Whether it’s ahead of the regular Amazon Prime sales across the year or building up to Black Friday, Audible is regularly dropping special subscription offers, giving you practically free credits to spend on the best fictional audiobooks around.
At the time of writing, for instance, Audible is running a promo where Prime members get three months for free, each giving a monthly credit to exchange, while non-Prime members can pay 99p per month for those three instead of $14.95 (this offer also applies in the UK).
If you’re looking for a change from your podcast for something to listen to, free/very cheap audiobooks like these are a great way to work through your reading backlog whilst walking, gyming, grocery shopping, or whatever errands or chores you have to take care off that stop you from taking the time to sit and open an actual book.
With the right narration skills, audiobooks can sometimes be even better than the original or other adaptations. When it comes to fictional books, especially, the escapism an audiobook can bring gets even better as well.
Available on Audible right now, in a non-ranked order, here are the top ten sets of fictional audiobooks you can download and enhance your digital library.
10. Harry Potter Series
Although you would need a credit for each book to listen to all seven, the Harry Potter audiobooks are an absolute treat to listen to in more ways than one, especially if you’ve only experienced the story through the films.
To start, each book is far more fleshed out than its movie counterpart, both in terms of characters and story developments that have been cut when adapted into films. Peeves the Poltergeist and Hermione trapping a beetle-form Rita Skeeter for pushing her too far, are just a couple of the best examples.
Although it’s the original take on Harry Potter that’s the best change for book newcomers, and it’s the first-rate narration by Stephen Fry that brings the whole thing to life. Nothing against Daniel Radcliffe, but book-Harry is far more witty, sarcastic, and sassy, making events far more entertaining.
With Fry offering the best utilisation of his eclectic voice to capture book-Harry’s personality perfectly, along with all the other characters, film-Harry comes off as milk toast-like by comparison, making said books feel like a whole new experience that audiobook fiction fans should give a try.
9. Star Wars Thrawn Trilogy
If you started losing faith in Star Wars during the sequel trilogy film era, and the greatness that is the Andor series hasn’t brought you back, perhaps try listening to the Thrawn trilogy to experience what was once the canon follow-up to Return of the Jedi.
Part of what is now the Legends canon, all three audiobooks by Timothy Zahn follow Luke, Leia, Han and co facing the rise of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the spiritual successor to the Emperor. Although Thrawn eventually became part of the Disney-era canon that took over, through the Rebels show, and then the Ahsoka series, the Thrawn trilogy is the definitive tale for the titular villain, and still holds up today as an alternative timeline that results in a far better, and arguably more interesting fate for the Skywalker clan.
Plus, the last two books in the 2007-Audible versions of the audiobooks are narrated by C-3PO himself, Anthony Daniels. While there’s almost no better person to immersive you in some improved Star Wars lore than the many behind one of our favourite droids, the 2012 versions are narrated by Marc Thompson, who is argued to be the definitive Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Be sure to listen to a preview available on each book's page to decide which versions are best for you.
8. Ready Player One
If you're a sucker for ‘80s pop culture, classic gaming, or anything remotely geeky, Ready Player One is an audiobook that hits a nostalgia jackpot.
Set in the same dystopian future as the 2018 film it was adapted into, Ernest Cline’s best novel following protagonist Wade Watts adventuring through a massive worldwide virtual reality game, is even better in audiobook form. That’s thanks to the narration skills by Star Trek: The Next Generation’s and Stand by Me’s own Wil Wheaton.
While the Ready Player One movie was good enough for us to give it a 7.5/10 in our IGN review, we know that it wasn’t for everyone. If the film is all you’ve seen and it felt a bit lacking, the audiobook version is far better and the definitive version to enjoy.
7. Fire & Blood: A Song of Ice and Fire
As well as the inspiration for the hit HBO series that brought life back into the Game of Thrones franchise, House of the Dragon, Fire & Blood is also an ancient textbook for Westeros history and the Targaryen family tree, with as much dragon-flying, incest, and political murder as you’d expect.
While House of the Dragon is, from this writer’s point of view, dragging its feet in getting the Targaryen civil war going with Season 2 feeling like mostly filler, the gripping source material narrated by Simon Vance can make it so you get the full story without having to wonder what happens next.
