Robin Sachs has narrated 40 audiobooks on Listento.it by 44 authors, with an average listener rating of 4.5★ across 415 ratings. The most-rated is The Snowman.
A Hunger for the Infinite
Summary
A Hunger for the Infinite, which first appeared in Robert Silverberg's Far Horizons anthology, is a novella that takes place in the universe of "The Galactic Center Saga", detailing a galactic war between mechanical and biological life. Here, the pilots had made it to True Center in order to destroy something, anything, important to the Mechs, but Paris had something else on his mind. A story of the Mantis, and the decline of humans beginning in 3600 AD.
©1999 Gregory Benford (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Lisbon
Summary
Throughout the Second World War, Lisbon was at the very center of the world’s attention and was the only European city in which both the Allies and the Axis powers openly operated. Portugal was frantically trying to hold on to its self-proclaimed wartime neutrality but in reality was increasingly caught in the middle of the economic, and naval, wars between the Allies and the Nazis. The story is not, however, a conventional tale of World War II in that barely a shot was fired or a bomb dropped. Instead, it is a gripping tale of intrigue, betrayal, opportunism, and double-dealing, all of which took place in the Cidade da Luz and along its idyllic Atlantic coastline. It is the story of how a relatively poor European country not only survived the war physically intact but came out of it in 1945 much wealthier than it had been when war broke out in 1939. Portugal’s emergence as a prosperous European Union nation would be financed in part, it turns out, by a cache of Nazi gold. During the war, Lisbon was a temporary home to much of Europe’s exiled royalty, over one million refugees seeking passage to the US, and to a host of spies, secret police, captains of industry, bankers, prominent Jews, writers and artists, escaped POWs, and black marketeers. An operations officer writing in 1944 described the daily scene at Lisbon’s airport as being like the movie Casablanca - times twenty. In this riveting narrative, renowned historian Neill Lochery draws on his relationships with high-level Portuguese contacts, records recently uncovered from Portuguese secret police and banking archives, and other unpublished documents to offer a revelatory portrait of the war’s backstage.
©2011 Neill Lochery (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Lombard Street
Summary
In Lombard Street, the money market is pictured as it really was in 1850-1870 and as Bagehot saw it with philosophic eyes. Beginning with the sentence “The objects which you see in Lombard Street are the Bank of England, the joint stock banks, the private banks and the discount houses”, he describes briefly and clearly the respective functions of these different bodies in the organism of the city, according to his own close observation as a banker himself, knowing the ways and thoughts of the men he describes, and as a man of business likewise in other ways, knowing at first hand the relation of banking to the trade and commerce of the country.
Public Domain (P)2009 Audible, Inc.
Die, Snow White! Die, Damn You!
Summary
Audie Award Nominee, Original Work, 2013 Audie Award Nominee, Original Work, 2013 With the premiere of two new film versions of the Snow White tale, Blackstone enters the fray with its own adult, edgy, and not altogether serious full-cast exposé of fairy-taledom. At last it can be told! Was Snow White really as pure as the driven snow? Did her allegedly wicked stepmother get a bum rap from the Grimm brothers? What went on behind the closed Dutch doors of the dwarves’ cottage? How many handsome princes does it take to screw in a light bulb? These and other burning questions may or may not be answered in this new pseudogothic audio play that Blackstone commissioned from award-winning author and audio dramatist Yuri Rasovsky.
