Narrator Jeff Gurner gives a star performance of Suarez’s compelling techno-thriller, which is reminiscent of the science-fiction classics of the 1950s and ‘60s: The bad guys—set on world domination—are very bad. The nerdy good guys—weak on social skills—are totally good. The love interest is brilliant, dangerous, and breathtakingly beautiful. There’s even a ray gun. Gurner’s friendly tenor breathes life into some flat dialogue. His accents allow listeners to identify characters who are always engaging, funny, and under control. His pacing is exceptionally good, even in moments of high drama.
Pub Date: Feb. 20, 2014
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101630631
Publisher: Penguin 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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