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
    The Ministry for the Future cover

    The Ministry for the Future

    Science in the Capital

    by Kim Stanley Robinson

    Narrated by Jennifer Fitzgerald, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Ramon de Ocampo, Gary Bennett, Raphael Corkhill, Barrie Kreinik, Natasha Soudek, Nikki Massoud, Joniece Abbott Pratt, Inés del Castillo, Vikas Adam

    3.90 ABR Score (46.9K ratings)
    ★ 3.86 Goodreads (43.1K) ★ 4.23 Audible (3.8K)
  2. 2
    New York 2140 cover

    New York 2140

    by Kim Stanley Robinson

    Narrated by Suzanne Toren, Robin Miles, Peter Ganim, Jay Snyder, Caitlin Kelly, Michael Crouch, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Christopher Ryan Grant, Robert Blumenfeld

    3.63 ABR Score (18.1K ratings)
    ★ 3.6 Goodreads (15.8K) ★ 4.06 Audible (2.3K)
  3. 3
    Antarctica cover

    Antarctica

    Science in the Capital trilogy

    by Kim Stanley Robinson

    Narrated by Adam Verner

    3.72 ABR Score (3.5K ratings)
    ★ 3.81 Goodreads (3.4K) ★ 4.07 Audible (94)
  4. 4
    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.

  5. 5
    Tiamat's Wrath cover

    Tiamat's Wrath

    The Expanse • Book 8

    by James S.A. Corey

    Narrated by Jefferson Mays

    4.79 ABR Score (105.0K ratings)
    ★ 4.57 Goodreads (83.1K) ★ 4.88 Audible (21.9K)
  6. 6
    Critical Mass cover

    Critical Mass

    Expeditionary Force • Book 10

    by Craig Alanson

    Narrated by R.C. Bray

    4.71 ABR Score (34.4K ratings)
    ★ 4.52 Goodreads (9.1K) ★ 4.89 Audible (25.3K)
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    R.C. Bray's deadpan delivery makes the chaos sing—he nails every comedic beat while keeping the existential stakes brutally real. If you've loved the series, this one escalates everything.

  7. 7
    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)
    More about this pick

    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.

  8. 8
    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.

  9. 9
    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.

  10. 10
    Valkyrie cover

    Valkyrie

    Expeditionary Force • Book 9

    by Craig Alanson

    Narrated by R.C. Bray

    4.60 ABR Score (32.7K ratings)
    ★ 4.43 Goodreads (10.0K) ★ 4.79 Audible (22.7K)
    More about this pick

    R.C. Bray's delivery transforms this ninth book into pure momentum—his timing on the humor is so sharp it cuts, making you forget you're listening to a 20-hour audiobook about saving Earth from annihilation.

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.

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