The Audio Publishers Association has announced the finalists for this year’s Audies, the only United States awards devoted solely to audiobooks. This year, I’m the co-chair of the coveted awards, which recognize the very best in the fastest-growing segment in publishing, and I’ve had a backstage peek at the process. If you’re curious about exactly how the system works, check out our judging process and criteria.
The winners will be announced at the annual Audies Gala—the Oscars of the audiobook world—on Thursday, June 1, 2017; the ceremony will be livestreamed. In mid-March, be on the lookout for our announcement of the nominees for the premier Audies: Audiobook of the Year, Excellence in Design, Excellence in Marketing, and Excellence in Production.
Congratulations to the narrators and publishers of these noteworthy nominees! Onto the list, in which I’ve linked titles to their Booklist reviews when possible.
Audio Drama
Alien: Out of the Shadows, by Tim Lebbon and Dirk Maggs, narrated by Rutger Hauer, Corey Johnson, Matthew Lewis, Kathryn Drysdale, Laurel Lefkow, Andrea Deck, and Mac McDonald
Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Adventures: Death and the Queen, by James Goss, narrated by David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Alice Krige, Blake Ritson, Beth Chalmers, and Alan Cox
Doctor Who: The War Doctor: Only The Monstrous, by Nicholas Briggs, narrated by John Hurt, Jacqueline Pearce, Carolyn Seymour, and Lucy Briggs-Owen
In the Embers, by Brian Price and Jerry Stearns, narrated by Robin Miles, Edwin Strout, Dean Johnson, and Jacquie Maddix
The Mountaintop, by Katori Hall, narrated by Aja Naomi King and Larry Powell
Autobiography/Memoir
Buffering: Unshared Tales of a Life Fully Loaded, by Hannah Hart, narrated by Hannah Hart and Judy Young
The Greatest: My Own Story, by Muhammad Ali, narrated by Dion Graham
The Rainbow Comes and Goes, by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt, narrated by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt
When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi, narrated by Sunil Malhotra and Cassandra Campbell
Best Female Narrator
Another Brooklyn, by Jacqueline Woodson, narrated by Robin Miles
Be Frank with Me, by Julia Claiborne Johnson, narrated by Tavia Gilbert
The Little Red Chairs, by Edna O’Brien, narrated by Juliet Stevenson
The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James, narrated by Emma Thompson
The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead, narrated by Bahni Turpin
Best Male Narrator
Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff, by Pappy Pariah, narrated by Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, and cast
End of Watch, by Stephen King narrated by Will Patton
Jerusalem, by Alan Moore, narrated by Simon Vance
The Last Tribe, by Brad Manuel narrated by Scott Brick
Purloined Poodle, by Kevin Hearne, narrated by Luke Daniels
Underground Airlines, by Ben H. Winters, narrated by William DeMeritt
Business/Personal Development
Capital Offenses: Business Crime and Punishment in America’s Corporate Age, by Samuel W. Buell, narrated by LJ Ganser
Humans Need Not Apply, by Jerry Kaplan, narrated by John Pruden
Shrill, by Lindy West, narrated by Lindy West
The Storyteller’s Secret, by Carmine Gallo, narrated by Carmine Gallo
Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek, by Manu Saadia, narrated by Oliver Wyman
Erotica
The Baller, by Vi Keeland, narrated by Mackenzie Cartwright and Sean Crisden
The Darkest Torment, by Gena Showalter, narrated by Max Bellmore
Eighteen (18): Based on a True Story, by J. A. Huss, narrated by Ava Erickson
January: Calendar Girl, Book 1, by Audrey Carlan, narrated by Summer Morton
Marriage Games, by C. D. Reiss, narrated by Sebastian York, Elena Wolfe
Sweet Dreams, by Sunny Leone, narrated by Vikas Adams and Simone Lewis
Fantasy
The Bands of Mourning, by Brandon Sanderson, narrated by Michael Kramer
The Black Prism, by Brent Weeks, narrated by Simon Vance
The Everything Box, by Richard Kadrey, narrated by Oliver Wyman
The Hike, by Drew Magary, narrated by Christopher Lane
League of Dragons, by Naomi Novik, narrated by Simon Vance
Fiction
America’s First Daughter, by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, narrated by Cassandra Campbell
Darktown, by Thomas Mullen, narrated by Andre Holland
End of Watch, by Stephen King, narrated by Will Patton
Julian Fellowes’s Belgravia, by Julian Fellowes, narrated by Juliet Stevenson