©2012 Yuri Rasovsky (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Looking for Jake
Summary
“Miéville moves effortlessly into the first division of those who use the tools and weapons of the fantastic to define and create the fiction of the coming century.” (Neil Gaiman) What William Gibson did for science fiction, China Miéville has done for fantasy, shattering old paradigms with fiercely imaginative works of startling, often shocking, intensity. Now, from this brilliant young writer comes a groundbreaking collection of stories, many of them previously unavailable in the United States, and including four never-before-published tales - one set in Miéville’s signature fantasy world of New Crobuzon. Among the 14 superb fictions are: "Jack": Following the events of his acclaimed novel Perdido Street Station, this tale of twisted attachment and horrific revenge traces the rise and fall of the Remade Robin Hood known as Jack Half-a-Prayer. "Familiar": Spurned by its creator, a sorceress’s familiar embarks on a strange and unsettling odyssey of self-discovery in a coming-of-age story like no other. “Reports of Certain Events in London”: In which a writer named China Miéville receives a package containing clues to a vast and ongoing - yet utterly secret - war...a war about to turn a most unexpected corner. “The Tain”: In this major story, winner of the Locus Award for Best Novella, a post-apocalyptic London is overrun by vampires and monsters, alien yet weirdly familiar - and one man holds the future of humanity in his hands. Plus 10 other tales - including “On the Way to the Front”, a graphic short story illustrated by Eisner Award-nominated Liam Sharp
©2005 China Mieville (P)2011 Random House Audio
Voyagers of the Titanic
Summary
Late in the night of April 14, 1912, the mighty Titanic, a passenger liner traveling from Southampton, England, to New York City, struck an iceberg four hundred miles south of Newfoundland. Its sinking over the next two and a half hours brought the ship—mythological in name and size—100 years of infamy. Of the 2,240 people aboard the ship, 1,517 perished either by drowning or by freezing to death in the frigid North Atlantic waters. What followed the disaster was tantamount to a worldwide outpouring of grief: In New York, Paris, London, and other major cities, people lined the streets and crowded around the offices of the White Star Line, the Titanic’s shipping company, to inquire for news of their loved ones and for details about the lives of some of the famous people of their time. While many accounts of the Titanic’s voyage focus on the technical or mechanical aspects of why the ship sank, Voyagers of the Titanic follows the stories of the men, women, and children whose lives intersected on the vessel’s fateful last day, covering the full range of first, second, and third class—from plutocrats and captains of industry to cobblers and tailors looking for a better life in America. Richard Davenport-Hines delves into the fascinating lives of those who ate, drank, reveled, dreamed, and died aboard the mythic ship: from John Jacob Astor IV, the wealthiest person on board, whose comportment that night was subject to speculation and gossip for years after the event, to Archibald Butt, the much-beloved military aide to Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft, who died helping others into the Titanic’s few lifeboats. With magnificent prose, Voyagers of the Titanic also brings to life the untold stories of the ship’s middle and third classes—clergymen, teachers, hoteliers, engineers, shopkeepers, counterjumpers, and clerks—each of whom had a story that not only illuminates the fascinating ship but also the times in which it sailed. In addition, Davenport-Hines explores the fascinating politics behind the Titanic’s creation, which involved larger-than-life figures such as J. P. Morgan, the ship’s owner, and Lord Pirrie, the ship’s builder. The memory of this tragedy still remains a part of the American psyche and Voyagers of the Titanic brings that clear night back to us with all of its drama and pathos.
©2012 Richard Davenport-Hines (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers
The Doom of Kings
Summary
The return of the shifter Geth!In the wake of the Last War, a new king has risen and seeks to unite the newly formed goblin kingdom of Darguun under his rule. He seeks an ancient scepter, a symbol under which to unite his people and hires Geth, a shifter who owns one of the trio of artifacts to which the scepter once belonged, to find it. But will the artifact do what the Darguul king needs it to?
©2008 Wizards of the Coast LLC (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Hitler
Summary
An intimate friend of Adolf Hitler’s who turned against him during the Nazi rise to power delves into the character of one of history’s most evil dictators. Of American and German parentage, Ernst Hanfstaengl graduated from Harvard and ran the family business in New York for a dozen years before returning to Germany in 1921. By chance he heard a then little-known Adolf Hitler speaking in a Munich beer hall and, mesmerized by his extraordinary oratorical power, was convinced the man would some day come to power. As Hitler’s fanatical theories and ideas hardened, however, he surrounded himself with rabid extremists such as Goering, Hess, and Goebbels, and Hanfstaengl became estranged from him. But with the Nazi’s major unexpected political triumph in 1930, Hitler became a national figure, and he invited Hanfstaengl to be his foreign press secretary. It is from this unique insider’s position that the author provides a vivid, intimate view of Hitler - with his neuroses, repressions, and growing megalomania - over the next several years. In 1937, four years after Hitler came to power, relations between Hanfstaengl and the Nazis had deteriorated to such a degree that he was forced to flee for his life, escaping to Switzerland. Here is a portrait of Hitler as you’ve rarely seen him.
©1957, 2011 Ernst Hanfstaengl. Introduction copyright c. 1994, 2011 by John Toland. Afterword copyright c. 1994, 2011 by Egon Hanfstaengl (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Bird Sense
Summary
What is it like to be a swift, flying at over one hundred kilometres an hour? Or a kiwi, plodding flightlessly among the humid undergrowth in the pitch dark of a New Zealand night? And what is going on inside the head of a nightingale as it sings, and how does its brain improvise? Bird Sense addresses questions like these and many more, by describing the senses of birds that enable them to interpret their environment and to interact with each other. Our affinity for birds is often said to be the result of shared senses - vision and hearing - but how exactly do their senses compare with our own? And what about a bird's sense of taste, or smell, or touch, or the ability to detect the earth's magnetic field? Or the extraordinary ability of desert birds to detect rain hundreds of kilometres away - how do they do it? Bird Sense is based on a conviction that we have consistently underestimated what goes on in a bird's head. Our understanding of bird behaviour is simultaneously informed and constrained by the way we watch and study them. By drawing attention to the way these frameworks both facilitate and inhibit discovery, Birkhead identifies ways we can escape from them to explore new horizons in bird behaviour. There has never been a popular book about the senses of birds. No one has previously looked at how birds interpret the world or the way the behaviour of birds is shaped by all their senses. A lifetime spent studying birds has provided Tim Birkhead with a wealth of observation and a unique understanding of birds and their behaviour that is firmly grounded in science.
