Captain Hadrian Sawback and the crew of the WILLFUL CHILD are ripping through the galaxy, wreaking havoc and causing calamity. But they can't help it. That's their mission—or at least that's how the captain chooses to interpret their mission. MacLeod Andrews proves to be the perfect narrator for this delightful satire of the space-exploration novel. His deep, commanding voice resonates well, particularly when voicing Sawback. He also develops distinct personalities for the whole crew and knows how to sound engaging when recounting the action, adventure, and romance. Beyond making the narrative exciting, Andrews enhances the characters by providing the occasional vocal wink with his comedic timing and tongue-in-cheek tone.
Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2014
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781480583177
Publisher: Brilliance 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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