New Reviews: Science Fiction

Sunil Malhotra has his work cut out for him narrating this debut audiobook, which is a science-fiction story told through a comedic lens. A postnuclear world doesn't suggest comedy, but that is the case here, with a mad scientist simulating universes and playing God, an Indian detective and his bumbling assistant trying to sort things out, and a Danish policeman reaching... Read More

Kat Cleave grips listeners as she portrays Julia, a no-nonsense rebel, hacker, and off-the-grid survivor. When Julia is forced to abandon what she most values--her privacy--Cleave brings her dangerous world of cybercrime and surveillance to life. In giving only select characters distinct voices, Cleave shows listeners just who matters in this story. Myriad characters who... Read More

The stellar vocal talents of Eunice Wong, Rebecca Stern, Cary Hite, Liz Femi, and Zach Villa create an absorbing overall listening experience for this rich assortment of science-fiction and fantasy stories, curated by editors Okorafor and Adams. Notable performances abound in stories of creeping horror, fraught relationships, sentience, and moral quagmires. In "We Will Teach... Read More

Narrator Ashley Morton guides this tightly plotted, suspenseful tale as it unfolds on a remote human colony on Mars. Medical Officer Gold and fellow mission officers arrive on the planet's surface to find the newly constructed base partially destroyed. Conflicting, unsettling accounts about the mysterious "threat" emerge from their interviews with the two remaining construction... Read More

The final installment in The Annual Migration of Clouds trilogy is narrated by Jamie Cavanagh and Eva Tavares. Cavanagh tells Henryk's story. Exiled from a community that still enjoys a comfortable existence after a climate apocalypse, Henryk travels to his uncle's village. What he finds is an unfriendly community whose residents lead subsistence lives. Cavanagh's introspective... Read More

Narrator Ray Porter heightens the suspense in this tech-laced thriller. His agile and expressive performance captures physicist Philip Moray's dry wit and growing unease when he's confronted with a suspicious-looking device at work. Porter's portrayal of colleague Celia Hunt adds contrast, offering warmth and grounded skepticism that balances the story's escalating tension.... Read More

Golden Voice Soneela Nankani delivers her usual superb narration. Five centuries after humans, with the assistance of aliens, left the overpopulated Earth, an oppressive empire rules on Newearth. Fen has just learned that her fathers have been killed in prison, so she sets out to do what they tried to: join the rebellion. She pairs up with Alekhai, the sovereign's younger... Read More

In this lavishly produced apocalyptic full-cast chronicle from DC Comics' multiverse, it seems like there are more antiheroes than superheroes. The Justice League has stepped into the shadows, and a new generation of reckless thugs is taking advantage of the mortals they're supposed to protect. When Kansas is decimated by a nuclear disaster, Superman, Wonder Woman, and... Read More

Pun Bandhu narrates most of this unique cyberpunk reimagining of "The Great Gatsby." The year is 2075, and Nick Carraway is an expert cyberspace diver. His new contract brings him to New York, where he meets up with his cousin, Daisy; her abrasive husband, Tom; and Daisy's friend, Jordan. Nick poses as Jay Gatsby's newest Gen Wealth employee so he can investigate the... Read More

With a hint of an old-time Western twang, narrator Stephanie Cannon easily coaxes the listener into this sweeping, multilayered yarn that unabashedly mixes the worlds of graphic novels, high fantasy, time travel, frontier history, and the author's own "Pandominion" multiverse into an entertaining space-opera stew. When a young schoolmistress sees her best friend murdered and... Read More

John Pirhalla's narration brings gritty nuances to an intriguing character-driven space opera. Carson Flint--formerly a soldier, now a saloon owner--is bored. But when a spy and a war criminal show up, his life becomes more exciting than he bargained for. Pirhalla's distinct characterizations help listeners track a cast of varied characters. His pacing supports the story's noir... Read More

Two novellas deliver uneven performances. In RED STAR HUSTLE, Jennifer Pickens, portraying bounty hunter Imadi, is spellbinding. Her voice imparts the heft of every emotion involved with tracking Aran, a sex worker wanted for murder. Ali Andre Ali's performance as Aran binds listeners to the humanity in the audiobook through his deft portrayal of the mental dance of addiction.... Read More

Eunice Wong's calm, deliberate narration accentuates what author Yume Kitasei does best--meticulous world-building. In a not-so-distant future, three sisters are growing up in a time when the oceans have risen, food is scarce, and multinational corporations rule the land and islands. When the two younger sisters discover a cryptic message from the older sister, they set off in... Read More

Amy McFadden's determined portrayal of Triss MacKay transports listeners to a flooded future Florida, where the legal and illegal are forced to battle in the mud. Using an array of accents, McFadden brings SALVAGIA's many characters to life. She bestows individuality on even the most inconsequential and elevates those to whom we grow attached. Despite the barrage of injuries,... Read More

Gary Tiedemann's crisp narration takes listeners to the lunar south pole in this science-fiction thriller. A mysterious signal from the Shackleton crater jump-starts a space race between the U.S. and China. Astronauts race to the moon, and intelligence personnel hunt for spies back on Earth. Author Joshua T. Calvert's pacing is strong as he cuts back and forth between the two... Read More

A dynamic ensemble of all-star narrators brings to life these stories assembled--and in one case, published--for the first time. Representing Sanderson's writing experimentation and growth over the course of 25 years, they feature worlds in which reality is unstable and characters move freely through simulations, universes, and bodies. The narrators are impressively well... Read More

Rebecca Calder's narration drives this surreal tale about "antimemes" that can attack memory and identity. With precision and controlled energy, Calder shapes an audio experience that highlights the text's clever constructions and unsettling logic. Calder's clear articulation and confident pacing make rapid conceptual shifts feel purposeful, helping listeners absorb the... Read More

A full-cast performance of THE WAR OF THE WORLDS uses immersive soundscapes, realistic effects, and shifting musical tones to heighten the terror of an alien invasion. Voices are distinct and sharply drawn. Keith Burnett imbues his performance with calm authority that fractures into mounting dread, and Noelle Dupuis brings urgent emotional clarity. Supporting actors add texture... Read More

The diverse narrations that make up this anthology are consistently captivating. This audiobook started as a social justice project, with authors invited to envision possible futures. The result is a fascinating collection of speculative pieces, each delivered with powerful performances. Some highlights: Je Nie Fleming captures the vulnerability of an athlete whose genetic... Read More