January LaVoy's engaging performance enlivens this history of NASA's space shuttle program and its diverse 1978 astronaut class, dubbed "The New Guys" (TNGs). Among them were numerous firsts, including the first American woman (Sally Ride) and the first African American (Guion Bluford) to go to space. TNGs' personal lives and professional contributions are interwoven with the development of the shuttle program and its missions. Getting to know them through LaVoy's emotionally attuned narration, alongside the heady excitement of the new frontier in space exploration, makes the loss of team members in the tragic CHALLENGER (1986) and COLUMBIA (2003) shuttle explosions feel painfully fresh. Her assured performance is grounding during these difficult chapters. This production will be a welcome experience for general listeners and space aficionados alike.
Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
Duration: 16 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063142008
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dr. Plotkin is an ethnobotanist who recounts his experiences searching for new medications in the Amazon rain forest. He makes an impassioned plea for the world to stop destroying this irreplaceable resource. Since the author reads his own work, we can rely on the pronunciation of some unusual botanical terms; however, his voice (presumably not trained for performance) lacks the enthusiasm and fascination the words suggest. Furthermore, with no chapter references and few pauses between sections, transitions, such as the change of location from Ecuador to Massachusetts, are awkward.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Moore’s fine work provides hope for rewilding while describing its challenges.
Here are the unlikely stories of how people have worked to return elk to Kentucky, bison to Illinois, and red wolves to coastal North Carolina. Charlie Thurston narrates with a satisfying tone and an appropriate tempo. A fine environmental journalist, Moore captures the sublime—the return of the grand sandhill cranes—and the profane—locals who want to rid their land of red wolves and adopt the slogan, “Shoot, shovel, and shut up.” Moore’s meticulous research takes listeners from pre-colonial times to the present-day environmentalists, wildlife biologists, and organizations committed to the reintroduction of these iconic species. The Nature Conservancy garners high praise, as do those who believe in restoring grasslands, saving wetlands, and recapturing abandoned mines.
Moore’s fine work provides hope for rewilding while describing its challenges.Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 16 hrs, 5 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063001251
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: July 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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