Craig Alanson writes big, loud, funny science fiction, and his Expeditionary Force series has become one of the most beloved ongoing audio sagas in the genre. The secret weapon is the AI named Skippy, a sarcastic, ancient superintelligence who narrates his own brilliance with exhausting enthusiasm. R.C. Bray’s performance gives Skippy a voice so distinct and comic that listeners regularly say they cannot imagine reading these books in print.

If you like your space opera with genuine laughs and a cast that feels like a crew you actually want to spend time with, this is the place to start. The first book, Columbus Day, dropped in 2016 and the series has only grown more confident since. Alanson rewards long-term listeners with running jokes and character growth that compounds across dozens of hours.