The 2016 Audie Awards were presented on May 11 at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium during the 2016 BEA.

The award recognize distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association (APA).

Here are the winners of genre interest.

AUDIO DRAMA

Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book: The Mowgli Stories

by Rudyard Kipling

Narrated by Bill Bailey, Richard E. Grant, Colin Salmon, Tim McInnerny, Bernard Cribbins, Celia Imrie, and Martin Shaw (Audible Studios)

The magical storytelling and unforgettable characters in Ben Doyle and Richard Kurti’s audio adaptation of this children’s classic have been brought to life by many well known voices from British film, TV, radio and comedy.

FANTASY

Nice Dragons Finish Last

by Rachel Aaron

Narrated by Vikas Adam (Audible Studios)

As the smallest dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius survives by a simple code: keep quiet, don’t cause trouble, and stay out of the way of bigger dragons. But this meek behavior doesn’t fly in a family of ambitious magical predators, and his mother, Bethesda the Heartstriker, has finally reached the end of her patience.

Now, sealed in human form and banished to the DFZ–a vertical metropolis built on the ruins of Old Detroit–Julius has one month to prove he can be a ruthless dragon or kiss his true shape goodbye forever. But in a city of modern mages and vengeful spirits where dragons are considered monsters to be exterminated, he’s going to need some serious help to survive this test.

He only hopes humans are more trustworthy than dragons…

HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY

A Man on the Moon

by Andrew Chaikin and Tom Hanks

Narrated by Bronson Pinchot (Audiobooks.com Publishing)

This acclaimed portrait of heroism and ingenuity captures a watershed moment in human history. The astronauts themselves have called it the definitive account of their missions.

On the night of July 20, 1969, our world changed forever when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. Based on in-depth interviews with 23 of the 24 moon voyagers, as well as those who struggled to get the program moving, A Man on the Moon conveys every aspect of the Apollo missions with breathtaking immediacy and stunning detail.

MIDDLE GRADE

Echo

by Pam Munoz Ryan

Narrated by Mark Bramhall, David deVries, MacLeod Andrews, and Rebecca Soler (Scholastic Audio)

Music, magic, and a real-life miracle meld in this virtuosic, genre-defying tour de force from storytelling maestro Pam Munoz Ryan.

Lost and alone in the forbidden Black Forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and suddenly finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.

Decades later, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California each become interwoven when the very same harmonica lands in their lives, binding them by an invisible thread of destiny. All the children face daunting challenges: rescuing a father, protecting a brother, holding a family together. How their suspenseful solo stories converge in an orchestral crescendo will resound in your heart long after the last note has been struck.

Richly imagined and structurally innovative, ECHO pushes the boundaries of form and shows us what is possible in how we tell stories.

MULTI-VOICED PERFORMANCE

Illuminae

by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Narrated by ONarrated by Olivia Taylor Dudley, Lincoln Hoppe, and Jonathan McClain (Listening Library/Penguin Random House Audio)

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

NARRATION BY THE AUTHOR or AUTHORS

Born with Teeth

by Kate Mulgrew

narrated by Kate Mulgrew (Hachette Audio)

Raised by unconventional Irish Catholics who knew “how to drink, how to dance, how to talk, and how to stir up the devil,” Kate Mulgrew grew up with poetry and drama in her bones. But in her mother, a would-be artist burdened by the endless arrival of new babies, young Kate saw the consequences of a dream deferred. Determined to pursue her own no matter the cost, at 18 she left her small Midwestern town for New York, where, studying with the legendary Stella Adler, she learned the lesson that would define her as an actress: “Use it,” Adler told her. Whatever disappointment, pain, or anger life throws in your path, channel it into the work

It was a lesson she would need. At twenty-two, just as her career was taking off, she became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter. Having already signed the adoption papers, she was allowed only a fleeting glimpse of her child. As her star continued to rise, her life became increasingly demanding and fulfilling, a whirlwind of passionate love affairs, life-saving friendships, and bone-crunching work.

Through it all, Mulgrew remained haunted by the loss of her daughter, until, two decades later, she found the courage to face the past and step into the most challenging role of her life, both on and off screen.We know Kate Mulgrew for the strong women she’s played–Captain Janeway on Star Trek; the tough-as-nails “Red” on Orange is the New Black. Now, we meet the most inspiring and memorable character of all: herself.

By turns irreverent and soulful, laugh-out-loud funny and heart-piercingly sad, BORN WITH TEETH is the breathtaking memoir of a woman who dares to live life to the fullest, on her own terms.

PARANORMAL

White Trash Zombie Gone Wild

by Diana Rowland

Narrated by Allison McLemore (Audible Studios)

Angel Crawford has buried her loser past and is cruising along in undead high gear—that is, until a murder-by-decapitation sends her on a hazardous detour.

As Angel hunts for the killer, she uncovers a scheme that would expose zombies to the public and destroy the life she’s built, and she’s determined not to rest until she finds out who’s behind it.  

Soon she’s neck-deep in lies, redneck intrigue, zombie hunters, and rot-sniffing cadaver dogs. It’s up to her to unravel the truth and snuff out the conspiracy before the existence of zombies makes headline news and she’s outed as a monster.  But Angel hasn’t quite escaped the pill-popping ghosts of her past—not with an illicit zombie pharmaceutical at her fingertips. Good thing she’s absolutely sure she can handle the drug’s unpredictable side effects and still take down the bad guys…or maybe she’s only one bad choice away from being dead meat—for real this time.

Angel knows a thing or two about kicking ass, but now the ass she needs to kick might be her own.

SCIENCE FICTION

Jurassic Park

by Michael Crichton

Narrated by Scott Brick (Brilliance Audio)

An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now humankind’s most thrilling fantasies have come true. Creatures extinct for eons roam Jurassic Park with their awesome presence and profound mystery, and all the world can visit them—for a price.

Until something goes wrong. . . .In Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton taps all his mesmerizing talent and scientific brilliance to create his most electrifying technothriller.

YOUNG ADULT

Lair of Dreams

by Libba Bray

Narrated by January LaVoy (Listening Library/Penguin Random House)

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, and earned the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.

Piano-playing Henry Dubois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret–for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.

As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess….As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?

In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.

YOUNG LISTENERS

Little Shop of Monsters

by R.L. Stine and Marc Brown;

Narrated by Jack Black (Hachette Audio)

Welcome to the Little Shop of Monsters! Do you want a SNEEZER? A TICKLER? Or one of the CREEPIEST monsters of all? Come on in and choose your favorite, if you dare (before one of them chooses YOU!).

Renowned children’s book creators Marc Brown and R.L. Stine join forces for the very first time–in Stine’s picture book debut–with a tale that is monstrously good fun. With a narrative voice reminiscent of The Monster at the End of This Book, but with Stine’s signature spooky charm and Brown’s wildly imaginative illustrations, this is sure to be a new Halloween favorite–and a spooky good time all year round.

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN

The Hunger Games Trilogy Collection

by Suzanne Collins

Package/cover design by Kathlyn Miller (Recorded and published by Scholastic Audio; distributed by Brilliance Publishing, Inc.)

Suzanne Collins’ extraordinary, worldwide-bestselling trilogy has captivated readers and listeners around the world. The Hunger Games trilogy is now available in a special edition MP3-CD collection.

EXCELLENCE IN MARKETING

Locke & Key

by Joe Hill land Gabriel Rodriguez

Haley Joel Osment, Tatiana Maslany, Kate Mulgrew, and a full cast (Audible Studios)

Based on the best-selling, award-winning graphic novel series Locke & Key – written by acclaimed suspense novelist Joe Hill (NOS4A2, Horns) and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez – this multicast, fully dramatized audio production brings the images and words to life.

EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION

Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book: The Mowgli Stories

by Rudyard Kipling

Narrated by Bill Bailey, Richard E. Grant, Colin Salmon, Tim McInnerny, Bernard Cribbins, Celia Imrie, and Martin Shaw (Audible Studios)

The magical storytelling and unforgettable characters in Ben Doyle and Richard Kurti’s audio adaptation of this children’s classic have been brought to life by many well known voices from British film, TV, radio and comedy.

[Thanks to Andrew Porter for the story.]

The 2016 Audie Awards shortlist has been released. The award recognize distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association (APA). Finalists are announced in 25 categories.

Here are the categories of genre interest.

AUDIO DRAMA

• Amok by Sebastian Fitzek, narrated by a full cast, published by Audible Studios
• Christmas Eve, 1914 by Charles Olivier, narrated by a full cast, published by Audible Studios
• Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book: The Mowgli Stories by Rudyard Kipling, narrated by a full cast, published by Audible Studios
• The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman, narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt, Lara Pulver, Niamh Walsh, Adjoa Andoh, Peter Forbes, John Sessions, and Michael Maloney, published by HarperAudio.
• The Starling Project by Jeffrey Deaver, narrated by Alfred Molina and a full cast, published by Audible Studios

AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR

• Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew, narrated by Kate Mulgrew, published by Hachette Audio
• The Courage to Act: A Memoir of a Crisis and Its Aftermath by Ben S. Bernanke, narrated by Grover Gardner, published by Brilliance Audio
• Ghost Boy by Martin Pistorius, narrated by Simon Bubb, published by Thomas Nelson/HarperAudio
• I Must Say by Martin Short, narrated by Martin Short, published by HarperAudio
• Keep Moving by Dick Van Dyke, narrated by Dick Van Dyke, published by Blackstone Audio, Inc.
• Travels by Michael Crichton, narrated by Christopher Lane, published by Brilliance Audio

