These annual collections of best short stories are a mixed bag, especially for audiobook listeners. Even before a cast is assembled, the preferences of that year's guest editor have determined how broad or narrow the range of voices, tones, and attitudes will need to be. The good news is that this year's cast is one of the better ensembles-- diverse but compatible, each distinctive, none mismatched. This year, too, the match of voice to story is especially important. Nearly every story is sprawling and expository; not one is supported by a strong storyline. All benefit mightily from a skilled narrator. Of the eight, Eric Yang and Almarie Guerra are particular standouts. The stories themselves, alas, are just so-so.
Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063399822
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a somber performance, Sue Jean Kim delivers this collection of 10 dystopian short stories that explore climate disaster in the near future. Her quiet delivery captures a deep human longing for connection, love, and meaning. Standout stories include "Biodome," in which New Seoul is enclosed under a protective dome to shield residents from toxic air pollution, and "Older Sister," which portrays two sisters' complex relationship against the backdrop of the LA riots following the Rodney King verdict. Kim showcases her range with varied voices and accents, as well as fluid French pronunciations. Her passionate delivery of the author's note closes this melancholic collection with a powerful call to action. A slow-paced yet thought-provoking listen that transports audiences across space and time.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063446410
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This audiobook presents a jewel box of late-in-life stories written by a master, and all exceptionally well performed. Rushdie's imagination, wit, and ear for language are on full display in "a quintet" of remarkable fictions. The listener is also treated to five accomplished narrators who capture the author's voice, sometimes standing to the side while explaining the complexities of the tale and giving meaning to those at the end of their lives--or even after, as in Naveen Andrews's hypnotic delivery of the ghost story, "Late." While all perform excellently, Nicholas Khan's work in "The Musician of Kahani" is superb. It's a challenging piece of magical realism told in many voices and accents. The author's gifts for dialogue, plot, and character remain exceptional.
Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217173891
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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