Spock vs. Q: The Sequel by Cecelia Fannon

Science Fiction Audiobooks

Science Fiction Audiobooks - Spock vs Q: The SequelSpock vs. Q: The Sequel
By Cecelia Fannon; Performed by Leonard Nimoy and John de Lancie
1 Cassette – Approximately 1 Hour [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Simon And Schuster Audio
Published: 2000
ISBN: 0743507029
Themes: / Star Trek / Humor /

Following their debate over the fate of mankind, Spock and Q have continued their discussions over a meal. After dining, the two return to the stage to recount their repast, which included encounters with several of Spock’s former shipmates. However, at the moment the two verbal sparring partners shake hands, a power surge places them in total darkness. Suddenly, Spock and Q are no longer on stage, but somewhere in deep space. As they struggle to determine what has happened, a curious personality change takes hold. Spock is overcome with giddy delight. Q is much more serious, even…logical.

Originally recorded in Kansas City, MO, in front of a live audience, Spock vs. Q: The Sequel was performed by Nimoy and de Lancie who have a great time sending up their Star Trek characters. It’s a sequel to, you guessed it, Spock Vs. Q. As with the original, this is a very lightweight listen and it is all about the two quirky characters. The plot may be paper thin but the laughs are real. But non-trekkies should shy away, far far away.

Posted by Jesse Willis

The Audie Awards were presented this weekend in …

The Audie Awards were presented this weekend in New York City. Neil Gaiman was emcee – the press release called him “one of the top ten living post-modern writers”. Find the press release at the Audio Publisher’s Assocation website.

In the Science Fiction category, the winner was Blackstone Audio’s Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card, read by Stefan Rudnicki. Bravo!

Other genre winners:
Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, read by Rene Auberjonois (Time Warner Audiobooks) won in the Abridged Fiction category. I haven’t heard this title, but Auberjonois is one heck of a good narrator.

Jim Dale’s performance of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Listening Library) won in the Classics category, and his narration of Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (Brilliance Audio) won in the Children’s Titles for Ages 8+ category. A new Jim Dale-performed Harry Potter title is scheduled for release on July 16th and is eagerly awaited in my house.

C.S. Lewis’ Narnia tales showed up twice on the list; once in the Inspirational/Faith-Based Fiction category, and again in the Package Design category. (Both titles were published by HarperCollins.)

Our friends over at Full Cast Audio won an award in the Audio Drama category for Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja. Well deserved! They blur the line between Audio Drama and Audiobooks with their Full Cast unabridged readings – check them out!

The Audiobook of the Year? Bill Clinton’s My Life, published by Random House.

Again, the full results can be found at the Audio Publisher’s Association website. Congratulations to all!

posted by Scott D. Danielson

Review of Unicorn Variation By Roger Zelazny

Science Fiction Audiobooks - Unicorn Variation by Roger ZelaznyUnicorn Variation
By Roger Zelazny; Read by Rene Auberjonois
1 Cassette – 83 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Durkin Hayes
Published: 1995
ISBN: 0886467365
Themes: / Fantasy / Unicorns / Mythical Creatures / Chess / Angels /

Roger Zelazny wrote some of my favorite fantasies. I view him now as one of Neil Gaiman’s primary influences, as they both cover the same mythical territory in their fiction. (In fact, Neil Gaiman would be a perfect choice to pen scripts for Zelazny’s Amber novels – hint hint nudge nudge).

“Unicorn Variations” is a story from later in Zelazny’s career. In it, a man finds himself playing a chess game with a unicorn, the result of which could determine the fate of the human race. The unicorn talks quite a bit and has a sharp tongue with a dry sense of humor. The man in the story meets several mythical beasts, and they all know how to play chess, including Sasquatches, who are particularly good at it. A thoroughly enjoyable story.

“Angel, Dark Angel” is also included. It is much shorter than the cover story, and begins with a man who receives a phone call giving him the identity of a person he’s got to go meet. No more on this one – let Zelazny unfold it for you.

Rene Auberjonois is absolutely first-rate. I really enjoy his cadence and his personable tone. In the first story, he has the opportunity to use several different voices, which he does with wonderful skill, bringing the story to life as a great narrator can.

This one’s out of print – check eBay!

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

We’re hard at work building a new online audio pag…

SFFaudio News

We’re hard at work building a new online audio page that will include up-to-date links to streaming genre-related audio sources, including podcasts. We’ll get that up as soon as possible, and are completely open to suggestions and/or items to include on that page – click here to e-mail me, or here for Jesse.

In my ear is an unabridged version of Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks. This is my first Culture novel, and so far (about 10% in) I’m really liking it. I noticed that Banks’ latest Culture novel, The Algebraist, is available in England in unabridged format only. I’m curious – are there a lot of abridgements produced in England?

On or about June 15, you’ll see the return of our popular monthly “New Releases” post. I’ll gather those posts on an archive page as well.

All our best, and thanks for visiting SFFAudio!

Posted by Scott D. Danielson