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ILONA ANDREWS

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Audio Recommendations and Negative Reviews

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Audio readers are the pickiest readers. True fact. They complain about everything. The narrator was too emotional/too flat, they read too fast/too slow, they ended sentences badly (?), and so on. I’m used to receiving complaints about our books so honestly now I just ignore them, because every narrator we ever had left someone dissatisfied.

This is not an invitation to complain about the narrators of our books. All comment complaints will be deleted by Mod R with extreme prejudice, because I am not here for that. 🙂

Yesterday I went to look for a new audiobook trying to find something to listen to after Hail Mary. I wanted an exciting space opera or military SF, like Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell. No problem, right? Should be a snap.

While it was interesting for a while, I found it rather boring and just not interesting. 

There are so many plot holes and developments that require the reader to suspend disbelief that this might as well be a fantasy book. Some of the voices are cringeworthy – like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Definition of vanilla.

The book does show you how incredibly dull a world without women is...

This book is stupid, the narrator is stupider, and I am the stupidest for spending a credit on it.

I am 4 hours into this and have no desire to continue.

Science Fiction requires science. And that reqires study. A step that was clearly skipped.

Written by an amoeba.

I tried. I really tried to like this novel. It was just not possible.

I can’t believe I finished this book. What an incredibly inane, predictable, long-winded, uninspired, unnecessarily long novel. I’d say the ending gave me a nice ‘huh’ moment that would have been enjoyable after a ten minute investment. Pick another book. Don’t wait until you’re 5 hours in and then say “I might as well finish it,” because you’ll be wrong.

They ruined every single audiobook for me. OMG. I gave up.

So, um, any good military SF or space opera audiobooks? Something fun like Sweep of the Blade type of thing? Or something like the Martian? Preferably something new, written in the past 10 years or so. Help?

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Comments

  1. I rather enjoyed Jessie Mihalik’s Consortium Rebellion trilogy.

    I mean. They are not as good as your books. But I didn’t regret reading them.

    • I think that I started reading Mihalik because of a recommendation on this blog but I agree with your assessment

      • Yep. I just finished reading book 1 and the author’s acknowledgments include,
        “My heartfelt gratitude to Ilona and Andrew Gordon for their invaluable help and advice as I navigate the strange new world of being a published author.”

    • Totally agree on this recommendation. I like a 3 books, but 1 and 3 are my favorite. The narrator is great. No complaints. ????

      • Agree re: books 1&3 – although…

        The MC in book 2 is one of my all-time favs. Because:

        1) she’s not a 25 year old virgin. I think the author managed to still make her like…28?…but still she was an adult woman who had life experience, and for romance books, that’s rare. Like Charlotte in Steel’s Edge. Yay!!!

        2) she suffers from chronic pain. Oh wow. That was fascinating to read. I have had migraines my whole life, so reading her story, and how she managed to be kick-ass while also needing frequent naps…that was AWESOME.

        Her love interest? Meh. But that’s fine. He just isn’t my type. Give me the bear from book 3, please.

      • Okay, BDH- drumroll, please… Author list tally from our comments is about 110. Yep.

        Bookmas is real!

    • I was just going to say the same thing. One of my favorite newish sci fi series. Highly recommend!

    • I tried with these, but just couldn’t get into it. A little too insta-love for me. All of the relationships in that book felt like they went from 0 to 60 in 2 seconds. Just my personal opinion.

      However, I really did like her earlier series, The Queen’s Gambit is the first of the series. More plot, less romance and its more of a slow burn across the three books.

    • Recently read, Rules of Redemption (Firebird Chronicles Series) by T. A. White. Its the first book in the series so a bit of a slow start but fun and interesting.

      I will note that the first book isn’t quite as good as Jessie Mihalik’s series (a prior recommendation from you), but I’m going to continue with the series.

      • second the recommendation for tA white. Also Michelle Denier series and Murderbot series!

        • Another vote for Murderbot. Laugh out loud funny. Plus some deep thoughts on what it is to be human and who gets to decide.

        • Thank you!!!! I just binge-read the whole murderbot series – so so good, thoughtful and laugh out loud funny

  2. The House That Walked Between Worlds by Jenny Schwartz was a fun read. It’s got Baba Yaga as a minor character. It’s closer to the Innkeeper books than The Martian.

    • It’s also part of a trilogy, really good! Kind of reminds me a little of Howl’s Moving Castle by Dianne Wynne Jones.

      • I love Howl’s Moving Castle! It’s one of my comfort reads and Miyazaki’s adaptation is good too. I bet that’s why I liked The House trilogy.

    • If you haven’t read it yet, Jim Butcher’s Aeronauts Windlass is an awesome read with a definite fun military read. Of course, now patiently waiting the next book. ????

      • +1 on Aeronaut’s Windlass. Hated book 1 of the Dresden files and had sworn off Butcher, but Aeronauts Windlass brought me back to him.

        • The first book was his first published effort and it’s a little rough in comparison. If you’re feeling charitable (or bored) and want to give Dresden another shot, try picking up Dead Beat. It was written as a secondary entrance point to the series and it’s a lot more polished.

          That said, Alera is definitely quasi-military, but more on the fantasy than scifi side of the spectrum.

          • Considering Alera was an attempt to take the Roman Legions and Pokemon and make them fresh again, they turned out pretty good.

  3. Something superfun to listen to:

    We Are Legion – Bobiverse series
    I picked up the first one We Are Legion when there was a sale and omg I laughed so much it was silly. I also ‘got’ all the sci-fi references. I had to buy the rest!

    Dennis Taylor (Author) Ray Porter (Narrator)
    We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
    For We Are Many
    All These Worlds
    Heaven’s River

    • I also had a lot of fun with the “Bobverse”.
      The mispronunciation of Archimedes was fixed in a later release.

    • Oh god – YES on the Bobiverse series. All of it.

      Incredibly good SciFi and incredibly good SciFi *narration*.

      The first three books are one “arc”, with another starting(?) in book 4. (Actually I have no clue if there will be books #5 or #6, but the author would be mad not to write them.)

      And without going into too many spoilers, while there may be some bitter-sweet moments, that’s not the theme of the series.

      Can 110% recommend.

  5. I just finished listening to the most recent novella from Murderbot Diaries. I adore the whole series, and it literally made me laugh out loud. I usually listened to them during my commute and as I made dinner. My husband frequently heard random cackling from the kitchen.

    Since they’re short (3.5hr to 4hrs except for one 12.5hr), I waited to buy them all when they went on sale last month for $5/each. But they’re so good that if I had to pay full price for each installment, I would.

    • MURDERBOT FOR PRESIDENT!

      I love these books so much. They scratch an itch I didn’t even know I had.

      • Right? I can count on one hand the space sci fi novels I have read. I think this series doubled that number. I don’t know why I read the first book but I’m glad I did.

    • Murderbot is absolutely excellent.

      The first four are novellas.

      The fifth book, a full-length novel, is in my top 10 of all SF/F series, ever.

      The sixth book… it’s good, but it actually takes places prior to the fifth book, and I wish I had known that prior to reading, because there were ramifications after the fifth book that were exciting… and it took me a while to pick up on, “Oh, this happened before,” and I was kinda disappointed (in not knowing, not the writing).

      So if I were a new reader, I’d read 1-4, then 6, then 5, because is awesome.

      HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

      (Everyone I’ve recc’d these to came back and said, “OMG, why didn’t you tell me about these sooner!)

    • Agree – Muderbot is really funny (and quick). My library has both eBook and audio versions available online to borrow.

      • I don’t listen to audiobooks, but I second, or third, or quintuple, or whatever, the recommendation for the Murderbot stories. I just wish the short ones were longer…

        • +1. And I agree that the voice in the books reads female. I would have a very hard time hearing it as male.

        • Yes, what everyone else is writing about Martha Wells & Murderbot. I’ve read series, gosh not even considering an audio…so again what others say about audiobooks.

    • I love Murderbot! I’ve never listened to the audiobooks for a silly reason: I hear Murderbot as female in my head. I know Murderbot has no sex or gender, but when I clicked to preview the audio and I heard a male narrator, I couldn’t continue. It’s completely ridiculous, I know, and I’ll probably get over it and listen to them, but it did cause me to pause.

        • Yes, Murderbot is amazing, Martha Wells writes that voice so convincingly. I don’t listen to audiobooks, but I loved the actual books.

    • AGREED.

      I have a hard time listening to audiobooks for anything except nonfiction, but the Murderbot Diaries audiobooks are so good that I’ve listened to them multiple times. They’re my Go-To for when I’m doing something boring—right now, they’re the only audiobooks that make folding laundry remotely bearable.

      They’re exciting but also, I’ve actually laughed out loud, which I never do, because Murderbot is hilarious af.

    • The Murderbot Diaries are great! I recommend them to everyone I meet. I read them rather than listening to them so the story and plot are great but I don’t know about the voice actor. HIGHLY recommend them.

    • YES MURDERBOT

      My brother listens to audiobooks mostly, and he said the narrator was great.

      Love love love this series

      I also enjoyed the Cloud Roads series by Martha Wells, but have not listened to it.

      • I came on here to say “Murderbot”, and seems like it is a popular recommendation. 🙂 I love to listen and read them.

    • If you’ve never read Murderbot diaries or anything else by Martha Wells you can try the short story prequel “Compulsory”. It is very short, but it introduces you to Murderbot, the Company, and how things work in the Corporation Rim.

      Martha Wells’ Raksura and Ile-Rien series are primarily fantasy, but I’d also highly recommend them.

    • Omg Murderbot is sooo great. Devoured 1-3 in 2 days and am now waiting for 4 from my local library. I recommend this series to everyone.

    • I love this series so much. Love Murderbot-especially when it has to face the wall because of too much emotion.

    • Thanks for the recommendation! I went and downloaded the first Murderbot book on Audible and am enjoying it now!

  6. I know exactly how you feel. I get so desperate for new reads I go crazy googling authors but I normally look for paranormal/urban fantasy. The reviews can be so disheartening. So glad that MTV Challenge has started so I have something to watch on TV.

    Luv’ed finding Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London.

    Then there was Darynda Jones’s Charlie Davidson series.

    I know I am not helping because it is not science fiction, the closest thing I can think of is Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vokosigan series, as it is science fictionish.

      • My husband teased me about loving Miles. My response was that I’m very fond of Miles, but I love his father, Aral.

        • Me too, I love Aral. I’ve grown up with that series! I listened to the fantasy series that starts with Penric’s Demon, by Lois McMaster Bujold and it’s pretty good. I have loved listening to Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson series, and there was one that has two readers, that one was my favourite. I’m now listening to all off Nalini Singh’s Psy and changling novels.

          • Penric’s Demon novellas are short and satisfying (fantasy). They are connected, but have a conclusion at the end of each.

    • I’ve never tried bujold in audio but the rivers of London books in audio are absolutely wonderful!

      The narrator is amazing!

      • Bujold in audio is awesome. Grover Gardner has a wonderful voice. He does both Miles and Penric.

        The Sharing Knife series has a different narrator whom I find not bad, and the Chalion books seem to each have a different narrator. I have enjoyed all so far.

        • I don’t do audio books (my listening attention span is just too short – I think of something else and come back 5 minutes later having no idea what just happened). But if Penric and Desdemona, or Miles Vorkosigan, have good readers, I would definitely recommend. Also, Lindsey Buroker’s Star Kingdom is on Audible. It’s a cute space opera series with Casmir, the most inept hero ever, and loads of fun secondary characters. Not to mention the crushers (form-molting warbots) that develop personality by hanging around with Casmir.

          • I love all Lindsay buroker series. But I loved the fallen empire series the best for her sci fi and emporers edge for steam punk.

            • agree! Fallen empire is my favorite of hers. Also agree above to Jessie Mihalik. Otherwise – union station series is very light hearted and fun for listening to while cooking dinner.

    • If you haven’t read or listened to Bujold’s Vorkosigan saga, please start with Cordelia’s Honor & Barrayar. The two were originally planned as a single book, but written and published eight years apart. They ARE military/political space opera & science fiction with an developing relationship between the lead characters.