Sister of Mine, by Sabra Waldfogel, narrated by Bahni Turpin
History/Biography
In Harm’s Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors, by Doug Stanton, narrated by Mark Boyett
Paul McCartney: The Life, by Philip Norman, narrated by Jonathan Keeble
A Time to Die, by Robert Moore, narrated by Pete Cross
Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution, by Nathaniel Philbrick, narrated by Scott Brick
The Year of Lear, by ames Shapiro, narrated by Robert Fass
Humor
The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy, by Rainn Wilson, narrated by Rainn Wilson
Black Man, White House, by D.L. Hughley, narrated by Mia Barron
I’m Judging You, by Luvvie Ajayi, narrated by Luvvie Ajayi
Life and Other Near Death Experiences, by Camille Pagán, narrated by Amy McFadden
You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain, by Phoebe Robinson, narrated by Phoebe Robinson
You’ll Grow Out of It, by Jessi Klein, narrated by Jessi Klein
Inspirational Faith-Based Fiction
Beric the Briton, by G.A. Henty, narrated by Brian Blessed, Brian Cox, Tom Baker, Honeysuckle Weeks, John Rhys-Davies, and a full cast
The Christmas Town, by Donna VanLiere, narrated by Donna VanLiere
The Dragon and the Raven, by G.A. Henty, narrated by Brian Blessed, John Rhys-Davies, Helen George, Sylvester McCoy, John Bell, and a full cast
Girl from the Train, by Irma Joubert, narrated by Sarah Zimmerman
Journey’s End, by Renee Ryan, narrated by Karen Peakes
Risen: The Novelization of the Major Motion Picture, by Angela Hunt, narrated by P.J. Ochlan and Alana Kerr Collins
Inspirational Faith-Based Non-Fiction
Awakening of H.K. Derryberry, by Jim Bradford and Andy Hardin, narrated by Milton Bagby
Divine Collision, by Jim Gash, narrated by Brandon Batchelar and Jason White
Forgiving My Daughter’s Killer, by Kate Grosmaire and Nancy French, narrated by Kate Rudd and Nick Podehl
Great Good Thing, by Andrew Klavan, narrated by Andrew Klavan
Space at the Table, by Brad Harper and Drew Harper, narrated by Brad Harper, Drew Harper
Literary Fiction & Classics
Another Brooklyn, by Jacqueline Woodson, narrated by Robin Miles
David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens, narrated by Richard Armitage
Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi, narrated by Dominic Hoffman
LaRose, by Louise Erdrich, narrated by Louise Erdrich
The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead, narrated by Bahni Turpin
Middle Grade
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, by Leslie Connor, narrated by Michael Crouch and Kathleen McInerney
Demon Dentist, by David Walliams, narrated by David Walliams
The Enchanted Files: Hatched, by Bruce Coville, narrated by Matthew Frow, and Jeremy Gumbs
How to Train Your Dragon: How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury, by Cressida Cowell, narrated by David Tennant
The Inquisitor’s Tale, by Adam Gidwitz, narrated by Adam Gidwitz
Multi-Voiced Performance
Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Read by the Cast of the Stage Play, by Choderlos de Laclos, narrated by Dominic West, Janet McTeer, Una Stubbs, Elaine Cassidy, Adjoa Andoh, Edward Holcroft, and Morfydd Clark
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, by Mitch Albom, narrated by Mitch Albom, Roger McGuinn, Ingrid Michaelson, John Pizzarelli, Paul Stanley, George Guidall, more
Pruno, Ramen, and a Side of Hope: Stories of Surviving Wrongful Conviction, narrated by Courtney Lance, Nikki Pope Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Kurtis
Small Great Things, by Jodi Picoult, narrated by Audra McDonald, Cassandra Campbell, Ari Fliakos
Thomas Jefferson: From Boy to Man, by Jayne D’Alessandro-Cox, narrated by James Brinkley
A Wild Swan, by Michael Cunningham, narrated by Lili Taylor and Billy Hough
Mystery
Crimson Shore, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, narrated by Rene Auberjonois
The Crossing, by Michael Connelly, narrated by Titus Welliver
A Great Reckoning, by Louise Penny, narrated by Robert Bathurst
The Heavens May Fall, by Allen Eskens, narrated by R.C. Bray, David Colacci, Amy McFadden
IQ, by Joe Ide, narrated by Sullivan Jones
Narration by Author or Authors
Dear Mr. You, by Mary-Louise Parker, narrated by Mary-Louise Parker
The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, by Amy Schumer, narrated by Amy Schumer
In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox, by Carol Burnett, narrated by Carol Burnett
LaRose, by Louise Erdrich, narrated by Louise Erdrich
