This post was originally published on Audible.com.
What makes a good audiobook series? There are as many answers to this question as there are listeners. For some, it might be epic battles. For others, it might be ongoing romantic twists and tensions. For still others, it might be elongated character studies or an in-depth analysis of a particular time and place. But the universal element of a truly great series is that it sticks with you long after the last word.
Translating the magic of a book series to audio can be a daunting—but thrilling—task. How do you capture the thrill of a good mystery, the sprawling worlds of a fantasy realm, or the strife of a literary fiction saga, all on a recorded format? How do you find the perfect narrator and achieve the perfect balance of accents, music, and sound effects? How do you capture the power of the story itself?
Thankfully, many audiobook series have figured out this magic formula—in many cases coming up with something totally new. And whichever genre you prefer, there is no shortage of great listening for you to dive into.
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Fiction
Lila
Book 3: Gilead
A new American classic from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gilead and Housekeeping. Marilynne Robinson, one of the greatest novelists of our time, returns to the town of Gilead in an unforgettable story of a girlhood lived on the fringes of society in fear, awe, and wonder. Lila, homeless and alone after years of roaming the countryside, steps inside a small-town Iowa church - the only available shelter from the rain - and ignites a romance and a debate that will reshape her life. She becomes the wife of a minister, John Ames, and begins a new existence while trying to make sense of the life that preceded her newfound security. Neglected as a toddler, Lila was rescued by Doll, a canny young drifter, and brought up by her in a hardscrabble childhood. Together they crafted a life on the run, living hand to mouth with nothing but their sisterly bond and a ragged blade to protect them. Despite bouts of petty violence and moments of desperation, their shared life was laced with moments of joy and love.
My Brilliant Friend
Series: The Neapolitan Novels
The story of Elena and Lila begins in a poor but vibrant neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples. The two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else, sometimes to their own detriment, as each discovers more about who she is and suffers or delights in the throes of their intense friendship. There is a piercing honesty about Ferrante’s prose that makes My Brilliant Friend a compulsively readable portrait of two young women, and also the story of a neighbourhood, a city and a country.
My Struggle
Book 1: My Struggle
Books in Series: My Struggle (Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, Book 5, Book 6)
This autobiographical series made massive literary waves with its brutally candid depictions of events based on the author's life. Across six books, My Struggle depicts scenes from Knausgaard's life, from a childhood in an unsteady home where he found comfort in music to his present literary ambitions, culminating with his struggle to be a decent and caring father. Written with pathos and narrated with a matching level of carefully paced focus, this is a heady series that makes for thoroughly engaging listening.
Science Fiction
The Southern Reach Trilogy
Book 1-3, Area X
Books in Series: Annihilation (Book 1); Authority (Book 2); Acceptance (Book 3); Area X (Books 1-3)
Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy is one of the finest tales of sci-fi horror in recent memory, depicting a fateful expedition by four women into the mysterious, abandoned patch of coastal land known only as "Area X." They are the 12th expedition to head into this uninhabited space, in the wake of suicides, disappearances, and other tragedies that befell the first 11 teams. At times a thoughtful depiction of nature, as well as psychological horror, this trilogy asks difficult questions about humanity and the effects our actions have on the world around us. Available both as a single omnibus audiobook and in its three separate installments, this is a must-listen entry for anyone seeking a great sci-fi book series.
Bobiverse
Book 1: We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
Books in Series: We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Book 1); For We Are Many (Book 2); All These Worlds (Book 3); Heaven's River (Book 4)
Wealthy businessman Robert Johansson elects to have his head cryogenically frozen after death, but when he wakes up 117 years after succumbing to a fatal car crash, he discovers his consciousness has instead been installed as the AI of a computer matrix—the Bobiverse. Now he’s to be deployed as an interplanetary probe, hunting for life in the deepest realms of space. Named Audible’s Best Sci-Fi Audiobook of 2016, We Are Legion (We Are Bob) is a wild tongue-in-cheek interplanetary romp that’s been followed by three more wildly popular installments. With a wide range of characters, ever-evolving generations of Bob, and an absolutely unmatched narration by the brilliant Ray Porter, this series has legions of listeners hooked.
Earthseed
Book 1, Parable of the Sower
Books in Series: Parable of the Sower (Book 1); Parable of the Talents (Book 2)
The Earthseed duology is a true shining star in the wider bibliography of sci-fi master Octavia E. Butler. In this two-installment series, the Earthseed movement, a religious group formed in the chaos and violence of modern society, operates under the philosophy that God is Change, and we can Shape God. These audiobooks are structured as diary entries from the movement's unlikely leader and prophet, a teenage girl named Lauren Olamina. This short but powerful series imparts important messages about human nature and the necessity of adaptation. Between Butler's sophisticated prose and the gravitas of narrator Lynne Thigpen, this is a sci-fi series worth listening to over and over again.