      These are wonderful books with great audio reviews. Heartily recommended if they are new to you!

      • BTW, Barrayar won the Hugo for “Best Novel” in 1992 and the Vorkosigan Saga won the first Hugo for “Best Series” in 2017.

        • +1 Alissa’s recommendation for Shards of Honor (Cordelia’s Honor) and Barrayer .
          Great adventure and the romance between Cordelia and Aral is terrific.

      • I also highly recommend Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan series. I have read them all many times, but over the last few weeks I have been listening to them as audiobooks for the first time. When I was listening to the first one, Shards of Honor, I knew how it ended, but I was still on the edge of my seat – that’s how good a writer Bujold is!

    • I’ve liked anything I’ve read by Lois McMaster Bujold, but the Vorkosigan Saga is my favorite. And Grover Gardner is one of my favorite readers. Win, win! Her works are much more character driven and less fighting/battles, etc. She says that her books can be read in any order because each novel is complete, but I prefer the chronological progression. My favs in that series are Shards of Honor, Barrayar (because Cordelia is a kick-ass heroine), Warrior’s Apprentice, A Civil Campaign (one of the funniest books ever), and Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance (also hugely funny).

      • The Vorkosigan Saga is awesome! There aren’t many books that have made me cry both in anguish and laughter.

        I suppose they *can* be read in any order, but I think the later books (especially ‘Memory’ ) lose most of their impact if you don’t have a good understanding of the character’s history.

      • +1 Chris G’s comment.

        I especially enjoyed Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance and agree it was hilarious. It was a delight to see Ivan who spent so much time in previous books pretending to be stupid having to be a man of action. Even remembering the scene where they went to the head of Ivan’s house to request he approve a divorce makes me smile.

    • Have you tried the Liaden Universe series by Lee and Miller? I adore and re read. As I do your books. So maybe? Not heavy b battle tech stuff. But not stupid. Or slow. Better to start with earlier books as characters continue throughout. Good luck

      • ++1 The Liaden Universe books are my favorite comfort books that aren’t written by House Andrews.

        I suggest starting with the first series: Agent of Change, Conflict of Honors, Local Custom, and Scout’s Progress.

      • I love both Bujold and the Liaden Universe by Lee and Miller. I’ll read anything she writes (kinda like I’ll read anything you guys write). Haven’t heard the audiobooks of the Vorkosigan series but the Chalion/Penric ones are pretty decent. I also like Simon Green’s Nightside and a the Secret Histories.

        Also Elizabeth Moon’s Serrano and Vatta series read pretty well too on audiobooks.

        Also try

    • +1 on Rivers of London. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is an amazing narrator! Not all male narrators can do women and kids but he does an incredible job. I know it isn’t what you’re looking for, but maybe keep it in mind fir the future?

    • Try the necromancer series or potentate series by Hailey Edwards or the demigods of Dan Francisco series by KF breene.

    • Yay to all of your recommendations- just a small add on. The Vorkosigan Saga is Space opera and actually sf. Her science is even solid.
      But she’s so good with characters, it seems so real that the sf is not front and center.

  7. Tanya Huffs – Confederation.
    Jim C Hines – Janitor series
    Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente (i dont know if the auddio book is good on this one)

    • Seconding Tanya Huff Confederation trilogies. Military SF Space Opera! And great writing. Highly recommend.

    • +1 – Terminal Alliance series. Official series name is: Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse- yes please

      Also enjoyed Tanya Huff, though I have only read fantasy by her

  9. If you’re looking specifically for an audiobook, I’d recommend the dispatcher by John Scalzi. It’s a novella, but it was written for specifically for sale on audible, so the narrator is fantastic and there aren’t a million dialogue tags. It’s a bit of a genre bender, with a heavy crime procedural element in addition to the SF/F elements. Sadly, no space travel or wars are involved. However, if you have an audible membership, it’s free, and if you like it there is a second in the series with a third contracted.

    • I like dispatcher a lot! Also highly recommend his locked in and head on with amber benson as narrator.

    • I’ve re-listened to both Dispatcher audiobooks a couple of times. Love them. The world is well thought out. Not a space opera, but make a note for another time.

    • Anything by John Scalzi, really. The series starting with Old Man’s War is military SF/space opera. And Redshirts is hilarious and philosophical at once.

    • Anything by John Scalzi but my personal favorite was Redshirts. Beautiful homage to the sometimes ridiculous tropes of old school Star Trek with some beautiful analysis of how we experience stories. Also hilarious as heck. Highly recommended.

  10. I’ve found Michael Anderle’s Kurtherian Gambit series (multiple, plus offshoot series by him and additional authors) to be quite interesting. Starts off SF and then the space part comes later. Lots of science that I don’t understand (and who knows if it was correct), but it sounded good to me. Enjoyed listening to it while cross stitching.

  11. A fun audio listen are the Tom Stranger books by Larry Correa. Laugh out loud funny with lots of action.

  13. ‘The Firebird Chronicles’ by T.A White is really good!
    The military content feels well-worn and lived (probably because Toby’s a veteran herself.)

    And the ‘Theirs not to reason why’ series by Jean Johnson is spectacular, about a seer who joins the military to avert for-seen disaster.

    I was impressed, she really craftily maintains the tension of the reader not knowing what will occur even using a protagonist who knows (probabilistically) what could.

      • Jean Johnson wasn’t as written as well as I usually like, though I couldn’t put my finger on any specific criticism. I still liked the books enough to reread them more than once, and her other series in the same universe are even better. More tightly woven perhaps?

        Terms of Enlistment- Kloos (Space Warfare)
        Velocity Weapon- O’Keefe (Character focused, very good)
        Contact Front- Partlow (Space Warfare Giant Robot style)
        Praxis- Williams (Sci-fi version of Epic Fantasy)

        I also really like Murderbot, but that ship has sailed. A Testament of Steel by Ashura is great when you want more fantasy.

    • Firebird Chronicles are fantastic. One of my favorite series, even reread (one of few authors, including IA that I reread).

      • LOVE LOVE LOVE Firebird Chronicles! (The first book is Rules of Redemption.) It’s my *favorite* series by TA White. Anxiously awaiting the next! *I* loved the audio version of the series. In fact, I think I only have that series in audio.

        I also love her Broken Lands series (first one is Pathfinder’s Way). It’s not space oriented at all, kind of the opposite with most of society staying in their insular villages with the rare exceptions of traders, pathfinders /guides, and barbarian hordes. Hmmm… if I say anything else, I think I’ll give away some spoilers so I’ll stop there. I also have this one on audio and enjoyed it very much.

        Ooh! I have not read Jean Johnson. I will have to try that book.

      • I also love the Firebird Chronicles but I feel like I found them from a recommendation on this blog ????

        • Actually the recommendation here was for her Pathfinder series. That was how I got into Firebird.

    • I was also going to recommend the Firebird series (Rules of Redemption) is the first book (T.A. White). The narrator is very good.

      • Yes!!! I also definitely recommend Firebird Chronicles. The narrator does such an awesome job with the snarky dialogue! Love her portrayal of Jin especially.

    • The dragon ridden series is being narrated for audible as well. No ETA on release date but would expect at least one by the end of the year.

    • Uh, I couldn’t finish “Theirs is not”, way too heavy handed with the first person foreshadowing. It’s like every paragraph…”if only I had know”, or “I would come to regret”, etc. Also, the protagonist was a total special snowflake….but she just had to be to “save everyone and every thing”. I hated her so much by the time she finished basic training I had to put the book down before I did some damage to my tablet.

  14. If you are not familiar with Tanya Huff’s Peacekeeper Series, I think you would enjoy it. Strictly space opera. Huff is a good writer and her series beginning with the Enchanted Emporium are more in line with your work, urban fantasy {?} But the Peacekeeper books are a cross between StarTrek and Wonder Woman but well written. I don’t remember any problems with the audio version. I read the books and then got the Audible version {I do that with your books as well} I tend to fall asleep listening to an audio book since I listen at bedtime but if the narrator is really bad {none of yours are} I notice. I do find the women who end all their sentences on a high note {Valley girl speak} are annoying but have not run into this in some time.

  15. If you want a fabulous story with the really poor editing and a narrator with a 9th grade vocabulary, you absolutely MUST try The Two Week Curse. I’ve listened to it over a dozen times. It’s my go-to when I need a great story.

    Here’s what you can expect. REALLY likeable characters. Eric and Rugrat are awesome. I love stories where the main characters have rock solid integrity. This story delivers.

    A great story concept. This is like nothing I’ve read before. It’s not sci-fi . . . I think I need to sneak that bit in there. But it has a sci-fi feel.

    A narrator (assuming you get the original narrator and not the “new” one) with a great voice who can individualize for each character. The individualizations may not be appropriate but they are . . . uh . . . individual. He may mispronounce words but he does it definitively. Yeah, I know, not a good thing . . . but it’s a thing!

    The author is a Canadian from Britain. Yeah, I know. Weird.

    • I`ve only read the books, but can recommend the story as well! I am reading a lot of LitRPGs and that is definitely worth it! It is not classically space sci fi, but military portal LitRPG. Good characters, gripping story and solid humour. The series ist called “The Ten Realms”.

  16. I don’t know if you’ve read them yet, but Gideon the Ninth/Harrow the Ninth is sci-fi-esque! Its best description is lesbian necromancers in space? The Firebird Chronicles by T.A. White is also on the edge of military sci-fi/fantasy and it reminds me a lot of how you guys always approach your books with a new angle!

  19. Central Corps novels by Elizabeth Bonesteel. Can’t speak directly to the audio books, but good space opera with mystery elements.
    Alex Benedict series or Academy series, both by Jack McDevitt. Bordering on space opera with archaelogical mysteries.

  20. Murderbot Diaries for sure. I love them so much! Just got a hardcover set of the first 4 novellas. So damn funny and well written.

  22. Doesn’t hit the 10 year criteria but I enjoyed-

    Empire of Man – David Weber
    Honour Harrington – David Weber
    Familias Regnant (Serrano & Suiza) – Elizabeth Moon

    Haven’t found anything else that has the depth of universe I like.

    • I second the Elizabeth Moon recommendations. Paksenarrion series is even older, but I liked it best.

      • +1 Familias Regnant is military SF/space opera; Deed of Paksennarian is military epic fantasy (actually started with her husband as DM for neighborhood D&D players, and her deciding she could do better than the standard D&D rules).

        Moon joined the USMC in 1968 and was commissioned a lieutenant, so she has some idea what she’s doing with the military elements. She also has a strong science background, and her characters really live and breathe, on the page and in the reader’s head. You can lose yourself in her worlds, though not for long enough.

        • Was about to suggest the Serrano Legacy; also Vattas war but in the graphic audio version – just finished both back to back and the cast of voices are excellent!

          Also not so much a particular book but the BBC Radio 4 full cast dramatisations are excellent – not sci-fi but June Whitfield as Miss Marple; Ian Carmichael as Peter Wimsey and Phillip Maddoc as Cadfael (I mean from a German captain in Dads Army to a crime solving monk!?! AND the narrator for some of them is Michael Horden who narrated Paddington when I was growing up!!)

      • I also liked the Serrano Legacy, but really enjoyed the full cast audio version from Graphic Audio. Not as humorous as House Andrews stuff, and that ending might not be welcome after her “Bitter Disappointment ” post.

  23. Murderbot is soooo good. Expensive but worth it Network Effect won the Nebula award for 2021 and was a finalist for the Hugo and Locus awards.

    Nathan Lowell’s ‘Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper’ is really good. Best of all you can find the books on iTunes podcast for free.
    It’s not sci-fi, but his Ravenwood fantasy series is phenomenal. The main character is 52 years old and beginning menopause. I’m 58 and can relate. It’s so refreshing to find a series like that.

    On another note, did you finish the rest of the Cradle books? I’m so happy you recommended it. Hours of entertainment, hours! I need to meet Eithan. ????

    • Anything by Nathan Lowell is good! I really enjoyed his podcasts of the Solar Clipper books, which as mentioned are available free. His writing tends to be day-in-the-life, rather than high fiction, and his readings of his own writing are excellent.

    • I agree about Nathan Lowell’s ‘Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper’, although I’ve only read the books, not listened to them.

    • I second Becky Chambers. I think the first one is called A Long Way to Small, Angry Planet.
      I also sixth? seventh? the Murderbot series by Martha Wells. It does get a little technical sometimes, but not enough to distract from the plot.

    • I agree. Excellent series. And each one can be read as a separate novel. I appreciate that. Sometimes I get tired of cliffhangers and waiting anxiously for the next book so you can see what happens.

    • Yes. Best new sci-fi space opera I’ve read in the last 10 years. I understand where some people complain that the story is too “woke” but it didn’t bother me. It’s been a comfort during COVID-19, since all 4 books are excellent. Haven’t tried the audio, so I hope the narrator does it justice. Anyone?

    • Agreed, I have been recommending this series to everyone I know. Don’t know the audio though. Does this series qualify as space opera? I just feel like it’s SF as I’ve rarely seen it before, so character driven and more like small, beautiful moments than driven by an overall action theme.

    • +1
      I was coming here to recommend this too!
      I love the POV in her books and how humanity are not the dominant species in the galaxy. So well written. I would say her books are more character driven vs plot driven so depends what you fancy

  25. I think that you would enjoy the Valor series by Tanya Huff. I’ve read the entire series but I am new to audiobooks. I used a credit – I usually have one or two free and so far they are fine. It is older and the series complete so hopefully you haven’t read it yet. Pretty much straight up military SF with a female Staff Sargent lead in a galaxy hopping war with and against weird and wonderful alien species.
    Not at all in the genre you are looking for but HIGHLY recommended is Master of Djinn when you are in the mood for something light fantasy steampunkesque and loads of fun.

    • +1 to this suggestion. While I haven’t listened to the audiobooks, Tanya Huff’s Valor series is worth it.

      • I liked the Valor series in audio very much, as well as book 1 of the follow-up Peacekeeper series. My library doesn’t offer the other Peacekeeper books in audio, so hopefully the remaining adventures of Torin and her associates are also narrated well.

  27. No titles in particular, but why not approach it from the other direction? Here are two reader recommendations: Katherine Kellgrin and Simon Vance. Both are amazing readers. Kellgrin passed in 2018 and is a real loss, but Simon Vance is still around and prolific (if that’s the right word for a reader).

    Here’s a good list of other great readers: https://bookriot.com/prolific-audiobook-narrators/

    • I second this method. Many times when I’m looking for new authors, I’ll check my favorite audiobook readers to see which authors they’ve done books for.

  28. I don’t do audio books ever. No matter how good the narrator, they can never match the characters voices in my head. Yes, I’m strange, when I’m reading a book I hear the dialog. Regardless here are some space fiction books I’ve enjoyed reading.

    The Asarlia Wars series by Marie Andreas
    Dread Warlock by Orlando Sanchez loved it but there is only the one book
    Firebird Chronicle series by T.A. White
    Opus X 1 series by Michael Anderle starts out in space but then moves to Earth
    The Endeavor trilogy by Amanda Bouchet
    The Adventures of a Xeno-Archaeologist series by Jenny Swartz the second book is due out soon

  29. A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. Nice balance of action and political thriller combined with trying to figure out what is self…i suck at explaining books.

    As my friend recommended it to me
    “The sci-fi is secondary, it has a very good mix of political drama, and touches of social aspects, what is civilization, culture, barbarians, what is self, and what our memories, and so on”

    Definitely has a learning curve at the start when it comes to listening because there are a lot of new words, but you pick up on it soon.

    I enjoy the narrator as well.

    • I liked this one in audio too – and keep meaning to pick up the second one now that it’s out!

    • This has been recommended to me several times, so much so I have already bought it. But it has yet to make it to the top of my pile.

  30. The Honor Harrington series by David Weber narrated by Allyson Johnson. I have listed to the entire series at least 3 times and always enjoy it. Excellent Space Opera, in-depth world building and an absolutely awesome female protagonist.

  32. the sojurn by the youtube channel spacedock is surrposed to be good though I have`nt read it myself yet.

  33. Scalzi’s Interdependencey series is a great listen. I was skeptical at Will Wheaton narrating but he’s GOOD. plus there’s a particularly foul mouthed character I adore.

  34. Ok, having read the comments I will recommend a couple of books. I haven’t heard the audiobook versions, so have no idea if they’re good, but these are great books.

    Murderbot Diaries (just like everyone else) – android with attitude problem
    The Calculating Stars (and its sequels) – more social justice, but good
    Ancillary Justice (and its sequels) – orphaned warship component seeks revenge
    A Memory Called Empire – Aztec science fiction? Ambassador with memory problems

    • Oh yes, The Calculating Stars! Don’t think it’s exactly what you guys are looking for right now, but maybe for later. 3 books in the series atm, and iirc a 4th announced.

  37. OK, so as someone whose primary reading mode is audio, it truly does matter. No, you can never satisfy everyone; that’s humanly impossible. However, a good or bad narrator can make or break a book.
    You’d think that the work itself could stand alone, and sometimes, if the narration is bearable, it can. There have been some books where I’ve just switched to Kindle and let VoiceOver read because I wanted the book but not the chosen narrator.
    In the end, I’m sure it’s hard for all the narrators. It’s time-consuming and redundant work, and someone’s always gonna have a problem with how you do it. Not being able to read print long enough to finish a book however, I’m grateful to them all.
    Also, I always take the reviews with a grain of salt. Honestly, I just read the synopsis and go from there. People love to complain, and sometimes, or most times rather, their impressions and mine differ wildly.

    • I used the original kindle voice to read out Stephen Hawkings books – it was like he was lecturing in the car!!

      Slightly sad but oh so much better than the chosen narrator!

  38. I recommend TA White’s The Firebird Chronicles. It is not a finished series but there are 3 books so far and each has a HFN.

    • +1
      Love this series. Another go to reread…though after a full reread of all House Andrews’ series. I also don’t do audio…I always like the voices in my head better..????

  39. Rules of redemption by T. A. White is pretty good. It was written in 2019 and so far there’s 3 books but it seems like the author is going to do 6 or more in the series (maybe, I got that impression for how fast is the story moving but I may be wrong). I really recommend it ????

    • I agree! I’m a picky bitch when it comes to audio. I’ve found out this year, while recovering from a concussion, I prefer Google plays monotone voice, over a lot audiobook narration.
      I recommend, ‘The Firebird Chronicles’ by T.A White. It is great. I enjoy the banter between Kira and Jin. The first book is Rules of Redemption.

  40. Oh Murderbot, I love thee…yet you are only novellas and over too soon. Not a great value for my credit but still, I pursue each new episode and commit my retirement dollars with only small regret.

  42. I would love to know which audiobook you end up getting and what you thought of it.

    A few posts ago people recommended murder bot and so I checked a few out from the library and like it so far.

    I discovered T.A. White from your recommendation of the Broken Lands series and I mostly enjoyed Firebird. Since you liked Pathfinders Way you may like it too. I’ve only read, not listened.

  43. I am in love with the Expeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson. Now…some caveats. I LOVE the overall story, and I like the characters. I’m something like 12 books in, and I am INVESTED. And I really only digest these in audiobook format, in part because RC Ray is a narrating god. BUT, I do think that the writing has some technical issues (less noticeable in audio format) and that some bits are repetitive or strung out or don’t hold my attention as much, and sometimes the humor makes me roll my eyes. I don’t care, though, because — as I said — I’m totally invested in the overall story and the characters.

    I would call these military space opera. With the exception of the opening chapters of the first book (which I think won an Audie?), all the action takes place in space (unless they are on an alien world somewhere). It’s all very space-battle and special-forces oriented.

    I think book #13 comes out in December? I don’t remember the exact date. It’s all one continuous story arc. Some books are more contained than others. A couple end on a cliffhanger — he literally picks the NEXT book up where the LAST book left off.

    (Since I am a reader and not a writer, I may be more forgiving of some of the writing flaws than you may be. But I seriously love these books so much.)

    • Thank you very much for suggesting this! I hadn’t seen them before and they are a hidden gem. Funny, sarcastic humour, clever plot twists, and very readable. Sadly, I stayed up late reading the first in the series, and I was really tired the next day, but it was so good lol.

  44. Anything by S. K. Dunstall. They write the Linesman (3 books) and Stars Uncharted (2 books)series. Haven’t heard the audiobook for Linesman but the Stars uncharted are super.

    • I second S.K. Dunstall! I LOVED the Linesman series and really hope they will write the next book soon. I only read the first book in Stars Uncharted, but I liked it well enough as well.

    • I stumbled across the Linesman series and loved it, I dont do audiobooks in general, but the story was fascinating and needs more love.

    • I found this series through this blog and love it. I can’t speak about the narration though – the only audio books I really get into are Georgette Heyer because her prose is so gorgeous.

    • The Linesman books are awesome. They were a recommendation from Patricia Briggs, who has great taste.

  46. Liked the Rachel Bach books, starting with Fortune’s Pawn. (Rachel Aaron under another name).

  47. Really enjoy book 1 of Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti series. I only had the book version so I’m not sure about the audio quality.

  49. Ja sutherland – Alexis Carew series (into the dark is the first one), hornblower in space.
    Glynn Stewart – multiple series, all excellent but Duchy of Terra is prob best place to start.
    Marklo kloos – i prefer palladium wars to the frontlines series but both good.
    Terry Mixon & Raymond Weil are OK when there’s nowt else

    Seconding: Tanya Huff peacekeeper series, Elizabeth moon familias regnant. Presume you’ve done all the David Weber series.

  50. Marissa Meyer has a YA series that is a good audio. Cinder is the first one and gets into the space info and the magic that is used. Start it early because it can get you hooked just like all of Looks Andrews series.

    • Agree! The Lunar Chronicles is well-written and the audiobook narration is very good. It’s read by a single narrator but she does a great job with all the characters. The books are fairy tale retellings in space, essentially.

  52. Rivers of London meets none of your criteria other than being newish but is brilliant audiobooks so maybe consider it.

    I really loved murderbot, although it’s not exactly military.

    Jim Hines Space Janitors – very fun!

    Tanya Huff’s Valor and Peacekeeper series are really fun both as text and as audiobooks.

    • +1 for Rivers of London. It’s police procedural UF, not military SF, but satisfaction guaranteed nonetheless. And friends tell me the narrator is phenomenal. CSI meets Harry Potter is the usual thumbnail, or Harry Potter grows up and goes to the magic police academy. All kinds of social commentary on the side, the whole platter washed down with dry British wit.

  53. As some have mentioned, the Bobiverse is entertaining, but I don’t know that it will meet your criteria. There are a lot of holes in that one – still fun though. If you haven’t done the Honor Herrington series it’s pretty goof for at least the first dozen books.

    This one is not new, but I really liked Hero, by Joel Rosenberg. I believe he was an incredibly underrated author. It’s a Jewish world established as an independent settlement that survives by being mercenaries for other people’s wars. I very much enjoyed it from a military and character development story. Narrator is not the best, but it’s fairly short and worth the listen.

  54. This won’t be what you’re looking for right now but I would recommend the original narration of Terry Pratchett’s books by Nigel Planer. I think he has a soothing way of telling the stories and Pratchett’s worlds are always wonderful (and hilarious) to dive into.

  55. Like many others, I suggest Tanya Huff’s Confederation series. Honestly I will read pretty much anything by Tanya Huff. I would also recommend the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper novels by Nathan Lowell. If you are looking for hard military sci fi I would check out David Weber’s Honor Harrington series. Though it isn’t military, you may like the Foreigner series by C.J. Cherryh. It reminds me of some of the Chinese historical / historical fantasy pieces you’ve mentioned in other poss.

  57. Have you read/listened to the Valor books by Tanya Huff? The first two are more ‘what if X historical battle happened with aliens’, and then she really gets into problems of the world and the war being fought. Wonderfully pragmatic levelheaded main, and a fun cast around her.

  58. I don’t use audiobooks, but the most recent science fiction books I’ve enjoyed are the Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells and Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

  59. I love anything by John Scalzi. Try his Old Man’s War series and the Interdependency series. I also recommend the Honor Harrington series by David Weber.

