This audiobook is nothing short of outstanding, thanks in part to the incredible performance of narrator Dami Olukoya, which takes it to the next level. At first, the story seems overly steeped in unnecessarily complicated science, but listeners who soldier through that will engage with whole new worlds and dimensions. A scientist on our dying Earth discovers a gateway to millions more planets, only to find that each Earth is in crisis. Olukoya is a chameleon, effortlessly slipping from character to character, giving each a distinct personality and nationality. From the Nigerian accents of the two main characters to the inexplicable Irish lilt of an AI, Olukoya's efforts make this sci-fi delightful and easy to follow.
Pub Date: 2023
Duration: 16 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668622001
Publisher: Hachette 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:
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:
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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