Audiobooks narrated by Michael David Axtell

"For fans of The Witcher and the novels of Joe Abercrombie and John Gwynne, comes a bloody Norse tale of grief, vengeance, fear, and fate from emerging SFF writer Michael Pogach. It's ninth century Norway and Rúnr Njalson has been gifted supernatural warrior abilities as Odin's chosen Berserkr. Enemies and allies quake in fear at his approach. But when the unbeatable hero cannot save his own daughter Yrsa during a rival clan's raid, his only choice is to seek vengeance to gain her entry into Valhalla. Plagued with horrific visions and grappling with the loss of his precious child, whose ghost torments his nights, Rúnr seeks the direction of a seeress's prophecy, and is told he must find a mysterious red temple and there face Yrsa's killer to save her soul from a fate with Hel. He abandons his homeland on a hunt spanning the dark forests of the Slavs and the Rus to the fabled city of Constantinople, along the way throwing in with a motley band of Viking raiders: Captain Garmr's ferocity fits the namesake of Hel's hound; the nervous merchant Erasmus hides secrets he'll never tell; the warrior Ingimar whose quick temper is going to get them all into trouble; and the fierce shieldmaiden Ingirid who may be the only one able to break through Rúnr's tough exterior. While Rúnr's love for Ingirid grows, his Berserkr rage become more volatile, testing the crew's bonds and leading him to face an impossible sacrifice. Lift a horn of ale and taste sweat and blood in this rich and brutal dark Viking adventure."

Michael Pogach (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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The Silent Paths of Night

"From David R. Slayton, bestselling author of White Trash Warlock and Rogue Community College, comes the epic sequel to the award-winning Dark Moon, Shallow Sea. For Raef, priest of the moon goddess Phoebe and one-time thief, it was too much to hope that resurrection of the moon and his mistress might set the world aright. The Grief still chokes the docks and streets of Versinae with vampiric ghosts, while the nations of Aegea prepare to war against each other. Even worse, Phoebe did not return alone. Something evil came with her. Rerek, a demon who once waged war with the gods themselves, Corpse-Taker and sower of chaos, is back to make sure there is no peace in Aegea, now or ever again. And it has a plan. Raef and his beloved Seth, knight of the sun god Hyperion, are all that stand between Rerek and utter destruction. But the ghosts of their respective pasts, the dangers they must face, and the truths that await them will test them as nothing they’ve yet endured. One way or another Rerek will get what it wants … and it will use Raef and Seth to achieve it."

David R. Slayton (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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What's Going On?: The Struggle for Contemporary American Identity

"Exploring the backstory of contemporary political polarization, What's Going On? recognizes that simple stories of blame and uncontested stories of polarization prove themselves to be bad stories that produce bad politics. This book argues that stories have increasingly become matters of affect rather than meaning—instead of asking what stories mean, we are likely to ask how they make people feel. These stories are cultural tendencies that define the possibilities and limits of political action and behavior, and the book tells its own story about how the stories of America's crises have defined our political culture as they struggle over questions of ideology, identity, and social belonging. It lays out a theoretical position that recognizes the need for complicated stories and rigorous thought, pointing a way forward, out of the chaos, seeking to repair the world and offer better stories and more humane political possibilities. This work is a vital resource for students and instructors in sociology, political science, cultural studies, media studies, and communication. The book will be an important guide for activists, organizers, and community field workers, and for anyone else who wishes to have a better understanding of the contemporary political moment and how to mobilize toward building a better future."

Lawrence Grossberg (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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From Ear to Ear: A Pianist's Love Affair with Song

"While other kids were enjoying the head-bashing pleasures of tackle football, a freshly bar mitzvahed Steven Blier was inhaling operas and getting his first taste of accompanying professional singers. Beginning with impromptu piano gigs in the 1960s, Blier ascended to a dazzling career as an accompanist, teacher, and producer that has taken him to the highest reaches of artistic achievement. Today, Blier has partnered many of the brightest stars in music and thousands have fallen in love with his work via his acclaimed New York Festival of Song. From Ear to Ear recounts his picaresque and unfailingly entertaining road to a successful career as a collaborative pianist, bringing to life his partnerships with iconic performers like Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Jessye Norman, Cecilia Bartoli, and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, and beloved mentors, including Alvin Epstein and Martha Schlamme. Drawing on his innovative work as a vocal coach and concert producer, Blier takes listeners deep into his artistic process, revealing the intricacies of song interpretation, what makes certain songs tick, and what music has meant in his life and what it can mean in anyone's. But Blier also tells a parallel story: his lifelong battle with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Aided by his intense determination, as well as his wry sense of humor, Blier continues his life at the piano."

