Magic by Isaac Asimov

Magic

Asimov’s wildest magic shatters expectations

Written byIsaac Asimov
Narrated byWilliam Hope
Length10h16m
Release dateMay 8, 2025
LanguageEnglish
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Quick Facts

AuthorIsaac Asimov
NarratorWilliam Hope
Runtime10h16m
PublishedMay 8, 2025
RatingNot yet rated
CategoriesScience Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Anthologies & Short Stories, Genetic Engineering, Hard Science Fiction, Space Opera
FormatAudiobook (Digital)
PlatformAudible

About This Audiobook

Isaac Asimov isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think of fantasy, but *Magic* proves he could bend spells as easily as he bent spacetime. This final collection gathers Asimov’s most bewitching departures from his usual hard-SF territory—stories of a two-centimeter demon causing cosmic chaos, fairy tales that feel like lost classics, and even a tale where the Caped Crusader himself grapples with aging and irrelevance. Narrator William Hope, a veteran of genre fiction, delivers each story with a precision that balances dry wit and genuine wonder. His performance isn’t just serviceable; it’s revelatory, giving voice to Asimov’s offbeat humor and the creeping dread of magic disrupting logic.

What sets this apart is Asimov’s refusal to play by the rules. These aren’t your average sword-and-sorcery fantasies—they’re tales where logic is the final spell, and even gods get tangled in their own paradoxes. The production is crisp, with subtle sound design that enhances the supernatural without overpowering the text. If you’ve ever wanted to hear Asimov riff on folklore with a scientist’s skepticism, this is the audiobook for you.

Tags: Isaac Asimov fantasy short storiesWilliam Hope narrationscience fiction author fantasy crossoveranthology with demon AzaelAsimov unexpected fairy tales

Why Listen to Magic?

  • Expert narration by William Hope brings every character and scene to life across 10h16m of immersive audio.
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Editor's Review

AudioBook Atlas

As a longtime fan of Asimov’s cerebral sci-fi, I was skeptical about this fantasy collection. Could the man who gave us the Three Laws of Robotics really nail fairy tales without veering into parody? The answer is a resounding yes—though not without a few hiccups. William Hope’s narration is the real star here. His delivery of the demon Azael’s mischief is pitch-perfect, a tiny, sardonic voice that feels like a cross between a mischievous gremlin and a disgruntled quantum physicist. The standout, though, is the Batman story—Hope somehow makes old age sound like both a curse and a punchline, which is no small feat. That said, two complaints kept nagging at me. First, the fairy tales occasionally suffer from Asimov’s tendency to over-explain, stripping the magic of its mystery. Second, the pacing stumbles in the anthology’s middle stretch, where a few stories blur together. But the highs are so high—the demon’s capers, the twisted logic of the fairy tales—that I’d call this a win. If you want fantasy that thinks as much as it enchants, *Magic* delivers.

Download: Magic

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Magic by Isaac Asimov is an immersive listening experience. Performed by William Hope with a runtime of 10h16m, you can start with a free trial that you can cancel at any time. The audiobook remains yours forever, even if you end the trial.