Book description
Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids continues Isaac Asimov's tradition of blending scientific curiosity with adventure, this time through the lens of a young protagonist seeking justice in the depths of space. Written under the pen name Paul French, this second installment in the Lucky Starr series maintains the author's signature approach to science fiction for younger readers, combining accessible storytelling with technical detail.
The narrative follows Lucky Starr, now a full-fledged officer of the Council of Science, as he confronts the pirates responsible for his parents' death twenty-five years earlier. Asimov crafts a straightforward revenge plot while embedding it within a broader framework of scientific exploration and ethical questions about justice. The story's pacing keeps listeners engaged through well-timed action sequences and the gradual revelation of the pirate threat's true scope.
Asimov's background as a biochemistry professor informs the audiobook's technical elements, which remain accurate without overwhelming younger listeners. His experience in popular science writing translates into clear explanations of space travel mechanics and planetary science, making complex concepts accessible. The audiobook format particularly benefits from Asimov's direct, conversational prose style, which was always well-suited to oral presentation.
The production quality enhances Asimov's text through competent narration that maintains character distinction without excessive theatricality. Voice acting supports the story's educational aspects while preserving its entertainment value. Sound design remains appropriately minimal, allowing Asimov's carefully constructed dialogue and descriptions to carry the narrative weight.
While clearly aimed at a juvenile audience, the audiobook offers enough scientific content and moral complexity to engage adult listeners interested in Asimov's broader body of work. The story's themes of justice and scientific responsibility reflect concerns that would later become central to Asimov's more famous Foundation and Robot series. This makes it an interesting entry point for listeners unfamiliar with his science fiction beyond his most recognized works.
The audiobook succeeds as both an adventure story and an introduction to scientific thinking, maintaining the educational mission that characterized Asimov's entire career. Its greatest strength lies in demonstrating how science fiction can entertain while encouraging critical thinking about technology and society.
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience