Discover Most Popular Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

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Title: Take the All-Mart!

Subtitle: Reprobates of the Wasteland

Author: J. I. Greco

Narrator: Michael A. Smith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-29-12

Publisher: James Greco

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A devastated post-apocalyptic wasteland...a gang of hover-board-riding, cannibalistic bounty hunters...a zombie-filled, world-devouring, sentient department store...and two idiot cyborgs in a 200-year-old mind-controlled Dodge Swinger running from a jilted warlord queen and willing to take it all on for the love of an orgy-loving cyber-nun...and for a reward.... Okay, mostly for the reward.

Members Reviews:

Sexy, Funny, Stupid, Violent, and Kinda Wonderful

If William Gibson, Kevin Smith, and Quentin Tarantino had sex in the back of Jack Kerouac's car - this book would be the baby.

Mind-controlled cars. Drugged up anti-heroes with lots of hilarious wise-cracking. An all-devouring MegaStore that turns it's customer's into zombies. And lots of beer and lust and other stuff.

Until we get a movie version, this audiobook is a great substitute.

Unlikely heroes, unusual zombies.

Futuristic technology in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Reprobates as heroes. Zombies who do not want to eat you, but to feed you junk food. A supermarket composed of self-replicating nanno-machines gone rogue, and filled with zombie shoppers. Women who treat it as a god. All of these combine to make for a fast-paced, delightful tale.

unique and funny

I dont exactly know what I was seeking when I grabbed this title for review: unique and funny is always a start, many reviewers say it is diabolically clever. And perhaps in the written form, it truly is. The story was unique and clever, although laden with specific weaponry and other technical references that were not familiar, but presented in such a way as to feel important to the story and fit the action. Unlike other zombie stories I have read, the author is most certainly a fan of various pop-culture hits, as moments in this story approach other more well-known films and stories, from Red Dwarf to Sean of the Dead, with touches of Hitchhikers Guide and a bit of Dumb and Dumber humor, the story proceeds quickly, taking full responsibility for the tongue-in-cheek moments and juvenile humor.

Trip and Rudy are sexist, not so intelligent, and wholly out for the adventure: as long as there is a reward. While never quite cute and fuzzy likable, they also do not make apologies for who they are, or how they see the world. And their interplay and the adventures are really just a fun romp not meant to be more, and it is perfectly enjoyable: I was curious about just what mishap would or could occur, and the inclusion of the sidekick characters often added much to the storys enjoyment, if not always filling a solid purpose for the plot. However, I would read, rather than listen, to this and any further installments in the series.

For me, the narration provided by Michael A. Smith was uneven and often uninspired. A decent voice with nice timbre, although a few hesitations that were not edited out, and a rather flat affect in the majority of the narration. It sounded exactly as what it is: someone reading a book. The lack of emotional affect varied: some character voices and active moments were better than others. And, when citing an obviously bad and fake accent, it would be beneficial to actually attempt the accent, not just change tone.

Audiobook provided for review by the narrator.

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Title: InterstellarNet: Origins, Book 1

Author: Edward M. Lerner

Narrator: J. D. Hart

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-13-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When the first call from the stars comes, do we even dare to answer?

Life changes for everyone in general - and for physicist Dean Matthews in particular - when astronomers detect a radio signal from a nearby star. First Contact forces humanity to face hard questions, and do it fast. Every answer spawns new questions. Every solution sets in motion a new and more daunting crisis to challenge Dean, his family - and an expanding number of interstellar civilizations - or generations to come.

Critic Reviews:

"One of the most original, believable, thoroughly thought-out, and utterly fascinating visions ever of what interstellar contact might really be like." (Dr. Stanley Schmidt, Editor, Analog magazine)

Members Reviews:

Way too many rough edges

What disappointed you about Origins?

Narrator: bland, distracting number of mispronunciations.Story: poorly edited - way too many anachronisms

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Editing - often uses sci-fi convention of "such and such was developed in the 20th century", but also used "photoshop" and "Enron" as verbs within a few hundred words of each other.

How could the performance have been better?

Narrator should perform, not read the text. Perhaps acting classes would help. Also look up words and pay attention to context to avoid mispronunciations. Example: - text: "suspect everyone" ... suspect is a verb - narrator: "Suspect: everyone", emphasis on 1st syllable of 'suspect', making it a noun. A dumb mistake unfortunately repeated several times

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

storyline had a lot of potential

Any additional comments?

purchase if discounted, otherwise give it a pass

I can't even finish this book

Would you try another book from Edward M. Lerner and/or J. D. Hart?

