Audiobooks narrated by Michael David Axtell

When the Colonial Marines set out after their deadliest prey, the Xenomorphs, it's what Corporal Hicks calls a bug hunt-kill or be killed. Here are fifteen all-new stories of such "close encounters," written by many of today's most extraordinary authors.Set during the events of all four Alien films, sending the Marines to alien worlds, to derelict space settlements, and into the nests of the universe's most dangerous monsters, these adventures are guaranteed to send the blood racing-one way or another.

Heather Graham, Jonathan Maberry, Rachel Caine, Scott Sigler, Various (Author), Amy Landon, Andrew Eiden, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Emily Sutton-Smith, Eric G. Dove, Greg Tremblay, Grover Gardner, Hillary Huber, James Anderson Foster, James Patrick Cronin, Keith Szarabajka, Kevin Kenerly, Michael David Axtell, Nicol Zanzarella, Peter Berkrot, Priya Ayyar, R. C. Bray, Suzanne Elise Freeman, Various, Various Narrators (Narrator)

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And There We Were and Here We Are: A Novel

“I wasn’t even going to tell this story, but Violet had to go and write a whole book about all of us before getting herself killed.” Ten years ago, Jerry came to New York City to break into show business. Today, his career is stalled, his ex-fiancé is a TV star, and he survives by bartending in Manhattan’s high-end cocktail lounges. Stunned by loss and regret, he is sleepwalking through a hung-over life when he discovers Violet’s book about when they were young, hopeful servers at a Times Square restaurant. Mustering the courage to open it, he relives the days of call-backs and late nights, angry chefs and crazy customers. As he searches the words of his self-destructive soul-mate, can he reconcile his past and find the hope he lost along the way? With unflinching honesty, this book lays bare the reality of breaking into show business, while living paycheck to paycheck in the most expensive city in America. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to people who go to NYC to make it in show business and don’t, you will love this entertaining story of redemption.

Scott Brooks (Author), Michael David Axtell, Tavia Gilbert (Narrator)

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Becoming an Ethical Hacker

An acclaimed investigative journalist explores ethical hacking and presents a reader-friendly, informative guide to everything there is to know about entering the field of cybersecurity. It's impossible to ignore the critical role cybersecurity plays within our society, politics, and the global order. In Becoming an Ethical Hacker, investigative reporter Gary Rivlin offers an easy-to-digest primer on what white hat hacking is, how it began, and where it's going, while providing vivid case studies illustrating how to become one of these "white hats" who specializes in ensuring the security of an organization's information systems. He shows how companies pay these specialists to break into their protected systems and networks to test and assess their security. Readers will learn how these white hats use their skills to improve security by exposing vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can detect and exploit them. Weaving practical how-to advice with inspiring case studies, Rivlin provides concrete, practical steps anyone can take to pursue a career in the growing field of cybersecurity.

Gary Rivlin (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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Dark Moon, Shallow Sea

The first in a new epic fantasy series from David R. Slayton—author of White Trash Warlock—Dark Moon, Shallow Sea is a powerful story of divine betrayal, ghosts, and self-discovery, perfect for fans of the Dark Souls series or Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. When Phoebe, goddess of the moon, is killed by the knights of the sun god, Hyperion, all who follow her are branded heretics. With Phoebe gone, the souls of the dead are no longer ferried to the underworld, and instead linger on as shades who feast on the blood of the living. Raef is a child of the night. He lives in the shadows, on scraps, eking out a meager existence as a thief. But when an ornate box is sequestered in the Temple of Hyperion, the chance of a big score proves too great to resist. What he finds within propels him on an odyssey across the sea and back again, altering the course of his life forever. Seth is a knight of the sun. But unlike the others of his order, the fire of Hyperion only brings him pain. He believes he deserves this penance, exacted for his unknown origins. Tasked with recovering the contents of the box, Seth must also venture beyond the horizon if he’s to learn the truth about himself. In a dying world divided by the greed of those in power, Raef and Seth find their destinies intertwined—and learn they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

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

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Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World

