New Reviews: Science Fiction

Narrator Jennywren Walker instills the heroine of this audiobook with a touch of attitude befitting a member of the upper class in England in 1788. This novella begins a new series introducing Alice, who depends on that attitude to see her through some uncomfortable situations. For example, she saves her father from ruin with an unconventional career for a woman--that of a... Read More

The scene is a future time that we seem to be moving closer to every day. This audiobook looks at a time when climate change has devastated society, but mankind has managed to cling to life. Patrick Lawlor narrates the work with careful elocution, carefully describing a world frighteningly close to our own in which humankind is just steps from losing all semblance of... Read More

Wil Wheaton narrates this space opera full of political intrigue and charismatic characters. The young Emperox Grayland II does not have an easy task ahead. The Interdependency is in jeopardy due to the collapse of various planets in the empire. Powerful families are looking out for their own interests, even if that means killing their enemies and threatening the empire.... Read More

Can a robot change its programming, mission, and values? Kevin Free's unemotional narration is the perfect choice for this story featuring a murderbot--a cyborg. The murderbot recounts his self-initiated mission to rescue his patron and "friend," Dr. Mensah, from the clutches of GrayCris Corporation. The murderbot, a SecUnit gone rogue, describes his actions, his reprogrammed... Read More

This masterful work of psychological suspense is all the more riveting with Jacques Roy narrating. In the near future, husband-and-wife Junior and Hen have a simple life together on an isolated farm. However, Junior is randomly chosen as a candidate for a journey that will take him far from home, away from earth itself. Though nothing is final, yet, the possibility works its... Read More

A stellar cast of seven narrators takes turns performing this collection of shorter pieces by science-fiction novelist Jemisin. Each narrator drills down to the core of the story, developing believable accents and highlighting the characters' personalities. Listeners will be impressed with how complete each story feels, almost as if this were a collection of novellas. Jemisin... Read More

Marc Vietor narrates Johnny's earthly adventure in a deep, sombre tone reminiscent of the voice-overs of televised stories of extraterrestrials. His dispassionate inflection conveys the captive Johnny's detachment from the federal agents and scientists who are attempting to study him. As his detainment lengthens and lead agent Saul loses patience, Vietor's inflection becomes... Read More

A trio of narrators tackles a look at the future of humanity in which the technical details overshadow the drama. In the near future, the moon has been colonized jointly by the U.S. and China. An American accused of murder and caught up in a power struggle flees with the help of an illegally pregnant woman and a poet/celebrity. Maxwell Hamilton, Joy Osmanski, and Feodor Chin... Read More

This first installment of Thompson's science fiction Wormwood Trilogy, set in 2066, follows antihero Kaaro, a Nigerian "Sensitive" who is capable of extracting information from people's minds. Rosewater's mysterious dome draws West African residents who are seeking healing and suspicious officials demanding answers. Narrator Bayo Gbadamosi creates a distinct sense of place as... Read More

Narrator John Lee takes the reins of a sprawling space opera filled with diverse characters and intense worldbuilding. In the near future, humanity spans the galaxy, thanks to a transportation technology that makes all others obsolete: jump gates. Multiple storylines involve a mysterious spaceship, an alien race, and "post-humans." Lee tackles every character with surprising... Read More

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller propels this exciting space-opera, which invites listeners to be careful what they wish for. When cargo ship captain Hammond Roystan discovers the famed exploration vessel HASSIM, its crew is dead, and he claims the vessel as salvage. But before long, this treasure becomes a curse, and what's left of Roystan's crew, along with a couple of new members,... Read More

Ashton Collins, the sheltered son of a wealthy bioengineer, is jolted out of his cushy life when he follows his dying father's command to flee to Street Freaks in the Red Zone of Los Angeles, a forbidding, lawless area. Narrator Simon Vance's velvety smooth voice alternates between calm and emotionally charged scenes. Surrounded by an extraordinary team of augmented teenagers,... Read More