With a rich, warm voice and varied pacing Peter Berkrot presents the reactions of those facing the end of the earth, which is predicted to be hit by a huge asteroid in six months. While many are walking off their jobs, doing drugs, killing themselves, or completing their bucket lists, newly minted police investigator Hank Palace is determined to find the killer of an insurance actuary who was found hanging in a former McDonald’s. This first in a trilogy is clever, fast paced, and addictive. Berkrot's speedy delivery and earnest tone capture the enthusiasm and determination of the young policeman. Further, Berkrot effectively contrasts the energy of the investigator with the malaise of some of his cohorts, who are portrayed at a slower pace. Berkrot makes each character distinctive and recognizable. A most satisfying audio experience, with the promise of more to come.
Pub Date: July 10, 2012
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781469226224
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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