Steven Blier (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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Valhalla Atcha Boy

"Bad enough to be defined by your failings … That much worse when it could mean the end of EVERYTHING! Crimefighting, comic books, and coffee.(And a nagging craving for apples?) Vincent has finally got his life figured out. More or less.And, after only fifteen-hundred years, it’s about time. “Mild-mannered” bodyguard by day, butt-kicking sorcerer by night, and immortal Viking warrior whenever the memories refuse to leave him alone. But when ancient Norse horrors start sprouting up in his city, Vincent realizes that his past life—and one of his greatest failures—has come back to finish what it started … Ragnarök.The ultimate “THE END!” Now it’s up to the real-life superhero to track down the rest of his undying and superpowered brothers-and-sisters-in-arms to save all of existence. Too bad this time Ragnarök is coming with a bit of help …"

Nathan Squiers (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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Redneck Revenant

"From bestselling author David R. Slayton, Redneck Revenant is an exciting new chapter in the Adam Binder series. Adam Binder’s life has never been better. Sure, he has no money, no car, no home to call his own, and he’s worried about creating a future with his boyfriend Vic, but he’s closer to his family than ever before. He’s also Page to the Elven Court of Swords, and that appointment is not without its perks—like the invisible sword strapped to his back. But on Halloween night, Adam’s life takes a disturbing turn. Annie, his brother’s long-lost wife, turns up on her husband’s doorstep alive and well, with no memory of her death. But is it really Annie, or a Trojan horse from some new magical enemy? To uncover the truth, Adam will need help from those he loves most—as well as a couple of friends at Rogue Community College. As he navigates a perilous maze of magical politics and battles terrifying creatures from beyond the known realms, Adam will discover a secret darker and more unsettling than anything he could have imagined."

David R. Slayton (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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The Unwanted Queen: The Cartographer's War, Book 5

"Penny Barclay thought eating Faerie's sacred fruit would keep the rebels from gaining the upper hand, but it all went sideways. Not only have the rebels found footing in Faerie and taken down the Mist, but Penny is under fire by the fae with their deep-rooted prejudices against mages. Even Aiden—or rather High King Aedon of Faerie—is rather put out with her. If she doesn't prove herself quickly, she'll find herself with more enemies in Faerie than just the rebellion. With new attacks on every front, newly appointed High King Aedon is going to need a miracle to keep his kingdom together. Just as he was figuring out his new role, everything went awry. Now, not only must he get the warring Courts to see eye to eye, but he also has to convince his entire kingdom that Penelope is not the villain they paint her as. As the rebellion gains more and more traction, Aedon's fight to keep the folk together is more imperative than ever. As The Cartographer closes in, Penny and Aedon must unite the kingdom for good, or watch their people—mage and fae alike—perish at the brutal hands of the rebellion."

Allison Anderson (Author), Caitlin Kelly, Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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The Seer's Assassin: The Cartographer's War, Book 4

"Paulo MacGregor is a liar. As Marquess of Delphine and the only oracular mage in the kingdom, it's his job to report any threat that may grow within Olympia's borders. But he didn't. He knows about The Cartographer. He knows about the rebels and what they're planning. He knows it all, and he does nothing. If he did, Laurel Flumen would have never come to assassinate Prince Dion. And if she had never come, he'd never have had the chance to change her fate. Laurel Flumen, a Daughter of Stellatus and one of the continent's most skilled assassins, is about to complete the greatest mission she's ever been given. If she can assassinate Olympia's Crown Prince, she will bring glory to her name and can leave the order she and her sister have been bound their whole lives. However, it seems everywhere she goes, Lord Paulo MacGregor is waiting around the corner. If the man keeps her from completing her mission, the mission will be given to another, and she will lose the one chance to finally escape her past. Paulo and Laurel may be on opposite sides of the war, but if they can't overcome their differences, there will be more than just Laurel's future at risk. The future of Olympia itself is in both their hands."

Allison Anderson (Author), Caitlin Kelly, Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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The Concise Untold History of the United States

"A companion to Oliver Stone's ten-part documentary series of the same name, this guide offers a people's history of the American Empire: "a critical overview of US foreign policy…indispensable" (former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev); "brilliant, a masterpiece!" (Daniel Ellsberg); "Oliver Stone's new book is as riveting, eye-opening, and thought-provoking as any history book you will ever read. It achieves what history, at its best, ought to do: presents a mountain of previously unknown facts that makes you question and re-examine many of your long-held assumptions about the most influential events" (Glenn Greenwald). In November 2012, Showtime debuted a ten-part documentary series based on Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick's The Untold History of the United States. The book and documentary looked back at human events that, at the time, went underreported, but also crucially shaped America's unique and complex history over the 20th century. The book and documentary looked back at human events that, at the time, went underreported, but also crucially shaped America's unique and complex history over the twentieth century. From the atomic bombing of Japan to the Cold War and fall of Communism, this concise version of the larger book is adapted for general audiences. The Concise Untold History of the United States covers the rise of the American empire and national security state from the late 19th century through the Obama administration, putting it all together to show how deeply rooted the seemingly aberrant policies of the Bush-Cheney administration are in the nation's past and why it has proven so difficult for Obama to change course. In this concise and indispensable guide, Kuznick and Stone (who Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills has called America's own "Dostoevsky behind a camera") challenge prevailing orthodoxies to reveal the dark truth about the rise and fall of American imperialism."