©2012 Tim Birkhead (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
The Factory
Summary
A dozen stories of espionage in Berlin, from one of the genre’s mastersIn 1990—after the Iron Curtain has lifted but before East and West Germany become one—an uneasy truce exists between the spy agencies of Berlin’s two halves. As the governments of the divided state negotiate reunification, espionage continues quietly. That calm is about to explode. An English agent, on a routine collection of microfilm on the other side of Checkpoint Charlie, is arrested for spying, and all hell threatens to break loose. He is the fourth officer in six months to fall, and the arrest confirms everyone’s fear: There is a mole in English intelligence. Responsibility falls on Samuel Bell, the head of the Berlin espionage department, nicknamed “the Factory.” But Bell’s search for the mole—an unwanted strain on his alcohol-frayed nerves—is only one of this collection’s dozen stories of life in the Factory, where deception is rampant and death is never far behind.
©1990 Brian Freemantle (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale
Summary
Audie Award Nominee, Children's Titles for Ages 8-12, 2013 Tired of dodging fishwives’ brooms and carriage wheels, alley cat Skilley yearns for the comfort of Ye olde Cheshire Cheese, a popular London inn. When he hears that the innkeeper is in need of a mouser, he hatches a scheme so audacious it will surely set him up for the rest of his nine lives. Once installed at the Cheese, Skilley looks forward to a life of ease. But a resident mouse named Pip uncovers Skilley’s scandalous secret, and the desperate cat is forced to make a pact with him. The two become allies, and harmony reigns until they are drawn into an intrigue involving a tyrannical cook, a strange visitor hidden in the attic, and an evil tomcat called Pinch. The ensuing mayhem threatens the peace of Ye olde Cheshire Cheese - and the entire British empire!
©2011 Carmen Agra Deedy, Randall Wright (P)2011 Listening Library
Game of Thrones and Philosophy
Summary
An in-depth look at the philosophical issues behind HBO's Game of Thrones television series and the books that inspired it.... George R. R. Martin's New York Times best-selling epic fantasy book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the HBO television show adapted from it, have earned critical acclaim and inspired fanatic devotion. This book delves into the many philosophical questions that arise in this complex, character-driven series, including: Is it right for a "good" king to usurp the throne of a "bad" one and murder his family? How far should you go to protect your family and its secrets? In a fantasy universe with medieval mores and ethics, can female characters reflect modern feminist ideals? Gives new perspectives on the characters, storylines, and themes of Game of Thrones Draws on great philosophers from ancient Greece to modern America to explore intriguing topics such as the strange creatures of Westeros, the incestuous relationship of Jaime and Cersei Lannister, and what the kings of Westeros can show us about virtue and honor (or the lack thereof) as they play their game of thrones Essential listening for fans, Game of Thrones and Philosophy will enrich your experience of your favorite medieval fantasy series.
©2012 John Wiley & Sons (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Word of Traitors
Summary
The horror of war, the thrill of adventure, the magic of Eberron While trying to find the assassin who killed the Emperor of Dhakaan, the heroes launch a plan to keep the Rod of Kings out of the hands of his unstable successor. To do so, they must stay one step ahead of political factions; thwart a murderous new cult leader and her lackey, hellbent on killing the heroes; and prevent full-scale war with the Five Nations.
