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 nicknamed Shroud, they race through danger toward a possible rescue site. But the Shroud's terrifying "weather" and "landscapes" are actually intelligent life-forms with their own plans. Aldred embodies the two distinct women--one spiky, one people pleasing--and delivers a haunting, moody voice for Shroud as it ponders the inexplicable and stupid alien invaders. Her tight rendition of the women's desperate trek amps up the tension, making this an addictive listen.
Pub Date: June 3, 2025
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668648209
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Emotion check: Long live Murderbot.
Kevin R. Free drops listeners into the middle of a rescue mission aboard an enormous space station. In a defining performance, Free masterfully conveys Murderbot’s sardonic running commentary, deadpan and endearingly world-weary. Murderbot has installed a mental health module since its last adventure, so there are frequent “emotion checks.” The mission, of course, runs into several complications, and Murderbot finds itself with a growing party of humans to keep safe. As the sometimes perilous, sometimes zany rescue operation progresses, Free employs subtle accents to distinguish the human characters; Nanna Naja especially is a hoot. But it’s his Murderbot, who has grown and changed over eight installments, that will have listeners rapt.
Emotion check: Long live Murderbot.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781705041031
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: April 27, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
Baker’s warm voice is an excellent companion to this SF mystery series.
Blair Baker returns to narrate the second novella in the Dorothy Gentleman series. Ship’s detective Dorothy is tasked with solving the mystery of a baby abandoned aboard the HMS Fairweather—an inconceivable presence on a ship where fertility has, supposedly, been suspended. Baker’s mature voice suits semiretired Dorothy, and her warm narration perfectly fits the cozy atmosphere, especially as Dorothy’s nephew, Ruthie, lovingly cares for the baby. Baker voices shipmind Ferry, the spaceship’s AI, with a tone of charming wonder that is sure to endear it to listeners as it tries to assist Dorothy in uncovering the baby’s parentage. But solving that piece of the mystery only leads to more questions.
Baker’s warm voice is an excellent companion to this SF mystery series.Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 3 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250436047
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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