  60. My latest binge-reading is with Glynn Steward and any of his multiple book series. I think the Starship’s Mage will be an interesting one, as it mixes sci-fi and fantasy elements, together with science.

  61. Was recently recommended the Freehold: Resistance book/anthology – has multiple contributing authors and features many short stories that combine to form the whole picture…. Some fun and some gritty but I found it to be a great read because I could read a story, go do some other stuff and come back for another one, or gorge on a few at a time. A bit different from my usual fare but really enjoyed it.

  62. https://www.leviathanchronicles.com/ It’s technically not an audiobook, it’s a podcast, but its so much better than an audiobook. It’s more like and audio movie if that makes any sense. There’s a bunch of chapters on Pandora music if you want to check it out without the investment. I accidently stumbled upon it and I’m in love.

    • Oh, I love these old school ‘radio dramas’, I call them. A couple of good ones I found last winter in the ‘spooky/fantastical/mystery’ category were from QCODE media (no relation to conspiracy theorists): Borrasca and The Left Right Game. https://qcodemedia.com/borrasca and https://qcodemedia.com/theleftrightgame.
      Not what was asked for, but just throwing it out there! More of an audio movie production and a nice change from all the political podcasts I seem to get stuck on.

  64. Oh! And if you like military science fiction, check out the Poor Man’s Fight series by Elliot Kay.

  65. In Germany your Audiobooks of Hidden Legacy are voiced by Yesim Meisheit and I really love her voice so much.

    I enjoy Audiobooks a lot and these comments are really disencouraging and so rude. I don‘t understand these people.

    • I love Yesim Meisheit’s narration! Gabriele Blum is also awesome! I got into listening to Jess Kidd’s books because I liked Blum’s KD narration so much.

  66. Nathan Lowell’s books Solar Clipper. Nothing gets blown up, but it’s a solid story line with interesting people and places.

  67. I 400th Muderbot in all its audio glory. A few older books that I really enjoyed in audio format were Bellwether and To Say Nothing of the Dog, both by Connie Willis. Neither are SF, sadly, but the books and the narrators were excellent. Also The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi. It’s SF-ish. I found Jessie Mihalik through you, and her Polaris Rising etc were well-done as audiobooks.

  68. The chilling effect by Valerie Valdes. Great book. I read the ebook so I don’t know how the narrator is but I know there is an audiobook. Its a new age, querky, fast-pasted space opera for cat lovers. It really reminded me of your style of writing. The main character is really likeable and it is a great example of how to write a chapter with a different native language.

    I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

  69. have you read All Systems Red by Martha Wells? Short start to a short series, funny, quick read.

  70. I know they’ve been around for a while (last one coming out in November), but The Expanse series by James SA Corey is great – and the narrator is really good too.

  71. The Vorkosigan saga. Excellent books in general – almost up to House Andrews for the high adventure mixed with low comedy. I’ve listened to several as well as reading hard copy, and have no complaints about any of them.

  72. Yes, Tanya Huff, Valor Series. Valor’s Choice first in series.

    I Really Enjoy reading all of your books. Started with the Edge series.

    Thank you both for giving all of us so many hours of enjoyment.

  73. Great question, I´m definitely going to have a look at some of the recommendations here!

    If you feel up to an epic space opera, what about the Expanse series? I´ve read the series, but the narrator is pretty good too.
    I second the Firebird chronicles, I love them too!
    I also second Marissa Meyer´s Cinder series, basically fairy tale retellings as scifi. Highly recommendable if you want nice, fluffy and not overly complex comfort SF.

    (And if we do go off track here, I highly recommend Jim Butcher´s Codex Alera for epic fantasy with lots of magic and plenty of thought behind the storylines. The audiobook narrator is really good.)

    • I haven’t delved into Codex Alera, but the audiobook of _The Aeronuaut’s Windlass_, the first (and so far only, grr) book of Butcher’s Cinder Spires series, is amazing. Best audio narrator I have ever heard, he does something like 20 voices including men and women of different nationalities, and several cats. The story itself drags in places and is very long- audio is over 14 hours I think. But overall the story is pretty great although not space opera. More like steampunk sci-fi. If you have read Scott Westerfield’s YA series Leviathan- my family calls this book “Leviathan for adults”.

  74. I adore T A White’s Firebird Chronicles. It starts with Rules of Redemption. I think you’ve read one of her Pathfinder books? RoR is her sort of sci fi/space opera series.

  75. I liked:
    SK Dunstall’s Linesman
    Suzanne Palmer’s Finder
    Anne Leckie’s Provenance
    In addition to Murderbot, Locked in and a memory called empire mentioned above .

    I thought the audio of all of the above were great!

  76. Really love Jean Johnson’s Theirs Not to Reason Why series and it’s related First Salik War series.

    • Yes, me too, this series is my number 1 recommendation for a space opera. Although, I don’t think they are available on audio.

  77. I love audiobooks! I can get so much done while getting lost in a story. Try John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War series. If you want to test drive his works before committing, his series The Dispatcher is in Audible Plus for free right now. The Paths Between Worlds by Paul Anthony Jones is good. (I can’t remember the series name but that’s the first book.) Both narrators are good as well! Let us know what you settle on!

  79. I listen to all your books on audio and love the narrators who really make the story come alive. I have listened to them several times so thank you for the many hours of enjoyment.

    I recommend the Bobiverse books by Denis E Taylor space operatype stories.

  80. I really enjoyed the Paradox series by Rachel Bach–I don’t know about the audio version though! It’s science fiction with a sprinkle of romance 🙂

    • Pippa da Costa’s 1001 series in audiobook format was pretty entertaining. the narrator does a pretty great job with all the voices and keeps the story clipping along. His voice for the MC was just so “space hero” (can you call it that?), that I looked up his studio and found they often post snippets of projects they’re working on. So it was supercool to see what was going on behind the curtain too. 🙂

  81. A lot of fun with great characters and one of my absolute favorites (besides yours of course) is Rules of Redemption by TA White. You recommended her pathfinder’s series before and I enjoyed that but this is even better! And the audio narration is pretty good too.

  82. A a fun summer read Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik (this might even been a recommended by you)

  83. Haven’t seen it mentioned yet but Lindsay Buroker’s Star Kingdom, it’s a 9 book series. I’ve had a blast listening to them

    • I read that series and am now listening to the Dragon Blood series read by Caitlin Davies. Star Kingdom is read by Kate Reading.
      She has a wit about her leading characters that are fun to listen to.

      • Actually Star Kingdom is read by Fred Berman, who does an excellent job.
        You might be thinking of her Fallen Empire Series…

    • I read the books rather than listened, but I LOVED the Star Kingdom series by Lindsey Buroker.

  84. I really love the Consortium Rebellion Series by Jessie Mihalik. Fun characters, space opera-y and well written. Enjoy!

  85. Tany Huff Valor books! I loved these so much- there are the old cultures which are anti violence and run “civilized” space. But of course there’s the evil guys, so the young species are brought in to do the fighting and the MC is a long suffering NCO iirc of a mixed group of these folks. She’s good at not making all species humanoid and actually thinking through some of the implications.

    Also-
    Nnedi Okorafor
    Ancillary Justice

  86. The Janitors of the Post Apocalypse Series, by Jim C. Hines.
    Terminal Alliance and Terminal Uprising
    Very, very, very funny. With lots of well researched science-y type stuff. 🙂

  87. My recommendation is an anthology: Beginnings – Worlds of Honor #6, based on David Weber’s Honor Harrington universe.

  88. I think you would really enjoy the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois Bujold if you haven’t read it already.

  89. If you want light hearted Space Opera with lots of fun – including vampires , with a difference , and werewolves etc then I recommend Michael Anderle’s Bethany Ann series

  90. For a space opera, I loved Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell. I read the book but my booksellers who listened to it said the narrator was good.

    • I listened to Winter’s Orbit and enjoyed it a lot.

      Also Bonds of Brass fits, I think. Another good read.

      For great narration, I’ll second/third/umpteenth the Rivers of London.

      Also, not just Provenance (mentioned above) but all of the Imperial Radch series by Ann Leckie. Narration is amazing, but I have versions narrated by Adjoa Andoh. Goodreads shows a different narrator now, can’t comment on the new one.

    • +1 to Winter’s Orbit. Enjoyed this one so much. I listened to the audiobook and loved it. Highly Recommended.

  91. Thank you, Ilona Andrews, for the post.

    Unfortunately since Dad died several years ago I have not bought any audio books. I don’t know what we bought him after his sight went as they are at one of my siblings home.

    I do remember he enjoyed Campbell’s Lost Fleet and Bujold’s Miles books. He also read James H. Schmidt (the Telzey stories etc) which had been compiled from Analog magazine and republished by Baen edited by Flint. I don’t know if they are available on audiobooks but they make you think and wonder. We read those to him out loud. For Gordon the Retief stories by Keith Laumer. It takes some military background to get the ha ha things, I suspected at the time.

    So I am sorry that I can not help you.

  94. while the series doesn’t take place in space – it does have space ships. I really enjoyed the Junkyard Cats books by Faith Hunter.

  95. I like the first book in this series: A Darker Shade of Magic By: V. E. Schwab
    Another book I enjoyed is: The Goblin Emperor By: Katherine Addison (this is one of the sweetest fantasy books I have ever listened to).

    And one that is all SciFi and rich with world building and imagination is Behind the Throne By: K. B. Wagers, Narrated by: Angèle Masters
    The book is told about a planet with a culture based on India Hindu which is matriarchal (women are in charge and men are second class citizens). The narrator does an excellent job with the accent/narration. Who wouldn’t love a princess turned gun runner (Maude would be her best friend).

    • +++ for Goblin Emperor and the sequel which is just out in audio -Witness for the Dead. absolutely fabulous books and a great reader.

  96. I have really enjoyed the “Murderbot Diaries”by Martha Wells. (I don’t know how the audio book is- whether it’s well read or not). There is plenty of martial action, strange beasts on weird planets, space stations, wormholes and AI/human interaction.

  97. Here are a few Military SciFi/Space Opera recommendations:

    Starship’s Mage series – Glynn Stewart
    Duchy of Terra series – Glynn Stewart
    The Palladium Wars series – Marko Kloos
    Frontlines series – Marko Kloos
    Star of the Guardians series – Margaret Weis (old, but I enjoyed them)

  98. T A White, “The Firebird Chronicles”–three so far in the series. Start with “The Rules of Redemption”. Other than your books, this is the series by this author that I recommend. Fabulous worldbuilding. Exciting characters with depth, and a really great story, with researched science and all.

    Kira Forrest, and her A1 Jin, are salvagers at the end of a war between the Tsvastee, humans and other species. She and her Squad, the Curs, were instrumental in humans winning that war, but she burned out and withdrew at the end of the conflict.

    She makes a stop at the Riley Space Station to buy a part to repair her ship, ends up saving the lives of two Tuann children, and is ultimately discovered to be Tuann herself. It turns out she was stolen from her parents, who were murdered, 92 years previously. They want to take her home. Not something she wants to do.

    She is independent, has another agenda doesn’t want to be involved with them, but is persuaded by her former Admiral to go with them, and enlist their help in an upcoming conflict, again with the Tsavastee. This is her and Jin’s story.

    Probably a long explanation, but I really love these books. And, they have audio.

  99. I really enjoyed Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. It’s YA though. And his Steelheart series is terrific. Really unique world building. No wasted credits there!

  101. Have you read Old Man’s War? I haven’t personally listened to the audiobook, but I enjoyed the book.

  102. Honor Harrington by David Weber. While the original book is fairly old. He is still writing new books in the series.

  103. Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. It’s the first in her Wayfarers series and it’s good. I read it, but I’m listening to the third book and the narrator doesn’t bother me. If you haven’t read that one, I definitely recommend it. ????

    If you don’t mind YA, the Atlantis Grail series by Vera Nazarian is interesting. It’s definitely different. The first book, Qualify, takes place on Earth, but there’s aliens involved and after that they leave Earth.

