Category: Science Fiction

EXIT STRATEGY by Martha Wells (Audiobook)

10/29/2025

Read by David Cui Cui (Narrator), Aure Nash (Narrator), Jenna Sharpe (Narrator), Marni Penning (Narrator), Khaya Fraites (Narrator), Alejandro Ruiz (Narrator), Elena Anderson (Narrator), Colleen Delany (Narrator), Eric Messner (Narrator), Alysia Beltran (Narrator), Bradley Foster Smith (Narrator).
#4 - The Murderbot Diaries

Definitely enjoyed this one. As Murderbot is developing further feelings, its not only fascinating to see how it grapples with these emotions, it's heartening to see the way others are responding to it. The rapport that is being built is reminiscent, in a fashion, of fellowship, even though Murderbot doesn't seem to fully trust it. It often makes me reflect on our own connections, why we build them, and how they affect us for better or for worse. It will be interesting to see what happens to Murderbot and its team from here on in.

4.5/5

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ROGUE PROTOCOL by Martha Wells (Audiobook)

10/28/2025

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Read by Marni Penning (Narrator), Natalie Van Sistine (Narrator), David Cui Cui (Narrator), Alejandro Ruiz (Narrator), Bradley Foster Smith (Narrator), Eric Messner (Narrator), Elena Anderson (Narrator), Khaya Fraites (Narrator), Jenna Sharpe (Narrator), Alysia Beltran (Narrator), Julienne Irons (Narrator).
#3 - The Murderbot Diaries

I think I kind of floated through this one. Murderbot is a delight, of course, but the stories are rather short so it's easy to get lost for a few hours. There is joy in watching Murderbot rail against its feelings and developments. It's also interesting how Wells explores the human condition through AI. I also love meeting the other AI characters, though this one was very different from ART. Nothing terribly surprising or unexpected in this one. All SOP.

4/5

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ARTIFICIAL CONDITION by Martha Wells (Audiobook)

10/22/2025

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Read By David Cui Cui (Narrator), Michael John Casey (Narrator), Carolyn Kashner (Narrator), Marni Penning (Narrator), Ken Jackson (Narrator), Jeri Marshall (Narrator), Alejandro Ruiz (Narrator), Elena Anderson (Narrator), Rayner Gabriel (Narrator), Bradley Foster Smith (Narrator), Eric Messner (Narrator).
#2 - The Murderbot Diaries

The second in the Murderbot Diaries dipped ever so slightly but I believe that's because the novelty of it was gone. I knew who this character was and I was ready for it this time. I'm not completely sure I know exactly where it's going but I love the relationship between Murderbot and ART. Wells' exploration of the varying degrees of AI in this series is making me think about how we approach AI today. I've been told yet again that the television series is wonderful as well so I may have to check that out. It's interesting to have a protagonist who is so relatable and yet so alien in many ways. It makes one question one's own humanity.

4/5

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ALL SYSTEMS RED by Martha Wells (Audiobook)

10/14/2025

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Read by Kevin R. Free.
#1 - The Murderbot Diaries

I'd heard about the Murderbot Diaries before and I feel like I've read this one previously, but it's been so long that I didn't really remember anything of it. A friend recommended that I start this series and I really enjoyed it, despite it being heavily in the science fiction camp, which is usually not my bag. It's more than that, of course. It's a psychological exploration of what it means to be human - or not. A quick read and a fascinating one. I am eager to continue this series.

4.75/5

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GOLDEN SON by Pierce Brown (Audiobook)

9/27/2025

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Read by Tim Gerard Reynolds.
#2 - Red Rising

I wanted to like this more than I did. I really enjoyed RED RISING. I understand why the story took the direction it did but it lost me during the moments of battle. I think one of the key skills of Brown is the ability to write relationships and that was the hook for me throughout RED RISING and GOLDEN SON. I found his quieter scenes to be more compelling. That doesn't mean I didn't love the intrigue and machinations throughout the story thus far and I will be reading the third book in this series. I also believe that Brown has a great complex character in Darrow and the exploration of his inner conflict makes for more captivating reading.

4/5

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PARABLE OF THE TALENTS by Octavia Butler (Audiobook)

3/23/2025

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Read by Sisi Aisha Johnson, Patricia R. Floyd, and Peter Jay Fernandez.
#2 - Earthseed

Having read Parable of the Sower, I was very curious to see where Butler was taking us. Her prescience is even more foreboding in this book. I know she is referencing Reagan in utilizing the "make America great again" slogan. She places it in the mouth of her fictional demagogue but the parallels are too on the nose to ignore. Butler's exploration of the human condition in the face of adversity is truly powerful. I wasn't sure about the format when I first picked this up but in retrospect, it offers more perspectives and commentary on the events occurring in the world. Definitely worth the read, especially with what is going on right now.

I can't help but note these moments in the novel:

"[...] still, they love Jarrett. In fact, Jarrett is both loved and despised here. The religious poor who are ignorant, frightened, and desperate to improve their situations are glad to see a man of God in the White House. And that's what he is to them: a man of God. Even some of the less religious ones support him. They say the country needs a strong hand to bring back order, good jobs, honest cops, and free schools. They say he has to be given plenty of time and a free hand so he can put things right again, but those dedicated to other religions and those who are not religious at all sneer at Jarrett and call him a hypocrite. They sneer. They hate him, but they also fear him. They see him for the tyrant that he is and the thugs see him as one of them. They envy him. He is the bigger, the more successful thief, murderer, and slaver. The working poor who love Jarrett want to be fooled, need to be fooled. They scratch a living working long, hard hours at dirty jobs, and they need a savior. Poor women in particular tend to be deeply religious and more than willing to see Jarrett as the second coming. Religion is all they have."
"Politicians shook their heads and said sadly that universal education was a failed experiment. [...] People who could afford to educate their children In private schools were glad to see the government finally stop wasting their tax money educating other people's children. They seem to think they lived on Mars. They imagine that a country filled with poor, uneducated unemployable people somehow wouldn't hurt them."

5/5

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BRAVE NEW WORLD by Adolus Huxley (Audiobook)

1/11/2025

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Read by Michael York.

I don't know what I was expecting with this classic but this wasn't it. It was interesting and terrifying as only a book like this could be and Huxley's writing is good but I never quite fully invested. It definitely has a lot of topical elements for our current situation but being an Orwellian fan, I don't feel it achieves the same strike of fear in the heart that its contemporaries tended to. That being said, it still resonated with me and I'm glad I picked it up.

4/5

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EXIT STRATEGY by Martha Wells (Audiobook)

ROGUE PROTOCOL by Martha Wells (Audiobook)

ARTIFICIAL CONDITION by Martha Wells (Audiobook)

ALL SYSTEMS RED by Martha Wells (Audiobook)

GOLDEN SON by Pierce Brown (Audiobook)

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS by Octavia Butler (Audiobook)

BRAVE NEW WORLD by Adolus Huxley (Audiobook)

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