Audiobooks Like Red Mars

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Richard Ferrone narrates Kim Stanley Robinson's 24-hour hard science fiction debut with a patient, scholarly voice that suits a novel more interested in geology and politics than plot — his reading doesn't rush the terraforming debates or the ideological fractures between colonists, which is the right call for a book whose drama accumulates across decades rather than chapters. It's a demanding listen and Ferrone honors that. Two recommendations are other Kim Stanley Robinson titles and the broader list of ten highly-rated books favors similarly long, serious science fiction for listeners who came for the ideas and the scale.

10 audiobooks for fans of Red Mars

  1. 1
    Morning Star cover

    Morning Star

    Red Rising • Book 3

    by Pierce Brown

    Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds

    ★ 4.81 ABR Score (468.5K ratings)
    ★ 4.55 Goodreads (414.3K) ★ 4.82 Audible (54.2K)
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    Darrow's revolution reaches its bloody crescendo as he leads the rebellion against Gold tyranny in this explosive finale that Tim Gerard Reynolds narrates with fierce intensity.

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  2. 2
    Defiance of the Fall 2 cover

    Defiance of the Fall 2

    Defiance of the Fall • Book 2

    by TheFirstDefier, J.F. Brink

    Narrated by Pavi Proczko

    ★ 4.64 ABR Score (21.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.52 Goodreads (12.1K) ★ 4.84 Audible (9.6K)
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    Earth crumbles under invasion while Zac grows into a powerhouse, but becoming the world's strongest man makes him a target for every faction. Pavi Proczko's energetic narration matches the non-stop LitRPG action.

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  3. 3
    Leviathan Wakes cover

    Leviathan Wakes

    The Expanse • Book 1

    by James S. A. Corey

    Narrated by Jefferson Mays

    ★ 4.63 ABR Score (358.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.31 Goodreads (324.2K) ★ 4.75 Audible (33.8K)
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    Detective Miller and ice hauler Holden investigate a missing person case that uncovers a solar system-wide conspiracy threatening all of humanity. Mays handles the complex space opera with distinct voices for both protagonists as they navigate political tensions between Earth, Mars, and the Belt.

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  4. 4
    Persepolis Rising cover

    Persepolis Rising

    The Expanse • Book 7

    by James S.A. Corey

    Narrated by Jefferson Mays

    ★ 4.63 ABR Score (109.1K ratings)
    ★ 4.38 Goodreads (88.5K) ★ 4.78 Audible (20.6K)
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    Jefferson Mays continues his stellar Expanse narration as the aging Rocinante crew faces a new threat from Laconia's advanced alien technology.

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  5. 5
    The Dark Forest cover

    The Dark Forest

    Remembrance of Earth's Past • Book 2

    by Liu Cixin, Joel Martinsen

    Narrated by P. J. Ochlan

    ★ 4.56 ABR Score (243.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.4 Goodreads (224.9K) ★ 4.65 Audible (18.1K)
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    Liu Cixin's solution to the Fermi Paradox unfolds through cosmic sociology and interstellar hide-and-seek across P.J. Ochlan's measured performance.

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  6. 6
    A Deepness in the Sky cover

    A Deepness in the Sky

    Zones of Thought • Book 2

    by Vernor Vinge

    Narrated by Peter Larkin

    ★ 4.21 ABR Score (37.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.32 Goodreads (35.3K) ★ 4.42 Audible (2.2K)
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    Two human factions orbit a world of intelligent spiders emerging into their technological age, but the Emergents harbor sinister plans that threaten both civilizations in this epic space opera.

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  7. 7
    Calibans Krieg cover

    Calibans Krieg

    The Expanse • Book 2

    by James S.A. Corey

    Narrated by Matthias Lühn

    ★ 4.03 ABR Score (185.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.39 Goodreads (185.8K) ★ 3.5 Audible (4)
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    Die deutsche Fassung von Coreys Weltraum-Epos folgt dem Krieg zwischen Erde und Mars, während ein Alien-Virus den Jupiter-Mond Ganymed bedroht. Matthias Lühn navigiert die komplexe Handlung mit beeindruckender Klarheit.

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  8. 8
    Fallout cover

    Fallout

    Expeditionary Force • Book 13

    by Craig Alanson

    Narrated by R.C. Bray

    ★ 4.69 ABR Score (26.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.52 Goodreads (7.2K) ★ 4.89 Audible (18.8K)
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    R.C. Bray returns with his beloved portrayal of Joe and Skippy, continuing the Expeditionary Force saga that has captivated millions of listeners.

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  9. 9
    The Primal Hunter 13 cover

    The Primal Hunter 13

    The Primal Hunter • Book 13

    by Zogarth

    Narrated by Travis Baldree

    ★ 4.65 ABR Score (9.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.6 Goodreads (5.4K) ★ 4.91 Audible (4.4K)
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    Jake teams up with his space worm buddy Sandy for a lunar adventure before the galaxy-wide battle begins with the Prima Guardian's arrival. Travis Baldree's enthusiastic delivery matches the story's escalating cosmic stakes perfectly.

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  10. 10
    Match Game cover

    Match Game

    Expeditionary Force • Book 14

    by Craig Alanson

    Narrated by R.C. Bray

    ★ 4.64 ABR Score (19.8K ratings)
    ★ 4.5 Goodreads (6.6K) ★ 4.86 Audible (13.2K)
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    For the first time, Skippy the Magnificent faces an AI opponent of equal power—and he might actually need those filthy monkeys' help. Bray's Skippy remains perfection.

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How We Rank Audiobooks

Rankings are driven by listener ratings and review counts from Audible and Goodreads. Books with high ratings across a large number of listeners rank higher — a 4.5 with 50,000 ratings says more than a 4.8 with 200.

Unlike most book lists, we weight audiobook-specific factors: narrator performance, production quality, and how well a story translates to audio. A great book with a poor narration isn't a great audiobook.

We don't accept paid placements or prioritize new releases. These rankings reflect what listeners actually enjoy, not what's being promoted.

Rankings update periodically as new ratings come in and new titles are added to the collection.

Read our full ranking methodology →