  104. When I am not reading or listening to all your books over and over, I ran across a series that is pretty good. Michelle Diener’s Class 5 series, a softer version of hard core science fiction. One of the aliens, the Grih love singing so the play list for each of the books is pretty enjoyable. Love your posts!

    • I was just getting ready to skip down and suggest that series. One of my favorites that I reread. First read it in Kindle Unlimited and then went and purchased the whole series.

  105. Evan Currie is fantastic. The Odyssey 1 series. Full disclosure: I haven’t listened to the audible versions. Really great books, though.

    • His Honor Harrington series is fantastic Space Opera/Military and his Safehold series is also good, but the SF isn’t as strong in the story.

  108. I love the audiobook for An Accidental Goddess by Linnea Sinclair. I think a few of Linnea Sinclair’s other books are also in audio, but I’ve only done An Accidental Goddess.

    I also liked Victoria’s Challenge (and possibly Cassandra’s Challenge which is the book before it in the series) by M.K. Eidem. It’s written first person present tense which is not my favorite, but I find that combo works better in audio than written.

    Both of these books are SciFi romance, but I think they’d fall under space opera.

    • +1 Amanda’s recommendation of Linnea Sinclair. I’ve read all her Sci Fi Romance/ Space Opera books and listened to those available on Audible. I do keep hoping they would release more on audiobook but most of all I wish she would start writing again.

  111. I do not use audiobook. That said, for funny, action packed SF where the main hero is a scientist, I recommend the Star Kingdom series by Lindsay Buroker. They are available as audiobooks, I checked.

  112. BDH sticks together yet again: every time I see a book recommendation here and try to borrow it from my library, there are already 4 or 5 Holds placed on each copy (even if the book is already several years old!)???? That’s ok though: it just goes to show it’s worth the wait. Thanks for the recommendations BDH!

  113. Hello! Theirs Not to Reason Why A Soldiers Duty by Jean Johnson is great! Long books and several in the series. I haven’t listened to the audio book though, I read it paperback. It’s from 2011 as well.

  114. Starship BlackBeard by Michael Wallace was one of the first audiobooks I ever listened to. Actually it was my first space opera too. I enjoyed it immensely, and have yet to find another space opera that captured my attention to the same degree.

  115. Murderbot audio books are indeed amazing.

    I’ve listened to a great scifi opera debut called The Last Watch by J.S. Dewes and it was really fun, action, adventure, banter, camaraderie- basically everything I wanted. It has two narrators and I didn’t have any issues with it. Second book should be out soon, so if you decide to give it a go, at least you won’t have to wait, because I preordered it as soon as I finished the first one.
    🙂

    • I was about to skip down and recommend the Last Watch. It’s amazing. Non-stop action, and the author has a knack of making you care for all characters, even secondary ones. I swear I shed a tear when a couple of them died.

  117. Not sure if there’s an audiobook of it or not, but I loved Jean Johnson’s “Theirs not the reason why” series.

    This is why I never read other people’s book reviews ????

    • Agreed, JN Chaney books are good, have read several, however, have not listened to the audio so cannot comment on that ????

  119. Try Chris Vines “Elemental Gatherers” series. It’s light but enjoyable.

    Taki Drake has some that are fun.

    For heavier military types you might look at David VanDyke’s “The Plague Wars”series.

  120. I love the Honor Harrington series. My fave is likely Miles Virkosigan series. Highly recommend! Best space opera.

  121. I recommend Space Opera by Catherynne Valente.

    I know Cat Rambo is coming out with a space opera called You Sexy Thing, but I’m not sure if it’s out soon enough.

    Redshirts by John Scalzi is also a fun space military book

    There’s also the Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal (also narrated by her and she is the first audiobook narrator I ever liked), though I’m not sure it qualifies as space opera or military. It’s set in an AU where a meteor hit Earth in the 1950s and they accelerate the space program since Earth is becoming less habitable

  122. I don’t have a good recommendation. I do know I don’t read reviews because I find my opinion is so different than everyone else’s. Occasionally, I listen to the narrators voice.
    All of your audiobooks are fantastic. I like the voices and they character they give.

  123. The Old Man’s War or Interdependency Trilogy by John Scalzi

    Also loved Firebird Chronicles by T.A. White

  124. One of the best Audiobooks, and most fun for me was “Spotless” by Camilla Monk, Narrated by Amy McFadden. It is classified under as a romance, but it hit all the action, fun, great to listen to buttons.

    This review sums it up, “If you’re in the mood for a jocular bit off center suspense with a dash of romance involving shady world organizations, the shady men and women who work for them, a broody caring OCD hitman, and a plucky heroine lost in the mix and falling love, then you must give this book a try.” –Whiskey in The Jar Likes to Read

    And in the second book they have intelligent octopus, and killer platypuses. The writing is smart and clever.

  126. I like Elizabeth Moon’s space opera stuff. She has two series.

    The Serrano universe starts with “Hunting Party”.

    The Vatta universe starts with “Trading in Danger”.

    My absolute favorite single book is “Remnant Population”.

    • I love Elizabeth Moon! If you like Heris Serrano, you might also like Honor Harrington, by David Weber. They feel like very similar characters. The first book in her series is “On Basilisk Station”.

  127. The Worldship Humility by: R. R. Haywood. I found that to be a lot fun and had little bit that reminded me of Battle Star Galatica.

  128. I really like the Jao Empire series by Eric Flint and co-authors but it’s unfinished with no release date for further books (that I know of). It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger but the overall story arc is not finished.

    The aliens are wonderfully weird though, and it’s fun to read about humans from the aliens’ POV.

  129. Love the Liaden books for space opera. Early bioks more than 10 years but Lee and Miller are still writing new. Several entry points to the series.

  130. Have you tried The Kurtherian Gambit series? Vampires in space. I love them. Starts off a little slow but then shoves you in head first. Lol I struggle to remove myself from their universe the same as yours ????

  131. I recommend Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, Sharon Shinn’s Heart of Gold, and Orson Scott Card’s Speaker for the Dead.

  132. It’s not within 10 years, but have you read Tanya Huff’s Confederation series? Military/SF about a senior Non-Com Marine who finds herself having to babysit the wet-nosed LTs when the stuff hits the fan… I listened to the audios and very much enjoyed them! The first is Valor’s Choice, which came out in 2000.

  134. The Liaden space opera series has audiobooks and are pretty delightful soft sci-fi with quite a bit of magic and I haven’t had any complaints about the narrators. They’re written by another husband-wife team and there’s dozens of them but they have arcs with some reasonable jumping on points if you don’t want to commit to a 40-odd book experience. Much like your books, many of the arcs tend to focus on a pair of very or increasingly competent romantic leads who pair off and do Remarkable Things to an Unsuspecting Universe.

    • Wow! That’s a nice write-up on Lee & Miller’s Liaden universe. Also one of my favorites with good characters and plenty of action. I love the fact that one of the central characters is a tree, who manages to have a say in the action without saying a word.

    • I see what you did there, Aelli. 😀

      I second this recommendation. Recommended starting points are Agent Of Change (first written) and Crystal Dragon (first in chronology, but they waited to write it until they had the chops). Both of those are available in omnibus e-book editions with other related books. I don’t know about the audio editions. This is another world you can lose yourself in when you need it, with some sharp social commentary and political observations, but since they’re in another universe you’re free to skate past that aspect if you prefer.

  136. Becky Chambers’ Wayfarer series is enjoyable but I read the ebook not audiobooks. Try to see is Libby has a copy of the audiobook and try a sample before making a commitment.

  137. Sticking with space opera themes:

    Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre have a good one. First is “Honor Among Thieves”. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s books are great (Liaden Universe). The first one is “Crystal Soldier”, but if you want to skip forward a bit, “Fledgling” (book 12) is the start of a new generation. Rachel Bach’s Paradox series was good too. “Fortune’s Pawn” is the first book.

    I haven’t listened to the audiobooks, but I enjoyed all these series. I don’t read audiobook reviews. Honestly, I can find things I like or dislike about every reader, and it has little to do with them and more with me.

    • Ilona recommended that book a while ago and I liked it. Thank you for reminding me about them. Interestingly, they only recorded two books for audible out of trilogy.

  138. I read the Pierce Brown Red Rising series. I enjoyed it but don’t know how the audio book is. Definitely space odyssey, some science fiction.

  139. What is with all the people recommending a book then immediately going “but they aren’t as good as yours”? What a backhanded compliment to the recommended author. Some of these people being recommended literally come on this blog. I’m pretty sure the authorlords aren’t small enough that they need to have pats on the back about how much better they are than their friends.

  140. Travis Baldree’s narrations are amazing, and I think he’s done sci-fi as well as fantasy. He narrated Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox, which I believe was recommended on this blog many many moons ago.
    Unfortunately my favorite audiobooks are usually fantasy, but the Mystic Bayou series and the Jane Jameson series by Molly Harper are phenomenal urban/paranormal fantasy.

  141. You probably already know this, but Jack Campbell new lost fleet book, Boundless came out last month 🙂
    And you just reinforced my insistence on never reading reviews. Or paying attention to ratings. Ever. On any website. I like making my own determination if I will like a story, thank you very much. It’s called sucking it up, being brave and taking a chance, folks. Just like walking into a book store and letting the synopsis influence a buy or read. No star rating, no other opinions messing with things…

    Just my mind and the story. Bliss…

  142. I bought some audiobooks for a long trip and I really enjoyed them. It’s the three book man of war series by H. Paul Honsinger. The first book is called to honor you call us. It’s military science fiction, and kind of reminded me of Star Trek. The only thing that I didn’t like about, and it took me a while to realize it, is that there are absolutely no female characters. The book takes steps to explain why, but I could argue with the reasoning. However, I was enjoying the story, so I just ignored it. I’ve listened to the entire series a few times now, whenever I have a long trip.

    • Additionally, the books also had a U.S. Navy in Space vibe. I’m not a military expert (nor would I know if the book was just making stuff up) but it read like the author had some real world military experience.

    • This is a wonderful series. A Master and commander series set in space. A very enjoyable read. Unfortunately Paul Honsinger died in I think 2020. A great loss.

      I love all of the recommendations.

  143. I’ve almost stopped reading reviews when I’m looking for something new to listen/read because so many of them are really negative. It used to turn be off from even trying new books but now I just read or listen to the sample and go from there. There are so many books that I never would have given a chance if I’d listened to the negative reviews.

    As far as recommendations, I think a few people already recommended the Firebird Chronicles. It’s probably my favorite series’s by T.A. White.

    • I look for three star reviews. Those tend to be more useful for my purposes than the ones at either end. They usually give the basic information of what worked and didn’t work for the reviewer, so I can decide whether the book (or pair of pants, or piece of furniture) will work for me.

  144. In addition to Lindsey Buroker’s Star Kingdom (so funny and action packed), I recommend Anne Aguirre’s Dred Chronicles series (3 books), about a space station prison which is deteriorating. Excellent series.

  147. T.A. White’s Rules of Redemption. If you haven’t already because I remember you recommended her Pathfinder series.
    Also agree with Jessie Milhanik recommendation.
    Great heroine, slow burn romance that is believable, wonderful hysterical sidekick, fate of the universe hangs in the balance plot. Honestly it reminds me of your style.

  149. I don’t know if they exist as audiobooks (they probably do), but I love Kevin J. Anderson’s Saga of Seven Suns.
    And I’d recommend anything by Timothy Zahn.

  150. I’m a huge fan of the Lost Fleet series, and really loved the most recent book/start of another series in that universe.

    I think if you like that, you might like the Poor Man’s Fight series by Elliott Kay. It’s definitely a Sci-Fi space opera, and it has audio books with a really great narrator. It’s not as space-battle focused as the Lost Fleet series, as the perspective of the main character is that of a crewman, not an officer or captain or admiral, but it definitely has some good space battles in the later books. Though it doesn’t have as many space battles, it does have space pirates, political intrigue, space navy life, and some great fight scenes.

    I’ve more or less given up reading reviews on Audible/Amazon, as I feel like the majority of people compelled to review things are those with dissatisfaction. There are some criticisms of Poor Man’s Fight, and I do see where some of them are coming from, but it’s still one of my favorite series. I reread the whole series once a year at least, just like Lost Fleet, as well as pretty much everything y’all have written.

