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Narrated by Wil Wheaton.
When a human diplomat creates an international incident by killing an alien diplomat in a highly unusual way, the government of Earth must scramble to find a way to placate the Needu. They agree to find and provide a rare breed of sheep – the Android’s Dream – which is an essential component in the Needu coronation ceremony for their new ruler. It should be simple, but it isn’t. It turns out all the sheep in question have been (illicitly) killed and the nearest DNA sample that can be found is part of the ‘junk’ DNA in a human woman – Robin Baker. The job of sorting the mess falls to Harry Creek, war hero, hacker, and ex-cop, together with his dead friend, now a computer intelligence, Brian Javna, Harry goes up against both government departments and alien antagonists, not to mention the acolytes of a weird religion invented by a science fiction author. Harry has to not only protect Robin and a boat-load of veterans on a tourist trip, but also save Earth and humanity. Wil Wheaton (yes, that Wil Wheaton – once Wesley Crusher in Star Trek TNG) narrates Scalzi’s books with just the right amount of dry humour.
Audiobook read by Derek Jacobi. I love the Cadfael stories about the gentle but perceptive monk who has a crusading past. This one is especially intriguing as Cadfael goes to rescue the adult son he learned about in a previous story. He hadn't revealed himself previously, so this time you're wondering when/if all will be revealed. The son was fighting on the side of the Empress Maude/Mathilda in the Stephen/Mathilda war for the crown, and when a castle he was in was given over to the enemy he 'disappeared' and was not listed for ransom as other knights were. There's a peace meeting in Coventry which comes to nothing, but a murder impacts Cadfael's search. Suffice it to say there's a satisfying ending. Derek Jacobi is the perfect narrator for the Cadfael books. That’s not to say I disliked Philip Madoc narrating earlier books, but Jacobi brings Cadfael to life. He is Cadfael.