This is a book that won a publisher contest for new science fiction writers. It is mostly about the use of magic in a city with troubles in the twenty-first century. On the one hand, practitioners of voodoo believe there is hope for its use to support the rebuilding of their city. On the other hand, practitioners who are using voodoo to control the drug trade are finding more success. Peter Jay Fernandez gives another strong performance as narrator. He keeps the story moving well. His characterization provides color and interest, particularly with the rich and melodic Caribbean cadences. The dialect is handled smoothly and without hesitation as are his transitions between dialect, narration, and the voices of other characters.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books/ Griot Audio
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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