BEARS DISCOVER FIRE, AND OTHER STORIES

In this darkly comedic audio collection of futuristic stories, a dynamic trio of narrators brings diverse skills. The outlandish tales are written in an unnervingly realistic fashion, and the narrators provide an enticing combination of wit, verisimilitude, and empathy. Stefan Rudnicki’s somber rolling bass nicely offsets Kristoffer Tabori's raspy charm, which works to great effect in their collaboration on "They're Made Out of Meat." Janis Ian's robust tones and subtle delivery make her an excellent match for sinister and earnest characters alike, and she particularly shines in "Press Ann," especially as the sentient ATM. Alternating narrators from story to story helps to separate worlds, while frank tones and attention to detail keep listeners anchored to the bizarre and disturbing events. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2014]