What would happen if the Earth were to have contact with an alien spacecraft? This first novel in the Voyagers trilogy, written in 1981, explores that question. Ex-astronaut Keith Stoner is compelled to join the joint U.S.-Soviet mission to intercept the spacecraft and to be part of this history-making encounter. Stefan Rudnicki’s mastery of accents is showcased in this production. His characterization is vivid, and the interaction between the characters is intense and fast paced. He draws out the undercurrent of Cold War tension between the Soviets and the Americans, which contrasts with the trust and collegiality that Claussen with interjections of press clips and some dialogue. J.E.M. 2007 Audies Award Finalist © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: 2006
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Blackstone 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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