SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

This idea cane fron the 2018 TBR Cleanup Challenge discussion. Thanks Anna :)

Who are the best and worst of both Audiobooks and Narrators?

I'm currently listening to next month's selection, Touch. Kenney is a favorite narrator of mine and it's listen to anything he does. This one is also fun because he does a bunch of voices and accents as Kepler jumps from body to body.

Lolita and Jeremy Irons. Absolute perfection.

And Bleeding Edge was by far the worst and I doubt I made it 20 minutes.

A major disappointment was Cibola Burn. Who changes narrators on book 4? Especially to a bad narrator.

Loved loved loved Finty Williams on The Girl with All the Gifts.

I really like Peter Kenney also. He was really fantastic with The Witcher series.

Robin Miles doing The Broken Earth series was really good but think that is the only SFF she did.

Think my favorite has to be Steven Pacey doing The First Law. He does great accents without being too drastic.

Michael Kramer and Kate Reading are great with all the various works they do.

Think for me the deciding factor on whether I like a narrator is how well they can differentiate the voices without becoming too much like a stereotype. I did a book by Oliver Wyman where I had to ditch it within 10 minutes because his voices for a woman and young girl were too outlandish. Luke Daniels is another that just doesn’t work for me. His voices are too drastic. He goes with stereotypical voices for things like old man or nerd that just end up annoying me.

Allison wrote: "Loved loved loved Finty Williams on The Girl with All the Gifts."

She also does the sequel, The Boy on the Bridge.

Tim Curry reading the Sabriel series, by Garth Nix. Brilliant!

I actually have enjoyed Luke Daniels reading the Iron Druid Chronicles - except for his Oberon voice. Makes him sound like the droopy dog cartoon, and it drives me nuts.

ladymurmur wrote: "Tim Curry reading the Sabriel series, by Garth Nix. Brilliant!

I actually have enjoyed Luke Daniels reading the Iron Druid Chronicles - except for his Oberon voice. Makes him sound ..."

Agree on both your points. Can’t believe I forgot Tim Curry doing Abhorsen it was magical.

Everything in Iron Druid was fine except Oberon which also drove me nuts. The book that he really ruined for me was Off to Be the Wizard by Scott Meyer. The MC is a nerd who he gave this high nasal voice that just grated and made me hate him. For me he just goes too far with some of the voices.

Not SFF but I just loved Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as narrated by Patrick Fraley. He was able to read the different accents & dialects distinctively but still clearly enough that my old ears could make out the words easily.

Anansi Boys read by Lenny Henry is my favourite.

Children of Time read by Mel Hudson was outstanding!

Three Parts Dead read by Claudia Alick was great!

Peter Grant (Rivers of London) books read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith are legendary!!

Lord of the Rings as narrated by Rob Inglis

https://www.ebay.com/itm/J-R-R-Tolkie...

I own this set and it's wonderful and it takes 52 hours to listen to the whole thing. It's not abridged and it's not a dramatized version, but the reader uses slightly different voices for the different characters. I used to always skip the poems and songs, but after listening to this set I gained an appreciation for them.

ETA: it looks like this is the set offered by Audible as well (book by book, not sold as a complete set) and you could get it free with a free trial

ETA2: This would be a good way for those who cannot get through the paper/kindle versions to remove the book from their TBR pile. It's really good for listening to while commuting to work.

Fiona Hardingham and Steve West are two of my favorites! I listened to An Ember in the Ashes and fell in love with both of them!

Tim Gerard Reynolds and any of the Riyria books are a good choice. I also like Luke Daniels in the Magic 2.0 books. I also like James Marsters for Dresden Files (although the quality of the Buzzy books aren't great and his narration improves as the series goes on)

Other favorite narrators:

Michael Kramer
Kate Reading
Simon Vance
John Lee

Probably forgetting a few.

I agree about Robin Miles, she does an amazing job with The Fifth Season and she also reads Binti.

Let's get the obvious ones out of the way first. Stephen Fry read Harry Potter to me every night for six (?) years. I'm kind of Pottered out at this point, but it was fun while it lasted. Anything Neil Gaiman narrates himself, I'll listen to. I particularly like how he reads Richard in Neverwhere, and how he does the poems and songs in The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I'm getting slightly bored of his stories, having (re)read all of them this year, but I don't think I'll ever get tired of his voice.

I love Emily Gray's Soulless, although I wish they'd fixed how she pronounces Akeldama in the first book. I can't ever listen to anything in this universe read by someone else, and when I read the novellas, I have to do all the voices and accents in my head. So I read them very slowly, but it's fine, I'm happy to spend time in the Parasolverse. I really dislike how Moira Quirk reads Prudence, but that's just because I'm used to Emily.

I absolutely love how Jenny Sterlin reads Howl's Moving Castle. She is the perfect Sophie and the perfect Howl. But she doesn't suit Earthsea at all in my opinion, it's just the wrong voice for that world.

I enjoyed Katherine Kellgren in Among Others, although it took a little while to get used to the accent.

But the best thing that has ever happened to me is Ursula K. Le Guin narrating Catwings. It is so perfect, I feel like a small child tucked safely into bed with my grandma reading me a story. No, she's not a professional voice actress, but she does the kitty sounds so perfectly I want to listen to them all the time. You can hear a lovely 'mew!' in the sample.

