Narrators Cherise Boothe and Larry Herron work together to bring listeners a rich listening experience that maximizes the fantastic world at the heart of this epic. Herron's baritone calls up another world, full of royalty, magic, and disaster. The chapters he narrates as Djola, the ruling magician of Arkhysia, resound with his vibrant performance. This sets up a lively contrast with the chapters presented by Boothe, as Awa, a powerful wood sprite. The characters, like the narrators, cooperate to create a tale of daring survival against apocalyptic odds. Those who love fantasy will find much to admire in this title. The world-building is extensive and expertly handled by the narrators. This audiobook is best listened to during a long drive or a quiet evening with few distractions.
Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250772718
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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