BEST FEMALE NARRATOR

• All the Stars in Heaven by Adriana Trigiani, narrated by Blair Brown, published by HarperAudio
• The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant, narrated by Linda Lavin, published by Simon & Schuster Audio
• Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray, narrated by January LaVoy, published by Listening Library/Penguin  Random House Audio
• The Lost Landscape by Joyce Carol Oates, narrated by Cassandra Campbell, published by HarperAudio
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Polly Stone, published by Macmillan Audio
• Wild Rover No More by L.A. Meyer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren, published by Listen & Live Audio

BEST MALE NARRATOR

• Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut, narrated by John Malkovich, published by Audible Studios
• Classic Love Poems by various authors, narrated by Richard Armitage, published by Audible Studios
• Dead Wake by Erik Larson, narrated by Scott Brick, published by Books on Tape/Penguin Random House Audio
• The English Spy by Daniel Silva, narrated by George Guidall, published by HarperAudio
• Finders Keepers by Stephen King, narrated by Will Patton, published by Simon & Schuster Audio
• Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, narrated by Scott Brick, published by Brilliance Audio

FANTASY

• Ascension: The Trysmoon Saga, Book 1 by Brian K. Fuller, narrated by Simon Vance, published by Podium Publishing
• The Cycle of Arawn by Edward W. Robertson, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds, published by Podium Publishing
• The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, narrated by Robin Miles, published by Hachette Audio
• Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron, narrated by Vikas Adam, published by Audible Studios
• Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds, published by Audible Studios

FICTION

• Citizens Creek by Lalita Tademy, narrated by Bahni Turpin and J. D. Jackson, published by Brilliance Audio
• A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson, narrated by Alex Jennings, published by Hachette Audio
• Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal, narrated by Amy Ryan and Michael Stuhlbarg, published by Books on Tape/Penguin Random House Audio
• The Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig, narrated by David Aaron Baker, published by Recorded Books
• The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Polly Stone, published by Macmillan Audio
• The Sellout by Paul Beatty, narrated by Prentice Onayemi, published by Audible Studios

HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY

• In Search of Sir Thomas Browne by Hugh Aldersey-Williams, read by Simon Vance, published by HighBridge Audio/Recorded Books
• A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin and Tom Hanks, narrated by Bronson Pinchot, published by Audiobooks.com Publishing
• Operation Nemesis by Eric Bogosian, narrated by Eric Bogosian, published by Hachette Audio
• Pacific Pacific by Simon Winchester, narrated by Simon Winchester, published by HarperAudio
• Texas Rising by Stephen L. Moore, narrated by P.J. Ochlan, published by HarperAudio

MIDDLE GRADE

• Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan, narrated by Mark Bramhall, David deVries, MacLeod Andrews, and Rebecca Soler, published by Scholastic Audio
• The Enchanted Files: Diary of a Mad Brownie by Bruce Coville, narrated by various people, published by Listening Library/Penguin Random House Audio
• The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book V by Maryrose Wood, narrated by Katherine Kellgren, published by HarperAudio
• Jump Back, Paul: The Life and Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar by Sally Derby, narrated by Dion Graham and Bahni Turpin, published by Brilliance Publishing
• Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper, narrated by Heather Alicia Simms, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

NARRATION BY THE AUTHOR or AUTHORS

• The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer, narrated by Amanda Palmer, published by Hachette Audio
• Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew, narrated by Kate Mulgrew, published by Hachette Audio
• Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson, narrated by Jenny Lawson, published by Macmillan Audio
• I Must Say by Martin Short, narrated by Martin Short, published by HarperAudio
• Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann, narrated by Colum McCann, published by Books on Tape/Penguin Random House Audio

ORIGINAL WORK

• Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu, narrated by Rose Leslie and David Tennant, published by Audible Studios
• Drunken Fireworks by Stephen King, narrated by Tim Sample, published by Simon & Schuster Audio
• Locke & Key by Joe Hill, narrated by Haley Joel Osment, Tatiana Maslany, and a full cast, published by Audible Studios
• NPR American Chronicles: First Ladies by National Public Radio, narrated by Cokie Roberts, published by HighBridge Audio/Recorded Books
• The Starling Project by Jeffery Deaver, narrated by Alfred Molina and a full cast, published by Audible Studios
• StoryCorps: Outloud: Voices of the LGBTQ Community from Across America, by David Isay, narrated by Ari Shapiro and a full cast, published by HighBridge Audio/Recorded Books RB