Oliver Stone, Peter Kuznick (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski, America's Cold War Prophet

"Bloomsbury presents Zbig by Edward Luce, read by Michael David Axtell 'For anyone who wants to understand the history of America and the world, this is a useful and important book' ANNE APPLEBAUM 'A biographer of genius ... One of the sharpest political pens of our day' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE 'A towering achievement. A book which is founded on deep scholarship, yet so accessible and readable from the very beginning that it feels more like a historical detective story' RAGEH OMAAR Zbigniew Brzezinski was a political strategist who rose to prominence as an intellectual architect of US foreign policy during the Cold War. As National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter and a trusted advisor to US presidents from John F. Kennedy onwards, Brzezinski’s expertise helped shape global strategy at critical moments - most significantly as a key figure in the downfall of the Soviet Union. A Polish émigré who witnessed the devastation of his homeland during both Nazi and Soviet occupations, Brzezinski became one of the West’s foremost scholars of totalitarianism. His nuanced understanding of the importance of ‘speaking the enemy’s language’, coupled with his close friendship with Pope John Paul II was instrumental in preventing a Soviet invasion of Poland. While Nixon and Kissinger, his lifelong rival, famously opened China to the West in the early 1970s, it was Brzezinski and Carter who strengthened US-China relations, further shifting the global balance of power away from Moscow. Beyond the Cold War, Brzezinski continued to influence foreign policy, notably in shaping the nation’s response to the 9/11 attacks. Yet his legacy remains underreported, leaving gaps in our understanding of Cold War history and its aftermath. Edward Luce, celebrated columnist and political writer, restores Brzezinski’s rightful place in history. Through a sweeping narrative that spans much of the 20th century, Zbig offers a gripping account of Brzezinski’s life and, in doing so, narrates a compelling re-examination of the end of the Cold War. C 2025 Simon & Schuster"

Edward Luce (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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The Explorer's Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map

"New York Times-bestselling author of Endure Alex Hutchinson returns with a fresh, provocative investigation into how exploration, uncertainty, and risk shape our behavior and help us find meaning. Off the beaten path, following unmarked trails, we are wired to explore. More than just a need to get outside, the search for the unknown is a primal urge that has shaped the history of our species and continues to mold our behavior in ways we are only beginning to understand. In fact, the latest neuroscience suggests that exploration in any form—whether it’s trying a new restaurant, changing careers, or deciding to run a marathon—is an essential ingredient of human life. Exploration, it turns out, isn’t merely a hobby—it’s our story. In this much-anticipated follow-up to his New York Times bestseller Endure, Alex Hutchinson refutes the myth that, in our fully mapped digital world, the age of exploration is dead. Instead, the itch to discover new things persists in all of us, expressed not just on the slopes of Everest but in the ways we work, play, and live. From paddling the lost rivers of the northern Canadian wilderness to the ocean-spanning voyages of the Polynesians to the search for next-generation quantum computers, The Explorer’s Gene combines riveting stories of exploration with cutting-edge insights from behavioral psychology and neuroscience, making a powerful case that our lives are better—more productive, more meaningful, and more fun—when we break our habits and chart a new path. Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook."

Alex Hutchinson (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Unseen King: The Cartographer's War, Book 3

"Prince Aiden is gone. Taken. Kidnapped by the fae and portalled to only the Goddess knows where. And Penny Barclay is determined to find him. With a pack on her back and Aiden's trusty dog at her side, Penny rushes headfirst into Faerie—the world she'd always dreamed of but never thought she'd see. At first, the magical kingdom is mystical and fantastic, but as Penny journeys deeper into the seasonal Courts, she discovers that some magic is not to be trifled with and that her childhood fantasies were just that, fantasies. It will take all of Penny's strength and ingenuity to find Aiden and bring him back to Olympia. When Aiden wakes in a new world, all he can think of is getting back to Penelope and his family in Olympia. After the death of the High Queen at the hands of the rebellion, Aiden finds himself trapped by magic he doesn't understand in a kingdom of fae that would rather fight one another than face the approaching enemy. Becoming High King of a folk he'd never even met may be the Goddess's worst idea yet. But when he meets a family of fae that have insights into his past and his magic, he has to decide whether to embrace this new life or return to Penelope to find the life they promised each other. Separated by enemies and friends alike, Penny and Aiden must adapt to this new kingdom and help the fae fight off the rebels or find themselves trapped in a land on the brink of destruction."

Allison Anderson (Author), Caitlin Kelly, Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Michael David Axtell

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