The MaddAddam Trilogy
Book 1, Oryx and Crake
Books in Series: Oryx and Crake (Book 1);MaddAddam (Book 3)
In the wake of a horrible pandemic called the Waterless Flood, an ensemble of colorful and memorable characters try to navigate life in a world ravaged by famine, war, and giant mutated beasts. Margaret Atwood's signature balance of adventure and social commentary are at their finest in this series, impeccably performed by a slew of talented narrators who excel at bringing Atwood's pointed prose to life.
Thriller
Newsflesh
Book 0.5, Apocalypse Scenario #683: The Box
Books in Series: Apocalypse Scenario #683: The Box (Book 0.5); Feed (Book 1); Deadline (Book 2); Countdown (Book 2.5); Blackout (Book 3); Feedback (Book 4); All the Pretty Little Horses (Book 4.5)
In the beginning of Book 1, the zombie apocalypse has already happened. The planet, having once achieved the feat of curing cancer and eradicating the common cold, is now in the throes of a deep existential crisis. Its former prosperity begat an unrelenting virus which turns its carriers into mindless vessels with one directive: feed. Twenty years later, where the story begins, the uninfected and the zombified live in their own territories, where a great anxiety for the inevitable violence to come builds upon itself to a breaking point. Told through the point of view of a blog written by a journalist covering a presidential campaign, this series is a thrill ride of action, pathos, and horror, touching on everything from political intrigue to the morality of violence. With Grant's impeccable writing, and a brilliant cast of narrators bringing the characters to life, this series is a can't-miss for anyone seeking their next zombie fix.
The Vampire Chronicles
Book 1, Interview with the Vampire
Books in Series: Interview with the Vampire (Book 1); The Vampire Lestat (Book 2); The Queen of the Damned (Book 3); The Tale of the Body Thief (Book 4); Memnoch the Devil (Book 5); The Vampire Armand (Book 6); Merrick (Book 7); Blood and Gold (Book 8); Blackwood Farm (Book 9); Blood Canticle (Book 10); Prince Lestat (Book 11); Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis (Book 12); Blood Communion (Book 13)
Anne Rice’s name is near synonymous with the word vampire. Beginning with the iconic Interview with the Vampire, this expansive and long-running series is perfect for any listener who is a little thirsty for bloodthirst. Originating as a short story, Rice expanded it into a full novel about the life of a vampire, Louis de Pointe du Lac, who decides to tell his life story to a reporter. With 13 entries in this ongoing series, there is plenty to get into for those seeking a thrilling horror, including the travails of popular character Prince Lestat de Lioncourt.
The Gunslinger
Series: The Dark Tower
In this first novel in his epic fantasy masterpiece, Stephen King introduces listeners to one of his most enigmatic heroes, Roland of Gilead, the Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner, on a spellbinding journey into good and evil, in a desolate world which frighteningly echoes our own. In his first step towards the powerful and mysterious Dark Tower, Roland encounters an alluring woman named Alice, begins a friendship with Jake, a kid from New York, and faces an agonising choice between damnation and salvation as he pursues the Man in Black.
Fantasy
A Song of Ice and Fire
Prequel, Fire & Blood
Books in Series: A Game of Thrones (Book 1); A Clash of Kings (Book 2); A Storm of Swords (Book 3); A Feast for Crows (Book 4); A Dance with Dragons (Book 5)
Westeros was thoroughly well-imagined in the television show based on this epic series, but for fans craving more, there is still plenty of this world and these characters to experience. Roy Dotrice's narration is a particular highlight of A Song of Ice and Fire in audiobook form, as the narrator gives voice to more than 200 characters across the five books already published from this ongoing series. Martin's prose reads like it was meant to be heard out loud, delivered in an oral tradition befitting Westeros itself. Whether you're already a fan or stepping into this riveting series for the first time, it's easy to see why A Song of Ice and Fire is among the best fantasy book series of all time.
The Poppy War
Book 1, The Poppy War
Books in Series: The Poppy War (Book 1); The Dragon Republic (Book 2); The Burning God (Book 3)
This debut series from author R.F. Kuang invites listeners into a historical fantasy world influenced by the war and bloodshed of 20th-century China, tackling the intersectional issues of race, gender, and poverty along the way. Rin, a poor orphan with dark skin, is accepted into an elite military academy after surprising everyone—the officials, her guardians, and herself—with brilliant marks on a recruitment test mandated by the Empire. Once in school, she faces prejudice from her wealthier, light-skinned peers and instructors, having to navigate the rigid social order of the school while learning to harness a great power that has been awoken in her.
Harry Potter
Book 1, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Books in Series: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1); Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2); Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3); Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4); Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix(Book 5); Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince(Book 6); Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows(Book 7)
No story lover’s collection would be complete without the Harry Potter series. When 11-year-old orphan Harry finds out he’s a wizard, he’s whisked away to a strange world filled with magic, adventure, and new friends. Narrator Jim Dale, a true master of his craft, brings each character to life with a unique voice, making the performance of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone truly magical for young listeners. Author J.K. Rowling’s fantastical imagination has touched the hearts of millions with her tales of adventure, magic, and the fundamental battle between good and evil. Dale has also garnered recognition for his performance of the series—from Grammys to Audies to countless five star ratings.
