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24 Sci-Fi & Fantasy Audiobook Series to Binge On
When it comes to getting lost in a new world or an alternate timeline, we turn to science fiction and fantasy to provide the perfect escape. Diving into a new series in either genre lets you prolong the journey, and listening to the audiobook version can allow that journey to come to life.
For this roundup, we listed sci-fi and fantasy series starters with a four-star rating or above on Goodreads and Audible. To make sure your binge-listening goes uninterrupted, we only included completed series, which is why smash hits like A Song of Ice and Fire and The Expanse were left on the cutting room floor.
You can always share your own suggestions in the comments and make sure to add your favorites to your Want to Read shelf.
What sci-fi and fantasy audiobook series would you recommend? Share them with us in the comments!
For more inspiration, check out the Goodreads' audiobooks page, brought to you by Audible.
Check out more recent blogs:
Sabaa Tahir’s Top YA Picks for Young Rebels with a Cause
20 Upcoming Books Librarians, Editors, and Booksellers Think You'll Love
The 24 All-Time Favorite Book Club Picks on Goodreads
For more inspiration, check out the Goodreads' audiobooks page, brought to you by Audible.
Check out more recent blogs:
Sabaa Tahir’s Top YA Picks for Young Rebels with a Cause
20 Upcoming Books Librarians, Editors, and Booksellers Think You'll Love
The 24 All-Time Favorite Book Club Picks on Goodreads
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Alondra
(new)
Jun 06, 2018 09:16AM
I have never tried audio before, so this list is perfect; especially since I have half of these on my TBR :)
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Cool. I got 18 out of 24 covered. Thanks for the recommendations!
Of these, I've read book versions of those I was interested in. I'm following The Expanse series and have both read & listened & it's just great either way. Not on the list, but another complete science fiction series I've enjoyed is The Retrieval Artist series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Of the remaining not yet read, I have something of an even split of ebook and audiobook. I have C.J. Cherryh's Cyteen trilogy awaiting me this summer but haven't figured out how I'll read that one. I have all the books analog and the first book in audiobook, as well.
I found the Cyteen trilogy a dense read and I'm not sure I could follow it without easily being able to reread earlier sections. Not sure I would recommend it as an audiobook.
The painted man by Peter V. Brett is beyond excellent
Minor quibble: In the text it says this consists of completed series, but The Dresden Files, at least, is ongoing.Still, great list. I've read most that grab me, and others are on my TBR, but it's still helpful.
Hannah wrote: "The painted man by Peter V. Brett is beyond excellent"Oh, yes, especially the Graphic Audio version...I love Audible, they are excellent as well, but Graphic Audio is just such a wonderful experience :)
Very good list indeed.The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by the fantastic Douglas Adams should also be in this list in my opinion.
Although, I am not sure if the last book exists in audiobook format.
Great selection and i have read most of these or they are in my TBR list. And finally! a list that is not full of the latest YA.Hyperion is seriously one of the best books i have ever read and usually appears in the SF top 5 of most readers i know, so if you havent read it yet, you should.
Alondra wrote: "I have never tried audio before, so this list is perfect; especially since I have half of these on my TBR :)"I always recommend using the sampler file to determine if you like the narrator. Sometimes it is great and other times not so great.
Michelle wrote: "Alondra wrote: "I have never tried audio before, so this list is perfect; especially since I have half of these on my TBR :)"I always recommend using the sampler file to determine if you like the..."
Okay, thank you for the advice. :)
These are books look wonderful to read but I don’t have a lot of time to read all the books I want to read.
Haru wrote: "Very good list indeed.The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by the fantastic Douglas Adams should also be in this list in my opinion.
Although, I am not sure if the last book exists in audio..."
I agree that is a great series!
This is a good list! I already read a couple and i have a few of this in my "to read" list. Thanks GR!!Ofcourse The Dresden Files is here, best series EVER!!!!
What good recs! I second the Dresden Files; it is an awesome series. I also suggest Victor Gischler's A Fire Beneath the Skin trilogy for fantasy fans. For scifi fans, Craig Alanson's Expeditionary Force series, Jay Allan's Blood on the Stars series, and H. Paul Honsinger's Man of War series are all excellent military scifi with great narrators!Ink Mage
Columbus Day
Duel in the Dark
To Honor You Call Us
How do you make this list and exclude The Pillars of Reality series which is only available on Audible?
Great list. I’d personally add The Martian by Andy Weir and anything read by Wil Wheaton.
Mark wrote: "Great list. I’d personally add The Martian by Andy Weir and anything read by Wil Wheaton."The first is not a series (though see the prequel "Diary of an AssCan"); for the latter see Lock In (two books so far) and books 6-10 of the Chronicles of Amber.
