Not Till We Are Lost Audiobook – Bobiverse, Book 5

I listened to “Not Till We Are Lost” during a string of cool, misty Portland evenings, curled up by the window as city lights flickered through rain-speckled glass. It felt like an oddly perfect setting for the return of Dennis E. Taylor’s Bobs—artificial intelligences who feel startlingly more alive and relatable than some humans I know. Five books in, you’d think this universe might have run out of new frontiers, but Taylor continues to deliver surprises that made me laugh out loud one moment and furrow my brow with philosophical musings the next.

This time around, the Bobiverse has grown complicated—fractured alliances, galactic-scale threats, existential unease—but what struck me most was how familiar their struggles felt on a personal level. The Bobs’ search for meaning amidst chaos mirrors so much of our own contemporary angst: isolation in connectedness, doubt after victory, fear when peace proves elusive. I’ve been there myself—caught between comfort zones and the lure (or dread) of change—and it made me ache for these digital souls trying to find purpose in an ever-expanding cosmos.

One thing that never falters is Taylor’s sense of humor. Even when galaxy-sized calamities loom or alien conspiracies tangle plots tighter than Portland’s rush hour traffic (trust me: not pretty), he weaves in those sly pop-culture references and nerdy quips that fans have come to adore. There were times I had to pause playback just to savor a joke—or jot down a particularly poignant observation about sentience and responsibility.

Ray Porter is once again an absolute delight; his performance feels almost symbiotic with Taylor’s writing at this point. Porter gives each Bob their distinct inflection—sometimes subtle differences in pacing or tone that bring dozens of A.I.s vividly to life—and handles everything from deadpan sarcasm to raw vulnerability with seamless skill. As someone who listens primarily while doing creative work or unwinding before bed, I appreciate how his voice can carry both wild sci-fi action scenes and those quieter introspective moments without missing a beat.

What resonated deeply was the book’s exploration of unintended consequences—the idea that even good intentions (especially wielded by near-omnipotent entities) ripple across galaxies in unpredictable ways. I saw shades here of teaching my own students years ago: wanting so badly to leave things better than I found them but realizing sometimes our “fixes” create new dilemmas entirely outside our control. That moral complexity kept me invested right through every tense encounter with Skippies (alien antagonists whose meddling makes your average family drama look tame).

If there’s anything less satisfying here, it might be how dense some sections become when Taylor delves into technical detail; if hard science fiction isn’t your cup of tea you may find yourself tuning out occasionally during prolonged explanations about interstellar travel or AI evolution. But for me—and anyone who relishes thoughtful world-building—it only adds depth.

Ultimately, “Not Till We Are Lost” does exactly what great speculative fiction should: entertains while poking at big questions about identity, community, power… even hope itself amid uncertainty. Whether you’re a longtime Bobiverse devotee or looking for your next clever sci-fi listen (just promise you’ll start with book one!), this audiobook proves both exhilarating escape and meaningful meditation rolled into one cosmic journey.