These audio anthologies of the yearly collections of best American (U.S. and Canadian) short stories are always exciting, stimulating, and disappointing at the same time. These eight of 2002's twenty stories are unabridged and very well produced but omit some of the best selections from the book, notably E.L. Doctorow's haunting "A House on the Plains." Meanwhile a rambling dog like Carolyn Cooke's "The Sugar Tit," though read effectively by the author, is even harder to follow on audio. These are all fine stories, all expertly read, and three stories read by their authors are standouts--"Puppy," by Richard Ford; "The Heifer," by Melissa Hardy; and "Surrounded by Sleep," by Akhil Sharma. Each works an emotional transfiguration out of material that should make for dismal realism. Today's storytellers take their inspiration from "Rumpelstiltskin," spinning gold from straw.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Escape on a thrilling adventure with Soneela Nankani and Andrew Eiden as they narrate this suspenseful romance. A year has passed since Simi Chopra, her assorted crew, and Jack Danger pulled off a lucrative diamond heist. Now, the Chicago Mafia boss is demanding that the jewels be returned, so Simi gets the team back together. Nankani delivers an expressive performance that emphasizes Simi's conflict between her passion for Jack and the mission. Her distinct character voices keep the listener fully immersed. Eiden's lively tone gives Jack a subtle flair and confidence that make him easy to forgive and to love.
Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2024
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593907467
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This is not a story about guns, but about blue pearls. Gerald Browne takes us to the Pacific Ocean and the world of pearl divers and natural gems and mixes in mystery, intrigue and suspense. Barry Bostwick portrays the characters in one voice, varying his intonation slightly for the Asian personalities. His reading style is very smooth, evidence of preparation and interest in the story. 18mm Blues is abridged well, collecting the important elements of the story. Unobtrusive music indicates the end of each side. Disappear into the mystery of the Far East and one of its most beautiful commodities.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1993
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Audio Renaissance
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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