I would try other books by this author, and even retry this title if a new narrator was selected.

What could Edward M. Lerner have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Having Mark Boyett narrate the story.

Would you be willing to try another one of J. D. Harts performances?

Only after he gets better direction on how to narrate a story.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger. I find the subject matter very interesting, but could not follow the story, or who was speaking.

Any additional comments?

I even tried slowing the playback to .75, which made it worse. I hope this is reread with another narrator.

Reader is mechanical

I would change the reader! He could have been a computer for all i know. He was very mechanical in his delivery, adding almost no emotion or inflection to help the story. Some of his pauses for paragraph or sentence structures were non existent which made it harder to follow and caused it to flow awkwardly.

Common acronyms like SETI can be read and as a word and don't need to be read out S-E-T-I each time.

The story itself was an interesting take on interstellar commerce with no physical contact.

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Title: The Sins of the Fathers

Subtitle: Kyyra, Book 1

Author: Stanley Schmidt

Narrator: George Backman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-13-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Volume One of Stanley Schmidt's classic tale of the planet in peril! A scientific expedition travels into deep space, and brings back shocking news: The galactic core has exploded - and the Earth is doomed! Includes a new introduction by Ben Bova, editor of the original Analog serials, plus the essay "How to Move the Earth" by the author.

Members Reviews:

End of the World epic

I first read this Stanley Schmidt novel and its sequel in the pages of Analog magazine during the 1970s. It was fun to reread it, and rediscover it, in the 2010s. Schmidt's writing style is clear, visual and fast paced. An imaginative, thought-provoking tale in the manner of SF master John W. Campbell. Imagine this, moving the entire planet Earth like a spacecraft! Sure the mind boggles, yet Schmidt weaves the hard science of it--believe me, it all seems believable--with a nail-biting story and a cast of interesting terrestrial and alien characters. I bought myself the Kindle e-edition but you can also enjoy it in paper editions.

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Title: Tangents

Author: Greg Bear

Narrator: Brennan Taylor, Therese Plummer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Multi-award winning author Greg Bear established himself as the most ambitious and imaginative of the potential successors to Arthur C. Clarke with his bestselling space operas Eon and Eternity. Tangents is his first collection of short stories and includes two tales that won both Hugo and Nebula Awards: 'Tangents' a remarkable account of contact with beings from another dimension, and the original short version of his classic novel Blood Music.

Members Reviews:

Powered me through a long stretch of road

This audible recording recently got me through a long, exhausting automobile journey. There are definitely some dud stories in this collection, but the readers Taylor Brennan and Therese Plummer did a great job of maximizing the potential of these particular pieces. There was especially something powerful and stimulating about Taylor's voice that kept my attention pegged while my mind was trying to drift.

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Title: H5N1

Subtitle: Code Name: Greed

Author: Jacqueline Druga

Narrator: Denice Stradling

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-18-12

Publisher: Jacqueline Druga

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

With increased cases of human to human infection, scientists try to spearhead a Bird Flu Pandemic by merging the H5N1 virus with a similar synthetic strain, one for which there is a cure. The hybrid germ is a success. The results disastrous. The vaccine is ineffective on the new strain and an airborne route of transmission sends the hybrid out of control. The world spirals into a super pandemic. Scientists scurry and find and antidote using the blood of those who show natural immunity. A cure is found, however, the synthetic antidote turns those saved from the virus into raging maniacs void of human qualities.

Lisa Marshall is immune. Her blood is part of the save the world' project. She is placed in a Savior tank to ensure her survival and safety from a world gone chaotic. When she finally emerges, she faces a world void of everything she remembers. Every day is a fight for her survival and sanity. Trapped in the desolate city of Cleveland with only the mutated humans, Lisa maps her escape in hopes of someday finding someone, anyone, who is alive and well.

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Title: Osiris

Subtitle: The Osiris Project, Book 1

Author: E. J. Swift

Narrator: Khristine Hvam

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-06-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Nobody leaves Osiris. Osiris is a lost city. She has lost the world and world has lost her....

Rising high above the frigid waters, the ocean city of Osiris has been cut off from the land since the Great Storm 50 years ago. Most believe that Osiris is the last city on Earth, while others cling to the idea that life still survives somewhere beyond the merciless seas. But for all its inhabitants, Citizens and refugees alike, Osiris is the entire world - and it is a world divided.

