Narrator Tim Gerard Reynolds gives a masterful performance of a story that ranks among the best in science fiction. Although Darrow clawed his way to the top of the ruling class in the first installment of this series, he now faces heartbreaking defeat and is shamed by his peers. But he has more than a few schemes to recover his former position as well as allies to rely on as he sets out to break down his oppressive society—from the inside out. Reynolds can snap from smooth urbanity to deep, gritty tones, depending on the circumstance and which of the myriad characters he is voicing. He exudes a confidence acquired by having spent significant time in Darrow’s dangerous world, and his crisp diction ensures that not one moment of conflict is missed.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2015
Duration: 19 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781464042133
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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