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Dennis E. Taylor’s hilarious sci-fi series Bobiverse has exploded in popularity since its debut in 2016, and after a three-plus year wait, the highly anticipated fifth novel, Not Till We Are Lost, released September 5. There is a catch here, though: Not Till We Are Lost is currently an Audible exclusive, so you’ll have to listen to the audiobook to continue the story. A release date for the paperback and Kindle versions hasn’t been announced, but Audible’s timed exclusives typically last a few months. The Bobiverse series on Audible is performed by Ray Porter, one of best narrators working today. Not Till We Are Lost is another big hit for Taylor; it quickly snagged the No. 1 slot on Audible’s best-seller list.
It’s possible to read and listen to the whole series for free with Audible Premium Plus and Kindle Unlimited memberships.
New Audible Premium Plus subscribers can get their first 30 days free. With Premium Plus, you also get one Audible Credit per month, and this can be used to purchase an audiobook from the premium catalog. Once you redeem your monthly credit, the book is yours to keep–even if you cancel your subscription before your free trial renews at the $15/month standard rate.
Even if you aren’t eligible for the free trial–it’s only available to new, not former, subscribers–signing up for 30 days of Audible for $15 is the cheaper way to get Not Till We Are Lost. You can buy the audiobook outright from Amazon for $30 (was $34), but buying it with your Audible Credit accomplishes the same thing for 50% less. Members can buy additional Audible Credits in bulk, starting at $45 for three, which allows you to get the other Bobiverse audiobooks for $15 each, too. All five audiobooks cost more than $15–a few are substantially higher–if you buy them outright with cash. Note: You can only buy additional Audible Credits when you have one or none left; audiobook listings on Amazon will then give you the opportunity to buy more Audible Credits instead of paying full price for the book.
The Bobiverse series stars Robert “Bob” Johansson. After selling his tech startup to a conglomerate for millions, he decides to have his head preserved using cryogenics so he could theoretically be revived in the future. Instead, he wakes up to discover that he’s being used to run an artificial intelligence.
Not Till We Are Lost takes place after the first four books, with several planets now seeing Bob as a threat. There’s also another storyline that sees two other characters, Icarus and Daedalus, venturing to the center of the galaxy–and what they discover could have deeper implications for the meaning of the universe. The audiobook version of the fifth book runs 11 hours and 41 minutes.
Bobiverse books are action-packed, but the series never takes itself too seriously. If you like lighthearted sci-fi novels with an emphasis on humor–such as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy–Bobiverse is definitely worth checking out. The zany nature of Bobiverse matched with Ray Porter’s consistently superb narration makes the series particularly well-suited for audiobook format. These novels are simply a lot of fun to listen to. But the first four books are also available in paperback and Kindle ebook formats.
Bobiverse Series Paperbacks
If you prefer physical books, paperback editions of the first four books are available for $13-$18, with the first book in the series, We Are Legion, currently priced at $14. You’d spend roughly the same overall on the first four paperbacks as you would for four audiobooks ($60 total, or $15 each).
Bobiverse ebooks are included with Kindle Unlimited
Notably, the first four books are included with Kindle Unlimited, Amazon’s subscription service featuring over one million ebooks. You can borrow up to 20 books at once and keep them for as long as you want when you have an active subscription. Through September 15, you can sign up for three months of Kindle Unlimited for $12, which is the standard price for one month, as part of Kindle Unlimited’s 10th birthday celebration. Brand-new subscribers can get a 30-day free trial, so if you’re a fast reader, you could make it through all four books without spending a dime.
Alternatively, you can buy and keep the ebook versions for $7 each ($28 total).
Bobiverse Audiobooks (Audible)
As mentioned, all five books are available to purchase outright for readers without an Audible Premium Plus membership, but you’ll wind up spending a lot more to get all five. Members can purchase Audible Credits for $15 each, so the whole series costs $75 on audiobook–or $60 if you’re eligible for the free trial.
For even more sci-fi fun, you can check out the new hardcover editions of Dungeon Crawler Carl.