    I hope you find something good, even if you don’t try out this series.

  151. I just finished reading “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” by Christopher Paolini (who wrote the Inheritance Cycle) and I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately I don’t know how the audio book is but one of the things I liked about it was that it was loooong (I am a fast reader and it’s nice when a book can keep me going for more than a couple days), which is maybe not a good thing for an audio book. Still, I enjoyed it. I liked Inheritance Cycle in high school and it was fun to read his more mature writing in a sci-fi context.

    • I have friends who prefer audio books and they are always saying “give me LONG books so it feels like I got more for my credit.” They hate using credits for novellas and the like. That could be just them, but I bet there are number of people who prefer longer audio books for similar reasons 🙂

  153. Rules of redemption by TA white
    The diabolic by SJ Kinkaid
    Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach

    Not sure about their audiobooks though

  154. I don’t know if this is what you’re looking for, but I quite enjoyed Brilliance by Marcus Sakey. It’s set in a world similar to ours, but where one percent of people (since 1980) are born with strange powers, usually to do with sensing different kinds of patterns. The main character is a federal agent in a special unit to enforce laws against these people. There is an exciting undercover story, suspense, sweet parenting vibes, an awesome ex-wife, an awesome love interest, and I really enjoyed how the protagonist has to question everything he thinks he knows as time goes on. Good narration also.

  156. I would recommend T.A. White’s Firebird Chronicles and Michelle Sagara’s Chronicles of Elantra books (I know, that one is Fantasy, but soooo good).

    • Oh I LOVE the Firebird Chronicles. Something about that hard-bitten heroine who still can’t let go of her morals just gets me RIGHT in the id.

  157. I love Lindsay Buroker’s Star Kingdom series. Quirky with a robotics professor, socially-inept bacteriologist and a privateer/mercenary obsessed with revenge.

    I also like her Fallen Empire series.

    Audiobooks exist for all the books.

  159. Becky Chambers has some good space opera. I’ve read them not listened so I can’t comment on the audio.

  161. OooOoh BIG rec for Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor. There’s definitely not as much action as Innkeeper or the Martian, but the hero, Lazlo, is a librarian and very amazing, the world is incredibly engaging, creative, and well-conceived, the side characters are irresistible, and I loved it. As I recall I liked the narration. Do be warned that there is no happy ending until the end of the second book, Muse of Nightmares (also excellent).

  162. Have you tried “Hench” by Natalie Zina Walschots? Not SF, but one of my favourite recent non-HA reads

    • It’s a deconstruction of the superhero genre. It has enjoyable world building, made me laugh out loud a lot, and I I really enjoyed the narrator for the audio book version.

  163. 1000% recommend the Bobiverse series (first one is We Are Human (We are Bob)). Narrator is outstanding! Also the Murderbot stories by Martha Wells- I actually prefer them in audio format because of how good the narrator is.

    • Also not quite as lighthearted but the Illuminae Files are a great SF listen as well. It’s a full cast audio and very very well done! Lots more drama and a high body count but it’s a great trilogy that doesn’t break your heart.

  164. Probably already read by you, but Vorkosigan saga Lois McMaster Bujold, The StarFarers series by Vonda McIntyre which has one of the most believable triad relationships I’ve ever read, Queen of Angels by Greg Bear, Startide Rising and The Uplift Wars by David Brin. All very old now, but awesomely good.

  165. Ann Leckie’s Ancillary series is superb. Also Provenance, her standalone book in the same universe. Provenance is a bit more of a fun romp than the three (to date) Ancillary books.

  166. I don’t know about audio, but Becky Chambers writes beautiful SciFi that is extremely character driven.

  167. John Conroe has three series all narrated by James Patrick Cronin: Demon Accords, Zone Wars & Shadows of Montshire. I would start with Zone War, the first book in the series.

  169. Science Fiction
    Sharon Lee and Steve Miller’s Liaden Universe – my two favorite are Fledgling and Saltation.
    Fantasy but great listens
    Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox by Forthright
    The Last Sun by K.D. Edwards
    Tinker by Wen Spencer
    Elizabeth Bear Subinspector Ferron Mysteries

  170. Neither is not from the last ten years, but the audio versions of Dune and Foundation are stunningly good. Scott Brick is one of our greatest living narrators, and he does great work on these.

  171. Nalini Singh had recommended the Murderbot Diaries. They are awesome! And the author, Martha Wells, is a Texas gal. One of her recents won the Nebula Award for best novel,.

  172. Strangelove by Ann Aguirre, human (and her dog) are mistakenly kidnapped by an alien, I liked the audiobook won’t spoil the story…particularly the dog’s musings

  173. Please read ( listen ) Fortune’s Pawn book 1 of Paradox by Rachel Bach .
    You will not be disappointed. Space adventure, 3 books . Enjoy , I did .

  174. Big fan of the Bob-iverse and the reader is great.

    Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson featuring Skippy the pompous beer can is INCREDIBLY fun

  175. I very much enjoyed Rules of Redemption/Age of Deception/Threshold of Annihilation by T.A.White and am eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in the series.

  176. Another vote for Old Man’s War by John Scalzi if you haven’t already read/listened to it! I read the book first and listened to the audiobook later, and greatly enjoyed both!

  177. I just finished listening to The Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Not exactly sci fi, more comic book but incredibly well done and engaging. I highly recommend it.

  178. Star Kingdom books by Lindsay Buroker. I listen to audiobooks almost everywhere I go and this one had me lol off and on. At least with my earbuds in people think I’m talking to someone through Bluetooth. ????

  179. Ignore them. One cannot legislate taste.

    Just know that we, the Book Devouring Horde, love y’all, love your stories, love your chosen narrators, and know that you write for your fandom, not for the nitpickers and those looking for something to feel superior to bitch about.

    The only other series I love as much as yours is the Mercy Thompson books and the Miles Vorkosygen series by Lois McMaster Bujold.

  180. I had same problems lately, I read review and decide not to buy the book. Couple of times I chose to read it anyways because the synopsis looked interesting, but regreted almost immediately and stopped after page 70 and 100…
    But if you haven’t read/listened to T. A. White Firebird Chronicles that would be my recommendation. I usually prefere to read my books, so I am not sure about how good the audio version is.

    • LOL just read all of the comments, looks like we all read same books… But I haven’t seen anyone mentioned Jenny Schwartz books. I liked all of her series.

  181. I read a lot of science fiction. I too agree that science fiction should have some science and that does take some background and research. Lois McMaster Bujold is a master of the space opera genre (Miles Vorkosigan series-start with Shards of Honor) and a very skilled writer. I also really enjoy learning words I’ve never read or learned before, and encounter these in her books. Just like your books, Ilona, I read and re-read her books and wish she published more and more often. ????

  182. Hi
    I am listening to Junkyard Cats by Faith Hunter. Bit more dystopian than sci fi but it is quite good plus….cats!

  183. John Scalzi is the master. Collapsing Empire is his latest trilogy that just finished, and it’s a lot of fun. Old Man’s war is an older one, but sooo good.

  184. T.A. White – Rules of Redemption. I’m addicted and have read the series 5 or 6 times! So much fun and snark!

  185. Not sure about the category, but I found Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel on a list of books where the audio book was better than reading.

    They use many different actors; I was entranced! It was almost like a radio play! Highly recommend!!

    I just finished the 2nd audio book (it’s a trillogy) I didn’t like it as much (and I’m annoyed by the way one of the characters is voiced), but I’m definitely listening to the 3rd one!

  186. As far as successful audio books goes, I really liked Nathan Lowell’s various series.
    I can’t comment on your audio books, I wait for, devour then re-read the print versions of yours – keep them coming!

  187. Recommendation from a Librarian and SciFi/Fantasy reader. 🙂

    David Weber, Honor Harrington series

    This was my deceased husband’s favorite series.

  188. I am currently listening to book 4 of The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey (which is actually two writers. Hmm, where have I seen that before?) The narrator is really good, and there are some great characters. Some POV characters are there in every book, and some are new to each book. I am really enjoying the series.

  189. Have you read the Paradox series by Rachel Bach, which starts with Fortune’s Pawn?

    This series is on my very exclusive shelf of favourite books (your work makes up about 30 % of it).

    Here you’ll find…

    a badass heroine in powered armor (that is an interesting side character in its own right) who is learning how to be more than just a mercenary
    a world that blends human expansion into space with a handful of innovative alien species
    spaceship crew members fighting, bonding, and keeping secrets
    universe-spanning conspiracies
    hardass ship captains who you love to hate
    and a sexy forbidden-love romance that is just – mwah! *chef’s kiss*

    I’ve only heard snippets of the audiobook because it’s not available where I live, but what I heard sounded well-narrated.

    Hope you try it, if you haven’t already, and love it just like I do.

  190. disclaimer – I don’t listen to audiobooks 99% of the time

    The Calculating Stars trilogy from Mary Robinette Kowal is… not exactly space opera? But it is a pretty great series.

    Scalzi’s Old Man’s War books were good, a little dark, a little fun, I liked them a lot.

    Scalzi’s The Collapsing Empire series is… not a light read imo, so probably not what you are looking for, but I did still enjoy them.

    Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch novels are a great read, though again, not particularly light as it ruminates on the nature of AIs and what they mean for society.

    However, I would recommend Provenance which is in the same world as the Imperial Radch novels, but not focused on the same thing. It’s a bit more of a romp.

    The first Voidwitch book from Corey J White is amazing… but I think the trilogy falls off after that unfortunately 🙁

    • The Calculating Stars is excellent. SF/alternate history. Calling it hard sf might scare some people off who would really enjoy it. I waited years to read it because of that.

  191. Evan Currie’s Odyssey One series and the related series are fun. I have not checked his science but it’s not glaringly ridiculous. Also fairly equal with men and women characters, and if you have Kindle Unlimited the audio is free. Marko Kloos Frontlines is also pretty good and free audio on KU.

  192. The Becky Cambers “Wayfarer”series
    Is exceptionally well written science fiction. Now I will read anything she writes.

  194. Going to throw in another vote for Tanya Huff’s Torin Kerr series (I think technically it’s split into the Confederation and the Peacekeepers books, but you can just search for Torin Kerr (the MC) and they’ll all come up). Valor’s Choice is the first one. They’re all amazing if you like a space opera/military-esque story with a mildly cranky gunnery sergeant that has to save the world yet again — the plot moves quickly, the characters are fun, and the storylines are (imo) compelling without being depressingly similar to real life lol. Torin is my absolute favorite example of a character that’s low-key too competent for her own good having to deal with the incompetence of bureaucracy, and the stories still hold up after 4+ readings. (Plus the first four books (at least) are all loosely based on real battles, so it’s fun to learn a little about the battle they were based on after you read the story.) Huge Torin stan here. 🙂

    Also — the Enchantment Emporium (as called out by a previous commenter) and the Keeper Chronicles (also by Tanya Huff) are fun, low-key urban fantasy for anyone looking for a pick-me-up in that vein (addressing this to everyone bc I know I’m definitely getting lots of great recs from reading everyone’s comments!).

  195. Have you tried John Conroes books the narrator for them is great and the books themselves are pretty engaging.

    Ps I love all you audio books ????

  196. Have you read the Trader’s Tales by Nathan Lowell? The first book is Quarter Share. I quite liked the narrator, and there are audiobooks for all of them by the same narrator. He also did a standalone called The Wizard’s Butler that was fun.

  197. It isn’t in your listed categories but if you want action and adventure, Megan Whalen Turner’s “The Queen’s Thief” series is wonderful and goes to totally unexpected, sometimes shocking, but completely logical places over and over again. And Eugenides is an absolutely unique character.

  198. Tanya Huff’s Valor and Peacekeeper series. Jim Hines’ Janitors of the Post Apocalypse – not science, but hysterical.

  199. Have you read Lisa Edmonds “Heart of Malice” yet? Strong female lead, intricate plot and great characters! I’ve read it a few times then bought the audiobook. Narration is good! Not at the same level as Rene Raudman, but few are and I was happy with it. This book is one in a series.

