Discover New Releases Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary

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Title: Watchbird

Author: Robert Sheckley

Narrator: Edward Miller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-06-17

Publisher: Audioliterature

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Engineers have created an intelligent robot bird and its main objective is to prevent murder! The robot is encouraged to study what murder is, and its definition of murder expands until humans find themselves no longer able to operate on dying patients or to eat a salad because of the salad's feelings! What to do? Terminate the robots or starve to death...

A simultaneously satirically funny and very suspenseful sci-fi tale by master Robert Sheckley. A collection featuring two additional, finely crafted sci-fi short stories.

©2016 Audioliterature (P)2016 Audioliterature

Members Reviews:

Sheckley - good; this short story, not so much

I expect this short story (it's not a book) will feel dated to most people reading it now. It's old, 1950's-type formula SciFi. Perfectly readable and moves along nicely. It may work as a parable for the young and innocent. But if you find ecological thinking reasonable or recognize the concept of unintended consequences or have thought about AI, then this may pattern out as simply obvious. (And, btw, the stated "moral" in the story is almost completely unrelated to the story. The moral should be "bad programming.")

Made me think

A fast short story that doesn't show its age (besides the smoking). Being myself an IT professional, I know how easy it is to overlook some flaw that can impact the results only in a very specific situation on when the whole product was put to full use... and someday a very serious problem may be detected too late.

Think of endings

The fictional creators of the Watchbirds for forgot one thing the things that humans make have the same faults that we humans have, they thought that such machines would stay within their programming, but having the ability to learn they exceed their mission an expanded their original mission.

Drone warfare

Really good story. Makes you see the errors of not seeing one step further.

Watchbird

Watchbird is a prophetic story that has come to pass. Look at the creation of drone aircraft and the Watchbirds have arrived.

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Title: The Machine Stops

Author: Edward Morgan Forster

Narrator: Edward Miller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-06-17

Publisher: Audioliterature

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

Publisher's Summary:

"The Machine Stops" is a sci-fi story by E. M. Forster, first published in 1909. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity lives underground and relies on a giant machine to provide their needs. The story predicted new technologies such as instant messaging and the Internet.

©2016 Audioliterature (P)2016 Audioliterature

Members Reviews:

A classic story dealing with a modern idea

The only flaw I saw was that the themes were too big to deal with in a short story like this. I didn't care about the characters or the world enough to care as much as I might have about what was happening to them. But for a book written over a century ago? Wow. Forster shined a light on issues that I don't see how he understood. That makes any objection I might have had with characters irrelevant.

Another flaw? I read that this was Forster's only story of this type. Imagine. Had Forster devoted some time to this genre he'd be called one of the greats.

Excellent read, so-so edition

This was a very interesting read, well-written and strangely prescient for its day. I would give it five stars for literary quality.

However, the paper copy I received from Dodo Press was riddled with typos to the extent that it interfered with my enjoyment of the story. Every place that should have had an apostrophe (don't) instead had a quotation mark (don"t). Numerous sentences did not start with capitals, and there were several instances where an obviously wrong word was printed, as in "she his it behind a screen" rather than "hid it". These are pretty basic errors; they should have been caught by a proofreader before it went to press. If this is something that bothers you, don't buy this edition.

Also, when ordering, I somehow missed the fact that this story is less than 50 pages long. It was a good read, but if I had realized that before ordering I would not have paid $11 for it because I'm a cheapskate. Coupled with the printing issues I described above, it stings.

Facebook in 1909?

How did this author write about our society in such a way in 1909? How could he know we would reduce our personal relationships to rhetorically regurgitated common, acceptable thoughts and commentary? How did he know we would feel more comfortable associating through the sanitary gloss of a "blue" screen rather than face to face? How did he know we would share, repost and accept without ever fact checking information? How???? I discovered this author and his short story while reading The Little Paris Bookshop. This is one of my favorite types I incidents; coming across something while reading something else that touches me in such a way I begin connecting questions I didn't even know I was asking.

A neglected masterpiece

Seemingly, this is Forster's only science-fiction story âÂif only he had written more. Told in his characteristic urbane, self-effacing style, the rendering of a dystopian future controlled by an all-knowing Machine is all the more terrifying for being so subtly evoked. For all its brevity, this short story holds its own among the ranks of Huxley's "Brave New World" and Orwell's "Nineteen eighty-four". Essential reading.

Good story, poorly done edition

This is a short, well-written, prophetic story that is apropos in today's world.

