This space-opera audiobook kicks off a new series set in the 25th century. It features a highly diverse group of characters, many of whom are in the Near-Earth Orbital Guard (NeoG), the equivalent of the Coast Guard for the solar system. Narrator Marisha Tapera builds the relationships that form the foundation of the story. She creates a persona for Max that integrates the competence and nervousness of the new lieutenant, the fast bond that forms between her and her shipmates, and the more troubled and complex history between her and her powerful parents and her brother. In contrast to Max's seriousness, Tapera portrays Jenks as the fun-loving and impulsive sidekick. She infuses a spirit of comradery among the NeoG shipmates that would be the envy of any crew.
Pub Date: March 3, 2020
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062940360
Publisher: Harper 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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