  200. Revenger by Alastair Reynolds. To me, it had the feel of a darker world like Treasure Planet.

  201. Really really loved the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown.
    Also the Poor Man’s Fight series by Elliot Kay, which was full of action.
    The Empress Game trilogy by Rhonda Mason was OK, I think it kind of fizzled out in the third book.
    Liked Junkyard Cats by Faith Hunter, not a complete novel though.
    Also liked the Man of War series by H. Paul Honsinger.
    And I agree on The Firebird Chronicles and the Murderbot diaries. Ancillary justice is quite interesting also.

    I don’t do audiobooks, so all of the above are book recommendations. On another note (not sci-fi), I don’t recall anyone mentioning as recommendations the Others series by Anne Bishop, Super Powereds series by Drew Hayes or the Alice Worth series by Lisa Edmonds.

  202. The Megan E O’Keefe series which starts with Velocity Weapon.
    The third in the trilogy has just been released this month.
    Military sci Fi, excellent world building. Main protagonist lost half a leg in past military action and it doesn’t slow her down. She has two dads. Non binary characters. AI. Battles, politics, family loyalty, alien tech.
    Blew me away.

  203. Martha Wells Murderbot series. Slightly outside true space opera, but great dry wit, and still plenty of adventure… and IMO the reader for this series is fantastic.

  204. I would highly recommend Glynn Stewart, he has several great series but my fav is Starship’s Mage. It has a very small amount of fantasy (hence “Mage”) but is really a sci-fi series. I’d call it space opera. He also has the Castle Federation series and the Exile series, which are military SF/space opera. He’s got some series that are more fantasy too, I haven’t read anything of his that I haven’t liked. I haven’t listened to any of them as audiobooks (my brain just doesn’t do well with audio) but the majority of his books are on Audible and it looks like they all have high reviews there. The one thing you won’t get from his books though is romance, there are relationships but they are not a focus.

  205. Haven’t read everything bc I’m still (sort of) at work but just in case it has et been suggested yet, Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch series is excellent. imperial Justice, Imperial Sword, and Imperial Mercy are the books in the trilogy. One of the best hard SF series I’ve read in the last few years.

    And another series (but not space opera) to look into is The City Between series by W. R. Go bell. Eight books so far, starting with Between Jobs and the 9th is coming out at the end of this month. “Pet” working for/with her “Three Psychos”…good series.

  207. Jessie Mihalik, Consortium Rebellion and Rogue Queen series. David Weber, Empire of Man series, Safehold series. These are probably older, but I’ve listened to them a few times through, just like with your books. I don’t say that about many books.

  208. I absolutely adore T.A. White’s Firebird Chronicles. Both in print and audiobook. Narrator does a great job! Read and listened to this series multiple times

  209. I think the problem with audio books is we have a voice in our head when we read, and images that our brain makes to illustrate a story, and the audio grates in me at discrepancies. Of course, if you haven’t read the book already, this may not be the case. Does anyone listen to audiobooks based on the narrator before the author?

  210. I recently discovered GraphicAudio – A movie in your mind, when I was looking for the newest Fred the Vampire Accountant series audio book in Hoopla. I actually ended up re-listening to the entire series done in GraphicAudio. What I found amazing about it, is that each character is voiced by a different person and they include cinematic music and sound effects, ala The Golden Age of Radio. I am currently listening to The World of the Lupi by Eileen Wilks. It’s not a Space Opera, but so far I am really enjoying the GraphicAudio version. I did do a search of Space Opera on the GraphicAudio website, and there were many options to choose from. They do offer samples and reviews.

    I haven’t listened to Jean Johnson’s Theirs is Not to Reason Why, however I very much enjoyed the series in print. Unless the narrator is a complete idiot, I can’t image this not being a good read.

    • +1 for Graphic Audio – truly excellent adaptations that are close enough you can follow with the book if you wish (as they employ a narrator alongside the cast)

  211. This is not at all audio or military SF so SUPER SORRY but it’s amazing! Promise you will enjoy if you haven’t already read.
    This guy (PaulsWPAccount) wrote a story on the Reddit writing prompts page and seriously nailed it.

    WP – A day before the Earth is destroyed by a collision with a rouge planet, time freezes. You, a completely normal person are untouched and cannot die. Text on your arm appears that reads, “however long it takes, save us.”

    https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/3pyg3h/wp_a_day_before_the_earth_is_destroyed_by_a/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

  212. These are YA, but my family (including an 11 year old boy) really enjoyed the audiobooks of Zero G and Dragon Planet by Dan Wells. Only 4 hours and a bit, with kid heroes and space pirates. Very fun!

  213. Faith Hunters Junkyard novellas
    The Koban series by Stephen W Bennett – requires some suspension of belief but they move and are lots of fun to listen to. (Not everyone has y’all’s skill with writing.)
    Stars seies by SK Dunstall. A mix of science and fantasy
    Vatta series by Elizabeth Moon.
    Kris Longknife series by Mike Shepherd

    I left a bunch off the list like Glynn Stewart and Nalini Singh cause I’m pretty sure you already know about them.

    On a totally different tact Breakup by Dana Stabenow is a mystery, and a story about a horrible no good very bad few days. I’m sure Kate and Mutt wanted to move to Australia. This is my go to when I need a laugh and something familiar. Think Alaska, bears, planes and obligations to good friends.

    Hope these help

  214. Book hangovers are THE. WORST. Your narrators are among my favorite, BTW. Yours and the Harry Dresden series. Good stuff.

    • I got all my space opera stuff from your recommendations, so I have nothing for you. However, for something not close to what you asked for, I did just recently have a lot of fun with “The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant” series by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. It’s very cute and funny.

  215. People are so rude about things they have never done and could never do. One of my favorite sayings is “don’t yuck someone else’s yum”…

  216. Lindsay Buroker – The Fallen Empire series, starting with Star Nomad might be what you’re looking for.

  217. Star Kingdom Series by Lindsey Buroker

    Great narrator, not your typical heroes, with lots of action as well as humor.

  218. James Corey’s The Expanse is amazing! Very good world building. Also the Bobiverse is super fun and nerdy☺️

  219. I’m not much of an audiobook listener but I started The Linesman series by SK Dunstall as an audiobook. It was good!

    Lots of other great recommendations above! I’ve read and enjoyed many including Murderbot, Vorkosigan, Honor Harrington, Firebird Chronicles, Wayfarers, Peacekeeper/Confederation, Serrano, Vatta, Liaden Universe, Interdependency, Consortium Rebellion, A Memory Called Empire, Space Opera and Imperial Radch.

    It’s not space opera, but I recently read A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik and loved it, especially the snarkiness of the main character.

        • +1 rereading right now.

          And if you want military alternate-history fantasy, her Temeraire series starting with His Majesty’s Dragon.

    • Love this book!! I usually need a year or so between rereads, but I’ve read “A Deadly Education” 3x since January. So good! I love her “spinning silver”, too.

  220. You should check out Louis McMaster Bujold. She has the miles vorkosigan series which is space opera that I adore, but I would suggest starting with his mother’s books because it shows the society from an outside perspective/value system/culture before you dive into the society from the person within a perspective. Also his mom, Cordelia is amazing.

    it is a good narration (in my opinion) but I also tend to think they all are good since I’ve read books aloud and it is hard!

  221. Audible book suggestion:

    Escape from Virtual Island: An audio comedy. It’s an Amazon original that’s silly and more than little snarky in spots. Fun without being serious.

  222. Science but not fiction try “The Emperor of All Maladies, a Biography of Cancer” by Siddhartha Mukherjee. Narrated by Fred Sanders.

    I liked it better spoken than to read. You get cancer’s history right up to about 10 years ago. Parts are sad but also very up-lifting.

    I would recommend renting the Audio from the library.

  224. While I avoid audio books, because I totally became one of the whiny people, Bujold and Huff both do excellent Military SF.

  225. I scrolled for ages (and got some great tips) but not sure if anyone had mentioned these yet. I love Starship Mage series by Glynn Stewart, can’t yet comment on the audio versions as theyre on my list to purchase!
    Space travel enabled by magic = awesome. And a really compelling lead character in Damien Montgomery.

  227. T A White- The Firebird Chronicles. Books, narrator, characters are excellent, many enjoyable hours of listening.

  228. I don’t listen to audiobooks simply because I read far, far faster than narrators speak and I don’t want to waste my time. When I’m driving I’d rather be listening to news, talk, or music.

  229. One that hasn’t been mentioned yet, Ember War by Richard Fox. Performed by Luke Daniels. Very good sci-fi military opera, definitely some tears and lol moments. On book 15 so far and getting close to the end, so bummed, because it’s good stuff!

    And another vote for Craig Alanson’s Expeditionary Force performed by R.C. Bray. You’ll love it or hate it, different/funny series, but you’ll need to suspend hard science for this one.

    • I like Luke Daniels as a narrator. I’ll have to look into the Ember War series you mentioned.

  230. Class 5 series by Michelle Diener. It’s a romance space fiction thing. I’ve both read and listened to them. She’s said she’ll be writing a fifth book eventually.

    Military scifi, you can’t go wrong with Tanya Huff or Elizabeth Moon.

    If the speed of the audiobook is too fast or slow, just adjust it. How hard is that? There are some narrators I could listen to read anything (Travis Baldree, Kirby Haywood) but I don’t think I’ve ever come across any that stopped me from listening to a book I love.

    Have you seen the dramatized audio editions that are becoming popular? Maybe House Andrews will have some done someday. I bet they would be wonderfully fun.

  231. TA White’s The Firebird Chronicles is like Sweep the Blade, great storytelling, kick ass heroine, and definitely a SF opera. The series gets better with each book.

    Pierce Brown RED RISING series (start with the first three books) epic SF saga. Can’t comment about the audiobooks but the books are hard to put down.

    And Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive although high fantasy has amazing narration. Has some of the best audiobook performances. Only thing to consider – each book is approximately 30-40 hours long. You got to bring commitment, but you won’t regret it.

    • well if Ilona doesn’t know BranSan yet, don’t tell her she will keep reading all his mega long books and not have time to write her own 🙂

    • The audio for red rising is top tier. I’ve listened several times, and it’s the audiobook that sucked my dad into “reading” and he listens to it over and over again

  232. I really enjoyed Aurora Rising (the Aurora Cycle trilogy) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Admittedly I did not listen to it on audio book, so I don’t know how the audio version is.

  233. Upvotes for Murderbot, Scalzi (though I have not read his Interdependence series yet) esp. Old Man’s War, but also REALLY can’t recommend Agent to the Stars enough. Also Glynn Stewart. I tend to read more fantasy than military/space opera, but I did really enjoy Yahtzee Croshaw’s ‘Will Save the Galaxy for Food’ and Galaxy Outlaws by J S Morin didn’t suck either. Great narrator with a good sense of humor.

    I really try to cut narrators all the slack, though they absolutely will make or break a book. My chief complaints are generally tone (there’s a couple of series I’d like to have in audio and as SOON as they change the narrator…) and mispronouncing regional words or factual errors. I’m Canadian. I love reading series set in Canada. A lot of them are written or narrated by Americans, though, and that can get weird. Pro tip: touque rhymes with stook or mook, not broke.

  235. I would suggest anything by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller for space opera. It makes more sense if you read the books in the order they were published. As for military science fiction, try John Ringo, David Drake and David Weber.

    You probably have read these authors.

  236. The audio version of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Red Queen was, I thought, fantastic. But it’s the bazillionty oneth one in the Vorkosigan series – I read the others. It came out about the same time I first tried audible and I knew I trusted the author so I could take a risk on the actor. It spoiled me for lesser efforts and I wish all audio books were all that good.

  237. I’m assuming you’ve read Martha Wells’ Murderbot series? If not, that might do it for you.
    Martha is an incredible writer, whether fantasy or SF.

  238. I re listen to Hughs book regularly. The narrator was exceptional. I also love Blood heir. I am listening to Hughs book again
    *sigh
    I love Hugh
    Dammit

  239. for something with humor and on kindle Unlimited check out Lindsay Buroker’s Star Kingdom, – I think you reviewed one of her early books at some point – she does Fantasy, Steam punk and fun sifi – space opera stuff. Love her quirky leads.

