Soundbooth logo
Audiobook cover
The Legend of ZERO

Forging Zero

Season 1:
Episode 1
4.8
(22 Ratings)
Narrated by: 
Jeff Hays
Publisher: 
soundboothTheater
Duration: 
21h 53m
Release Date: 
February 10, 2023

Synopsis

First Contact didn't go as expected. Now they own us.

Earth has been conquered by a massive galactic empire, and its war machine needs soldiers. In a cruel twist of fate, 14-year-old Joe Dobbs accidentally ends up on a ship carrying Earth's children to an alien training planet. To make it out alive, he must survive an apathetic bureaucracy that sees humans as little more than spare rations. Meat with guns. Or, if they're really unlucky, servants.

The oldest of the children drafted from humanity's devastated planet, Joe unwittingly becomes the centerpiece in a millennia-long alien struggle for independence. Once his training begins, one of the elusive and prophetic Trith gives Joe a spine chilling prophecy that the universe has been anticipating for millions of years: Joe will be the one to finally shatter the vast alien government known as Congress. And, the Trith cannot lie.…but first, Joe has to make it through boot camp.

0
Season 1 cover

Season 1

Continuing from where we left off:

All Episodes

Season 1
Episode 1 thumbnail

Forging Zero

immersive audio
S1:E1
21h 53m
5
(22 Ratings)
Episode 2 thumbnail
1.5

Zero Marked

immersive audio
S1:E2
7h 3m
5
(18 Ratings)
Episode 3 thumbnail
2

Zero Recall

immersive audio
S1:E3
19h 20m
5
(10 Ratings)
Episode 4 thumbnail
3

Zero’s Return

immersive audio
S1:E4
22h 53m
5
(27 Ratings)

Cast & Info

Sara King
Author
Jeff Hays
Narrator

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
Performance
4.9
Special Effects
4.8
Plot
4.8
out of 5
22 Ratings
29 Jul, 2025
Overall
Performance
Special Effects
Plot

Meandering Scif-fi Basic Training Story

The story has an interesting premise. Aliens show up and the governments of earth give up all children from 5 to 12 to join the alien military. Some parents fight but more don't. The first part of the story is heart wrenching and totally sucked me into the book. You meet the MC, Joe, and that is when the problems begin. Joe is the 14 year old, full grown, son of a career Marine. You would think he would step and lead the children, plus have some familiarity with violence. However, the author uses Joe to make other characters seem better. Joe only has confidence when it doesn't matter. He can't fight. He can't shoot. Except off screen. The other kids are all kore confident and blood thirsty than Joe. Libby, an eight year old taekowdo expert, is probably the real mary sue of tbe story. I'm not sure why she isn't the MC. The author really doesn't have any concept of what Basic Training does to someone. That's right, alien basic is earth basic with different words. The author clearly eatched several movie about basic training but she should have talked to someone. The whole point of basic is break down who you were and build you into a soldier. The constant back talk and ignoring of orders? That would never happen. The pure brutality of the training would have turned every kid, EVERY KID, into an order following machine who would charge into enemy fire if ordered to. The whole point is to break individuality down and form cohesive units. Also, at the final big battle all the previously stated lore goes out the window and Joe does a slow "anime murder walk" through the bad guys who are ultra deadly. This is not to mention all the unnecessary talk about sex with an eight year old in an adult body. I hate not finishing series but there is no way to justify buying the second book.
28 Jan, 2024
Overall
Performance
Special Effects
Plot

Surprisingly awesome

I was a little hesitant to try this out because of the characters’ age range, but I wasn’t disappointed. This story has some similarities to Ender’s Game but still manages to be a completely unique spin on first contact (and without all the obnoxious homophobic and pro-life political undertones for an added bonus)
23 Sep, 2023
Overall
Performance
Special Effects
Plot

Highly entertaining

As usual, SBT delivers a quality performance of a great story. The story was a unique blend of man vs. man, man vs. self, and man vs. society/monster (aliens). I appreciate how Zero is the underdog, but never gets access to a super powerful weapon/AI/ship. This story has a creative mix of luck/character personality/and friends to hep the underdog come out alive, if not in a favorable manner.
chris Boquecosa 1 Mar, 2023
Overall
Performance
Special Effects
Plot

U guys Rock!!!!!

Zach Johnson u did a excellent job on this project! And the extra effort with talking with the artist shows in the work! And yes we can’t forget about Jeff Hayes and the rest of the team!!!!! U ROCK!!!!! Ty Chris Boquecosa
16 Feb, 2023
Overall
Performance
Special Effects
Plot

The Legend of Zero: Forging Zero Just as Good As the Book.

I first read Forging Zero by Sara King in 2012 and I was so impressed with it that i devoured as many of books of the series as I could, and then everything else Sara had published. I've read all of them many times, just as I've done with all my favorite authors. Forging Zero is just as excellent in both text and audiobooks. This one is narrated by Jeff Hays, and it's perfect! Happily, I experienced the emotions of the characters, just as I did when reading the book. I love character-driven stories! Sara is one of the very best for this category and the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre. I much prefer her to her hero, George R. R. Martin. He's excellent, but his books sometimes drag, allowing my mind to wander. His books are usually far more expensive than I'm willing to pay and the audio book prices are outrageous! Soundbooth Theater's prices are very reasonable and there are a lot of freebies, including some by Sara, and excellent discounts on many other audio books. I highly recommend the entire audio catalogue of books by Sara King, all of which you will find only on Soundbooth Theater. More books are coming soon!
14 Feb, 2023
Overall
Performance
Special Effects
Plot

Perfect example

This is the perfect example of what happens when you mix extremely talented and Wonderfully creative mind like Sara king with a equally talented narrator ✨️ you get a masterpiece. So much fun from beginning to end . You will Find yourself falling in love with all the characters even the ones you're supposed to hate