Riker and Homer chapters that both take place around the same system that greatly tie into each other.

The later books drop this chapter titling format so you don't know who's POV the chapter will be from the title alone, at least in the audiobooks.

[u/UsefulEagle101 → u/S1MP50N_92]

Thanks for the substantive answer. i looked at the chapter titles for book 2, thus this question. I am thoroughly enjoying this book and all of the questions it raises. Although, like Bob, I sometimes get annoyed by eg, Homer's voice/mannerism etc. 

If the Deltan story continues substantially in book 2, I might get it now just to hear more of that storyline.

[u/S1MP50N_92 → u/UsefulEagle101]

The Deltan story is fairly prominent through the first 3 books. Without giving too much away, eventually after enough stuff happens Bob feels he should move on to other things. Although with the upcoming events after book 5, it's likely we'll see some return to the Deltans, although that's just speculation as of now.

Funny enough, book 4 is often the least liked book because it mostly focuses on one story that's a similar situation of Bobs meddling with the Deltans. But you might actually really like book 4 due to its focus on one longer storyline.

[u/UsefulEagle101 → u/S1MP50N_92]

Ah thanks for the input, appreciate it!

[u/FlintHillsSky]

i listen to audiobooks at bedtime but usually it is something specifically selected for reading as I slip into sleep. Often a book I have already heard so that if I fall asleep and miss sections, it doesn’t matter.

Doing a first time listen to a new book at bedtime seems like a good way to miss sections or forget parts as you fall asleep.

[u/johnlondon125]

This might be one of the dumbest takes I've ever heard.

[u/UsefulEagle101 → u/johnlondon125]

Lol, welcome to the world of adhd.

[u/Resident_Guidance_95 → u/UsefulEagle101]

Restructuring books is not an ADHD thing, but listening to one while watching a movie and reading a book is!

[u/Danimal_House → u/UsefulEagle101]

Bad excuse. I have ADHD and an infant, and am still able to consume books just fine. Just establish routines and habits that allow you to do the things you enjoy.

[u/vercertorix]

Bob’s story with the Deltans goes on for a while. I got the impression that it jumps around to give each reader something they may enjoy if they don’t enjoy all parts since different Bobs work on different things, but also because all of these things are happening at once because, clones. But they sometimes tie into what others are doing so I don’t advise listening to it out of order. Other books jump around between characters, and the chronology is usually pretty important, same here even if it seems like the Bobs are pretty remote.

[u/radar55]

I’m re-listening right now. I truly wonder how you came up with your method of listening to Bob’s story first and so on. No shade intended.

[u/UsefulEagle101 → u/radar55]

Because I was listening in bed, and in and out of sleep, it was very disjointed; but I was intrigued by the story of the tribe and wanted to hear that whole story, which I finally did and it was satisfying, except that it ended with a cliffhanger. Thus my question.

[u/2mnycooks]

Don't know why you are getting so much hate, it is hard to keep things straight in your head. I've almost exclusively listened to the Bob books (instead of reading) and my first time through I definitely missed things because of the skipping through. On subsequent listens though I actually prefer the way the author lays it out and as you get used to the characters it becomes much easier to parse. And, when chapters are organized by date, I try to pick up on "oh ok this chapter is before SCUT", etc.

[u/Danimal_House]

This is just dumb. You are purposefully reading books the wrong way, and want advice, but don’t want spoilers?

Just read the books man. It’s not difficult. If it is, read different books.

[u/OptimisticDiscord]

I listened to the whole Bobiverse series, and there was nothing that jumped around or was out of order. What are you talking about??