Science fiction novels lend themselves particularly well to the audiobook format. the atmosphere that can be created so elegantly with just one voice in your head really enhances the sci-fi tropes of isolation, artificial intelligence, and discovery.
This also means that science fiction audiobooks are something of a double-edged sword. unless they’re performed perfectly by the right voice for the job, that whole curated atmosphere falls apart.
You are reading: Best science fiction books on audible
the best sci-fi audiobooks on audible
To that end, these are the best sci-fi audiobooks available on Audible right now. each one is expertly narrated by experienced audiobook narrators. some are celebrities, some are cast, most are simply the best in the business.
In this list of the best sci-fi audiobooks, all are available through audible and some are even exclusive to audible, meaning you’ll need an audible subscription to enjoy them. Let’s go in.
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See Also: Loren Estleman, author
the hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy by douglas adams
narrated by stephen fry
There can be no better way to start a list of the best sci-fi audiobooks than with one of the funniest novels ever written, narrated by beloved national treasure stephen fry.
fry is, for an entire generation, the voice of the harry potter franchise. here, she puts her comedic chops to better use by elevating a cherished, witty and groundbreaking sci-fi classic to new heights.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy remains a favorite among sci-fi and comedy fans (myself included) and having it here narrated by Stephen Fry is a dream come true.
There can be no bigger winning combination than adams and fry, and that makes audiobook fans and those with an audible subscription a must give it a listen.
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dan simmons hyperion
narrated by marc vietor, allyson johnson, kevin pariseau, jay snyder and victor bevine
Hyperion is not just one of my favorite science fiction novels. It is one of my favorite novels, full stop. the author of such gems as drood and the terror really went all out with this ambitious, lyrical, literary fantasy sci-fi novel.
hyperion is a perfect book, and its structure lends itself perfectly to a cast of audiobook narrators like this one. The cast of Hyperion is a group of “pilgrims” to the titular planet, and here each and every narrator brings those pilgrims to life and dimension.
hyperion by dan simmons is one of the best sci-fi novels of all time, and a cast like this makes it one of the best sci-fi audiobooks available.
This hyperion audiobook is an audible exclusive, so you will need an audible subscription to listen to it. and with this cast, it’s absolutely worth it.
the long road to an angry little planet by becky chambers
narrated by patricia rodriguez
over the last few years, becky chambers has carved out a place for herself in the world of contemporary science fiction. his traveler series, which begins with the long road to an angry little planet, is considered by many to be an instant classic.
If you’re interested in discovering the shape of contemporary science fiction literature, here it is. And It’s Wonderful The Long Road to an Angry Little Planet is also a surprisingly short novel, with an audiobook length of just under sixteen hours.
The Long Road to an Angry Little Planet explores the interpersonal and political relationships between various extraterrestrial species in a way that is very reminiscent of Star Trek: The Next Generation or Mass Effect.
as for the audiobook, patricia rodriguez does an excellent job. The wit and humor of the book, especially in the dynamics of her characters’ relationships, are carried effortlessly by Rodriguez.
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klara and the sun by kazuo ishiguro
narrated by sara siu
kazuo ishiguro is my favorite author of all time, and seeing him return to the sci-fi genre with klara and the sun was a treat. this is both an accessible and intensely literary science fiction novel.
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klara and the sun is a true return to form for ishiguro, and for new fans who have never read him before, this book is a great starting point for his works.
this audiobook by klara and the sun is also particularly strong. sara siu does an amazing job of embodying the main character klara, who starts her story very robotically (literally) and naive, but slowly warms up and grows up. siu expertly embodies that growth.
klara is an incredibly well-realized contrived protagonist, and to see her brought to life so masterfully through siu’s storytelling is a real treat. klara and the sun is a masterpiece, and siu’s narration makes it one of the best sci-fi audiobooks on audible.
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adrian tchaikovsky’s children of time
narrated by mel hudson
Children of Time was a big hit when it was published in 2017. Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke, the book really echoes the themes, tone, and plot that Clarke himself was known for.
this is the kind of novel that will please all science fiction fans. it is speculative; it rests on open-eyed discoveries and revelations; plays with the possibilities and impossibilities of scientific experimentation.
As for the audiobook itself, Mel Hudson’s narration is perfectly suited to the tone of Children of Time. From start to finish, Hudson conveys the shifting sense of dread, hope, excitement, and discovery that this book offers. really amazing work and one of the best sci-fi audiobooks out there.
children of time is also an audible exclusive sci-fi audiobook, so be sure to get an audible subscription to listen and enjoy.
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frank herbert dune
Narrated by Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, Simon Vance, and Ilyana Kadushin
There really isn’t much that can be said about dune at the moment. A true sci-fi epic living up to the Star Wars legacy. dune is one of those books loved even by people who don’t read voraciously. And ask any non-sci-fi fan if they’ve read Dune and they’ll probably say yes.
dune is a true sci-fi epic in every sense of the word. spanning a solar system, it launches us into a dangerous world of big ideas, big monsters, and even bigger political schemes. is, for countless fans, the definitive science fiction novel.