From the New York Times’s Global Economics Correspondent, a masterwork of explanatory journalism that exposes how billionaires’ systematic plunder of the world—brazenly accelerated during the pandemic—has transformed 21st-century life and dangerously destabilized democracy. 'Davos Man will be read a hundred years from now as a warning. ... Deliciously rich with searing detail, the clarity is reminiscent of Tom Wolfe.' —EVAN OSNOS The history of the last half century in America, Europe, and other major economies is in large part the story of wealth flowing upward. The most affluent people emerged from capitalism's triumph in the Cold War to loot the peace, depriving governments of the resources needed to serve their people, and leaving them tragically unprepared for the worst pandemic in a century. Drawing on decades of experience covering the global economy, award-winning journalist Peter S. Goodman profiles five representative 'Davos Men'–members of the billionaire class–chronicling how their shocking exploitation of the global pandemic has hastened a fifty-year trend of wealth centralization. Alongside this reporting, Goodman delivers textured portraits of those caught in Davos Man’s wake, including a former steelworker in the American Midwest, a Bangladeshi migrant in Qatar, a Seattle doctor on the front lines of the fight against COVID, blue-collar workers in the tenements of Buenos Aires, an African immigrant in Sweden, a textile manufacturer in Italy, an Amazon warehouse employee in New York City, and more. Goodman’s rollicking and revelatory exposé of the global billionaire class reveals their hidden impact on nearly every aspect of modern society: widening wealth inequality, the rise of anti-democratic nationalism, the shrinking opportunity to earn a livable wage, the vulnerabilities of our health-care systems, access to affordable housing, unequal taxation, and even the quality of the shirt on your back. Meticulously reported yet compulsively readable, Davos Man is an essential read for anyone concerned about economic justice, the capacity of societies to grapple with their greatest challenges, and the sanctity of representative government.

Peter S. Goodman (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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Deadbeat Druid

The living cannot be allowed to infect the dead. Adam Binder has lost what matters most to him. Having finally learned the true identity of the warlock preying on his family, what was supposed to be a final confrontation with the fiend instead became a trap that sent Adam’s beloved Vicente into the realm of the dead, where none living are meant to be. Bound by debt, oath, and love, Adam blazes his own trail into the underworld to get Vicente back, and to end the threat of the warlock once and for all. But the road to hell is paved with far more than good intentions. Demons are hungry, and ghosts are relentless, and what awaits Adam in the underworld is nothing he is prepared to face. If that weren’t enough, Adam has one more thing he must do if he and Vicente are to return to the world of the living: find the lost heart of Death herself.

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

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Going Dutch: A Novel

* MOST ANTICIPATED SUMMER READING SELECTION BY * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY * BUZZFEED * "In this intelligent, entertaining and elegantly written novel, James Gregor pulls off something many psychological novelists aspire to and few achieve: he convincingly captures the thinking of a character who earnestly sees himself as sympathetic, even as he behaves terribly." —Adelle Waldman, author of The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. 'Be it the horrors of online dating, the absurdity of academia, or the dicey interplay of gender and class, I'm convinced there's nothing that escapes James Gregor's attention.' —Grant Ginder, author of Honestly, We Meant Well 'Going Dutch is my favorite kind of novel—smart, insightful, and brimming with sly humor.' —Stephen McCauley, author of My Ex-Life "[An] excellent debut…Marvelously witty...Announces Gregor as a fresh, electric new voice." —Publishers Weekly (starred review) 'A comedy of manners for the (very) modern age.' —Entertainment Weekly 'Masterful. [An] exciting debut, and will leave you eager for more.' —BuzzFeed Exhausted by dead-end forays in the gay dating scene, surrounded constantly by friends but deeply lonely in New York City, and drifting into academic abyss, twenty-something graduate student Richard has plenty of sources of anxiety. But at the forefront is his crippling writer's block, which threatens daily to derail his graduate funding and leave Richard poor, directionless, and desperately single. Enter Anne: his brilliant classmate who offers to "help" Richard write his papers in exchange for his company, despite Richard's fairly obvious sexual orientation. Still, he needs her help, and it doesn't hurt that Anne has folded Richard into her abundant lifestyle. What begins as an initially transactional relationship blooms gradually into something more complex. But then a one-swipe-stand with an attractive, successful lawyer named Blake becomes serious, and Richard suddenly finds himself unable to detach from Anne, entangled in her web of privilege, brilliance, and, oddly, her unabashed acceptance of Richard's flaws. As the two relationships reach points of serious commitment, Richard soon finds himself on a romantic and existential collision course—one that brings about surprising revelations. Going Dutch is an incisive portrait of relationships in an age of digital romantic abundance, but it's also a heartfelt and humorous exploration of love and sexuality, and a poignant meditation on the things emotionally ravenous people seek from and do to each other. James Gregor announces himself with levity, and a fresh, exciting voice in his debut.