  240. This isn’t a purely military book, but has military elements to it – just as a word in advance. However, hands-down, my favorite audiobook has been World War Z. The book is incredible, the audiobook even more so. I typically don’t care for audiobooks, as I prefer to create the characters’ voices in my mind. However, this book uses a full cast for the different ethnicities, and I believe it’s done supremely well.

    It’s also an incredibly well-written book. It really delves into the psychology of different cultures, and as an Asian-American, I feel they got a lot of the Asian cultures spot on. It felt like the author truly did their research

    • I agree, the audiobook was far & away better than the book. Just came alive (so to speak). Needless to say, both were better than the movie.

  242. I really enjoyed Becky Chambers books, all 3, though I did like reading the better than listening ????‍♀️ It’s hard for me to love narrators after I’ve made up the voices myself. They are each independent but set in the same universe. Long way to a small angry planet, record of a space born few, a closed and common orbit.

  243. Have you read anything by Amie Kaufman or Beth Revis or Jay Kristoff? I really like all of their books and they may be worth a read for you.

  244. Rules of Redemption by T. A. White, first book in the Firebird Chronicles. Don’t read the comments, many want to complain about the narrator ????

  245. Well to be fair to the seeing impaired/blind people, I think they deserve to be picky about audiobooks! Maybe they don’t make up a huge % of your readers but I’m sure you have a few. Plus 10-20 years ago, there were not many options for them. So now that the book world is catching up to the disability community, I think they get to complain! I’m a huge fan of Molly Burke on Youtube and hearing her be a huge advocate for the blind community has been very eye opening (pardon the pun) for me. I don’t listen to audiobooks myself because I end up laughing too much at the narrator.

  247. I’ve been reading a couple series, Drop Trooper and Interstellar Bounty Hunter, by Rick Partlow. They’re a lot of fun, have decent science in their sci-fi, and there are several books in each series (which is important for me since I read so much).

    Before that, I blazed through Marko Kloos’ Frontlines series. Another solid, entertaining sci-fi.

    The only catch is that I don’t typically buy audiobooks, so I don’t know if they’re available.

  248. Considering your last post in this category is re: Will Wight and you liked his stuff…

    Will recommended Iron Prince by Bryce O’Connor and Luke Chmilenko. It’s a progression story similar to Cradle, but more sci-fi. It’s a YA-ish military academy hand-to-hand combat with evolving weapons story.

    From the snippets I’ve seen, it’s pretty well narrated, although I can’t personally do audiobooks.

  249. for my Sci Fi/space opera recommendations, I’d suggest Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Aimee Kaufman. It’s a full cast narration and makes me feel like I’m really watching something!! I’d also suggest red Rising (if you haven’t already read it) by Pierce Brown. It’s definitely awesome, and the story that made my dad love audiobooks and the narration is pretty awesome too. Otherwise Idk what else to suggest.

    I think your narrators are some of the best! Idk why people complain so much. Nothing is perfect for everyone I guess

  250. I am listening to Lindsey Burokers ,2020, 2021
    Death before Dragons series..
    It very well read over all …I am fussy about readers I admit it I was a theatre major in college so…shoot me….
    No don’t just kidding …
    Its ok , it has an interesting heroine over age 40 who kicks ass but has issues..
    It has some very amusing characters more interesting because it read well.

  253. Did I miss something – Kate Daniels books 5 to 7 are on AUDIBLE – I have listened to them twice now but not seen any jumping up and down on your site? AND they are read by Renee so everyone would love them !!!

    I also enjoyed Maria V Snyder’s Inside out and outside in a 2 book set – have you read these?

    Off to stalk audible for the rest of Kate Daniels audio now…

  254. I’ve enjoyed Rachel Aaron’s Heartstriker and DFZ books, but admittedly I read them, I did not listen to them.

  255. What an incredible list of recommendations! I can’t wait to dive into some of these!

    Throwing yet more points behind the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, Linesman series by S K Dunstall, and the Expanse series by James S. Corey. All are so amazing for their world building and characters.

    Adding to the list of military sci-fi: the Spiral Wars series by Joel Shepherd. Book 1 is Renegade, and there are currently 7 books out with more planned. Lots of military and political action, stunning world building with multiple alien cultures and AI, and deep character growth. Also awesome philosophy discussions surrounding hope and what makes something sentient, and hunts for forgotten historical records.

    Also, the Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. The novels follow the first human colony on Mars and subsequent terraforming and cultural metamorphosis. The science in these is soooo well done. Can be a bit dry, but overall a really great read.

    • I haven’t read any of “serial wars” yet (didn’t even know they existed) by Joel Shepard however I really liked the Cassandra Kresnov series of his the first 3 are exciting and creative with lots of fun Breakaway and Crossover are just FUN.
      I forget the name of the 3rd but iirc it was fun too

      the 4th and 5th felt like less … IDK if it was due to it being authors early work or difficulties of subsequent world/story building or maybe my headspace was wrong when I read the final books.

      Regardless…the first 2-3 books (of Kresnov) were so enjoyable I didn’t really care all that much …

      I felt similar about Patrick Rothfuss first book … was awesome then it became indescribable

      Side note regarding the requirements that were laid out by Ilona it isn’t super recent (2001)

  256. So I haven’t listened to the audiobooks, but a favorite of mine is R.M. Meluch’s Tour of the Merrimack series. It starts with the Myriad. I’m not sure if it’s from within the last 10yrs. It’s the Roman Empire vs. America in space. The ship captain gives a Captain Kirk vibe, but it’s def not Star Trek, LOL.

    An older author that I love is CJ Cherryh. A lot of her work falls under space opera genre. She’s written dozens of series and usually several books in each series. Her books are pretty much all older than 10yrs old, but they hold up. I’ve been rereading most of them periodically for a long old time, lol. Again, I’m not sure what the audiobooks are like, but her writing is solid.

    A lot of other books and authors that I might have recommended have already been extensively talked about in the other comments, so I’ll leave off there 🙂

  257. I agree the narrator can make or break an audio book. But I have yet to find a House Andrews book that I didn’t like the narrator. I’m sure you put as much thought into matching the narrator with your books as the story itself and you haven’t failed yet. I will admit I have my favorite narrators and always look for them when considering a book. The good ones seem to be sparse and it’s difficult for me to give a new one a chance. That said, I wish all authors would take the time to research and invest in the best as you seem to. Well done House Andrews, well done.

  258. Welcome to Hell.
    And
    Devils to me.
    By C.R. Daems
    Junkyard cats
    And
    Junkyard bargain
    By Faith Hunter
    On Audible

  259. Becky Chambers Wayfarers series novels are character driven and recent

    These start more than ten years ago but have more recent additions or their series:
    I adore Lois McMaster Bujold’s Miles Vorkosigan series
    Elizabeth Moon Planetary Pirates series. She’s jointly authored a few books with Anne McCaffrey and Jodi Nye that take place in the same universe and predate the rest.
    An older oddball that you may have missed, not space opera but alternate universe and wonderful: Archer’s Goon, by Diana Wynne Jones, narrated by Miriam Margolyes

    • I really enjoyed the wayfarers books. But I do have to get used to every new book, because they have different characters each time.

  260. One of my favourite sci-fi romances on audible are Michelle Diener’s dark horse books. Not sheesetasric like so many alien romances. I also loved the YA series by Amie Kaufman (Aurora Cycle). I started Keary Taylor’s series Neron Rising and liked it a lot but the second book wasn’t available at the time. I see it is now so time to pick that up again!

  261. What about Chris Hadfield’s new book The Apollo Murders? I have not read it yet but I plan to. The reviews seem to imply that if you liked the Martian, you may like this one. It is available as an audio book.

  262. Almost anything I would recommend is a series that started twenty or thirty years ago at this point. Many of them have been mentioned here: Tanya Huff, Bujold, etc. Only two I haven’t seen mentioned yet are Liaden Universe and Mageworlds. Both are as much fantasy as sci-fi and more adventure than military. Mageworlds feels a bit like what a sequel trilogy to Star Wars 4-6 should have been. Of course, the world-building is totally different, but the spirit seems right.

    If you’re just looking for an audio only action/adventure space opera story, there’s Escape Velocity: a radio drama set in the galaxy of Elite: Dangerous. https://laveradio.com/EscapeVelocity/s1_catchup.htm
    I can’t remember if I’d call it good or just enjoyable.

  263. Thank you for this post 🙂 It’s nice to just see positive reviews. I just borrowed/purchased a bunch of books based on these recommendations. Thank you BDH!

    • +1 Courtney’s comment.

      Thankyou Ilona and BDH . I foresee many enjoyable hours of reading and listening while I work my way through all these excellent recommendations.

  264. David Weber’s Honor Harrington series. I read him in the 90s. Before audio but the sf is there. And omg I thought he finished the series and I just looked, there’s more. Now I’ll have to get them.
    This is your fault ????

    • Think it may not be available as audio yet ( don’t hate me peeps). Otherwise try Terry Pratchett which is available everywhere. Men at Arms is a great start

  266. I recommend Poor Man’s War by Elliot Kay, if it’s available as an audiobook. It’s a little slow in the beginning, but I liked it. It’s military sci-fi, but character driven. There are at least two more books.

  267. I’d recommend A. C. Clark, Isaac Asimov, David Weber, Frederic Pohl or Clifford D. Simak and Lois McMaster Bujold, but none of those are new ones. They are good Sci-fi authors (and most of them are using metric system, yay!). My favorites from them are Dolphin Island, The End of Eternity/The Caves of Steel, Honor Harrington series(Honor Among Enemies), The World at the End of Time, Way Station, Vorkosigan series (Memory, Captain Vorpatrils Alliance)

    • The more I post, the more I forget.
      C. H. Cherryh – Chanur’s Pride, Anne McCaffrey’s Drakens of Pern (though I like Harper trilogy the most, starting with Dragonsong) and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover series is nice mix of sci-fi and fantasy too. Also I forgot to mention my favorite from Heinlein – The Moon is harsh mistress.

  268. I don’t usually post or comment but I have managed to get my entire family hooked on The Iron Prince by Bryce O’Connor and Luke Chmilenko. It is one of the most entertaining audiobooks ever.

  269. The Calculating Stars series by Mary Robinette Kowal
    The Confederation & the Peacekeeper series by Tanya Huff (also her Quarters series was great, but more fantasy)
    Vatta’s War & Vatta’s Peace series by Elizabeth Moon
    And since you liked Lost Fleet, the Honor Harrington series seems like a winner

  270. The honors series by Rachele Caine comes to mind. And across the void by SK Vaughn.
    I haven’t listened to them, but read them.

  272. Have you tried THE SHARING KNIFE series by Lois McMaster Bujold?

    The world is really interesting. They aren’t new – but the latest KNIFE CHILDREN is only a few years old.

  273. I love Tanya Huff’s Honor series and the follow up Peacekeeper series. Plot and character development both draw the reader in.

  274. THE KAI GRACEN SERIES by Rhys Ford

    Black Dog Blues
    Mad Lizard Mambo
    Jacked Cat Jive
    Silk Dragon Salsa

  275. I got a great laugh from “Death Becomes Her: The Kurtherian Gambit” but there are a lot of books and it really ruined a whole month of my life reading just doing her first gambit of the series. The story is paranormal with a weird military twist with space battles..

  276. Have you ever read SL Viehl? I like her statdoc series especially rebel ice. Just and idea and yes lots of science

  277. This isn’t scifi, but I’m going to throw He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon into the ring. Book three comes out September. They are wonderful, Australian, and very long.

  279. Have you tried the locked tomb series? It is not really space opera, or maybe kidasortof. Great fun though and the narrator is great. Author is Tamsyn Muir.

  280. I don’t usually read Sci Fi (I prefer it in movie and TV form), but “Her Brother’s Keeper” by Mike Kupari and narrated by Allyson Johnson might fit for you. The book is great and has a sequel but I haven’t read that yet. >shame face<

  281. I loved the person who Did Hughs voice. Have you looked at Chirp it’s like Bookbub for audible books