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Title: Raiders of the Universes

Author: Donald Wandrei

Narrator: Edward Miller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-05-17

Publisher: Audioliterature

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

Publisher's Summary:

"Raiders of the Universes" is a sci-fi novel by Donald Wandrei, published 1932 in the magazine Astounding Stories. In the 34th century, so called Raiders are wreaking havoc on entire planets around Sol; and Earth is no exception! The Raiders find out about intelligent life on Earth and "kindly" decide not to eat it up like so many others... but what in turn might be worse?

©2016 Audioliterature (P)2016 Audioliterature

Members Reviews:

Book

Son loved the book. Good Fit for the product and it was well like by the users. He appreciated the the gift and will use it often.

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Titel: Garlyn: Der Schattentanz (Schattenraum-Trilogie 2)

Autor:: Dane Rahlmeyer

Erzähler: Tim Gössler

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 10 hrs and 57 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 01-02-17

Herausgeber: Projekt Future

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

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Die Jagd geht weiter!

"Tief in der unergründlichen Finsternis des Schattenraums liegt die Gefängnissphäre Skaya. Ein Ort voller fremder Kulturen und bizarrer Lebewesen. Eine sterbende Welt. Und ein blutiges Schlachtfeld. Als Garlyn und Kirai die Sphäre betreten, auf der Suche nach den letzten Überlebenden von Garlyns Volk, geraten sie in einen Krieg zwischen zwei mächtigen Imperien, die seit Generationen um die Vorherrschaft über Skaya kämpfen.

Sofort beginnt eine gnadenlose Jagd auf die Außenweltler. Denn Garlyn und Kirai haben eine Waffe mitgebracht, die für eine der beiden Kriegsparteien die Rettung bedeuten könnte - und die endgültige Vernichtung für die andere."

©2017 Projekt Future (P)2017 Projekt Future

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Title: The Goodall Mutiny

Subtitle: The Goodall Series, Book 1

Author: Gretchen Rix

Narrator: Alexandra Haag

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-23-16

Publisher: Gretchen Rix

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

Publisher's Summary:

All the normal sounds usually reaching the lower decks of the USS Goodall during routine subspace flight have just been cut off. As if someone at the controls suddenly wants the crew isolated. No loudly arguing male voices, no deliberately mishandled supplies tumbling down the corridor, no nothing. Has the impossible happened? Is this the Goodall mutiny everyone expected? Or is it something even worse? Marooned, with failing systems and inexperienced officers, the dangerously dysfunctional crew must fight to survive. Could surviving be a fate worse than death? The Goodall Mutiny. First in the Goodall series of science fiction mysteries.

Members Reviews:

Good scfi

This is not the normal science fiction that I read. It went into the right amount of detail. I enjoy reading the book. It was easy reading. It is written for all ages. It reminded me of listening to the radio mystery theater. The action was nonstop. I enjoyed that the main character was a female. I am looking forward in reading book 2. I hope that Ms. Rix continues writing.

Four Stars

This book is a fun and fast paced science fiction mystery. I look forward to the next installment.

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Title: S-T-I-K-S II. Man with a Cat [Russian Edition]

Author: Artiom Kamenisty

Narrator: Vadim Pugachev

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-05-16

Publisher: IDDK

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Mir neprekrashhajushhegosja koshmara. Mir, gde esli dazhe tebe povezet na starte, finish, skoree vsego, obnaruzhitsja za pervym povorotom. Mir nepreryvno urodujushhij i perevarivajushhij vseh, kto v nego popadajut. I, tem ne menee, dazhe v takom meste mozhno najti spokojnyj ugolok. No spokojstvie zdes' - slishkom dorogoj tovar, i te, kto im torgujut, iz kozhi von lezut, chtoby zastavit' vseh prochih platit' bez skidok i prosrochek. Esli ty im zadolzhal, bud' gotov vypolnjat' vse, chto tebe prikazhut. Dazhe esli prikaz nastol'ko ploh, chto ego ne toropjatsja ozvuchivat'.

Please note: This audiobook is in Russian.

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Title: Odd Exam

Author: Piers Anthony

Narrator: Jack Meloche

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-29-16

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 3 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Odd Exam is a novella from Piers Anthony about an unusual college entrance examination. Entrance exams are taken in the form of a multiplayer online game in a semi-virtual reality, with portals to other worlds and alien monsters. For those who qualify, board and tuition will be free. Can this be serious?

