The protagonist in Steven Polansky's debut novel is named Raymond Bradbury, which is rather confusing. Nevertheless, the author’s portrait of medical cloning and its effects on a near-future society is compelling, especially as enhanced by the deepest voice in audio, that of Stefan Rudnicki. Voicing a dog-tired man at the end of his rope, Rudnicki reads in a monotone, eschewing emotion or verve in favor of grim exhaustion. As the story moves forward relentlessly, the listener is immersed in a world in which a man can live for too long a time, drifting with no discernible purpose or goal. Later, as copious dialogue takes center stage, Rudnicki defines various characters and their traits, allowing the listener some auditory relief from this bleak world.
Pub Date: May 4, 2010
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Blackstone 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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