In the alternate science fiction/fantasy reality of steampunk, the world of Victorian England runs solely on horse-drawn carriages, elaborate gears, and pneumatic tubes. Emily Gray delivers the story of 17-year-old Violet Adams, who wants to become part of this inventive world by attending prestigious Illyria College. Unfortunately, the college accepts only men. In a plot Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde would heartily approve of, Violet and her twin brother, Ashton, hatch a plan that combines a little harmless deceit, some cross-dressing, and a few voice lessons to get Violet into the school. Gray narrates with a combination of energy, intelligence, and sweetness to bring this clever examination of nineteenth-century gender roles, class, and culture to life. B.P. 2013 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2012
Duration: 17 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781464018961
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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