Scott D. – Page 33

Recent Arrival: Star Wars: Abyss

SFFaudio Recent Arrivals

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi Book 3: Abyss
By Troy Denning; Read by Marc Thompson
[UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Random House Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9780739376652

|LISTEN TO AN EXCERPT|

Leia looks pretty serious on that cover… something must be amiss.

Following a trail of clues across the galaxy, Luke Skywalker continues his quest to find the reasons behind Jacen Solo’s dark downfall and to win redemption for the Jedi Order. Sojourning among the mysterious Aing-Tii monks has left Luke and his son Ben with no real answers, only the suspicion that the revelations they seek lie in the forbidden reaches of the distant Maw Cluster. There, hidden from the galaxy in a labyrinth of black holes, dwell the Mind Walkers: those whose power to transcend their bodies and be one with the Force is as seductive and intoxicating as it is potentially fatal. But it may be Luke’s only path to the truth.

Meanwhile, on Coruscant, the war of wills between Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala and the Jedi Order is escalating. Outraged over the carbonite freezing of young Jedi Knights Valin and Jysella Horn after their inexplicable mental breakdowns, the Jedi are determined to defy Daala’s martial tactics, override Council Master Kenth Hamner’s wavering leadership, and deal on their own terms with the epidemic of madness preying on their ranks. As Han and Leia Solo, along with their daughter Jaina, join the fight to protect more stricken Knights from arrest, Jedi healers race to find a cure for the rapidly spreading affliction. But none of them realize the blaster barrel is already swinging in their direction–and Chief Daala is about to pull the trigger.

Nor do Luke and Ben, deep in the Maw Cluster and pushing their Force abilities beyond known limits, realize how close they are–to the Sith strike squad bent on exterminating the Skywalkers, to a nexus of dark-side energy unprecedented in its power and its hunger, and to an explosive confrontation between opposing wielders of the Force from which only one Master–good or evil–can emerge alive.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Recent Arrival from Full Cast Audio

SFFaudio Recent Arrivals

Emperor Mage (Book III of The Immortals)
By Tamora Pierce; Read by Tamora Pierce and the Full Cast family
8 CDs – 8 Hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Full Cast Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9781934180464

Daine is a simple mountain girl, and despite her powerful wild magic, she is not comfortable with the pomp and glitter of a great court. But when Emperor Ozorne asks that she accompany Tortall’s diplomatic mission to Carthak so she can tend his ailing birds, it’s a request that cannot be refused.

Though Daine has the wizard Numair and the lady knight Alanna to help her, she soon finds herself trapped in a web of magic and intrigue stranger and more bewildering than any she has yet faced. For the emperor has overstepped his bounds, the gods are angry, and the Graveyard Hag herself has chosen Daine as her tool to change the situation.

Saddled with a strange new power, Daine is already jittery and angry. Then a final, dreadful event pushes her over the edge, and she erupts in a ferocious display of rage and magic.

And that’s not all that Full Cast Audio is up to. Here is a mini-documentary featuring preparations for the upcoming Full Cast Audio version of Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev – a fun behind the scenes look that showcases the philosophy of all the Full Cast Audio productions.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Recent Arrivals from Brilliance Audio

SFFaudio Recent Arrivals

Endymion
By Dan Simmons, Read by Victor Bevine
20 CDs – 23 Hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9781423381624

It is 274 years after the Fall and the universe is in chaos. Raul Endymion, onetime shepherd and convicted murderer, is chosen as a pawn in a cosmic game whose outcome will determine the fate of humanity. Selected as a bodyguard to the next messiah, Endymion will cross time, space, and the very fabric of reality as her protector, lover and finally disciple. At the same time, the enigmatic Shrike–part monster, part killing machine, part avenging angel–has also followed the girl into the 32nd century. Yet it is Endymion who has been chosen to rescue Aenea, against all odds. How will her message change the universe–if she is willing to speak it–and if she does, is humankind prepared to hear it?

A Hymn Before Battle
By John Ringo, Read by Marc Vietor
12 CDs – 15 Hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9781423395089

With the Earth in the path of the rapacious Posleen, the peaceful and friendly races of the Galactic Federation offer their resources to help the backward Terrans—for a price.

Humanity now has three worlds to defend.

As Earth’s armies rush into battle and special operations units scout alien worlds, the humans begin to learn a valuable lesson: You can protect yourself from your enemies, but may the Lord save you from your allies.

The Tar-Aiym Krang
By Alan Dean Foster, Read by Stefan Rudnicki
6 CDs – 7 Hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9781423395485

Here was a wide-open world for any venture a man might scheme. The planet attracted unwary travelers, hardened space-sailors, and merchant buccaneers—a teeming, constantly shifting horde that provided a comfortable income for certain quick-witted fellows like Flinx and his pet mini-dragon, Pip. With his odd talents, the pickings were easy enough so that Flinx did not have to be dishonest . . . most of the time.

In fact, it hardly seemed dishonest at all to steal a starmap from a dead body that didn’t really need it anymore. But Flinx forgot one crucial point. He should have wondered why the body was dead in the first place.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Heinlein from Full Cast Audio!

SFFaudio Recent Arrivals

Red Planet
By Robert A. Heinlein; Read by a Full Cast
6 CDs – 7 Hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Full Cast Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9781934180518

This is the fourth Heinlein to be released by Full Cast Audio!

Jim Marlowe’s Martian pet, Willis, seems like nothing more than an adorable ball of fur with an astonishing ability to mimic the human voice. But when Jim takes the creature to academy and runs afoul of a militantly rigid headmaster, his devotion to his pet launches the young man on a death-defying trek across Mars.

Accompanied by his buddy, Frank, Jim must battle the dangers of a hostile planet. But it is not only the boys’ lives that are at stake: They have discovered explosive information about a threat to the survival of the entire colony—information that may mean life or death for their families.

An irresistible mix of thrilling adventure, crackling dialogue, and brilliant speculation, deftly seasoned with politics, philosophy, and a touch of the mystic, Red Planet is classic Heinlein.

The other three Full Cast Audio Heinlein titles:

Science Fiction Audiobook - Have Spacesuit Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein

|READ OUR REVIEW|

Science Fiction Audiobook - The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi Roundtable

SFFaudio News

Check out this roundtable, recorded at Comic-Con, with the authors of the Fate of the Jedi book series: Troy Denning, Aaron Allston, and Christie Golden. Each author has written (or is writing) 3 books in the 9 book series, all of which will be released as unabridged audio by Random House Audio. The first two are out now, and we’ve reviewed the first volume: Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Outcast by Aaron Allston. The authors discuss the ideas of the series, how they are writing it together, and at the end of the second part, they talk about the audiobooks.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

METAtropolis Now on CD from Brilliance Audio

SFFaudio Recent Arrivals

METAtropolis
By Jay Lake, Tobias Buckell, Elizabeth Bear, John Scalzi, and Karl Schroeder
Read by Michael Hogan, Scott Brick, Kandyse McClure, Alessandro Juliani, Stefan Rudnicki, and John Scalzi
9 Hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published: 2009

METAtropolis is an audio shared-world anthology that recently was available only on Audible, where it was produced. But it was too big to be contained only in the digisphere – Brilliance Audio now has this on Audio CD and MP3-CD, and Subterranean Press is publishing a limited hardcover.

|READ OUR REVIEW| of this excellent anthology.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson