Soneela Nankani is a fabulous choice to narrate this new, diverse space opera set amid political upheaval and intrigue on the Splinter, the Vaalbaran's Empiric seat of control in space. Nankani handles the unusual names with finesse and smoothly guides the listener through the complex LGBTQ-affirming plot. Enitan, voiced beautifully by Nankani, is smart, sincere, and talented. Her tea-making expertise allows her to integrate into high society at the Splinter and gather information that may help overthrow the shadow council and free her imprisoned sibling, as well as secure her homeland's freedom. Nankani's deft vocal skill will entertain a wide variety of listeners.
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797163703
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
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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