This collection features novels about global journeys and exploration, around the globe and within the human spirit. These audiobooks transport the listener to faraway places, be they in a mythic retelling or a near-future city on the verge of being submerged. While the locations are far and wide in place and time, at the heart are inward journeys that lead to reckonings with the soul and personal transformation. Get ready to dive into these stories about displacement, discovery, and destiny. What doors will they open for you?

ODYSSEY 
Written and read by Stephen Fry
AudioFile Earphones Award

Let’s start in the mythic past, where author and narrator Stephen Fry’s retelling of Homer’s epic tale is, in itself, of epic proportions. His fourth and final installment of his Greek Myths Reimagined series showcases, yet again, Fry’s virtuoso storytelling skills. Fry makes dramatic use of varied voices to portray the gods, monsters, and mortals that legendary Odysseus meets on his arduous voyage home after the Trojan War. Fry infuses drama and wit into his entertaining and accessible interpretation of this myth, while tackling the themes of heroism, home, and the human condition. This is a brilliant listening experience for both newbies and aficionados of classical myths. 

AWAKE IN THE FLOATING CITY
by Susanna Kwan, read by Catherine Ho 

From Greece, we head to a drenched San Francisco of the near future. Catherine Ho delivers a masterful performance in Susanna Kwan’s poignant debut novel about identity and creating a sense of home amidst repeated displacement. The story follows Bo, a young elder-care worker who faces uncertainty after her mother’s disappearance. When Mia, Bo’s centenarian neighbor, offers the solitary Bo a job, she readily accepts. Ho blends dulcet tones and resonance to provide an impressive emotional range that captures Bo’s reluctance to live in Canada with her relatives and her transformative friendship with Mia. However, it is Ho’s humorous and tender portrayal of the enigmatic Mia and her mannerisms that shines. Ho lends a haunting beauty that’s perfect for this thought-provoking story. 

THE FRENCH HONEYMOON 
by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau, read by Amanda Troop, A.W. Miller 

We’re off on a Parisian getaway, where versatile performances by Amanda Troop and A.W. Miller heighten drama and tension on a honeymoon filled with hijinks. When Taylor Quinn checks into a Paris hotel alone for her honeymoon, she gets busy observing newlyweds Cassie and Olivier, a Frenchman desperate for an American Visa. Amanda Troop brings depth to her portrayal of the conflict-averse Taylor, and the manipulative Cassie, contrasting Taylor’s quiet seriousness with Cassie’s perky drawl and humorous mispronunciations of French words. A.W. Miller voices Olivier with a smooth French accent, skillfully switching in and out of Cassie’s American accent. Both narrators create a dynamic interaction between the characters, making for a taut listening experience that puts a new spin on honeymoons in Paris. 

THE NAMES 
by Florence Knapp, read by Dervla Kirwan 
AudioFile Earphones Award

Dervla Kirwan’s luscious Irish and English accents shine as she delivers a stirring performance of Knapp’s powerful novel about the weight of choice, the search for identity, and the complexities of family. Kirwan’s buttery voice creates a striking paradox—soothing and steady, yet cut by the cruelty and sharpness of the story about protagonist Cora and the three narratives that unfold around the different names she gives her baby boy. Kirwan masterfully conveys the depth of Cora’s maternal love for her son and daughter throughout the years, contrasted with the strained, fearful affection she feels for her husband. Deeply affecting, to the point that it might be triggering for some, Kirwan’s haunting narration will linger long after it ends.

GOODNIGHT TOKYO
by Atsuhiro Yoshida, read by Kaipo Schwab

We close out our itinerary amidst the goings-on in Tokyo’s early morning. Kaipo Schwab’s polished voice and nuanced character portrayals bring warmth to this meditative story about loneliness and reconnections. His grounded narration gently unravels each character’s story, infusing subtlety, humor, and whimsy as it reveals their interwoven lives. Schwab also masterfully conveys the quiet joy and wonder of the chance encounters involving the diverse characters: Matsui, the observant taxi driver; Shuro, an actor turned private detective; Kanako, a loquat thief and call-center operator; and a trio of women who have opened a café together. Schwab’s steady and emotionally resonant rendition of this magical story makes for a comforting and luminous listening experience.