Written at the height of his powers, Clarke's 1979 novel grabbed the major science fiction awards, including the Hugo and the Nebula. The novel follows the efforts of visionary scientist Vannevar Morgan as he struggles to bring to reality a space elevator that would eliminate the need for costly rocket propulsion to reach the edge of beyond. As in most of Clarke's prose, the characters are oddly disengaging. Fitting right in, Marc Vietor narrates in a friendly fashion about giant leaps in technology, Buddhist conflict with the scientific worlds, apparent miracles, and even alien first contact, but his cordial voice can't find much suspense. The book is full of great ideas, though, and the setting in a clone of Sri Lanka, where Clarke lived, helps considerably.
Pub Date: Nov. 22, 2011
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Multiple award winner Card is one of the greatest practitioners of science fiction; here he delivers a history fantasy of the Wabash Valley circa 1800, a world of hexes and folk magic. This is the first book about Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son, who has remarkable psychic powers. Card is a very good narrator, expressive and well paced. One can hear the excitement of an author as he brings his own well described characters to life. There is one momentary technical glitch, the only slip up in an exemplary presentation. Highly recommended for fiction collections everywhere.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: The Literate Ear
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
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