New Reviews: Science Fiction

The full cast does a great job delivering this Grant Morrison-written comic series, but be warned: It's complicated stuff. The actors channel the comic characters, even down to voicing differences between Superman and Clark Kent, though the performer doesn't do justice to Jimmy Olsen. Veteran narrator Scott Brick stands out among the rest, thanks to his unique style. This... Read More

Em Grosland deftly juggles robotic voices and human emotions in this cozy postwar sci-fi. Four robots--Sweetie, Hands, Cayenne, and Staybehind--have survived a devastating war, only to be left alone in a flooded San Francisco burger joint. With no humans to interfere, the robots decide to turn the old restaurant into a sophisticated noodle bar, using their wartime skills to... Read More

S.M. McVicar narrates his novel, a mélange of science fiction, dystopian adventure, and political commentary. In the future, Cal Shook, an outcast in the highly controlled and environmentally ruined society in which he exists, tries to take down "The 31" a secret group of billionaire oligarchs who rule the world. McVicar's narration is breathlessly rapid-fire. He is clearly... Read More

Narrator Sarah Slimani's stellar characterizations enliven the third installment of the Folded Sky series. Dr. Sunya Song embarks on a deep-space mission to study data from the Baomind, an ancient artificially intelligent construct. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, complete with a scheming ex-girlfriend who is a competing researcher, a surprise visit from her alien wife and... Read More

Dan Bittner has fun with this space opera. Levi is a con man through and through--narcissistic, privileged, and incredibly lucky he's still alive. He's borrowed money from unsavory characters, but he has a plan that will allow him to pay the debt and get back his collateral (his spaceship). But he needs help. Thus, Vera and her programming skills fall into Levi's orbit, and her... Read More

Ray Bradbury's collection of 18 interconnected stories is a beloved classic. In "The Long Rain," Prentice Onayemi captures the brooding madness of a group of astronauts who are stranded in the terminal storms of Venus. In "The Rocket," Ari Fliakos delivers the absurd humor of a destitute father who decides that it's better for his children to watch a "simulated illusion" than... Read More

Narrator Kirby Heyborne joins the Meskimen family--Jim, Tamra, and daughter Taylor--in energetically giving voice to a dozen new stories by the winners of the Writers of the Future contest. In this year's crop, AI features strongly with Heyborne creating a tone of schoolboy innocence in "The Boy from Elsewhen" by Barlow Crassmont. Taylor Meskimen finds a deceptively... Read More

Senn Annis narrates this sci-fi thriller. The principal storyteller is Raina. She and Cedric are genetic engineers who were blacklisted in the industry when technology they developed was misused. When an eccentric billionaire approaches them to genetically engineer a solution for the survival of humanity, Raina sees a way of regaining the respect of their peers and escaping... Read More

This heartfelt sci-fi monster mash-up of an audiobook is stunningly narrated by an excellent ensemble. Charlie Albers voices DEMETER, a spaceship that travels between planets whose human passengers keep getting murdered through paranormal encounters. Albers's impressive skill at differentiating voices enlivens the robotic DEMETER, who is filled with anxiety; sobbing children... Read More

Book 3 of The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti series has arrived with charming Lindsey Dorcus narrating. The series takes place in the atmosphere of Jupiter, called Giant. Pleiti, now a seasoned investigator, has been assisting a past classmate from university. The task is to help her friend's cousin regain status at Jovian university after being accused of plagiarizing.... Read More

Sophie Aldred's limpid English accent and crisp pacing entice listeners into award-winning Adrian Tchaikovsky's novel of first contact and interspecies misunderstanding. Set in inhospitable space, the survival thriller is also a stinging commentary on corporate exploitation. When Juna and Mai, members of a commercial mission, become trapped on a vaporous, poisonous star... Read More

Narrator Mike Vendetti draws listeners into this short story of an exploratory space mission. Its discoveries challenge the belief system of a Jesuit priest/chief astrophysicist named Father who believes the heavens declare God's handiwork. The explorers discover a faraway civilization superior to Earth's that was destroyed by a supernova. They also find the civilization's... Read More

Tim Ratliff outdoes himself with his narration of this mystery/sci-fi/comedy mash-up. Because of his love of Agatha Christie and Rex Stout mysteries, appealing and relatable detective Gabriel Lake is approached by an extraterrestrial to find an abducted 20-foot-tall princess named Ralph. Lake blasts into space for his assignment. Ratliff delivers laugh-out-loud wordplay, jokes,... Read More

Dion Graham narrates a sweeping entry into a new series featuring an intriguing multiverse. Societies of people capable of traveling not only between stars but also between dimensions compete for control over all the known worlds. While some simply want to learn, others have more nefarious intentions. A routine mission goes awry, leading representatives from two competing... Read More

Zara Ramm narrates this space opera, which has two very different primary characters. Faven Sythe is a crystborn, a species that is a blend of alien tech and a human. She has special powers as a navigator. Bitter Amandine is a pirate extraordinaire. Faven seeks Amandine's help when her mentor goes missing. A prison break later, they're on their way, and a deep conspiracy... Read More

Many times, a single talented narrator capably brings to life all the characters in an audiobook. But, occasionally, multiple narrators work better. An example is this intriguing ensemble production set in the near future. It's more family drama than sci-fi--hence, its success with multiple narrators. The gripping story is told by four women who were connected to an odd teenage... Read More

Narrator Emily Gibbons Bouchard demonstrates that queer love knows no bounds in this amped-up sci-fi romance. Called to a nearby planet by a mysterious beacon, scavenger Wylla goes on the hunt for what she hopes is a valuable find. What she discovers is something even greater: A mask imbued with the power of its last wearer, a hawk. Donning the mask, Wylla gains the hawk's... Read More