Adelaide is the black-sheep granddaughter of the citys Architect. A jaded socialite and family miscreant, she wants little to do with her powerful relatives - until her troubled twin brother disappears mysteriously. Convinced that he is still alive, she will stop at nothing to find him, even if it means uncovering long-buried secrets.

Vikram, a third-generation storm refugee quarantined with thousands of others in the citys impoverished western sector, sees his own people dying of cold and starvation while the elite of Osiris ignore their plight. Determined to change things, he hopes to use Adelaide to bring about much-needed reforms - but who is using who?As another brutal winter brings Osiris closer to riot and revolution, two very different people, each with their own agendas, will attempt to bridge the gap dividing the city, only to find a future far more complicated than either of them ever imagined.

Osiris is the beginning of an ambitious new science-fiction trilogy exploring a near-future world radically transformed by rising seas and melting poles.

Editorial Reviews:

Osiris, an isolated city of glass towers on an island off Alaska, may be the last city in the world; the plight of the citizens in this postapocalyptic metropolis is the focus of Osiris: The Osiris Project, Book 1. Voiceover actress Khristine Hvam brings a dark warmth to her performance of Adelaide, the wealthy and rebellious granddaughter of the architect who built Osiris, and Vikram, a poor refugee living in permanent quarantine, whose lives intertwine as the city's tensions bring it close to revolution. While it may be a descriptively beautiful listen, Osiris also carries a darkly prescient undercurrent, offering poignant symbolic commentary on contemporary struggles with climate change and immigration.

Members Reviews:

Somewhat confusing

I like the story but the writing at times was confusing. Not a whole lot happens in the book. It is definitely a set up for the next book or books.

Overall good

The book is overall a good book. There was just a few plot gaps that were unanswered. It however is a good story to read.

A brilliant debut

I think it could be easy to compare this to Paolo Bacigalupi's excellent The Wind-Up girl, but I think there's something about this novel that's ultimately MORE readable. A great worldbuild, the city is as much a character as the protagonists, and I was sucked in to both the story and the writing.

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Title: Zombie Battle: Trinity

Author: Jacqueline Druga

Narrator: Andrew B. Wehrlen

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-20-12

Publisher: Jacqueline Druga

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Zombie Battle is a five-part series. This audiobook contains the first three parts: Outbreak, Integration and Invasion.

A mysterious virus emerges after a meteor lands near a remote village in Peru. Authorities brought in to investigate discover the horrific virus not only kills but reanimates its victims, turning them into the walking dead.

Believing they have contained the outbreak, samples of the contagion are brought to the United States via infected military and other victims. The virus breaks boundaries and the infection spreads, initiating the ground invasion of the War against the Undead.

The war begins as the numbers of the undead increase and civil unrest begins. The fate of the world hangs in the balance as it is not only man against the undead, but man against man.

Members Reviews:

I wish I could...

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I wish I could think of anyone who would enjoy this book...

Would you ever listen to anything by Jacqueline Druga again?

Nope...

What didnt you like about Andrew B. Wehrlens performance?

I'm sure he did the best he could with the dialog, story and characters but the voices were almost annoying...

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Zombie Battle: Trinity?

I have read and listened to many zombie books. This is the first and only one I can not find something positive about...I wish I could but I can't...

Any additional comments?

Don't waist your time or money.

I like the story plot direction, but...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

YES!!! How the narrator reads the story.

Delivery is "staccato" and broken. I think the narrator was attempting a type of dramatic affect, which turns out somewhat annoying.

What did you like best about this story?

The pace and direction. I have to be honest, I've only listened to 69% of the story. I can't help but stopping after a while because of 'how' it's being read.

Would you be willing to try another one of Andrew B. Wehrlens performances?

If he reads in all his performance this way, probably not. He is too phonetic on how he reads words. It doesn't sound natural.

Do you think Zombie Battle: Trinity needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Can't really comment on that yet. I'll download the e-book so I can finish the story.

Any additional comments?

no.

Please fire the narrator

What would have made Zombie Battle: Trinity better?

An editor, a plot, anything original and something exciting

Would you recommend Zombie Battle: Trinity to your friends? Why or why not?

Nope. There are many better Zombie novels

Would you be willing to try another one of Andrew B. Wehrlens performances?

Nope. He sounds as if he is seeing the material for the first time and isn't sure where the sentences break or end

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Zombie Battle: Trinity?

Oh my goodness..too many to list

Any additional comments?

It's not that difficult to write better material. The waste of time saddens me.

