Category: Science Fiction

The Lost World Audiobook Review

Post author By Mike
Post date February 20, 2016

The Lost World

Written by: Michael Crichton

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 15 Hours and 19 Minutes

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date: 12-17-07

Publisher: Books on Tape

Over the years, humans throughout the world have developed a fascination with prehistoric creatures and especially dinosaurs. Many wonder what it would be like to be able to transport themselves back into prehistoric times and live alongside the dinosaurs. Michael Crichton attempted to explore the subject in his original novel, Jurassic Park. The book undoubtedly captured the world’s imagination and captivated audiences throughout the globe. Now, Crichton looks to take things one-step further, with the addition of The Lost World.

Tags Michael Crichton, The Lost World

Alternate History Sci-Fi Science Fiction

The Man In The High Castle Audiobook Review

Post author By Mike
Post date November 27, 2015

The Man In The High Castle by Philip K. Dick Audiobook Review — Audiobook Jungle readers can get The Man In The High Castle audiobook for free when signing up for a new Audible account. Click on this image to sign up and get your free copy!

The Man In The High Castle Audiobook

Written by: Philip K. Dick

Narrated by: Jeff Cummings

Length: 9 hours and 58 minutes

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

While there have been many outstanding alternative history novels based on the events following WWII, none compare to Philip Dick’s The Man in the High Castle and it’s subsequent audiobook version. This novel combines fantasy with historical facts of WWII and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s failure to lead America to victory or recovery after the cessation of the war. In 1963, it won the Hugo Award for Best Novel and this says a lot about Dick’s ability to provide the listener with a compelling alternative version of history.

Tags Philip K. Dick, The Man In The High Castle

Sci-Fi Science Fiction

The Martian by Andy Weir Audiobook Review

Post author By Mike
Post date August 11, 2015

The Martian

Written by: Andy Weir

Narrated by: R. C. Bray

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date: 03-22-13

Publisher: Podium Publishing

I started listening to The Martian with no particular expectations, other than the occasional high praises from other reviews I’ve glanced over online and my memories of the print version of the book. As it turns out, not only was it good enough to deserve a place in my personal collection, but it also got me out of the reading slump I’ve been in for some time. I felt excited about reading again. I think it takes a special kind of book to do that.

Tags andy weir, Podium Publishing, R. C. Bray, sci-fi

Sci-Fi Science Fiction

Dune by Frank Herbert Audiobook Review

Post author By Mike
Post date June 17, 2015

Dune

Written by: Frank Herbert

Narrated by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, Simon Vance, Ilyana Kadushin

Length: 21 hrs and 8 mins

Series: Dune, Book 1

Series: Dune Saga, Book 1

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date: 05-14-07

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

This is the one folks. The one sci-fi book to beat! I consider myself a sci-fi fan and ever since I read Dune a few years back, my view of the genre was changed forever. I’m sure the story might be ‘too much’ for some but even people that usually prefer fantasy have given Dune high praise. You could say it’s fantasy but in space and it’s nothing short of epic!

Tags dune, epic, Frank Herbert, sci-fi

Sci-Fi Science Fiction Short Stories

METAtropolis: Green Space Audiobook Review

Post author By Mike
Post date February 22, 2014

METAtropolis: Green Space

Written by: Jay Lake, Elizabeth Bear, Karl Schroeder, Seanan McGuire, Tobias S. Buckell, Mary Robinette Kowal, Ken Scholes

Narrated by: Dion Graham, Robin Miles, Mark Boyett, Scott Brick, Allyson Johnson, Sanjiv Jhaveri, Jennifer Van Dyck, Jonathan Davis

Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins

Series: METAtropolis, Book 3

Release Date:10-15-13, Publisher: Audible Frontiers

Warning! You’re entering serious geek territory! Only authorized geeky personnel is to proceed beyond this point! OK, I’m kidding but seriously, this is some awesome hardcore sci-fi stuff. When a few years ago I started listening to audiobooks, one of the first books that I listened to was the original METAtropolis and I can say without any doubt that it was that moment I got completely hooked on the medium. If you haven’t read it, it’s a collection of five novellas specifically written for this book by award-winning sci-fi authors and narrated by actors from the awesome Battlestar Galactica TV show and other A Team voice talent. I just can’t recommend it enough. After hungrily plowing through it I immediately got my little hands on the next installment of this series – METAtropolis: Cascadia and indulged in some more amazing science fiction from these talented authors. That was somewhere around 2011 or 2012, I think. Imagine my recent reaction when I found out there’s a new third book.

Fiction Mystery Sci-Fi Science Fiction

The Device by Patrick Skelton

Post author By Mike
Post date February 2, 2014

The Device Audiobook Review — Audiobook Jungle readers can get The Device or any other audiobook for free with a new Audible account. Click the image to download the audiobook.

The Device by Patrick Skelton

Written by: Patrick Skelton

Narrated by: Kurt Feldner

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Format: Unabridged

Release Date:10-04-13

Publisher: Patrick Skelton

The Device by Patrick Skelton seemed like an intriguing sci-fi story so I couldn’t resist reading it. A mysterious device, a troubled man on a quest to uncover the secrets of his past and a chilling discovery that might change the world. What’s not to like? It’s an interesting premise and the author largely delivers.

Tags Audiobook, kurt feldner, patrick skelton, Review, the device

Fiction Sci-Fi Science Fiction

The Lost Fleet: Dauntless Audiobook Review

Post author By Mike
Post date July 5, 2013

The Lost Fleet: Dauntless

Written by: Jack Campbell

Narrated by: Christian Rummel, Jack Campbell

Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins

Series: Lost Fleet, Book 1

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date: 03-20-08

Publisher: Audible Studios

The Lost Fleet: Dauntless by Jack Campbell is a military sci-fi novel and the first book in The Lost Fleet series. John “Black Jack” Geary’s emergency pod has just been recovered from deep space after a century of cold-sleep hibernation. He was considered dead after his heroic last stand against enemy spaceships, allowing the remaining Alliance fleet ships escape. His actions went into the history books as the famous battle of Grendel and every child in the Alliance grew up with exaggerated tales about Black Jack and how some day he’ll come back to save everybody.

Tags Audiobook, audiobook review, Dauntless, Jack Cambell, military sci-fi, space opera, The Lost Fleet

Fiction Sci-Fi Science Fiction

Blindsight Audiobook Review – a Peter Watts Sci-Fi Novel

Post author By Mike
Post date July 3, 2013

Blindsight

Written by: Peter Watts

Narrated by: T. Ryder Smith

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date: 10-23-08

Publisher: Recorded Books

To be honest I don’t think I’ve heard of or read anything from Peter Watts before Blindsight. If everything he’s written before is half as good, I’ll certainly be reading it at some point. Straight to the point – Blindsight is probably the best Sci-Fi audiobook I’ve read this year. Let me tell you why.

Blindsight has most of the elements that are common in Sci-Fi novels – the plot unfolds in the future, somewhere near the end of the century, we have some sort of a post-economic society where working is not mandatory, the human body and mind are completely explored and can be easily fixed, manipulated and upgraded as easily and routinely as it is to get an appendix removed or go the dentist. We’ve somewhat explored the Solar system – a few bases on Mars and several other planets but no interstelar travel. Yet, there are very unique themes and cool ideas I’ve not encoutered elsewhere.

Tags audiobook review, Blindsigth, Peter Watts, sci-fi, science fiction audiobook

Cyberpunk Fiction Sci-Fi Science Fiction Thrillers

Street: Empathy Audiobook Review by Ryan A. Span

Post author By Mike
Post date June 10, 2013

Street: Empathy

Written by: Ryan A. Span

Narrated by: Nicole Quinn

Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date: 05-11-12

Publisher: Gryphonwood Press

The first half of the audiobook was excellent. I was paying attention. I was sucked in. The narrator Nicole Quinn did such a good job with all the voices. No complaints there. The story showed a lot of promise, luring me into intoxicating murals of wildly creative mind trips painted underneath the feet of unsuspecting characters that are put straight into potentially huge plot revelations.

Tags audiobook review, cyberpunk audiobook, Nicole Quinn, Ryan A. Span, Street: Empathy

Fiction Sci-Fi Science Fiction YA

The Host by Stephenie Meyer Audiobook Review

Post author By Mike
Post date June 9, 2013

A review of The Host Audiobook by Stephenie Meyer — Audiobook Jungle readers can get The Host audiobook for free when signing up for a new Audible account. Click on this image to sign up and get your free copy!

The Host: A Novel

Written by: Stephenie Meyer

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 23 hrs and 5 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date: 06-09-08

Publisher: Hachette Audio

There’s no doubt – The Host is superior to the Twilight Series, probably given it is designed for adults, rather than teens, and I fall in that first category.

Quite interesting insights into a genre that hasn’t been explored much. Take Robert Heinlein’s “The Puppet Masters” or maybe ABC Televesion’s recently unsuccessful series “Invasion”, jump 3 years after some symbiotic aliens have successfully crushed Earth and many of its human population then tell a story from the point of view of a good alien introduced right into a hostile host then you have the beginning of The Host.

Tags Audiobook, Review, sci-fi, science fiction, Stephenie Meyer, The Host