At a moment when stories across genres are interrogating how AI and humanity will coexist, Jennifer Jill Araya's performance in this robot-led tale is a standout. Annie is a Cuddle Bunny, a sentient AI in a near-perfect human body designed to meet her owner Doug's every need. But as she reads, learns, and experiences new things, she becomes increasingly aware of her potential for agency, especially in relation to Doug's controlling, abusive behavior. Annie questions how autonomy functions within such a dynamic--and whether autonomy belongs to her at all. Araya's enthralling portrayal of Annie and gruff portrayal of Doug make listeners empathize with the robot and fear the boyfriend. Araya provides a powerful performance about gender dynamics, power, and what it means to be human.
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063312722
Publisher: Harper 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: N/A
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: N/A
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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