“Well, I've listened to the audiobook, if that counts.' 'It definitely counts,' Tilly said.” ― Anna James, Tilly and the Bookwanderers
We're kicking this week's poll off with a little wisdom straight from the pages of a children's book, because despite what the odd cynic will tell you, listening to the audiobook totally counts. Is it a different experience? For sure. But reading is reading, no matter the format, and we happen to love them all, including audiobooks!
That said, as any audiobook lover knows, not all are created equal. A spectacular story can be made lacklustre by a narrator that is poorly matched to the material; a great narrator can elevate an average book, and can take even a five-star narrative to the next level.
With that in mind, this week, we want to hear about your favorite audiobooks and the kick-ass narrators who brought them to life! We've kickstarted the list with some of our favorite audio productions, but as always, this is a democratic process and we are excited to hear your nominations! Please nominate as many as you'd like here or in our Facebook group and remember that for this opening round, you can vote for as many as you'd like as well!
What Is The Best Sci-Fi Audiobook Of All Time?
Columbus Day by Craig Alanson, narrated by RC Bray*24%, 363 votes
363 votes24%
363 votes - 24% of all votes
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, narrated by Ray Porter*9%, 140 votes
140 votes9%
140 votes - 9% of all votes
Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson narrated by R C Bray*8%, 123 votes
123 votes8%
123 votes - 8% of all votes
The Martian by Andy Wier narrated by R C Bray*6%, 96 votes
96 votes6%
96 votes - 6% of all votes
Hell Divers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith, narrated by RC Bray 6%, 94 votes
94 votes6%
94 votes - 6% of all votes
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline*4%, 68 votes
68 votes4%
68 votes - 4% of all votes
The Expanse by James S. A. Corey*4%, 57 votes
57 votes4%
57 votes - 4% of all votes
We are Legion (We are Bob) by Dennis E Taylor narrated by Ray Poter*3%, 45 votes
45 votes3%
45 votes - 3% of all votes
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy*3%, 40 votes
40 votes3%
40 votes - 3% of all votes
Galaxy's Edge by Jason Anspach & Nick Cole, narrated by RC Bray*2%, 33 votes
33 votes2%
33 votes - 2% of all votes
COLUMBUS day, Craig Alanson,*2%, 30 votes
30 votes2%
30 votes - 2% of all votes
Old Man's War series*2%, 30 votes
30 votes2%
30 votes - 2% of all votes
Foundstion Trilogy by Isaac Asimov*2%, 27 votes
27 votes2%
27 votes - 2% of all votes
Any Dune book, narrated by Scott Brick*2%, 27 votes
27 votes2%
27 votes - 2% of all votes
Colony Lost by Chris Philbrook, narrated by Kevin Stilwell*2%, 26 votes
26 votes2%
26 votes - 2% of all votes
Renegade Star by JN Chaney, narrated by Luke Daniels 2%, 24 votes
24 votes2%
24 votes - 2% of all votes
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman*1%, 21 vote
21 vote1%
21 vote - 1% of all votes
Red Rising by Pierce Brown*1%, 20 votes
20 votes1%
20 votes - 1% of all votes
14 by Peter Clines, narrated by Ray Porter*1%, 20 votes
20 votes1%
20 votes - 1% of all votes
World War Z by Max Brooks & a cast of stars*1%, 17 votes
17 votes1%
17 votes - 1% of all votes
Blood on the Stars by Jay Allan narrated, by Jeffery Kafer 1%, 16 votes
16 votes1%
16 votes - 1% of all votes
Time Enough for Love by Robert A. Heinlein*1%, 11 votes
11 votes1%
11 votes - 1% of all votes
The Lost Fleet, Written by Jack Campbell, narrated by Christian Rummel*1%, 11 votes
11 votes1%
11 votes - 1% of all votes
Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky*1%, 10 votes
10 votes1%
10 votes - 1% of all votes
Any Honor Harrington book by David Weber*1%, 10 votes
10 votes1%
10 votes - 1% of all votes
Glory Road by Robert Heinlein*1%, 10 votes
10 votes1%
10 votes - 1% of all votes
War of the Worlds by H.G.Welks, narrated radiodrama by Orson Welkes*1%, 9 votes
9 votes1%
9 votes - 1% of all votes
Infinite by Jeremy Robinson*1%, 9 votes
9 votes1%
9 votes - 1% of all votes
RedShirts, by John Scalzi, Narrated by Wil Wheaton*1%, 9 votes
9 votes1%
9 votes - 1% of all votes
The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent, narrated by Adam Baldwin*1%, 9 votes
9 votes1%
9 votes - 1% of all votes
