Lightless

In space, no one can hear you sweat. That's the message behind this successful debut novel, brought skillfully to life by Fiona Hardingham, with her clipped British accent. The action takes place aboard the secret research vessel ANANKE, which is the "baby" of computer scientist Althea, a work-obsessed, lonely introvert. But Althea's ordered world gets turned upside down by the arrival of two men, rebels who are resisting the autocratic regime that runs Earth's solar system. Hardingham and her British accent shine when she's portraying the female characters, and she handles the male characters equally well. She ratchets up the tension on the claustrophobic ship, making it palpable for those who listen to this riveting production. D.E.M. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine