I listen to a lot of audiobooks, because it makes me feel better about the amount of time I spend in my car for my commute. And I give a lot of my business to Audible because it’s the only way I can afford a lot of audiobooks. But speaking of affordable, they’re currently having a first in a series sale (which let’s hope goes a lot better than Marvel’s attempt) – 200 first books in series for $4.95 each.

With the disclaimer that this list is limited to this [GAS] writer’s personal experience with books on the list she’s read, here are some suggestions for some scifi and fantasy series that would be worth starting.

1. Nine Princes in Amber by Robert Zelazny (The Chronicles of Amber series)
A classic series of 10 books, well worth a read for any fan of high fantasy. Though I haven’t listened to the audio for this one, it won an award so it must be quite good! Amber is the one real world, of which all others including our own Earth are but Shadows. Amber burns in Corwin’s blood. Exiled on Shadow Earth for centuries, the prince is about to return to Amber to make a mad and desperate rush upon the throne.

2. Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind (The Sword of Truth series by)
Okay, so not the best high fantasy you will ever read, but pretty entertaining, some interesting worldbuilding, and if you were a fan of the television show Legend of the Seeker, this series is the source material. In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher’s forest sanctuary seeking help … and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

3. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (The Leviathan series)
Though this is a young adult book, I think it definitely has some crossover appeal, especially for fans of steampunk or alternate history. Plus, bonus: It’s narrated by Alan Cumming. It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. The Leviathan is a living airship, the most formidable airbeast in the skies of Europe.

4. Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry (The Joe Ledger series)
SCIENCE ZOMBIES. Here’s an interesting fact about Jonathan Maberry’s writing: He did all this research where he interviewed people from the CDC and Homeland Security and stuff, and it turns out that Homeland Security actually has protocols in place for both fast and slow zombies. For, you know, if that’s ever a problem. So I assume this stuff is pretty accurate. He’s a Baltimore detective who has just been secretly recruited by the government to lead a new task force created to deal with the problems that Homeland Security can’t handle. It’s bad because his first mission is to help stop a group of terrorists from releasing a dreadful bioweapon that can turn ordinary people into zombies. The fate of the world hangs in the balance.

5. Storm Front by Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files series)
If I could recommend one book to pick up during this sale, this would be it. Dresden Files is my favorite in-progress fantasy series of the moment, and the audiobooks are fantastic, featuring the excellent narration of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s James Marsters. My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk. I’m a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago. As far as I know, I’m the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards. Believe it or not, I’m the only one there.

The Audible sale runs through May 20! If you have a look at the list and see any other books you would recommend, leave a comment and let us know.