Listen to Your Favorite Audiobooks in Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Sci-Fi: Contemporary Online

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Title: The Coldest War

Subtitle: The Milkweed Triptych, Book 2

Author: Ian Tregillis

Narrator: Kevin Pariseau

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-17-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 497 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Someone is killing Britain's warlocks.

Twenty-two years after the Second World War, a precarious balance of power maintains the peace between Great Britain and the USSR. For decades, the warlocks have been all that stand between the British Empire and the Soviet Union-- a vast domain stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the shores of the English Channel. But now each death is another blow to Britain's security.

Meanwhile, a brother and sister escape from a top-secret research facility deep behind the Iron Curtain. Once subjects of a twisted Nazi experiment to imbue ordinary humans with extraordinary abilities, then prisoners of war in the vast Soviet effort to reverse engineer the Nazi technology, they head for England.

Because that's where former spy Raybould Marsh lives. And Gretel, the mad seer, has plans for him.

As Marsh is drawn back into the world of Milkweed, he discovers that Britain's darkest acts didn't end with the war. And as he strives to protect Queen and country, he's forced to confront his own willingness to accept victory at any cost.

Critic Reviews:

"...engrossing....Tregillis ably mixes cold war paranoia with his mythology...." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Phenomenal sequel

Surprising, unconventional, exciting, and the ending leaves you wanting the third book NOW. Superior book in every way to his debut novel Bitter Seeds.

Just read up that Ian Tregillis's had this manuscript finished since 2010, and the hard cover is only coming out in June of this year.

Really hope these editors can get it together over at TOR. Would hate to wait two more years for the third book.

Cheers to Audible for getting this months before the hardcover edition. Hope they can pull strings for the next one as well.

Great listen. Fascinating story.

Extremely original and sets up the 3rd book well

This may be even better than the first book. With the Nazis out of the picture, and Britain's enemy now the Soviet Union, the focus shifts to activities in the UK instead of jumping back and forth between Germany and England. The Nazis were comic-book evil, and the soviets are largely unportrayed, so the Eidolans can successfully emerge as the main antagonist. Gretel remains a mystery, but gets some really good scenes, as does increasing sympathetic brother Klaus. While I'm not sure I completely follow the discussion of timelines, which twist and are twisted like Gretel's braids, I do like the ending and haven't a clue where the story will go in Book 3.

A Great Sequel

Milkweed is back, two decades after we last left them. I was dubious about the time-skip at first, but it turned out to be a great decision on Tregillis' part - it really works well. A lot of mysteries are explained in this installment, and even more questions are introduced. Can't wait for the third book!

Wow!

This second installment of the Milkweed Triptych was outstanding! Even though the performance degenerated into camp at times, Tregillis's wordsmithing transported me from my dull and dreary commute into another world filled with warlocks and Ubermenschen. The twist at the end had me cheering. Highly recommended!

Brilliant

What did you love best about The Coldest War?

One word can only describe these two books by Tregillis - brilliant. Rarely do I rate books, but I thought these two deserved it.

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Title: Chill

Author: Elizabeth Bear

Narrator: Alma Cuervo

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 10-14-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 25 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Hugo Award winner Elizabeth Bear has won high praise for her thought-provoking science fiction. The second in Bears powerful Jacobs Ladder series, Chill finds the generation starship Jacobs Ladder with a new captainPerceval. As Perceval struggles with the ships recent damage, remnants of the rebellion still linger and a threat to the crew grows.

Critic Reviews:

The world of Jacobs Ladder is magnificently populated, well worth visiting. (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Sequel to "Dust"

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would change the narration. This author's writing is fantastic and deserves to be read with passion and energy.

What other book might you compare Chill to and why?

It's the sequel to "Dust".

Would you be willing to try another one of Alma Cuervos performances?

No. Not to be unfair, but she reads with very little engagement with the characters - it was impossible at times to hear whether it was a conversation, general description, or inward thoughts of a character. Also, she sounds like she has a cold when she is narrating this book.

Did Chill inspire you to do anything?

I think I'll purchase the book in hard copy.

Beautiful Story Telling

I resisted the previous book in the series, 'Dust' for sometime. I love the generation ship trope, but not so much the fairy-tale motifs which are sprinkled throughout the narrative. Despite it's grounding in the structure of high fantasy, I was so taken with the book, that I downloaded this, as I consumed the final hour of 'Dust' so as to dive, immediately, back into Elizabeth Bear's beautiful prose and sense of wonder as conveyed though Alma Cuervo's cooly intense narration. 'Chill' takes the characters on a very different quest and we see more of Jacob's Ladder than before. I am very anxious for audible to offer the final installment of this trilogy.

tangled and intense

Another intense book in the Jacob's Ladder trilogy. My only problem was trying to keep the family tree in order in my head - probably because it has been a few years since I read Chill. Must get book 3 now to keep the momentum going...

