Twenty-one short stories of fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, and mystery, written by the stars of sci-fi and performed by 15 narrators, are brought together by premier anthologists Martin and Dozois. All the narrations include characterizations, accents, and dramatic flourishes. Narrating with aplomb, these veteran performers bring the short stories to life. Many of the stories are the next installment in a familiar series, a spin-off tale, or a bit of backstory. Butcher’s tale, narrated effortlessly by Emily Rankin, features Harry Dresden’s protégé; Jonathan Frakes reads Snodgrass’s terrifying space tale with deep male voices and barely audible female villains. Every story is introduced by Karen Dotrice in crisp tones. Just as the short stories vary in topic, pacing, and genre, so do the performances; some are better than others. As a whole, there’s something for everyone to disappear into. M.B.K. 2015 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Dec. 3, 2013
Duration: 32 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307987594
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Marsters' weary delivery perfectly captures Harry Dresden's fractured psyche as he navigates a year of mandatory mourning and political maneuvering in Chicago. Marsters doesn't just read; he inhabits Harry's exhaustion, using deliberate pacing and a somber tonal palette that underscores the protagonist's post-traumatic stress. Marsters' gift for distinct vocal characterizations remains sharp, effortlessly pivoting from the ethereal, detached elegance of the Sidhe to the grounded warmth of Harry's remaining allies. By leaning into the book's quieter, more introspective moments, Marsters elevates this urban fantasy's emotional stakes, transforming a year of Dresden's life into a poignant study of grief. It's an immersive performance that makes the wizard's vulnerability feel hauntingly real. Marsters' soulful performance makes this a compelling entry in the Harry Dresden series.
Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 17 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217176021
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Samuel Barnett delivers a fresh interpretation of the St. George and the Dragon legend. George, whom Barnett portrays in a snide, harried tone that makes him bitingly funny, becomes increasingly hysterical as his contemporary London life falls apart. After he inexplicably time travels to the medieval era, his neuroses are subsumed into the immediacy of survival and the sweetness of romance. But things change when he's saddled with a dangerous quest. Barnett's voice for George's first-person narration, while consistent, subtly transforms to reflect the character's growth. Well-rendered secondary characters range from a laddish 21st-century city worker to a spoiled medieval prince. Barnett expertly renders a story that is part sci-fi, part gay romance, and part historical fiction.
Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063424715
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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