This particular audiobook version features a cast of the highest caliber, but is also an abridged adaptation of the original novel. It’s not for everyone, but it works really well in combination with the ensemble cast approach.
if you love casts and don’t mind abridged versions, this is one of the best sci-fi audiobooks you can enjoy today, especially on audible.
cixin liu’s three body problem
narrated by bruno roubicek
No list of the best science fiction audiobooks (or science fiction novels in general) would be complete without the problem of the three bodies of one of China’s most prolific authors, Cixin Liu (translated by the legendary Ken Liu). .
Over the last few years, the three-body problem has developed into both modern and dune legacy. It features in every sci-fi fan’s collection, and for good reason.
The Three Body Problem audiobook narration by Bruno Roubicek really blows your mind, making this perhaps the best way to enjoy Liu’s novel. this is also the first of a trilogy, all three narrated by b roubicek.
If you’re a die-hard sci-fi fan and haven’t read The Three-Body Problem yet, you owe it to yourself to pick it up right now, and Roubicek’s narration makes this one of the best sci-fi audiobooks. over there.
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station eleven by emily st. John Mandel
narrated by jack hawkins
station eleven is a truly revered novel spanning several genres: literary fiction, dystopian fiction, and science fiction. Like Children of Time, this was another winner of the Arthur C. clarke award, and for good reason.
Although this is a science fiction novel with multiple different perspectives and narrative voices, this audiobook version of Season Eleven is narrated entirely by Jack Hawkins, who is tasked with interpreting each of those different voices.
and wear them, it does! Hawkins does an electrifying job of separating the narrators and giving each of them a unique voice. It’s a tall order, and Hawkins delivers. he is a prolific and experienced storyteller who really shines here.
Combining Mandel’s plot and writing with Hawkins’ amazing narration makes this one of the best science fiction audiobooks available. is also an audible exclusive, so be sure to get an audible subscription to enjoy this amazing sci-fi audiobook.
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leviathan awakens by james s.a. corey
narrated by jefferson mays
the expanse series has been praised for several years as one of the great science fiction space operas of today. And, after it was adapted into the well-received Amazon Prime series of the same name, that crown has really gotten heavy.
The series of books begins with Leviathan Wakes, written by James S.A. corey (which is actually a couple of writers: daniel abraham and ty fanck). Abraham was a successful author in his own right before the expansion, and Franck was an assistant to George R.R. martin.
After the success of the Amazon Prime adaptation, many new fans have raved about the source material, and for good reason. these are exceptional sci-fi novels, and the audiobook is superb.
jefferson mays really brings the vibrancy and energy that a space opera demands; this energy makes for an addictive novel and one of the best sci-fi audiobooks on audible.
sleeping in a sea of stars by christopher paolini
narrated by jennifer hale
This is a colossal sci-fi epic, the physical form of which runs to nearly 900 pages. first contact, adventure, discovery, war – all these sci-fi tropes are covered and given new life to sleep in a sea of stars.
what makes this novel audiobook such a delight and makes its length so enjoyable (instead of potentially arduous as it might have been) is jennifer hale’s very special narration.
For countless sci-fi fans, Hale is the definitive voice of the mass effect video game trilogy, portraying Commander Shepard, the series’ protagonist (if you choose the female option).
Shepard’s legendary portrayal of Hale has made her a sci-fi icon who stands shoulder to shoulder with actors like Katee Sakhoff and Sigourney Weaver. hearing her lend her vocal talents to a sci-fi epic like sleeping in a sea of stars is a real treat.
if you’re going to make your science fiction novel last thirty-two hours, make sure it’s narrated by someone as talented as jennifer hale. her voice makes every minute a pleasure to listen to.
foundation by isaac asimov
narrated by william hope
You may have noticed that this list is mostly dominated by contemporary science fiction novels, but it still seems almost blasphemous not to recommend classic authors like asimov and clarke.
however, those recommendations can only happen if the audiobook’s narration is up to scratch, and these certainly should.
If you’re a fan of science fiction in any way, shape or form, you owe it to yourself to read Isaac Asimov’s works, especially the Foundation series. And here’s a fantastic Audible audiobook version of that first book, narrated by William Hope.
hope is an audiobook narrator with a lot of impressive work under his belt, and his voice fits perfectly with the narrative tone of the foundation. she wields a variety of voices and accents to really bring the cast of characters in the foundation to life.
hope’s audiobook narration is so completely captivating, in fact, that it’s now one of the definitive ways to enjoy foundation, as a long-time fan or first-time reader, making it one of the best science fiction audiobooks you can read.
date with rama by arthur c. clarke
narrated by toby longworth
When science fiction fans think of Arthur C. Clarke, different novels come to mind, especially since many of his books are considered science fiction classics. For me, it’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. In fact, to this day I still haven’t seen the movie, but I have very fond memories of the novel.
another clarke classic is rendezvous with rama, a short and often overlooked classic whose DNA can be seen in so many contemporary sci-fi books, comics and movies.
Telling the story of a mysterious asteroid and the human crew tasked with landing and exploring it, Rendezvous Rama is a true classic science fiction novel.
This audible exclusive audiobook is narrated by toby longworth, who really does an outstanding job. this audiobook is the ultimate way to enjoy dating rama.
Being an Audible exclusive, you’ll need an Audible subscription to enjoy it, but since it’s one of the best sci-fi audiobooks on Audible, it’s worth getting a subscription.
sign up for audible here and get a free 30-day trial!
See Also: Loren Estleman, author