Verdict: wonderful books, but listen to them in order!

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Title: Torchwood: The Lost Files, Complete Series

Author: James Goss, Ryan Scott, Rupert Laight, Kai Owens

Narrator: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Gareth David Lloyd

Format: Original Recording

Length: 2 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-05-11

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 191 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

John Barrowman, Eve Myles and Gareth David-Lloyd star in three Torchwood radio adventures from the Lost Files, each set before the TV story Children of Earth.

The Devil and Miss Carew sees Gwen and Rhys involved in a nursing home mystery. Why is Miss Carew, an octogenarian with terminal heart disease, suddenly looking so fit and healthy? And what is her connection with the mysterious power cuts that are sweeping the nation? Written by Rupert Laight.

Submission finds the Torchwood team heading for the bottom of the sea the Mariana Trench after they intercept a distress call. But when the submarine they are on crashes, they find themselves at the mercy of a hungry alien.... Written by Ryan Scott.

The House of the Dead sees a special séance being held at the most haunted pub in Wales. The House of the Dead is about to close, and many regulars have turned up on the last night in the hope of seeing their deceased loved ones. But then the ghosts start arriving and all hell breaks loose.... Written by James Goss.

Members Reviews:

An uneven collection with one shining entry

Three short entries that detail lost files from the Torchwood archive. The Devil and Mrs. Carew is pretty standard for Torchwood and entertaining, Submission is forgettable, but the real star is The House of the Dead.

The House of the Dead is the last entry in the trio - and this is important the timing of the story is cleverly done and works nicely - it details Gwen, Ianto and Jack's attempts to stop a seance at the oldest pub in Wales and prevent the ascension of a terrible ancient force.

Fans of Jack and Ianto will NOT want to miss this entry.

House of the Dead alone worth the purchase price!

If you could sum up Torchwood: The Lost Files, Complete Series in three words, what would they be?

Jack And Ianto

What did you like best about this story?

From the Jack loves Ianto audiobook review corner:

I just finished listening to The House of the Dead, the last story in an audiobook called Torchwood: the Lost Files. Of the 3 stories, this one was perfection! All the characters scripted without flaw and the twist at the end that I didn't see coming. If you can, listen to this story, and have tissues nearby for the ending.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Their own voices. The narrators are the folks who portray the characters on TV. Although I'd hear their voices in my head were I to read these stories, I wouldn't hear all the delightful nuances that the actors themselves bring to the production.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Ianto being angry at Jack's selfishness.

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Title: Magic in the Shadows

Subtitle: Allie Beckstrom Series, Book 3

Author: Devon Monk

Narrator: Emily Durante

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-19-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 126 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Allison Beckstrom's magic has taken its toll on her, physically marking her and erasing her memories---including those of the man she supposedly loves. But lost memories aren't the only things preying on Allie's thoughts. Her late father, the prominent businessman---and sorcerer---Daniel Beckstrom, has somehow channeled himself into her very mind. With the help of the Authority, a secret organization of magic users, she hopes to gain better control over her own abilities---and find a way to deal with her father.

Members Reviews:

Getting Better

Where does Magic in the Shadows rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

I am quickly becoming a fan of Devon and her characters. Her first book was good and showed promise. This book is starting to show that she knows how to build her world slowly and populate it with interesting characters that fulfill that promise.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It???s easy to choose Allie but all the characters are getting Monk???s attention for careful development. There are a few new people introduced to the series in this book but it is clear that there is more to be revealed. I???m not minding the slow development of the series for I like this type of storytelling.

What does Emily Durante bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

I like Durante???s pacing of her voices. Giving differing accents is a must these characters also have voice inflections that I find interesting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I find Allie???s memory loose frustrating and wonder why the author is using this to develop the story when it obviously makes the romance element difficult. I did not enjoy the movie 50 First Dates and hope that this does not end up being anything like that. Maybe she got poor feedback for letting Allie fall so quickly for Zayvion in book one??

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Title: Paying the Piper

Subtitle: Hammer's Slammers Series

Author: David Drake

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-27-11

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 96 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Colonel Alois Hammer: to the galaxy, a legendary commander of mercenaries. To his troops, a leader who can be trusted to always back them to the hilt - and meet a payroll. When the situation on a planet has gone beyond desperate, it's time to call for Hammer's Slammers.

Critic Reviews:

"The weaponry, the action scenes, and the depiction of the Warrior Walking Alone are as vivid and compelling as Drake's readers expect them to be, and his realization of characters and political intrigue continue to mature." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

One of the top Hammer's Slammers Sci-Fi war book.