You will have to listen to some extra worldbuilding inbetween the big story beats seen in the show, but think of that as getting even more value for one of your Audible credits.
6. It
Stephen King’s It is a brick of a book that translates to a massive 44 hours of listening time, but the audiobook makes for chilling, sprawling story so much more immersive. Narrated by Steven Weber, this version drips with dread as you follow the Losers’ Club battling a shapeshifting evil in the form of Pennywise the Clown.
The creep factor ramps up with Weber’s intense performance, which swings effortlessly from innocent childhood memories to full-blown nightmare fuel. If horror’s your thing, or you simply want to see how the book differs from the recent films, this is another must
5. Ordinary People
Despite what the title implies, Ordinary People is anything but ordinary.
A South London-set story by Diana Evans that dives deep into the quiet complexities of modern relationships, Ordinary People offers a fascinating insight as to what happens after love stops feeling new.
Following two British couples grappling with parenthood, identity, and quiet disillusionment, the audiobook brings everyday struggles into sharp, poetic focus, courtesy of a calm yet expressive narration by Jennifer Saayeng. If you’re drawn to intimate, realistic fiction with emotional depth, this one’s a slow-burn stunner that sticks with you long after the last chapter.
4. The Hobbit
Taking place before Frodo and the Fellowship, there was The Hobbit, the original Middle-earth story which takes place before the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and is brought to life beautifully by the audiobook version.
There’s been a few different audiobooks for The Hobbit, but the best by far is the one narrated by Andy Serkis, the actor who played Gollum in the films and is one of the best British performers working today. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Renoir fans, this one’s for you.
In a similar style to House of the Dragon, The Hobbit films of the 2010s suffered by trying to stretch more content out of a single book into three films. To experience the best version of J. R. R. Tolkien’s original beloved tale, this is it.
3. The Martian
A sci-fi-must on Audible, The Martian is science-y, clever, and packed with just the right amount of sarcasm to keep things light even when the stakes are literal survival. Another reading by Wil Wheaton, The Martian’s narration captures Watney’s smart-aleck tone perfectly, making every log entry feel like you’re hearing from a mate who just happens to be farming potatoes in space. Even if you’ve already seen the 2015 film by Ridley Scott, the combined humour and tension of the original book keeps this listen orbiting your brain for a while.
2. The Help
Set in 1960s Mississippi, The Help brings together the lives of three unforgettable women navigating race, class, and courage during a turbulent time.
This audiobook’s standout feature is its full-cast narration, with each voice bringing a layer of realism and heart that pulls you in. Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter become more than characters. They feel like real people speaking directly to you.
Emotional, powerful, and with moments of wit and warmth, this is the kind of listen that lingers long after it ends.
1. Project Hail Mary
From the same author as The Martian, Project Hail Mary raises the stakes with a solo mission to save humanity, and, weirdly enough, one of the best alien friendships in fiction. Narrated by Ray Porter, this audiobook is hilarious, touching, and packed with just enough science to make you feel smart without needing a degree.
The pacing is so electric with the twists that keep on coming. Project Hail Mary even won the 2022 Audie Awards' Audiobook of the Year, along with being a best seller on Audible’s charts as well as the New York Times’.
Altogether, it’s the kind of listen you’ll find yourself replaying just to experience the emotional payoff again. Plus, we've just got our first look at the upcoming film staring Ryan Gosling, so it's the perfect way to celebrate by digging into this fantastic audio experience.
Is Audible Worth It?
If you do find yourself looking to enjoy more audiobooks, there are two membership options for Audible. Standard lets you pick one audiobook as long as you’re a member, while Premium Plus let’s you do the same except you can keep it. The latter also includes access to the Plus library, accessible as much as you’d like.
Premium Plus is Audible's highest tier plan and normally costs $14.95/mo, so scoring it for free right now is a proper Prime Day deal, Prime membership requirement and all. It's a good option for those without Prime as well, of course.
You can access Audible pretty much anywhere. To start, you can download the app on your mobile device or tablet via the iOS, Android, and Google stores. You can also access Audible through a Kindle device if you have one.
Plus, if you wanna just read books, Kindle Unlimited is also free for three months right now as well. Don't say I never do anything for you!
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
