Adrian Tchaikovsky again proves himself a double threat. Not only has the British author written a wide variety of science fiction over the past two decades, he's also quite effective serving as his own narrator. His latest audiobook is set in a dystopian future Britain in which humans are dying off because robots have taken over doing everything that is meaningful. This allows Tchaikovsky to capably trot out a variety of dialects for the many robotic characters. Examples include valet Uncharles, who has a "veddy proper" accent, and defective robot The Wonk, who is given Cockney speech. Through their eyes, the author-narrator brings to life a world that is wasting away.
Pub Date: June 4, 2024
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250351210
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Asimov's sweeping tale of the disintegration and fall of the Galactic Empire has never been more relevant or poignant. In the third book of the original trilogy, Dan Lazar handles the material adequately. He uses his limited range of voices nicely, if sometimes amusingly--he sometimes sounds like a foreigner attempting to mimic American accents. Varying pitch and pacing make for a lively narration, and his reading of a precocious young woman, who is ultimately an important figure, is delightful. Technical and editorial problems plague the title. Hearing Lazar repeatedly mispronounce a word that the text itself explains how to pronounce is very frustrating. Intermittent fade-outs on one channel; inconsistencies when switching sides; and low, rumbling background noise mar the sound quality.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Asimov's sweeping tale of the disintegration and fall of the Galactic Empire has never been more relevant or poignant. McKeever reads rapidly, but he also manages to identify individuals, if minimally, and the main characters are voiced consistently. His voice for the aging professor, in fact, is quite charming. Narrative passages are read competently with appropriate emotional expression. Technical and editorial problems plague the title. Intermittent fade-outs on one channel; inconsistencies when switching sides; and low, rumbling background noise mar the sound quality.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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