James Gregor (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain

Part Michael Lewis, part The Way Things Work: From the New York Times’s Global Economics Correspondent, an extraordinary journey revealing the worldwide supply chain—exposing both the fascinating pathways of manufacturing and transportation that bring products to your doorstep, and the ruthless business logic that has left local communities at the mercy of a complex and fragile network for their basic necessities. How does the wealthiest country on earth run out of protective gear in the middle of a public health catastrophe? How do its parents find themselves unable to locate crucially needed infant formula? How do its largest companies spend billions of dollars making cars that no one can drive for a lack of chips? The last few years have radically highlighted the intricacy and fragility of the global supply chain. Enormous ships were stuck at sea, warehouses overflowed, and delivery trucks stalled. The result was a scarcity of everything from breakfast cereal to medical devices, from frivolous goods to lifesaving necessities. And while the scale of the pandemic shock was unprecedented, it underscored the troubling reality that the system was fundamentally at risk of descending into chaos all along. And it still is. Sabotaged by financial interests, loss of transparency in markets, and worsening working conditions for the people tasked with keeping the gears turning, our global supply chain has become perpetually on the brink of collapse. In How the World Ran Out of Everything, award-winning journalist Peter S. Goodman reveals the fascinating innerworkings of our supply chain and the factors that have led to its constant, dangerous vulnerability. His reporting takes readers deep into the elaborate system, showcasing the triumphs and struggles of the human players who operate it—from factories in Asia and an almond grower in Northern California, to a group of striking railroad workers in Texas, to a truck driver who Goodman accompanies across hundreds of miles of the Great Plains. Through their stories, Goodman weaves a powerful argument for reforming a supply chain to become truly reliable and resilient, demanding a radical redrawing of the bargain between labor and shareholders, and deeper attention paid to how we get the things we need. From one of the most respected economic journalists working today, How the World Ran Out of Everything is a fiercely smart, deeply informative look at how our supply chain operates, and why its reform is crucial—not only to avoid dysfunction in our day to day lives, but to protect the fate of our global fortunes.

Peter S. Goodman (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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Lies That Bind: How Do You Arrest Somebody That Doesn't Exist?

In this crime mystery, when Police Officer Danny Garcia and his partner get a call for a disturbance of the peace, they have no idea of the surprise in store for them. Danny has been angling for a police detective job, and something about this arrest stinks - and not just the alcohol on the alleged criminals' breath. While off duty, Danny is hit with another stumper. A fellow parishioner approaches him at church, hoping for some help with a sensitive problem. As Danny takes action to unravel the mystery, he becomes convinced that a priest at his church is not what he claims to be. Danny is torn between what his gut is telling him and the letter of the law. The detective in him can't let go -even when it threatens his job, and in spite of his girlfriend's insistence that he stay out of it. His Chief is warning him off as well. Danny is left with two unlikely allies - his young, smart ass cop partner; and his estranged, alcoholic brother. Things really go south for Danny after he and his partner are involved in a fatal shooting, but in this mystery thriller, this may just provide the opportunity Danny needs to go after the suspects everyone is telling him to leave alone. 'Written with humor and characters you can't help but want to hang out with, roll your eyes at, and cheer on, Craig Smith has crafted a detective mystery crime novel you won't want to miss!' - Becky Parker Geist, President of Bay Area Independent Publishers Assn.

