Libro’s Picks: The Best Science Fiction Audiobooks
As a lifelong fantasy superfan, I used to think of science fiction as something like fantasy’s older sibling: related but more intimidating, maybe a bit more serious.
But just like magic systems in fantasy books can range from “I don’t know, it just works” to painstaking design, the scientific principles underlying sci-fi universes vary widely, along with the level of science and/or tech knowledge required. This means there really is something for anyone interested, which is wonderful since sci-fi writers have built some of the best universes (and stories, and characters) out there.
Through space operas, alien invasions, parallel worlds, and biopunk—not to mention overlapping genres with romance, horror, mystery, and historical fiction—sci-fi authors stretch our imagination, inspiring readers to take a critical look at our world and, often, wonder if a better one is possible. Reading sci-fi is already an expansive, exciting, and immersive experience, but all of that is amplified when an amazing story is paired with the exact right narrator to make it even more real. There’s a lifetime’s worth of options to choose from, but these standout science fiction audiobooks, some trusted classics and others brand new releases, are a great place to start.
Popular Sci-Fi Audiobooks
There Is No Antimemetics Division
“There Is No Antimemetics Division is an absolute ride from front to back and will keep you on the precipice of sanity the entire time. It’s a helter-skelter blend of nonlinear narrative, unreliable narration, timeline uncertainty, memory destruction, and a war we cannot remember. There are moments that will simultaneously break your heart and strike fear into your very core. I, personally, enjoy experiencing those feelings all at once as my mind explodes, so this was a very easy 10/10 for me.”
— Abigail; E. Shaver, bookseller
Iron Widow
“Iron Widow is the feminist bloodthirsty rage antihero fantasy saga of my DREAMS! Fast paced and engrossing, it’s like Pacific Rim meets The Hunger Games: 18-year-old Zetian is mentally co-piloting the gigantic transforming mechas that humans rely on in the battle against aliens trying to dominate the planet. Like Katniss, Zetian is drawn into the fight because of a sister—but instead of volunteering as tribute, she enlists to avenge her sister’s death. (There’s also a sticky love triangle, but the outcome is refreshingly unexpected.) Where Katniss was a reluctant hero, Zetian is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. Everyone beware!”
— Zinna, A Great Good Place for Books
Death of the Author
“An absolute masterpiece, this book-within-a-book follows a disabled Nigerian-American author as she skyrockets to fame, and the main character of her book, Ankara—a ‘rusted robot’ and android scholar on a post-human Earth. Disability, identity, family, fame, what it means to be the author of your own story: Okorafor offers a rich and razor sharp exploration of it all, with an ending that made me want to start all over again!”
— Megan, Underground Books
Our Picks for Sci-Fi Audiobooks
This Is How You Lose the Time War
It was seemingly impossible to be an active member of the book community circa 2020 without at least ten fellow readers shoving this book into your hands. When I finally grabbed a copy, it… didn’t click. I couldn’t figure out what I was missing—until I tried the audiobook version. A pair of time- and space-traveling agents on rival sides of a war communicate via found letters. Turns out I needed the award-winning narrators Cynthia Farrell and Emily Woo Zeller to bring them to life, somehow folding entire histories into their voices. “Mood readers” will love this ethereal sci-fi enemies-to-lovers story, says Alecia at Wallflower Bookshop, aptly describing it as “all vibes.”
These Memories Do Not Belong to Us
In the aftermath of a devastating global war, “memory capitalism” reigns. Citizens carry intracranial chips that record every memory and make privacy obsolete; entire lives and experiences can be bought and sold. An unnamed narrator describes his recently deceased mother—a fearless revolutionary—and the collection of banned memories she left to him. What follows are the stories from sumo wrestlers, a war orphan, a group of memory “producers,” an armless swimmer, among others, altogether describing the many little steps that lead humanity toward dystopia. Such a diverse set of characters deserve an amazing ensemble to voice them—narrators who can balance the book’s horrific premise with its steadfast belief in resistance.
Immersive Sci-Fi Audiobooks
Rosewater
“Want mystery? A vision of near-future, post-alien occupation Earth? Afro-centric? Psychics? A relatable protagonist with a criminal past who is the only hope for saving humankind? How about some zombies and angels? A love story? Rosewater has it all, and somehow it all weaves together into an irresistible, absorbing tale. The best part: it’s the beginning of a trilogy.”
— Jessica, Bookbug
Whalefall
”Jay Gardiner’s estranged father, a legendary diver, commits suicide by drowning himself after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Jay wasn’t there when his father got the diagnosis, nor when he killed himself, and the guilt he feels motivates him to go diving to find whatever remains of his father. While searching, Jay is swallowed by a sperm whale. Here’s where the rollercoaster starts. Jay’s air is running out. His oxygen tank has about an hour left. The chapter titles are PSI numbers. While trying to free himself from the whale, Jay embarks on a spiritual journey of hope, despair, and forgiveness.”
