I have recently got into audiobooks, with a focus on classic sci-fi, I just finnished Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clark (narrated by Peter Gamin), which is absolutely brilliant, highly recommended, and The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (narrated by Kelsey Grammer, free on Apple Books), also brilliant, very different from the 1960s film.

Anyway do you have any tips on classic sci-fi (1870s-1990s) that I should listen to?

I use Apple Books to buy the books, I am not really interested in audiobook streaming, I want to own my books, not rent access to them.

At the moment I have several books that I need to listen to, but I want to buy more now so I have them in my library.

I have the following books in my library:

  • Rendezvous with Rama - Arthur C Clark - Narrated by Peter Gamin
  • The Invisible Man - H. G. Wells - Narrated by Alexandra Coles
  • The Time Machine - H. G. Wells - Narrated by Kelsey Grammer
  • The World Set Free - H. G. Wells - Narrated by Sebastian Blackwood
  • I, Robot - Isaac Asimov - Narrated by Scott Brick
  • Ignition, An Informal History of Liquid Rocket Propellants - John Drury Clark - Narrated by Jonathan Todd Ross

I am planning on getting 2001: A Space Oddesy and some even more Arthur C. Clark…

  • neidu3@sh.itjust.worksMEnglish
    6·
    10 hours ago

    Your list of audio books is very similar to how I started. I stumbled across a torrent with a bunch of Hugo winners, and those were included.

    Some recommendations off the top of my head:

    • Project Hail Mary (Weir).
    • Snow Crash. (Stephenson).
    • Cryptonomicon (Stephenson. Not sci-fi, but I highly recommend it anyway).
    • The End of Eternity (Asimov. His only time travel book).

    And of more recent date, the “Dungeon Crawler Carl” series as released by sound booth Theater is pretty much the gold standard in Audio book production. Seems pretty shallow at first, but the sci-fi element becomes more and more prevalent with time, and it weaves a pretty interesting story. On top of being hilarious. I cannot recommend this series enough.

    In addition to those, Discworld makes for some great audio books as well.

    • TheFunkyMonk@lemmy.world
      2·
      8 hours ago

      Project Hail Mary was my first thought when I read “audiobooks” and “sci-fi”. Not only is there an aspect to the story that lends itself particularly well to the audiobook format, but the narrator (Ray Porter) is so good I’ve sought out other books he’s narrated.

      • Lukaro@piefed.zipEnglish
        2·
        4 hours ago

        One of the single most enjoyable audiobooks I’ve ever “read”. Was just thinking of starting it again this morning, I’ll take this as a sign from the universe that I should.

    • Jarix@lemmy.world
      2·
      10 hours ago

      I’ve just recently listened to book 1 of Dungeon Crawler Carl on audible. I’m really not sold on his partner(I won’t say more than that). Just a style thing, it’s not for me. However I’m enjoying it enough to continue reading more of them. Do you know if there are different audio book versions?

      I read He Who Fights With Monsters and have really enjoyed the voice work in that series.

      • neidu3@sh.itjust.worksMEnglish
        1·
        10 hours ago

        I only know of the version I’ve heard on Audible, and that’s the Sound Booth Theater one (autocorrect butchered the studio name in my comment. Fixed)