PARANORMAL

• The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich, narrated by Charlotte Parry and Christian Coulson, published by Hachette Audio
• Hounacier by Seth Skorkowsky, narrated by R.C. Bray, published by Audible Studios
• Lycan Fallout 2: Fall of Man by Mark Tufo, narrated by Sean Runnette, published by Podium Publishing
• Seven Years by Dannika Dark, narrated by Nicole Poole, published by Tantor Media
• White Trash Zombie Gone Wild by Diana Rowland, narrated by Allison McLemore, published by Audible Studios

SCIENCE FICTION

• Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie, narrated by Adjoa Andoh, published by Hachette Audio
• Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson, narrated by Ali Ahn, published by Hachette Audio
• Golden Son: Book II of the Red Rising Trilogy by Pierce Brown, narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds, published by Recorded Books
• Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, narrated by Scott Brick, published by Brilliance Audio
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side! by Tom Angleberger, narrated by Marc Thompson, published by Listening Library/Penguin Random House Audio

YOUNG ADULT

• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, narrated by Kirby Heyborne, Ariadne Meyers, and Jennifer Niven, published by Listening Library/Penguin Random House Audio
• Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray, narrated by January LaVoy, published by Listening Library/Penguin Random House Audio
• The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman , narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt, Lara Pulver, Niamh Walsh, Adjoa Andoh, Peter Forbes, John Sessions, and Michael Maloney, published by HarperAudio
• Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation) by Laura Hillenbrand, narrated by Edward Herrmann, published by Listening Library/Penguin Random House Audio
• The Winter Horses by Philip Kerr, narrated by James Langton, published by Tantor Media
• X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon, narrated by Dion Graham and Ilyasah Shabazz, published by Brilliance Audio

YOUNG LISTENERS (up to age 8)

• Appleblossom the Possum by Holly Goldberg Sloan, narrated by Dustin Hoffman, published by Listening Library/Penguin Random House Audio
• Brother Hugo and the Bear by Katy Beebe and S.D. Schindler, narrated by Gildart Jackson, published by Dreamscape
• Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon, narrated by Suzy Jackson, published by Recorded Books
• The Eloise Collection by Kay Thompson, narrated by Bernadette Peters, with music by Anthony de Mare, published by Simon & Schuster Audio
• Little Shop of Monsters by R.L. Stine and Marc Brown, narrated by Jack Black, published by Hachette Audio
• Nino Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales, narrated by Adriana Sananes, published by Dreamscape

The Audio Publishers Association announced the winners of the 2015 Audie Awards at a ceremony in New York on May 28. Winners of interest to genre fans include —

CHILDREN’S TITLES FOR AGES 8-12

• The Graveyard Book; by Neil Gaiman; Narrated by Derek Jacobi, Neil Gaiman, Robert Madge, Clare Corbett, Miriam Margolyes, Andrew Scott, and Julian Rhind-Tutt; HarperAudio

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION

• The Graveyard Book; by Neil Gaiman; Narrated by Derek Jacobi, Neil Gaiman, Robert Madge, Clare Corbett, Miriam Margolyes, Andrew Scott, and Julian Rhind-Tutt; HarperAudio

FANTASY

• Words of Radiance; by Brandon Sanderson; Narrated by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer; Macmillan Audio

MULTI–VOICED PERFORMANCE

• The Graveyard Book; by Neil Gaiman; Narrated by Derek Jacobi, Neil Gaiman, Robert Madge, Clare Corbett, Miriam Margolyes, Andrew Scott, and Julian Rhind-Tutt; HarperAudio

PARANORMAL

• The Girl with All the Gifts; by M.R. Carey; Narrated by Finty Williams; Hachette Audio

SCIENCE FICTION

• The Martian; by Andy Weir; Narrated by R.C. Bray; Podium Publishing

SOLO NARRATION — MALE

• The Hero’s Guide to Being an Outlaw; by Christopher Healy; Narrated by Bronson Pinchot; HarperAudio

PACKAGE DESIGN

• The Light at the End; by Nicholas Briggs; Package Design by Alex Mallinson; Big Finish Productions

The full list of winners follows the jump.

Continue reading →

The 2014 Audie Awards for achievement in audiobooks were presented in New York on May 29. Genre winners were —

• FICTION: Doctor Sleep, by Stephen King; Read by Will Patton
• SCIENCE FICTION: Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance, by Lois McMaster Bujold; Read by Grover Gardner
• PARANORMAL: Reviver, by Seth Patrick; Read by Ari Fliakos
• FANTASY: Wisp of a Thing, by Alex Bledsoe; Read by Stefan Rudnicki
• PACKAGE DESIGN: Clockwork Angels: The Watchmaker’s Edition, by Kevin J. Anderson; Read by Neil Peart
• MULTI-VOICED PERFORMANCE: World War Z: The Complete Edition, by Max Brooks; Read by Max Brooks and full cast

The full list of winners follows the jump.

Continue reading →