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worlds away
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Now in Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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Is it me, or is sci-fi and fantasy as a genre getting weirder in the best way? Where once we may have been satisfied with tales of sword and sorcery, of space exploration—and there will always be a place for that—many of these new listens delve into the strange, the uncanny, and the post-human. Maybe it’s a reflection of our own world feeling at times dystopian, or maybe it’s just the current flavor of the genre. Either way, I’m here for it—and if you are, too, I think you’ll like some of the titles explored in this edition.
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Spring listening is in full swing
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It’s here—our selections for the biggest listens of the season. There’s so much to look forward to in sci-fi, fantasy, romantasy, horror, and more.
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Sirens have long used their voices to seduce sailors to their untimely deaths, so, naturally, this spellbinding sophomore novel is meant to be heard. Just like Emilia Hart’s wild and witchy debut, Weyward, The Sirens spans centuries by chronicling the parallel lives of women, but this time it’s through the lens of sisters made inseparable by the sea. Narrator Barrie Kreinik masterfully shifts between accents to transport listeners from rural Ireland to the sublime cliffs of the Australian coast.
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Amal El-Mohtar’s debut is musical magic
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The author and poet didn’t like the way a classic ballad about rival sisters ended—so she wrote her own. My fellow editor Patty and I had the chance to ask Amal a few questions about her inspirations behind the story, her writing process, and what it was like to perform with her own sister on the audiobook.
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It’s amazing just how much a nonhuman character can teach us about, well, humanity. Here are some of the best listens featuring unconventional protagonists and narrators—from robots, to monsters, to plants, and beyond.
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Mysterious, uncanny, and absurd listens for Severance fans
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I admit, I’m a latecomer to the series, so I didn’t have to suffer through the three-year wait in between seasons (my sympathies). Now that I’ve finished Season 2, I’m only desperately googling “Season 3 Severance when” once a day. I put together this list of audiobooks to tide me over during the wait. These stories scratch a similar itch, featuring eerie liminality, mysterious corporate overlords, and the absurdity of modern work culture.
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Also of note:
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In this interview, bestselling YA romantasy author Lauren Roberts talks about the inspiration behind her series, how social media shaped her career, and what she’s working on next.
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Agustina Bazterrica, the author of horror novels Tender Is the Flesh and The Unworthy, shares the five listens that have helped her stay connected to literature.
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April is Neurodiversity Celebration Month—explore different ways of thinking with stories from neurodiverse creators.
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The second season of The Last of Us hit HBO and Max on Sunday, and fans are anxiously awaiting the continuation of Joel and Ellie's story. If you need more of a fix in between episodes, we've got you.
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Hugo nominees for Best Novel
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Get outside your genre zone
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