Most popular audiobooks in fantasy & science fiction

Science fiction and fantasy are some of the most popular genres of books available today. Whether you’re shopping for an unabridged or abridged version of a book by Tim Gerard Reynolds, George R.R. Martin, or another popular author, you’re looking at books that fall into this category.

From a Game of Thrones book series to a Nebula Award-winning novel, there are thousands of fantasy and sci-fi books for first time readers and those who have already delved deep into the genre.

You likely hear science fiction and fantasy often listed together, and that is because it’s so common for these two genres to collide. When you’re looking for an epic fantasy or interested in a science-fiction or speculative fiction book about a world war on another planet, these are the genres to look for.

From short stories to classic novels, we’ve put together a helpful list of the audiobooks you may want to read or listen to as you get interested in these two amazing and popular genres of books.

Best fantasy audiobooks

There are many fantasy audiobooks available today. Not all books have audiobook versions, though, or you may not like the reader. Some of the most popular audiobook voiceovers are done by Simon Vance or Scott Brick. Some have a full cast of actors playing different characters.

However, if your book doesn’t have any audio version or you want to listen to the novel in a voice of your choice, consider using the popular text-to-speech reader Speechify. With Speechify, you can download your preferred book to your Amazon Kindle or as a .pdf file to your device of choice, turn on the application, and begin listening to the printed text audibly in a natural-sounding, customizable voice right away. It’s one of the fastest and best ways to get started with audio.

Once you’re set up to listen to a book, you’ll want to find one to jump into. Here are five fantasy books we think you’ll enjoy!

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

This book goes over humanity’s battle to survive on a terraformed planet after the Earth dies. Two civilizations collide in this epic stand-alone fantasy-mixed science fiction novel.

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

This book is a dark fantasy that follows a 17-year-old boy who gets the key to a parallel world. He finds himself at the center of a battle between good and evil, as well as one for their world and his own.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings is one of several books in a series by Tolkien. It was once a New York Times best seller and is one of the first book choices for young adults getting into the fantasy genre. It follows elves, hobbits, wizards, men, and dwarves as they try to destroy “the ring” in the fires of the Crack of Doom, the place where it was forged.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Red Rising is a sci-fi fantasy novel that you can find in sci-fi audiobooks online or in text format. The book is noted as a dystopian fiction and has elements of war and military action. It is about Darrow, a member of the lowest caste in a color-coded society who tries to infiltrate the ruling class and make a better life for future generations.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

American Gods is a Hugo-award winner about a man who is released from prison days after his wife’s death. He comes into contact with Mr. Wednesday, who claims he was a former god and king of America.

Best science fiction audiobooks

If fantasy isn’t your thing and you’d rather stick with science fiction, you may enjoy one of the following five books. These have topped best-seller lists and are extremely popular, so you can join book groups or forums to discuss what you’ve read as well.

Here is a selection of five science-fiction books we think you won’t be able to stop listening to.

Dune by Frank Herbert

Dune is an epic science fiction book that follows a noble family that is involved in a war for control over the galaxy’s limited, valuable assets.

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

This is a three-book service that refers to the three-body problem in orbital mechanics. The book title is a pun for a novel about murdered astrophysicists.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

The story follows Ender Wiggins, a boy sent to a training game to learn to battle alien races. This is one of several popular military sci-fi books that looks at the balance between gaming and reality, making people begin to question the difference between right and wrong and what it really means to destroy your enemies.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Set in the dystopian future, the book follows a world that is dying while its inhabitants spend their time in a virtual world called OASIS.

Dead Trees Give No Shelter by Wil Wheaton

This book is written by a star of the Star Trek series, Wil Wheaton. It follows a man named Jay Turner who is “adrift” after his brother’s murder during their childhood. It’s a supernatural, horror fiction novella that you can finish in a shorter period of time thanks to its lighter length.

FAQ

What is the best fantasy audiobook?

There are many popular fantasy audiobooks. Some of the best sci-fi and fantasy books include The Hobbit, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Martian by Andy Weir, and the fantasy series Harry Potter.

Can a book be both science fiction and fantasy?

Sometimes, books are both science fiction and fantasy. If there are elements of fantasy, like magic, combined with science fiction, like traveling between planets, then the book may fall into both categories.

What fantasy book should I listen to on Audible?

If you’re looking for a fantasy book, The Liveship Traders series by Robin Hobb is currently one of the most popular on Audible.

How do you combine science fiction and fantasy?

Science fiction & fantasy can be combined with elements of both. Common tropes, like aliens and space travel, may be combined with magic or the occult, for example.

What is the best science fiction audiobook?

Some popular science fiction audiobooks include Ender’s Game, Star Wars and Dune. These are among the most popular of all time.

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