Enderverse by Orson Scott Card*1%, 9 votes
9 votes1%
9 votes - 1% of all votes
Tales of the Solar Clipper by Nathan Lowell, narrated by Jeffrey Kaper*1%, 8 votes
8 votes1%
8 votes - 1% of all votes
Seveneves*1%, 8 votes
8 votes1%
8 votes - 1% of all votes
Peter F Hamilton Pandoras Star*1%, 8 votes
8 votes1%
8 votes - 1% of all votes
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan/ Brandon Sanderson. Read by Micheal Kramer & Kate Reading.*1%, 8 votes
8 votes1%
8 votes - 1% of all votes
Trader's Tales of the Solar Clipper by Nathan Lowell, narrated by Nathan Lowell*0%, 7 votes
7 votes
7 votes - 0% of all votes
Terms of Enlistment, by Marko Kloos, narrated by Luke Daniels*0%, 7 votes
7 votes
7 votes - 0% of all votes
I Will Fear No Evil by Robert A. Heinlein narrated by Anthony Heald*0%, 7 votes
7 votes
7 votes - 0% of all votes
All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey narrated by Author*0%, 7 votes
7 votes
7 votes - 0% of all votes
hyperion*0%, 5 votes
5 votes
5 votes - 0% of all votes
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, narrated by Adjoa Andoh 0%, 5 votes
5 votes
5 votes - 0% of all votes
Double Star by Robert Heinlein, narrated by Lloyd James*0%, 5 votes
5 votes
5 votes - 0% of all votes
Star Kingdom by Lindsay Buroker, narrated by Fred Berman; 0%, 5 votes
5 votes
5 votes - 0% of all votes
The Magitech Chronicles*0%, 5 votes
5 votes
5 votes - 0% of all votes
Odyssey One - Evan Currie, narrated by David de Vries*0%, 4 votes
4 votes
4 votes - 0% of all votes
Mountain Man by Keith C. Blackmore*0%, 4 votes
4 votes
4 votes - 0% of all votes
Final Days by Nathan Hystad and Jasper Scott, narrated by Ray Porter 0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne narrated by Luke Daniels*0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Marine, by Joshua Dalzelle*0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Onset by Glynn Stewart, narrated by Ray Porter*0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Monster Hunter International Series, narrated by Oliver Wyman*0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, narrated by Kim Staunton 0%, 3 votes
3 votes
3 votes - 0% of all votes
To Sleep In a Sea if Stars by Christopher Paolini narrated by Jennifer Hale*0%, 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes - 0% of all votes
The Fold by Peter Clines*0%, 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes - 0% of all votes
Valhalla Station, narrated by Bronson Pinchot*0%, 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes - 0% of all votes
Koban Series by Stephen W Bennett narrated by Eric Michael Summerer*0%, 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes - 0% of all votes
Wolfs Empire by Claudia Christian and Morgan Grant Buchanan, narrated by Claudia Christian*0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, narrated by Allison Hiroto, Marc Vieto,r and Mark Boyett 0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, narrated by Amy Landon 0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
Will Save the Galaxy for Food By Yahtzee Croshaw Narrated By Yahtzee Croshaw*0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
Meet Your Maker by Matthew Mather, narrated by January LaVoy 0%, 1 vote
1 vote
1 vote - 0% of all votes
Total Votes: 1538
Voters: 858
October 14, 2020
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https://discoverscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Best-Sci-Fi-Audiobook-of-All-Time-1.png6801200Discover Sci-Fihttps://discoverscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/discover-scifi.pngDiscover Sci-Fi2020-10-15 08:01:252020-10-15 08:01:29What Is The Best Sci-Fi Audiobook Of All Time?
13replies
Shelley says:
YOU morons left out maybe ONE or TWO HUNDRED authors who are better writers and storytellers than ANYONE on YOUR list. How about David Weber’s “Honor Harrington” books???
Don’t like the list? You can always add your own answer… Also, no one forces you to read these lists. You can go somewhere else for your entertainment. Most of us don’t care about your negativity or your uncivil opinion.
The Honor Harrington Series by David Weber is narrated by a wonderful reader! Her vocal range is impressive, and she doesn’t mix the character voices up where it would be extremely easy to do so!
