Nicole Poole narrates this space opera with fairy-tale elements. After renouncing her title of princess and departing to become a privateer at the edge of space, Rory Thorne and her crew unexpectedly encounter both a sentient bioweapon and an unknown, hostile xeno species. Now that the story has shifted focus, Poole has a range of new, nonhuman species who require new vocal characterizations. The Vakari, in particular, are a challenge that Poole meets handily. Former royal bodyguard Thorsdottir has a greater role as a crew member on a privateer vessel, and Poole smoothly establishes her initial discomfort and then her growing confidence. Poole once again delights as the omniscient, sarcastic, and droll narrator.
Pub Date: Nov. 10, 2020
Duration: 12 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781977377135
Publisher: Tantor Media
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
Asimov's sweeping tale of the disintegration and fall of the Galactic Empire has never been more relevant or poignant. McKeever reads rapidly, but he also manages to identify individuals, if minimally, and the main characters are voiced consistently. His voice for the aging professor, in fact, is quite charming. Narrative passages are read competently with appropriate emotional expression. Technical and editorial problems plague the title. Intermittent fade-outs on one channel; inconsistencies when switching sides; and low, rumbling background noise mar the sound quality.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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