Now that DC Comics has hit the "reset" button and established that Superman and Batman came into existence only five years ago, it's nice to have a look back at the earlier time that the comics now ignore. This title is set in 1957, when a down-to-earth vigilante investigates this impossible creature called Superman. After some initial scuffles, the two become allies in a battle against Lex Luthor and a rogue Soviet general. Writer Kevin Anderson misses the time line, introducing Senator Joe McCarthy in 1957, months after his death, and includes some scientific gadgets that were way ahead of their time, but the full cast of performers makes the action exciting enough that one doesn't care. Though background music and sound effects can be a bit overwhelming, overall Batman and Superman have never sounded better.
Pub Date: May 1, 2013
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: GraphicAudio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners who long to disappear into a secret book world will enjoy the escape in this love letter to public libraries.
Narrator Saskia Maarleveld takes the listener on a wild journey of magical realism with a woman who escapes her depressing life by losing herself within her favorite books. For the downtrodden Alix Watson, the Boston Public Library is a refuge from her troubles—until the day she discovers a secret portal into the fantastical Astral Library. Maarleveld creates a sympathetic impression of Alix while capturing her increasing desperation in a fevered pitch. She vividly portrays the Astral Library’s librarian with grave, smokey indifference. Maarleveld also gives voice to various characters from different time periods and works, ranging from Jane Austen’s Regency England to Sherlock Holmes to The Great Gatsby with skill and humor.
Listeners who long to disappear into a secret book world will enjoy the escape in this love letter to public libraries.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063244825
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
A heartwarming listening experience touched by magic.
Genevieve Cocke narrates this fantasy audiobook set in 1920s Montreal. Agnes is desperate to find a new home for her cat shelter and herself after a magical duel in front of her building left only three walls standing. For this and other reasons, Agnes is not a fan of magic, but the only person willing to rent to her and her feline rescues is Havelock, a notorious magician. Cocke endows Havelock with a Quebecois accent, although most other characters have no identifiable accent. Agnes prepares a checklist for most everything, and Cocke makes her organized but not officious. Cocke instills personality in the many secondary characters, including the cats.
A heartwarming listening experience touched by magic.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217279272
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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