This book of the Hammer's Slammers series stands out as one of the best in series. I really enjoyed the overall world campaign that bundled up a chronological 'mini' stories and events that one BAMF protagonist partakes. Lt. Arnie Huber gets shifted around different divisions of Hammers' Slammers and gives a general introduction of how the Regiment works, and why 'IT'S THE BEST'! Even thought the Slammers are renowned, tough times take tough decisions, and Cnl. Hammer is the man to make them.

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Title: Fleet of the Damned

Subtitle: Sten Series, Book 4

Author: Allan Cole, Chris Bunch

Narrator: Jerry Sciarrio

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-23-10

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 109 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

The Eternal Emperor's fleets were taking a beating. Had even Sten met his match? Sten's luck seems to have deserted him. He had barely scraped through Imperial flight school when he was assigned a tacdivision in the Fringe Worlds. The enemy couldn't have picked a better time or place to launch their long-planned attack against the Empire. But Sten won't give up without a fight.

Members Reviews:

Book 4 is the Cliffhanger

I wrote a review that said book 3 was the cliffhanger, but I meant that review for book 4. All are very enjoyable....but now we really need book 5 to be released expeditiously.

Best STEN So Far!

This book has lots of Action with Drama. It has a good story plot. The Narraction is very Good!

Such A Deal! I guess this is not the fleet of the

DARNED. Cause if it was the fleet of the Darned every one would be getting Sewn up in the Plotz as when the Plotz thickened.

If you read the book where the Plotz thickened You would know from where I spake. Look all that up in your Funk and Wagenal or not such as the case maybe.

All of the Sten books are so damned great it is had to remember which is the best but this one is not shabby

dray

BOOK 5?????

Another good book in the series. This is a cliff hanger and as of today books 5 and 6 are still missing from Audible. When i sent an email concerning this i was given a responce of: book 5 and 6 are not available on audio book...really because they are for sale on Amazon.....

Brilliant

This is just as I remember reading the book funny, great action and perfectly voiced.

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Title: Grimspace

Subtitle: Sirantha Jax, Book 1

Author: Ann Aguirre

Narrator: Suzanna Duff

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-02-10

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 203 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

As the carrier of a rare gene, Sirantha Jax has the ability to jump ships through grimspace - a talent which makes her a highly prized navigator for the Corp. Then a crash landing kills everyone on board, leaving Jax in a jail cell with no memory of the crash. But her fun's not over. A group of rogue fighters frees her...for a price: her help in overthrowing the established order.

Members Reviews:

AARGH

Would you consider the audio edition of Grimspace to be better than the print version?

No, the voice would make a great Ramona. She tries her best with emotions but she sounds like children or tween books would better suit her voice.

How could the performance have been better?

Different narrator.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Her voice is too grating and distracts from the story. I love the entire series and have all the books. But I get a migraine from trying to listen to the disparate voice. She doesn't sound tough, much less old enough to match Jax. Wish I listened to a sample before I bought the audio version.

Any additional comments?

Very disappointing because I really looked forward to the audio series.

A Good Story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator - she is skilled, but this book did not fit her voice. She was always in the same mode emotionally. She did not scale up for stress or down for the times Sirantha was breaking. It wasn't monotonous, just not a great acting performance.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Grimspace?

I could only ever make it halfway through. Aguirre's writing is excellent, but the narration just got me. I'll put this in the "to read" pile.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Suzanna Duff?

Allison McLemore

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Doubt it, the movie would lose out on the emotional roller coaster that Sirantha was on (as the narration did).

Any additional comments?

Excellent book. Excellent narrator - not a great acting performance (which I desire greatly in my audio books).

Space! Quirky aliens!

OK, so there are a couple standard plot devices here that I don't care for - a) miscommunication between main characters as source of conflict and b) woman feels an overwhelming sense of 'Guilt' for things that are out of her control.

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Title: Fateful Lightning

Subtitle: The Lost Regiment, Book 4

Author: William R. Forstchen

Narrator: Patrick Lawlor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-27-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 216 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

Can a desperate force led by Civil War soldiers survive a campaign of annihilation by a deadly alien foe?

Lost in another world and time, a regiment of Union soldiers find themselves part of a tactical retreat from the onslaught of the mysterious Merki hordes, reenacting the classic Russian retreats from the French and Germans.

Members Reviews:

Will they ever have peace??

What did you love best about Fateful Lightning?

The way the story line keeps the characters real and moving the story along with their strenghts and weakness of each of them

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the air action it just makes you realize how little you know about airwarfare

What does Patrick Lawlor bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

The reader was a pro and I enjoyed each of his characters and Look forward to listening to other works soon

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, if possible

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the book and look forward to listening to the next one

something different

takes you to a world that picks you up and sweeps you away.. excellent read

Great book

It's a great continuation of the previous books and I'm looking forward to the others.