Members Reviews:

I used to skip over the "mushy" parts

I read every sci-fi book in my library when I was young. I was interested in rocket ships, alien monsters and ray guns. It seemed that the story would suffer whenever kissing was involved so I skipped those parts. Now that I'm older I am more tolerant of it although I still skim through those sections. Kissing was pervasive in this novella but the ideas and the presentation were so enjoyable that I didn't skim through any of it. Love his Xanth books too.

Much fun, one small complaint.

I bought this novella as a vacation read.. I am not disappointed. As a Xanth fan, I enjoyed the multi-realm setting. As a sci-fi fan, I thought the magic/futuristic lasers were interesting. Good as anything you write, Piers! Oh yes,my complaint. The reader program took me past the second and maybe more pages of the author notes. I will get them, oh indeed!

Three Stars

He's done better

Fun

I enjoyed this work. I love Anthony's Xanth series, and have enjoyed some of his other works. This is by no means a masterpeice, but it is a fun little read. If more time were taken to develop the characters and their relationships (much more time) then I would have given it 4 stars instead.

Five Stars

Great book wish there was a sequel

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Title: The Caverns of Mars

Author: D. B. Drew

Narrator: L.W. Salinas

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-04-16

Publisher: HLA Publishing LLC

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 5 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Lack of categories and character count mandates this terse warning as preface. Contains romance between two lesbian characters and is explicit, spicy to erotic romance.

The culture is different, written with different values in mind. Sex discussed more openly and frankly, for example. It's my speculation on how culture will be in early 2080s.

Diverse cast (including LGBTQ+ characters), tendency to overturn tropes.

Mixes subgenres of sci-fi plus a central romance. Many other story elements, too. Regular description:

In 2082 an elite group of scientists race to secure the future of humanity with alien technology left from the distant past, buried deep in the caverns of Mars....

Martina "Marty" Barbotti jumps at the opportunity to travel to the Mars base to secure the network and data systems on a secret project spearheaded by her longtime friend. It's quickly apparent that Marty and the small group of gifted scientists have their hands full deciphering technology far superior to their own. Technology that's alien in origin and at least a billion years old.

At 22 Dr. Mia Bierbrauer may be the youngest engineer on the team, but with two doctorates to her name she more than holds her own with the other more experienced scientists. But to her surprise, it's not just the advanced alien tech holding her interest. After spending the majority of her life isolated in the world of academia, the shy and inexperienced Mia finds herself drawn to Marty, the self-assured and confident cyber-specialist.

The group works tirelessly to reverse engineer and adapt the alien technology. The scientific possibilities for the new tech are limitless, but so too are the financial ones. Large global conglomerates, less concerned with ethics and more concerned with the bottom line, will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.

And this technology could, in the wrong hands, forever change the social and economic future of Earth.

Members Reviews:

A LGBT romance novel with sexual content on Mars.

Any additional comments?

This is not a book about billion year old alien technology. That is a backdrop for a romance novel with "Large global conglomerates" bad guys putting our freinds and lovers at risk.

If you are looking for SyFy, pick another book.

Just plain BAD

Bad science fiction + soap box LGBT proselytizing + over the top feminist hero = BAD.

Don't waste your credit.

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Title: Palindrome 656

Subtitle: The Palindrome Series, Volume 1

Author: C.F. Waller

Narrator: Charlotte Kyle

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-03-16

Publisher: Cosby Media Productions

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 5 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

When a ghost ship turns up in orbit after a half decade of silence, the powers that be are going to want answers. And when you are the only person still breathing, you can expect an interrogation. Hannah, the Empire's leading lady of counter-intelligence, is about to go head to head with the Union's best interrogators in a life or death battle to find the answers to some seemingly simple questions. As she decides what to answer and what to leave out, none of the stories she is about to share will paint her in a positive light, but in her case, they rarely do. It's said that the "winners" write the history books, and while the Union continues to demand answers, it seems that Hannah, whose greatest victory is managing to stay alive, is the only one holding a pen.

Members Reviews:

Great outer space adventure!!!

Great story about traveling out into space (for algae!) and being the one to come back to tell the tale of what went wrong. Strong female lead. Great story. Fast paced read broken up to current/past sections that blend together MARVELOUSLY! For those of us who love to dream of space travel, adventures, having kick-ass toys, etc. this is a great book! Good character development too. READ IT!!!

