Top 10 Science Fiction Audio Books
Posted by Tadej Gregorcic on February 6, 2010
One thing to keep in mind when picking an audio version is the production quality – e.g. I have encountered a few versions of Dune books I simply could not finish due to a monotonous or uninformed narrator.
Here is my top 10 list of books that do have great audio versions (some even with multiple narrators and music), along with corresponding links on Audible.
1. Frank Herbert: Dune Classic Series (6 books)
This original series containing Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse Dune is perhaps one of the most profound and well written works of science fiction I have ever encountered.
Strong elements of philosophy and religion – combined with great writing. Where other writers tell the story, Frank Herbert shows it.
2. Dan Simmons: Hyperion Cantos (4 books)
Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, The Rise of Endymion. As profound and memorable as Dune, the writing again near to perfect. Where Dune uses Near-Eastern inspired philosophy as a building block, Simmons pulls the reader/listener into a masterful transformation of the romanticist John Keats’ poetic legacy.
Very relevant references for present-day questions regarding the transformation and consumption of media as well as the interdependence of man and machine.
3. Orson Scott Card: Ender’s Game (4 books)
Ender’s Game, Speaker of the Dead, Xenocide, Ender’s Shadow
Very popular, contemporary, again emotionally very engaging and well written. For me, especially books 2 and 3 were very powerful.
4. Neal Stephenson: Cryptonomicon
Not really science fiction, but a must-listen for computer scientists. A great novel interweaving stories in WW2 and the present day, with emphasis on cryptology and wide-spread hacker appeal.
5. Neal Stephenson: Snow Crash
A great cyberpunk novel introducing the metaverse (inspired Second Life). Often surprising and funny, but also profound.
6. Arthur C. Clarke: Childhood’s End
View Childhood’s End on Audible
An early Clarke novel, perhaps foolishly aspiring in trying to introduce one too many paradigm shifts in a few hours, but nonetheless thought provoking and a must-listen.
7. Neal Stephenson: Diamond Age
A novel about a young lady’s illustrated primer – contains a lot of visionary technological ideas and loads of good Stephenson writing.
8. Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle: The Mote in God’s Eye
Where Niven is good at dangling the carrot, Pournelle adds some excellent plotting in this very classical sci-fi novel. Hard sci-fi.
9. Larry Niven: Ringworld (2 books)
Ringworld, Ringworld’s Children
As with Mote, Niven’s novels are a bit blunt and straight-forward when compared to more profound masterpieces such Dune and Hyperion (at least in my opinion). But he definitely makes up with story-telling and just pure hard sci-fi.
10. Neal Stephenson: Anathem
Anathem on Audible – the link does not seem to work in Europe at the moment
At number 10 just because I have not managed to get through it. The premise has drawn me since before its release, so I will perhaps have to revisit this list once I am through.
That’s it – my top 10 sci-fi list for 2010.
I have been a fan of classic science fiction far longer than I have been listening to audio books, so I knew most of these books before getting an audio version.
A lot of people I know told me that they are not able to draw equal enjoyment from an audio book, especially not with fiction.
For me, the experience is very equal and I will often switch from audio to text and back in the middle of a single book, based solely on convenience (e.g. if I am traveling, enjoying the sun on a beach or jogging).
What is your top 10 sci-fi list? Am I missing a must-read/listen?
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Good list. Hyperion is my favorite. I also enjoy Rendezvous with Rama.
I think you should put Isaac Asimov's Foundation series near the top of this list, is a masterpiece of sci-fi and the reading by Scott Brick read makes it great to listen to.
Anything by Neil Gaiman. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite between American Gods or Anansi Boys.
Thanks, will check it out!
I am nearing the end of EE Doc Smiths Lensman series Read by Reed McColm. Its a lovely series and well worth a listen.
Good list…but should almost be a list of 10 classic audiobook experiences. I would definitely add the series by Alistair Reynolds and Peter Hamilton. I'm constantly trying to recreate the fun of listening to those 90+ hour trilogies trying to recreate the fun of listening to those 90+ hour trilogies
Yes, the post is a year old and I would definitely add at least the Commonwealth and Void sagas in the mean time. Thanks for the Alistair Reynolds tip!
Totaly agree about the Dune series and the narration being dull for some of the later 3 books
I much prefer American Gods to Anansi Boys.
My favourite Sci-fi audio is definitely The Forever War, written by Joe Haldeman. I haven't seen it in any of these 'top sci-fi audiobooks' lists, and am truly surprised. It blew me away (my copy performed by George Wilson, who takes a bit of getting used to though).
my top 10 sci – fi audio books are :
1. The way station – Clifford.D.Simack
2.City – Clifford.D.Simack
3.The forever War/Forever Peace – Joe Haldeman
4.Childhoods End _ Arthur c clarke
5.Shadow over insmouth/Whisper in the dark – H.P.Lovecraft
6.Surface Tension – James Blish
7.Convergance – Charles Sheffield
8.Selected stories of Philip.K.Dick (Volumes 1 & 2)
9.The humanoids – Jack Williamson
10.Farewell to the master – Harry bates
I agree completely, hyperion is propably best book in general for my taste and Rama may be mostly sci fi tourism but those vistas are spectacular.
My list of 10, not in order of preference — some more fantasy than science fiction
Brief History of the Dead – Kevin Brockmeir
Soon I will be invincible – Austin Grossman
Contact – Carl Sagan
Fuzzy Nation – John Scalzi
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
Most of the Jack McDevitt books
More than human – Theodore Sturgeon
A fire upon the deep – Vernor Vinge
The Dying Earth – Jack Vance
Stardust – Neil Gaiman
Thanks for the list! (I know I’m late finding it.) I’ve listened to about half and read a few more in print. I might have to try Stephenson again at your suggestion. I listened to Anathem and thought it was a total bore.
No one has said Robert A Heinlein
stranger in a strange land – 1961
the moon is a harsh mistress – 1966
starship troopers – 1959
yes it’s the space bug movie, and yes it’s a must read
Very nice! I have absolutely loved listening to The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, along with the other four books in the series. The first is read wonderfully by Stephen Fry and the rest by Martin Freeman :) I highly recommend!
Ender’s Game is definitely one of my favorite Sci-Fi reads ever. I didn’t care for the sequels in the Ender series but the Shaddow series is an amazing follow up.
@David: after all this time, I am very tempted to re-read or re-listen to the Ender’s Game. What a masterpiece.
Foundation (1-3)
Speaker for the dead
Childhoods end
Stranger in a strange land
Hyperion
Dune
Those are my favorites, any suggestions on others and where to buy them?
I’m so glad Sidnaw included Vernor Vinge. “Fire…” and “Deepness in the Sky” are some awesome examples of an author creating new alien species in cool and different ways.
And for romping good times across the Milky Way you just can’t go wrong with Peter F. Hamilton’s space operas. Each series gives you a few thousand pages (or 100 hours) of steamy, action packed, brain candy.
In the same vein, Iain M. Banks culture series is full of fun, stand alone, quality sci-fi. But several are kind of sad as well (“Use of Weapons”, for example) and can be hard to follow in audio form if you’re multi-tasking.