Smith's "What are you reading?" posts always result in at least a few good books added to my list. I'd like to do an audiobook version. I'm a pretty voracious reader, but I loathe the idea that recordings "don't count." For most of literary history books were so damned expensive that often even most literate people listened to readings as often they had access to a book (the chapterhouses of religious institutions, for example). So here are a few of my favorite books and their narrators.
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Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin series narrated by Patrick Tull. O'Brien's work is fantastic, and I believe Tull's narration captures the spirit of the works, especially the constant humor that even many fans fail to mention while praising the series.
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The Fagles translation of The Iliad as narrated by Dereck Jacobi. There not much to say here: Homer is Homer, and Jacobi narrates the ancient epic with the skill you would expect. Ian McKellen narrated Fagles' translation of The Odyssey, but I have not gotten to it yet; I presume its probably equally good.
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This last pick is going catch flack, but The Dresden Files as narrated by James Marsters. Dresden Files is schlock but I think its entertaining schlock, and Marsters does a good job narrating the schlocky first person novels. Fight me.
I recently picked up Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot in audio book format. It's narrated by him, so it reminds me of watching Cosmos on TV so long ago.
Bob the knowledge spirit in a skull is really cool. I always imagined Bob as from Brooklyn, so the voice Marsters gives is never satisfying.
The Children of Hurin read by Christopher Lee.
The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings read by Andy Serkis.
Anansi Boys. I forget the name, but one reader was actually the inspiration for the book and can do the accents of all the characters naturally. It's about a man who grew up in Florida and then England, only to find out his estranged and 'dead' father was Ananzi the God. Also, he has a twin brother named Spider, who has all of Dad's powers.
Coraline, The Graveyard Book, and probably others read by Neil Gaiman.
I'm currently listening to Dracula, and Dream Park.
RC bray is the gold standard of narrators for me, he just did starship troopers recently if you haven’t heard it. His narration of gilded needles and the elementals are very well done and he has a platitude of science fiction titles he’s done. Stephen fry’s narration of his mythos/heroes/ Troy books are phenomenal as well.
I'm going to check out Gilded Needles and ExForce. I hate to say it, but I'm skeptical of Fry's retelling of any ancient bit of western civilization, myth included; a shame because he could narrate a shopping list and deserve an award. Yes, I'm being a bit a of a prick, but Fry is one of those people that are awesome from a distance but kinda shit under closer inspection.
His version of Starship Troopers finally came out? I've had that thing Pre-Ordered for over a year. Guess I missed the notification.
Same! Ordered back in like February for the march release. It dropped in October. It’s well done at least so I would say worth the wait.
I think I ordered it in March of '23 for Nov '23 and then it just kept pushing out. Delayed gratification is an understatement
The Galaxy's Edge (it's not Star Wars, this was before Star Wars started using that name for some of their slop) series is great. There are three running parallel to each other, the main series, Bounties and Contracts and Lone Operator and they're all great. R.C. Bray does the main series and Ray Porter does the Bounties and Contracts series, they really fit the grimdark military setting.
I read a handful years ago and enjoyed them.
No, but I'll fight side by side with you if anyone else takes you up on your challenge. Dresden Files is fun; I'm actually re-listening to it at the moment.
I like these guys: https://www.horrorbabble.com/
They do classic horror novels, short stories, etc. They're free on youtube (and maybe spotify, dunno never tried them) or you can buy MP3s/FLACs on Bandcamp.
Is Dresden Files hated? Sure, it’s not amazing literature or anything, but it’s fun enough, and not woke. I guess you could argue Murphy is almost a girlboss, but I think that’s a reach, and on the other hand it has some of the most positive and dignified Christian characters among its contemporaries.
I've been listening to Blood Meridian for the better part of a few months while I drive, because reading it seems like a legit chore with how its written. Maybe that's a pleb opinion but I have so little reading time now I can't enjoy it. Its a wonderful time though, just a brutal read interspersed with philosophical musings that cannot be easily dismissed.
Its read by a guy named Richard Poe. This is my first ever audiobook, but this guy is out here reading it on a level that I think my second one will be just another thing he himself has read. Doesn't stumble on the word nigger, assigns pretty fitting voices to a whole host of easily identified characters, and maintains a tone that is fitting throughout.
Bobiverse series. About halfway through the fifth book now. I like how it touches on various themes and ideas (I don't know how to do a spoiler thing here).