— Bill, Quail Ridge Books
Captivating Audio Performances
Kevin R. Free narrating All Systems Red
Readers of the first novella in Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries series are often surprised to find themselves relating so well to its protagonist: a robot built to kill. Part of that has to do with the fact that this particular murderbot has the vibes of a reluctant teen with a dry sense of humor who just wants to be left alone to watch his favorite shows. For listeners, the machine’s consciousness is undeniable and runs deep. Audiofile raves, “Kevin R. Free performs the character perfectly, giving its voice languid tones and a slow-speaking pace, layered with an unsettling tension that hints at dangerous rage.” In other words, as Meg at Copper Dog Books says so succinctly, “Kevin R. Free is the only thing that could make this gem of a novella even better.”
More sci-fi audiobooks read by Kevin R. Free:
Sarah Skaer narrating The Deep Sky
Yume Kitasei’s debut is a thrilling locked-door mystery in deep space, where an explosion on a ship carrying 80 people meant to save humanity kills three crew members and pushes the ship—and its vital quest—off course. The only witness, a woman named Asuka who was chosen to represent Japan, quickly becomes the suspect. In their review, Library Journal praises Sarah Skaer’s “considerable vocal skill to make each crewmember instantly recognizable” and goes so far to say her narration adds another layer to the main character: “Asuka is strongly characterized by her insecurity and self-doubt, though listeners will likely have more faith in her.”
More sci-fi and fantasy audiobooks narrated by Sarah Skaer:
Upcoming Sci-Fi Audiobook Releases
Operation Bounce House
Operation Bounce House has already climbed to the top of Libro.fm’s preorder bestseller list—#1 across all genres as I’m writing this. The prolific Matt Dinniman has written over a dozen novels (including the hugely popular LitRPG series Dungeon Crawler Carl) but this upcoming standalone is his first go at straight sci-fi. It takes place on the planet New Sonora, where colonist Oliver Lewis runs a family ranch, plays in a band, and waits for instant travel and communication with Earth to get up and running again. Unfortunately, when it does, it brings a fleet of machines piloted by gamers on Earth who’ve been hired by the evil, money-hungry Apex Industries (hmm…) to evict everyone. In its starred review, Booklist says, “Dinniman skillfully cloaks several current-day issues, such as swatting, genocide, othering, and concerns about AI, in this captivating futuristic read.”
The Subtle Art of Folding Space
John Chu has already nabbed a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award (among others) for his science fiction short stories, so to say his debut novel is highly anticipated is to put it mildly. (If you have forty minutes to spare, you can listen to the fantastic short story that earned Chu the Hugo, The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere). The Subtle Art of Folding Space “channels unhinged quantum physics”—which, for those of us intimidated by quantum anything, sounds more fun than scary—and follows a young woman trying to stay afloat while dealing with generational trauma, an estranged sister, a comatose mother, and a potential attack on the machinery that keeps the laws of physics intact across all universes. Max Gladstone (mentioned above!) calls it “a work of crystalline vision and meticulous humanity.”
Why Listen to Sci-Fi with Libro.fm?
Over the past decade, the audiobook market has soared, and as more readers look for audiobooks (and don’t necessarily want—or have any way to even play—10-ish cassettes or CDs) the go-to for digital copies has been Amazon-owned Audible. This makes sense when Audible is creeping closer to a complete monopoly on the digital audiobook industry. But listening with Libro.fm comes with valuable benefits that Audible doesn’t provide. These are just a few.
Support Independent Bookshops with Every Intergalactic Adventure
Firstly—and, in my humble opinion, most importantly—every purchase you make on Libro.fm goes toward the indie bookshop of your choice. Whether you’re buying a membership, a credit bundle, or a single audiobook, you can feel happy knowing that a community-minded small business/the lifeblood of the book world is getting a share of the profit.
DRM-Free Listening for the Ultimate Portability
Libro.fm solves a problem that a lot of readers might not even know exists with other audiobook retailers: We are Digital Rights Management (DRM) free. This means that when you buy an audiobook from Libro.fm you own it. Forever! It’s yours to keep and listen to wherever you’d like, whether you stick with us or not.
Gift a Universe: Audiobook Credits for Sci-Fi Fans
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance at least some of your loved ones like to read, too. And while a book is maybe one of the best gifts for a reader to receive, part of the joy of getting a new book is picking it out. A great workaround is giving the booklover in your life a bundle of credits. They never expire and, unlike a gift certificate, you’re gifting a number of books, not an amount of money: three credits = three books, regardless of price. (I’ve also found this to be a successful way of helping non-audiobook-listeners discover a newfound love of the format.)