Very good books in this list. Missing is Mark Lawrence's Prince of Thorns, with James Clamp's excellent narration. Also, Michael Sullivan's, Theft of Swords, with the always enjoyable Tim Gerard Reynolds.
I listen to my audiobooks when I run. It's a great way to advance in my reading list!
The fact that Discworld is not on the fantasy list is a travesty. It`s an amazing series that becomes 10x better in the audiobook format
I'm thrilled to see Zelazny on the list. My husband's a huge fan of the Amber series. I'd suggest Xanth or Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony. As well as the Valdemar or Elemental Masters series by Mercedes Lackey.
I don't particularly like Sci-Fi. But Fantasy is something I frequently listen to and to tell the truth I love me a good Fantasy audiobook. The most recent audiobook I've read was Prince of Fool (book #1 of The Red Queen's War) by Mark Lawrence and narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds. That audiobook was amazing! (If it were up to me, everybody should read it :D)
What!! No more Harry Dresden!! (Author Jim Butcher for those living in an alternate reality and missing this excellent series) I’ve read the books and I’ve listened to them. In both cases I now have the excellent James Marsters in my head. So I wholeheartedly endorse the inclusion of this series, but I’m still a little sad that there will be no more additions, and that Chicago is left to fend for itself.
Wow, sixteen of these are still on my TBR. I have a lot of listening to do! Fortunately, I already own many of these on Audible. :-)
HHGTG read by the author is probably the best audiobook I have ever listen to.
Although I have ready many of these, I have only listened to The Dresden Files. Even if you have read the books, it is worth it to return to listen to them. James Marsters' performance takes these books to a whole new level-and I don't really like audiobooks that much.
I'd also add Lois McMaster Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan series and the ExForce series by Craig Alanson under SciFi.
Ender's Game, with a nearly full cast, is one of the best SF audiobooks I ever listened to. I recommend it to everyone, and there are many in the series if you are looking to binge!
Illuminae is absolutely amazing as an audiobook!
Aliesha wrote: "These are books look wonderful to read but I don’t have a lot of time to read all the books I want to read."That's what audio is for! I've doubled or tripled the number of books I read by adding audio. :)
The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett. I have really enjoyed listening to this series. The narrator is Pete Bradbury and he does an amazing job.
Tim Gerard Reynolds did Michael J Sullivan’s fantasy works as well as the Red Rising series. Simon Jones narrates Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus trilogy and is so funny. Dresden Files and Discworld are pretty good on audio, too.
I recommend Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series on audiobook. (American release: Midnight Riot) I tried reading the series and couldn't get into it, but Kobna Holdbrook-Smith's voice-acting performance hooked me immediately.Midnight Riot
message 40:
by
cali 𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
(new)
I SO needed this! Time to send this to my library ;D
Glynn Stewart has a series called "The Starship Mage" available on Overdrive that I found to be an excellent space opera read. The narrator has a great voice and the stories kept my attention.I enjoyed Aaronovitch also but I could only find it on CD (and paper).
Hannah wrote: "The painted man by Peter V. Brett is beyond excellent"pity about the rest of the series
These may have been recommended already, but I loved the Riyria Revelations series (Theft of Swords) by Michael J. Sullivan and narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds; and the Themis Files series (Sleeping Giants) by Sylvain Neuvel, narrated by a full cast.
Is there nothing new? All of those have passed through my shelves, many more than once.
I suggest The Vampire Diaries series, by L.J. Smith!!
Pamela wrote: "Very good books in this list. Missing is Mark Lawrence's Prince of Thorns, with James Clamp's excellent narration. Also, Michael Sullivan's, Theft of Swords, with the always enjoyable Tim Gerard Reynolds"Audrey wrote: "Tim Gerard Reynolds did Michael J Sullivan’s fantasy works as well as the Red Rising series. "
Carlissa wrote: "These may have been recommended already, but I loved the Riyria Revelations series (Theft of Swords) by Michael J. Sullivan and narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds.
Thanks to all for mentioning both my books and Tim's narration. Such an amazing voice actor. I'd recommend listening to everything he reads including Red Rising.
I’m chiming in with some that have already been mentioned. Everything by Michael Sullivan. Love Midnight Riot. Craig Alanson the ExForce series. I also quite like Marko Kloos. I’m sure there are many more.
Gack! I knew I was forgetting at least one, Jodi Taylor.
Laura wrote: "Great selection and i have read most of these or they are in my TBR list. And finally! a list that is not full of the latest YA.Hyperion is seriously one of the best books i have ever read and usu..."
It is one of the best series hands down. Always looking for intelligent books like that! Series even better.