You have no box to check for ‘None of the above’? I’m a huge sci-fi fan and have been since I was a little kid. I’ve read a large chunk of the books in your list, and I have a number of favorite authors, but I have never listened to an audio book in any genre, let alone sci-fi. I have a problem with audio books as a concept. I prefer reading them myself, in hardback format. If I had to pick a favorite series and author it would probably be ‘The Lost Fleet’ and its associated offshoots, by Jack Campbell.
I have never listened to any SF audio books, but I will be watching this with some interest, as I have just started membership with Chirp (can’t afford the big name audio book subscription). In the past my experience with audio books was…..lackluster. I tend to fall asleep if I listen in bed, and get too distracted listening when working around the house (so no listening in the car!). But now that I am semi-retired I am giving the format another chance and may try out a couple of the winners 😉
I’m slowly going through the Terry Pratchett Ringworld series, and they’re pretty great, so I’d like to add please.
Man, I didn’t think it would be such a touchy subject. The choices are based on what the editors listened to, so chill out if they happened to not listen to ones you rave about, that’s why they have the option there to add it to the list for voting. I sometimes like listening to audio-books when I’m travelling if the book is right for me. The only thing I think that could improve any audio-book is if they have a male and female narrator, I know, probably budget, but it’s sometimes a bit odd to hear when it’s just a man reading a Woman’s bit, or Woman reading a Man’s bit, and just confusing if they don’t even try and sound the part. That’s my 2 cents worth anyways.
Sorry I don’t do audio books. I can read faster then I can hear. (And I can remember the written word, audio I forget as soon as I hear it. Ask my wife. )
Anything narrated by R C Bray👍👍👍 The Hell Divers series by Nicolas Sansbury Smith and the Titanborn series by Rhett C Bruno were both terrific. I read when I can but when I walk the dog every morning and driving to and from work are when I listen to audio books.
YOU morons left out maybe ONE or TWO HUNDRED authors who are better writers and storytellers than ANYONE on YOUR list. How about David Weber’s “Honor Harrington” books???
Christ YOU are lame!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shelley
Er. On the list. Moron or troll?
Click on the list to expand the view of all books 😁
Don’t like the list? You can always add your own answer… Also, no one forces you to read these lists. You can go somewhere else for your entertainment. Most of us don’t care about your negativity or your uncivil opinion.
“How The Sad Puppies Defeated The Great Woke Evil and
Saved The Galaxy.”
By Phynius Phartwinkle.
The Honor Harrington Series by David Weber is narrated by a wonderful reader! Her vocal range is impressive, and she doesn’t mix the character voices up where it would be extremely easy to do so!
If you’re on a phone, click on the list to expand it 😎
You have no box to check for ‘None of the above’? I’m a huge sci-fi fan and have been since I was a little kid. I’ve read a large chunk of the books in your list, and I have a number of favorite authors, but I have never listened to an audio book in any genre, let alone sci-fi. I have a problem with audio books as a concept. I prefer reading them myself, in hardback format. If I had to pick a favorite series and author it would probably be ‘The Lost Fleet’ and its associated offshoots, by Jack Campbell.
I have never listened to any SF audio books, but I will be watching this with some interest, as I have just started membership with Chirp (can’t afford the big name audio book subscription).
In the past my experience with audio books was…..lackluster. I tend to fall asleep if I listen in bed, and get too distracted listening when working around the house (so no listening in the car!). But now that I am semi-retired I am giving the format another chance and may try out a couple of the winners 😉
I’m slowly going through the Terry Pratchett Ringworld series, and they’re pretty great, so I’d like to add please.
Man, I didn’t think it would be such a touchy subject. The choices are based on what the editors listened to, so chill out if they happened to not listen to ones you rave about, that’s why they have the option there to add it to the list for voting. I sometimes like listening to audio-books when I’m travelling if the book is right for me. The only thing I think that could improve any audio-book is if they have a male and female narrator, I know, probably budget, but it’s sometimes a bit odd to hear when it’s just a man reading a Woman’s bit, or Woman reading a Man’s bit, and just confusing if they don’t even try and sound the part. That’s my 2 cents worth anyways.
Sorry I don’t do audio books. I can read faster then I can hear. (And I can remember the written word, audio I forget as soon as I hear it. Ask my wife. )
Battlefield Earth. Great audiobook. 40 hours. Uses different actors and has sound effects.
Anything narrated by R C Bray👍👍👍 The Hell Divers series by Nicolas Sansbury Smith and the Titanborn series by Rhett C Bruno were both terrific. I read when I can but when I walk the dog every morning and driving to and from work are when I listen to audio books.