I loved this book

I loved this book. I text to speech books in my earbud all day most every day. It is difficult to find a unique book. I enjoyed this one a year ago.

I searched to find a possible sequence. It doesn't show up for Palindrome. I own it and had to find the full name in my content to find it. This does not seem fair to Waller. Plus, where is the sequel?

A good read!

This is an interesting and fun book, full of black humor and quick wit. The heroine (aka the monster) is very well developed, funny and charming in a gruesome way, and after a while you can't help but like her. This is interesting as it makes you wonder a bit about your own viewpoint but that is another story...

The beginning of the book seemed to be fairly well edited, but as it went on there were more and more errors, which is a real shame. The author is clearly very talented at writing, he would do well to find someone just as talented at copy editing to make his books a success.

4 for the novel, -1 for the lack of editing

I am looking forward to the next book!

Action Sci-Fi With A Strong Female Protagonist/Narrator

This story was heck of a fun read. In fact it is now one of my favorite sci-fi stories, and I don't throw that term around loosely.

The Good:

-Hannah, the narrator and protagonist. Have you ever read a story with a strong female lead where the author just tries too hard to convince you she is such a badass that the character ends up seeming fake? Its difficult to write a tough female lead and make her convincing without going over the top. Its a fine line to walk and this author does it perfectly. Hannah is a tough, resourceful, sarcastic, cigarette-smoking member of the Empire's Death Squad, yet she also gives the reader slight glimpses that she is also vulnerable. For being a self described "monster" she is actually quite likable (in a bit of an anti-hero sort of way.) The story is good, but a lot of its strength comes from the fact that at its core it has an interesting and well-developed protagonist.

-The plot. It has a little bit of everything.

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Title: Reality Alternatives

Author: Lesley L. Smith

Narrator: Susan J Iannucci

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-27-16

Publisher: Lesley L. Smith

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 9 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

What would you do if you found your perfect life?

When lonely physicist Chloe Carsen discovers a parallel world, she becomes addicted to her life there with a perfect family and a perfect career. She doesn't even care that her physical body in the real world is wasting away. But, then, in the alternative world, her ideal life begins to fall apart. Her anti-gravity experiment unleashes a government manhunt for her and her family; they'll do anything to get their hands on her tech. The lives of Chloe's alternative-world husband and sons are endangered.

Chloe is torn away from them as her real-world brother finds her on the verge of death and destroys her equipment. Heartbroken and torn between two worlds, Chloe pushes her scientific expertise to the limit to find a way to reconcile her two lives. Can the husband and sons be saved? Can she build a life for herself in the real world?

Members Reviews:

Review Reality Alternatives

I continue to enjoy the writings of Lesley Smith , performed by Susan Iannucci. Fun, imaginative, quirky in a fun way, overall very entertaining, and a fun getaway from everyday busyness.

Interesting premises but not what I expected

Chloe Carsen is a physicist working on an experiment involving Virtual Reality to access parallel worlds. She tries her own experiment just to discover a reality that is much more attractive than the present one. Things start to get weird when other people also try this experiment and access that same reality. Chloe will become addicted to this parallel world, almost risking her life.

I have to say that this book got me hooked from the start. A VR experiment to access parallel world where you could become yourself in that reality sounds exciting. When Chloe discovers that her alternative world is more appealing than her things start to get interesting, but when other people trying the experiment, access the exact same reality, I was up for something amazing.

The story was interesting enough, but sadly it did not live up to my expectations. The other two characters did not use the experiment more than once. I expected them to access the parallel reality more times and see how that affected the present reality for all of them.

After this point the story mainly focused on the parallel reality and Chloes life there. There is a brief return to the present reality but it is quite brief. The story on the other world was okay but not super exciting. There Chloe discovers that she has a family and super powers, explained by dark matter theory. The problem here is that Chloe and her sons start making mistake after mistake (mainly bad decisions), and her whole family, Chloe included, started to be less and less likable. I just could not connect to them seeing all the things they did.

I also had troubles with dialogs. Somehow they did not feel natural but forced. The writing style was also simple and to the point.

Susan J. Iannuccis narration was okay. I had to get used to the special smoothness of her voice, which seemed to clash with some of the violent scenes of the book. She delivered good characters interpretations but I found her voice range a bit limited. Emily sounded exactly like Chloes sons, and Chloe herself sounded like that too sometimes. I noticed some breath intakes throughout the book, probably due to being to close to the microphone.

All in all it was an enjoyable listen.