A great series.

A great series. Interesting, imaginative, and well told.

A great series. A great series. Interesting, imaginative, and well told.

A great series.

An alternative history

What if.......American civil war technology met medieval aliens? This book is a fantastic war story but also does not ignore the logistics and human side of conflict which to my mind makes it all the stronger. Add in the technological developments that were available at the time (mid 1860s) and exploit them fully and you get an amazing story. Read the whole series - they're brilliant!

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Title: The Final Battle

Subtitle: Legion of the Damned, Book 2

Author: William C. Dietz

Narrator: Donald Corren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-23-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 296 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

The Confederacy is threatened by an uprising of the Hudathans, an unfeeling cyborg race that has built up its forces through stolen technology, and their only opponents are the members of the Legion.

Members Reviews:

Masterfully written, can't wait for the rest!

LOD book 2 is a superb follow up to the first LOD book. Dietz really is a methodical mastermind. I would really hate to piss him off in real life. The way he plants these seemingly insignificant seeds that grow into these vast literary jungles is mind-numbing. I mean, I can't even begin to imagine the imagination that it takes to make up a story that can span several generations of lives and still be captivating, intriguing and profound all at the same time.

It was quite sobering to see a single, but inherently epic story blossom into a still evolving, but very different story that was even more appealing than the first!

I must say that I have a very conflicted opinion about Donald Corren's narration of this series. On one hand, he performs the most significant characters very well. I would swear that it's not even the same narrator. On the other hand, there are so many characters, that the lesser characters all kind of blend in together, and this will sometimes trip up the listener, making for easy distractions that do not happen with the main characters because of the unique tone of voice that he uses for them.

Overall, I loved it, and can't wait to see what Dietz dreams up in the part 3 of the LOD series.

A Good Follow-on to the great first book

It is pretty gutsy to write a sequel to a book as good as the first one in this series, and to change the characters and move the story along. It worked and the book is very, very good. If you have not read the first one, I'd go back and start there!

Great follow-up to Book 1

Another great listen. It kept me interested entirely. While it also follows the same rhythm as the first book which might be confusing for some it does have a good flow and touches on everything that makes great military science ficition.

Good read/listen

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent addition to the series. It slows down just a little in a few places (not great for military science fiction). On the whole however it's a fast moving story that hols true to the plot and characters of the story. The reader does a creditable job. enjoy.

Continues the good work

Although this can be read as a "stand alone", it does build well on the first in the series and is starting to set the foundations for some good story lines. The aliens are believable and the human politicians even more so. Very steady and well written military sci - fi.

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Title: Deepsix

Subtitle: Academy Series

Author: Jack McDevitt

Narrator: Khristine Hvam

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-04-09

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 230 votes

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

Publisher's Summary:

But catastrophe awaits when they are stranded on this strange and complex world of puzzles and impossibilities. And now Hutch and her people must somehow survive on a hostile world going rapidly mad -- as the clock ticks toward apocalypse for a doomed enigma.

Members Reviews:

Khristine Kvan is disgusting

Reader has fatal case of vocal fry. If that was not disgusting enough, most of her character voices are so annoying as to cause the reader to cringe. Please fire this woman and commission a new reader for DeepSix. Can I get a refund?

A great second book

While it does seem to drag on occasion the story is nonetheless compelling and captures the reader or in this case, listener. The story is good but it is character growth that plays the most. Also, while the performer for the first book, Engines of God, was very good, I can't help but find this performer was even better.

Good book, so-so sequel to the first.

The book itself is quite good, we immediately went on to the next one. However there are serious continuity breaks from the previous book, Themes that were significant there vanished without explanation here. Also this has a different narrator than the first one, and while she's good, she pronounces names differently, which we find jarring. The next one is better though!

First few hours were hell.

Just finished this book and I have to say the first few hours were boring and confusing. But as the story rolled on it became better and better with an epic ending. So, if you can make it though the first few hours then give this one a listen.

Great book, Terrible Voice Over

What made the experience of listening to Deepsix the most enjoyable?

I didn't like listening to the book. The narrator made it very distracting, with all of her various voices, and the way she read. I found it vary hard to follow along and understand the book as she was reading it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deepsix?

I have read this book in the past, and I loved it. There were a few surprises. The entire story was really good. I don't want to give away too many details of the book, but this is one of my favorite books.

Which character as performed by Khristine Hvam was your favorite?

I didn't like any of the characters. I found them distracting. I wish she would have just read it normally.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No.

Any additional comments?

This is a great book. I would suggest that you read the paperback. Don't get the audio version, because the narrator is way too distracting.