Martha Wells builds worlds that feel genuinely lived-in, and her Murderbot Diaries series, which launched in 2017 with “All systems red,” is proof that science fiction can be both emotionally devastating and deeply funny at the same time. Listening to these stories rather than reading them adds a layer that’s hard to explain until you try it. Kevin R. Free’s narration gives Murderbot’s dry, anxious inner voice exactly the weight it deserves.

If you’re the kind of listener who rolls your eyes at action-heavy sci-fi but secretly wants to care about a socially awkward security robot who just wants to watch TV serials, this is your corner of the audiobook world. Wells also writes epic fantasy, so once Murderbot hooks you, there’s plenty more to explore.