Craig J. Smith (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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Madoff: The Final Word

Fifteen years after Bernie Madoff's arrest, renowned investigative journalist Richard Behar delivers the definitive account of history's largest—and longest-running—financial fraud. Some $65 billion evaporated during Bernie Madoff's epic confidence game. Two people were driven to suicide in the wake of the Ponzi Scheme's exposure. Others went to prison. But there has never been a satisfying accounting for how Bernie got away with so much, for so long. Until now. Richard Behar's relationship with Madoff began in 2011 with a simple email request from the inmate. By the time he died in 2021, he had sent Behar more than 300 emails and dozens of hand-written letters, participated in some fifty (recorded) phone conversations, and sat for three in-person jailhouse interviews—a level of access provided to no other reporter. Behar also established unique relationships with dozens of regulators, prosecutors, investors, Wall Street experts, ex-employees of Madoff's, and FBI agents. The result is the final word on the criminal behind history's most enduring fraud—and on those who believed him, covered for him, or locked him up. Behar reveals not only that the fraud traces back decades earlier than Madoff claimed in his confession, but also the complicity of investors (who unfairly blame the SEC), Wall Street insiders, family members, and some of the largest banks in the US and Europe. Shocking, infuriating, riveting (and at times absurdly funny), Madoff shows us how Bernie ensnared thousands of investors. As Behar's dogged reporting over the last fifteen years makes clear, however, there aren't many innocents left standing by the end of this tale. Just about everyone involved is guilty, at a minimum, of humanity's most consistent weakness: greed.

Richard Behar (Author), Michael David Axtell, TBD (Narrator)

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Modern Warriors: Real Stories from Real Heroes

From FOX & Friends Weekend cohost Pete Hegseth comes a collection of inspiring stories from fifteen of America’s greatest heroes—highly decorated Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, marines, Purple Heart recipients, combat pilots, a Medal of Honor recipient, and more—based on FOX Nation’s hit show of the same name. After three Army deployments—earning two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge—Pete Hegseth knows what it takes to be a modern warrior. In Modern Warriors he presents candid, unfiltered conversations with fellow modern warriors and digs for real answers to key questions like: What inspired them to serve? What is their legacy? What does sacrifice really mean to them? How do they handle loss? And what can civilians learn from this latest generation of veterans? From the skies over Afghanistan to the seas of the Mediterranean to the treacherous streets of Iraq, these brave men and women take you inside the firefight, sharing the harrowing realities of war. Hegseth uses their experiences to facilitate conversations about the raw truths of combat, including the difficulties of transitioning back home, while also celebrating these soldiers’ contributions to preserving our nation’s most precious gift—freedom. These stories provide an unvarnished representation of battlefield leadership, military morale, and the strain of war. This book is the perfect keepsake and gift for anyone who wants to know what it means, and what it truly takes, to be a patriot.

Pete Hegseth (Author), Christian Baskous, Eileen Stevens, Jd Jackson, Kaleo Griffith, Michael David Axtell, Pete Hegseth (Narrator)

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Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties

‘Lucid and damning … an absorbing – and infuriating – tale of complicity, coverup and denial’ PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE, author of EMPIRE OF PAIN A groundbreaking investigation of how the Nazis helped German tycoons make billions from the horrors of the Third Reich and World War II – and how the world allowed them to get away with it. In 1946, Günther Quandt – patriarch of Germany’s most iconic industrial empire, a dynasty that today controls BMW – was arrested for suspected Nazi collaboration. Quandt claimed that he had been forced to join the party by his arch-rival, propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, and the courts acquitted him. But Quandt lied. And his heirs, and those of other Nazi billionaires, have only grown wealthier in the generations since, while their reckoning with this dark past remains incomplete at best. Many of them continue to control swaths of the world economy, owning iconic brands whose products blanket the globe. The brutal legacy of the dynasties that dominated Daimler-Benz, cofounded Allianz and still control Porsche, Volkswagen and BMW has remained hidden in plain sight – until now. In this landmark work, investigative journalist David de Jong reveals the true story of how Germany’s wealthiest business dynasties amassed untold money and power by abetting the atrocities of the Third Reich. Using a wealth of untapped sources, de Jong shows how these tycoons seized Jewish businesses, procured slave labourers and ramped up weapons production to equip Hitler’s army as Europe burnt around them. Most shocking of all, de Jong exposes how the wider world’s political expediency enabled these billionaires to get away with their crimes, covering up a bloodstain that defiles the German and global economy to this day.

David De Jong (Author), Michael David Axtell (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Michael David Axtell