cover image Energized

Energized

Edward M. Lerner, read by Grover Gardner. Blackstone Audio, unabridged, nine CDs, 10.5 hrs., $29.95 ISBN 978-1-4708-1303-1

After a manmade catastrophe contaminates the oil fields in the Middle East, the energy-starved industrialized world must live under the thumb of an increasingly rapacious oil-rich Russia. But when an asteroid threatens the Earth, it’s American ingenuity that lassos the rock and puts it into orbit, allowing the U.S to mine the asteroid for new energy resources, as well as gain a strategic advantage around the globe. Veteran narrator Grover Gardner’s clear, smooth, well-paced narration makes for a winning audio edition. Gardner adjusts his pace and tone during moments of dramatic tension, creates distinct, effective voices for the book’s characters, and captures the drama of this futuristic techno-thriller, making this a must listen for fans of the genre. A Tor hardcover. (July)