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Title: Harmonics: Rise of the Magician (Volume 1)

Author: Collin Earl, Chris Snelgrove

Narrator: Chris Snelgrove

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-28-12

Publisher: DarkFire Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Samantha Montgomery of Academy City 676 always dreamed of life outside of school. Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for....

A rogue weapons manufacturer, a ruthless killer, and a schoolgirl converge as a weapon so advanced it defies the laws of physics is a mere breath away from being unleashed on the world. Now it's up to Sam and some unexpected allies to keep it out of the wrong hands or risk loosing everything, and everyone, they hold dear.

A defense contractor on the rampage, an assassin out for blood, and Sam caught in the middle. When the reality you know ceases to be, can you live with the reality yet to come?

Members Reviews:

interesting

the story starts out kind of slow. the overall plot is interesting. worth a listen.

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Title: Supercritical

Author: Shawn Kupfer

Narrator: Victor Bevine

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 06-11-12

Publisher: Carina Press

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 21 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Siberia, 2021.

As global tensions escalate, China attacks New York City, wiping out its entire population. Marine ex-con Nick Morrow and his team of convicts, dubbed 47 Echo, are sent on a deadly mission - to infiltrate Shanghai and shut down its computer network. Given virtually no weaponry, the crew must rely on themselves as they trek across the dangerous countryside crawling with enemies.

As they head toward almost certain death, Nick struggles to not lose his ever-thinning thread of control. Though the convict soldiers outnumber their own military counterparts, they're looked down upon as human shields. But to Nick, they're friends. The team needs him - hell, the world needs him. The stakes are higher than ever before. This will be the ultimate battle, and the consequences will test everything Nick is and will become.

Members Reviews:

This novel is military action, not sci-fi

It is a straight forward military action novel. The setting is at some future point where there is a world war going on, but the setting, people, and weaponry are all modern day stuff (well, even if the "tank" descriptions are of fictitious tanks, I don't think the average (non-tank-aficionado) reader would know...)

The main character is just a bit smarter, faster, stronger and luckier than your average Joe, but... then again, that is the point in this kind of novel - an otherwise normal guy saves the day by dint of his superior... everything...

There is forward momentum, people get killed (other than the main character we can't really distinguish any of them though), and the day gets saved. There is not so much a plot as there is a goal/destination. But, whatever, it is a fast easy read and pretty much exactly what you should expect from a military action novel.

It is not, however, science fiction and should not be classified as such; if you bought this expecting any science fiction (other than, perhaps, it being set in a future year), you will be disappointed. The entire story is about a group of soldiers (yes, some are convicts, but they behave exactly like the non-convicts) who enter enemy territory to destroy a target. They shoot things, they get shot at. That is it.

The narration is very good; the violence is not overly graphic and there is no sex. Some occasional swearing. I will read more by this author, but, then again, I like military action fiction...

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Title: Venus of Dreams

Subtitle: The Venus Trilogy, Book 1

Author: Pamela Sargent

Narrator: Andi Arndt

Format: Unabridged

Length: 21 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-20-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Iris Angharads, a determined, independent woman, sets herself one massive goal: to make the poison-filled atmosphere of Venus hospitable to humans. She works day and night to realize her dream, with only one person sharing her passion, Liang Chen. It seems impossible to make Venus, with its intolerable air and waterless environment, into a paradise, but Iris succeeds. And in doing so, she also creates a powerful dynasty, beginning with her first born, Benzi Liangharad.

Members Reviews:

Great Book, Great Trilogy

Where does Venus of Dreams rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

up there with the best. Ms. Sargent has obviously done very thorough research and keeps you on edge with this tale of a young woman seeking her dream

Who was your favorite character and why?

Iris. Ms. Sargent does an excellent job of taking you through her range of emotions. Her tenacity and willingness to suffer through the harrassment of her effort to fulfill her goals.

Which scene was your favorite?

they were all good and none really stuck out to me.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

the struggle of a woman to reach her goals.

Any additional comments?

this really is a must read for any fans of science fiction.

Not Sci-Fi - Too Political - Unlikeable Characters

Would you try another book from Pamela Sargent and/or Andi Arndt?

Andi Arndt - Yes

Would you ever listen to anything by Pamela Sargent again?

No

Have you listened to any of Andi Arndts other performances before? How does this one compare?

Don't know

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

The main character Iris was not likable based on her decisions. I was uncomfortable with types of mature content that was brought into the story. In many places it didnt apply to the story and only seemed to be added as part of the writers political agenda.