©2009 Wizards of the Coast LLC (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Coffins
Summary
A chill inducing and masterful collection of vampire tales, culled from the dark recesses of the nefarious and world renowned Vampires Archives. Coffins, the third volume in the mass market series, contains some of the best of the best of vampire fiction. Including Harlan Ellison, Robert Bloch, Edgar Allan Poe, and F. Paul Wilson, it takes its listeners deep inside the crypts of the living dead, in all their supernatural splendor. Featuring: "Heart Pounding Shrieks" "Blood Soaked Moonlit Hunts" "High Stakes Adventure" "Evil Assignations"
©2010 Otto Penzler (P)2010 Random House
Chasing Venus
Summary
The author of the highly acclaimed Founding Gardeners now gives us an enlightening chronicle of the first truly international scientific endeavor - the 18th century quest to observe the transit of Venus and measure the solar system. On June 6, 1761, the world paused to observe a momentous occasion: the first transit of Venus between the earth and the sun in more than a century. Through that observation, astronomers could calculate the size of the solar system - but only if they could compile data from many different points of the globe, all recorded during the short period of the transit. Overcoming incredible odds and political strife, astronomers from Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Sweden, and the American colonies set up observatories in remote corners of the world, only to have their efforts thwarted by unpredictable weather and warring armies. Fortunately, transits of Venus occur in pairs: eight years later, the scientists would have another opportunity to succeed. Chasing Venus brings to life the personalities of the 18th century astronomers who embarked upon this complex and essential scientific venture, painting a vivid portrait of the collaborations, the rivalries, and the volatile international politics that hindered them at every turn. In the end, what they accomplished would change our conception of the universe and would forever alter the nature of scientific research.
©2012 Andrea Wulf (P)2012 Random House Audio
Acquired Tastes
Summary
With an updated foreword by Peter Mayle, Acquired Tastes, originally published in 1993, is a celebration of life's extravagances. Exploring an aspect of human nature that, although lying dormant in hard economic times, is capable of erupting with the hint of good fortune and the drop of a credit card, it samples the luxuries of Havana cigars, Parisian Hotels, bespoke London tailoring, hand-made shoes, and the proper color for a stretch limousine. It weighs the cost versus the pleasure of keeping a mistress, and explains the proper way to eat true caviar, all while providing the listener with hours of pure, unadulterated escapism.
©2011 Peter Mayle (P)2011 Escargot Books Online Ltd
Skios
Summary
On the private Greek island of Skios, the high-paying guests of a world-renowned foundation prepare for the annual keynote address, to be given this year by Dr. Norman Wilfred, an eminent authority on the scientific organization of science. He turns out to be surprisingly youthful, handsome, and charming. Everyone is soon eating out of his hands. No one more than Nikki, the foundation's attractive and efficient organizer.
Meanwhile, Nikki's old friend Georgie has rashly agreed to spend a furtive horizontal weekend with a notorious schemer. Trapped there with her instead is a pompous, balding individual called Dr. Norman Wilfred, who has lost his whereabouts, his luggage, his temper - indeed, everything he possesses other than the text of a lecture on the scientific organization of science.
©2012 Michael Frayn (P)2012 Dreamscape Media, LLC
The Return of Moriarty
Summary
Once again, the game is afoot . . . What really happened in Switzerland between Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes in 1891? And why is Holmes, now in London at 221B Baker Street, curiously uncooperative with Scotland Yard’s inquiries? Furthermore, why has Moriarty planned a grand meeting with the international crime syndicate? These are the questions that make up the larger mystery of the sinister Professor Moriarty’s return.
©1974 John Gardner. All rights reserved. Introduction copyright © 2012 by Otto Penzler. All rights reserved. (P)2012 AudioGO
Alice in Wonderland
Summary
Alice stumbles into the world of Wonderland. Will she get home? Not if the Queen of Hearts has her way. Here is Lewis Carroll's iconic tale of Alice's adventures down the rabbit hole.
©2009 trout lake media (P)2009 Trout Lake Media
Her Shallow Grave: An Absolutely Gripping and Pulse-Racing Crime Thriller
Summary
She runs her trembling fingers over the dark, damp walls surrounding her. Above her head, she hears heavy footsteps. She knows she has nowhere to hide, and as the door to the cellar is flung open, she finally sees his face. It’s winter in Black Rock Falls, and as tourists flock to the small town to take in the snowy mountain peaks, one visitor makes a sickening discovery. The frozen body of a young woman hangs from a tree on the outskirts of town. Detective Jenna Alton is called in to investigate. Jenna’s stomach turns as she surveys the ice-cold remains, and she’s soon alerted to similar burial sites nearby. With no missing persons reported, Jenna and her deputy, David Kane, fear Black Rock Falls is being used as a dumping ground for bodies. As the body count mounts up, Jenna is more determined than ever to find the person responsible. But as she tries to catch the killer out, he outsmarts her once again and Jenna begins to wonder if he knows her next move. Could he be closer to her than she thinks? When the investigation takes Jenna to a homeless shelter right in the heart of the community, she fears for the life of a woman who hasn’t been seen for a few days. It’s clear the killer is beginning to escalate, so Jenna ramps up the investigation and puts herself in unthinkable danger. Can she catch the murderer off guard, or does he already know she’s on her way? Has Jenna finally met a killer she can’t catch? If you like Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh, and Kendra Elliot, you will love this thrilling new book from best-selling crime author D. K. Hood.
©2020 D. K. Hood (P)2020 Bookouture