You may notice that this year, unlike in some past, we have combined sci-fi and fantasy into one category. The lines between these two genres are blurring more than ever—never mind the overlap between horror, romantasy, magical realism, mythological retellings, and so many other subcategories of fiction. In a world that increasingly feels like it might have been a classic near-future science fantasy vision, we look to these genres as much to escape our reality as we do to understand and contextualize it. These 10 listens are far from the only great SFF titles we heard in 2024, but together they stand out among the best in their individual categories, be they cozy SFF, literary speculative fiction, space opera, or epic fantasy. Choose your own adventure: Each title here is more than worthy of the journey.
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This strange, lovely little book—about a shapeshifting monster who learns to love—captivated me from the very first word uttered by the talented Carmen Rose, and I am still utterly smitten. I cannot stop thinking about it, cannot stop recommending it to everyone looking for something to draw them in, like the monster Shesheshen would devour her prey. Wiswell’s story defies genre, but within I found the very best elements of fantasy, horror, and romance. There is action, yes, but there are also quiet, beautiful moments where the listener might be tempted to get cozy, and its in these that we connect with this nonhuman character and her outcast human companion, Homily. —SD
The best speculative fiction forces us to confront those uncomfortable thoughts we’d rather not admit to. Cebo Campbell’s debut novel, set in the aftermath of, essentially, a mass extinction of white people, does just that. The story shifts perspective between Charlie, a formerly wrongly incarcerated man, and Sidney, the daughter he never met, as they navigate their way to the South, where some white people are rumored to have survived. Along the way they must navigate their at-odds feelings about what this new world means for them, and what kind of relationship they can possibly foster. Narrators Leon Nixon and Erin Ruth Walker bring such authenticity, sensitivity, and passion to their performances—as does the incredible Janina Edwards. Deeply unnerving, thought-provoking, healing, and compulsively plotted—novels like these are why we listen to this genre. —Sam D.
It would be tempting to think this is a story you’ve heard before: A robot created solely for human subservience and sexual gratification wrestles with the complexities of free will and personhood. But you’d be missing out on one heck of a story—because Sierra Greer’s version manages a fresh, unexpected take on AI and all the hopes and fears we ascribe to it. What results is a highly plausible vision of what our eventual coexistence may look like. The very intelligent yet painfully naive Annie is not like any AI character I’ve encountered before—she’s messier, more adrift. Jennifer Jill Araya did her homework for this performance: Her subtle shifts in cadence between types of bots, as well as capturing the range of human affects we don throughout our day, added such dimension to this story. —SD
It’s time for one part of the truly epic series to come to a close. We’ve had 269 published hours with Kaladan, Jasnah, Dalinar, Adolin, and Shallan over the course of 14 years and five novels. While I’m a little teary-eyed saying goodbye to these beloved characters, I’ll just say this: I can only imagine what Sanderson has in store for us next. —Melissa B.
As a superfan of Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore and Sourdough, I was counting the days to the release of Robin Sloan's newest book, Moonbound. It's described as part of the "Penumbra-verse," but fans of Sloan's earlier works should be prepared for a totally different listening experience, both in tone (we've got a unique mashup of first and third person) and scope (we are now 11,000 years into the future!). And yet there is something familiar here, plus some amazing Easter eggs. What is most definitely consistent is the wildly inventive creativity and whimsy on display. You will meet a multicellular AI, talking beavers with advanced debate skills, salamander wizards, and sentient swords. In all its complexity, Moonbound feels like Sloan's ultimate labor of love, and it may actually be the connective tissue of his very imagination. Prepare to be amazed. And to dive deeper, listen in to my interview with Robin Sloan. —Emily C.
Touted as a magical, gay murder mystery cruise, Frances White’s debut is a genre-bending triumph. The 12 heirs to the 12 provinces of Concordia set sail together to celebrate their long-held peace before they each take power, but mayhem ensues when one-by-one these heirs start to get murdered. Our hero, Dee of the Fish Province, becomes the de facto detective as he tries to figure out who among them is the killer. This rich narrative is elevated even further by an unforgettable, nuanced performance from debut narrator Nathan Foad, who gives each heir a regionally specific accent tied to their province. There’s murder, yes, but also queer joy, romance, and enough humor to ... drown a fish. For more on this listen, check out my interview with Frances White. —Katie O.
When an author ends a long-beloved series and steps into the next, there is always that moment of hesitation: Could I possibly be as taken by this new world, these new characters? After all, our collective Expanse hangover has been raging strong since 2021. James S. A. Corey banishes any doubt in this audiobook, the first in the Captive's War trilogy, and narrator Jefferson Mays's voice is a warm, familiar welcome. A truly stellar case of first contact with a new series from one of the most influential authors of the modern space opera. —SD
Do I need to say more than "cat in space" to sell you on this listen? Well, aside from that delightful detail, Riley August's debut novel—in which siblings Scout and Keiran, along with their cat, Pumpkin, search the stars for some sort of clue about what wiped out all civilization but their own—is at turns harrowing, cozy, and heartrending. Subtle sound effects enhance this spacefaring adventure, and the narrators understood the assignment: Robyn Holdaway (Sex Education) as the leading voice imbues Scout with the kind of bravado that masks a soft, vulnerable interior. Come for the uncannily performed meows, stay for the high-stakes race for the truth, listen again because you just don't want to say goodbye to these characters. —SD
Orwell’s 1984 is part of my sci-fi fan origin story—and it remains one of my favorite books to this day. I’m double-plus thrilled to report that this adaptation surpassed all of my highest expectations. The talent involved is almost an embarrassment of riches, with lead roles by Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, and Tom Hardy, and music composition by Matt Bellamy of Muse (all mixed in Dolby Atmos spatial audio). I could scarcely stop listening, entranced by the performance as if hearing this story for the first time. It manages to be faithful to Orwell’s original novel and yet entirely reinvigorating. Easily one of my favorite listens I’ve heard in my tenure here as an editor. Listen in to Audible's Robin Morgan-Bentley and writer Joe White discussing how they crafted this excellent adaptation. —SD
T. Kingfisher is such a prolific writer, it’s hard to choose a favorite from among her vast bibliography—but this dark fairy-tale retelling has easily clawed its way to the top of this editor’s list. Listening, I was reminded of the magic she conjured in her Hugo winner Nettle and Bone. Both drop the listener into a mysterious and foreboding situation that unfolds masterfully over a taut plot and provocative characters. Narrators Eliza Foss and Jennifer Pickens are almost hypnotic in their performances—though the former portrays a middle-aged woman and the latter a 14-year-old girl, both share a sort of melodic, enchanting quality to their voices that felt custom-tailored to this novel. —SD