A Life in Parts, by Bryan Cranston, narrated by Bryan Cranston
The View from the Cheap Seats, by Neil Gaiman, narrated by Neil Gaiman
Non-Fiction
Adnan’s Story, by Rabia Chaudry, narrated by Rabia Chaudry
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond, narrated by Dion Graham
The Gene, by Siddhartha Mukherjee, narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris
Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance, narrated by J.D. Vance
A Million Years in a Day, by Greg Jenner, narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies
Words on the Move, by John McWhorter, narrated by John McWhorter
Original Work
Alien: Out of the Shadows: An Audible Original Drama, by Tim Lebbon and Dirk Maggs, narrated by Rutger Hauer, Corey Johnson, Matthew Lewis, Kathryn Drysdale, Laurel Lefkow, Andrea Deck, and Mac McDonald
Car Talk Science: MIT Wants Its Diplomas Back, by Tom Magliozzi and Ray Magliozzi, narrated by Tom Magliozzi and Ray Magliozzi
The Dispatcher, by John Scalzi, narrated by Zachary Quinto
In the Embers, by Brian Price and Jerry Stearns, narrated by Robin Miles, Edwin Strout, Dean Johnson, Jacquie Maddix and a full cast
Pete Seeger: The Storm King, Vol. 2, by Pete Seeger, ed. Jeff Haynes, narrated by Pete Seeger
Paranormal
Blood of the Earth: Soulwood, Book 1, by Faith Hunter, narrated by Khristine Hvam
The Elementals, by Michael McDowell, narrated by R.C. Bray
Ghost Gifts, by Laura Spinella, narrated by Nicol Zanzarella
The Raven King, by Maggie Stiefvater, narrated by Will Patton
Staked, by Kevin Hearne, narrated by Luke Daniels
Romance
Dirty, by Kylie Scott, narrated by Andi Arndt
Duke of Sin, by Elizabeth Hoyt, narrated by Ashford McNab
First Star I See Tonight, by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, narrated by Nicole Poole
Glitterland: Spires, Book 1, by Alexis Hall, narrated by Nicholas Boulton
The Obsession, by Nora Roberts, narrated by Shannon McManus
Science Fiction
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife, by Meg Elison, narrated by Angela Dawe
Crosstalk, by Connie Willis, narrated by Mia Barron
The Dispatcher, by John Scalzi, narrated by Zachary Quinto
Sleeping Giants, by Sylvain Neuvel, narrated by Various
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, by Alan Dean Foster, narrated by Marc Thompson
Short Stories/Collections
The Brink: Stories, by Austin Bunn, narrated by Austin Bunn, Luke Daniels, Tanya Eby, Ralph Lister, Amy McFadden, Mikael Naramore, and Nick Podehl
Certain Dark Things, by M.J. Pack, narrated by Jacob York
Coffee at Luke’s, ed. by Jennifer Crusie, narrated by Colby Elliott
The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke, by Arthur C. Clarke, narrated by Ray Porter, Jonathan Davis, Ralph Lister
East, West, by Salman Rushdie, narrated by Sunil Malhotra and Steven Crossley
Killer Women: Crime Club Anthology #1, by Louise Millar, Alex Marwood, and Tammy Cohen, narrated by Clare Corbett, Adjoa Andoh, Rache Atkins, and Carl Prekopp
Thriller/Suspense
Cross Justice, by James Patterson, narrated by Ruben Santiago Hudson and Jefferson Mays
The Fall of Moscow Station, by Mark Henshaw, narrated by Eric G. Dove
Hidden Bodies, by Caroline Kepnes, narrated by Santino Fontana
Home, by Harlan Coben, narrated by Steven Weber
The Short Drop, by Matthew FitzSimmons, narrated by James Patrick Cronin
Young Adult
The Game of Love and Death, by Martha Brockenbrough, narrated by Susan Hanfield
Gemina, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, narrated by Carla Corvo, Steve West and Various
My Lady Jane, by Cynthia Hand, narrated by Katherine Kellgren
Salt to the Sea, by Ruta Sepetys, narrated by Jorjeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris and Michael Crouch
Stalking Jack the Ripper, by Kerri Maniscalco and James Patterson, narrated by Nicola Barber
Winter, by Marissa Meyer, narrated by Rebecca Soler
Young Listeners
28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World, by Charles R. Smith, Jr., narrated by various
Island Treasures: Growing up in Cuba, by Alma Flor Ada and Antonio Martorell, narrated by Trini Alvarado
The Quentin Blake and John Yeoman Collection, by Quentin Blake and John Yeoman, narrated by Stephen Thorne
The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots, by Beatrix Potter, narrated by Helen Mirren
Voice of Freedom, by Carole Boston Weatherford, narrated by Janina Edwards
The Wooden Prince: Out of Abaton, by John Claude Bemis, narrated by Ralph Lister