Jeremy Irons was perfect for Lolita (he starred in the latest version of the movie if I remember correctly)

Sissy Spacek did an excellent job narrating "To kill a mockingbird".

like: george guidall, Simon Vance, Kate Reading, michael sheen..

didn't she also do Coal Miner's Daughter and Carrie?

Oh, how could i forget Swordspoint? It had multiple narrators and sound effects. Super fun.

Sarah Anne wrote: "I'm currently listening to next month's selection, Touch. Kenney is a favorite narrator of mine and it's listen to anything he does. This one is also fun because he does a bunch of ..."

Awesome and bummer! I have both the audios for Touch and Bleeding Edge :)

Whoever (too lazy to look it up right now) did the audio for Red Sister was about a perfect fit as I could imagine.

Kobna is truly awesome.

Anna wrote: "I agree about Robin Miles, she does an amazing job with The Fifth Season and she also reads Binti."

Awesome thanks. Picked it up.

Jim Dale reading all the Harry Potter books. Those are the best done audiobooks I’ve listened to.

They changed narrators on Book 4 of the Expanse? Why? I was thinking about listening to them for my rereads later but don’t want poor narration.

I also love the readings of the Honor Harrington series by David Weber read by Allyson Johnson. She does a fantastic job capturing the feel of the books.

J.w. wrote: "They changed narrators on Book 4 of the Expanse? Why? I was thinking about listening to them for my rereads later but don’t want poor narration."

Jefferson Mays was busy at the time. He's since re-recorded the book and Audible replaced the other version.

I haven't listened to many (any) audio-books since I was little, but I have just recently been listening to Patrick Stewart reading C.S. Lewis The Last Battle, and although I'm not sure yet if I'm really enjoying the book itself, I could listen to him reading all day!

Also in the same set, Derek Jacobi reads one of the books, and I'm really looking forward to hearing that one, too.

Funny about the expanse books, I would have listed that narrator as one of my worst. I just finished Abaddon's gate and one of the reasons I didn't like it was the narration. His non-attempt at a Russian accent was bad, I couldn't differentiate between many of the voices and although he got the drama going well, the rest of the story was flat.

I listen to 30-40 audio books every year.

I think Jefferson Mays is an alright narrator. I personally wouldn't list him among my tops. However, I wouldn't list him as one of my worst either. Of course like most things this is subjective so everyone is different.

I don't recall May's Russian accent, but I like his voice for Avasarala.

Personally, I thought that Erik Davies who filled in for him for Cibola Burn was worse.


I'm glad they re-recorded it with Jefferson Mays if for no other reason but consistency. I plan to re-listen to the whole series prior to the final book coming up and it's nice that all 9 books will be done by the same person.

I hate it when book series change narrators (with 1 exception where a series I liked swapped to Simon Vance starting with book 2)

also FWIW, I listen to 52+ audio books/year.

Ruth wrote: "Anansi Boys read by Lenny Henry is my favourite."

On a similar note Kobna Holbrook-Smith who does the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. Simon Vance, John Lee and Tim Gerard Reynolds are also among my favorites. Kate Mulgrew did an awesome job on NOS4A2 by Joe Hill.

Authors narrating their own books - the only one who really stands out is of course Neil Gaiman.

Personally I cannot stand George Guidall and avoid anything he narrates.

Rob wrote: " I don't recall May's Russian accent"

Boom! Throwdown of the audio listeners :)

The problem is that he attempted a Russian accent for a couple of words here and there but otherwise Anna was quite American.

I agree, it is very personal preference. Mays won't stop me from listening to the series.

J.w. wrote: "Jim Dale reading all the Harry Potter books. Those are the best done audiobooks I’ve listened to. "

Oh I could not disagree more... I can't stand Jim Dale as a reader. He's too over the top and caricaturish for my taste and I couldn't make it through the Harry Potter sample with him reading it. He read The Night Circus, and I hated the book anyway, but listening to him read it made me want to ice-pick my face. All his voices and accents and such are just too much for me. I prefer my readers to be good enough to differentiate the characters to my ear, but to let the characters and the story speak for themselves. He doesn't.

Another one that I don't care for and everyone else seems to love is Wil Wheaton. I don't know what it is about him, but I just don't like listening to him read. I've tried a few books he's read, and none of them work for me.

Also not really a fan of authors reading their own books, except for Neil Gaiman. And Nick Offerman. I could listen to either of them read the phone book.

Some of the best narrators overall in my opinion are Simon Vance, John Lee, Bronson Pinchot, Jonathan Davis, Stephen Fry, and Alan Cumming.

James Marsters reading The Dresden Files is fantastic.
Steven Weber reading IT... OMG. So amazing.

And I've just realized that I don't listen to much SF/F audio. Much more nonfiction on audio.

Finally someone else who doesn't like Jim Dale!

Wil Wheaton though, I agree he's not the best narrator, but I associate him with quick, entertaining books, so it leans on the side of positive. But I don't know how many Scalzi audiobooks I can listen to before it gets old.

Can anyone recommend a narrator who sounds like Richard Burton?
Deep baritone with an English accent?

Tom wrote: "Can anyone recommend a narrator who sounds like Richard Burton?
Deep baritone with an English accent?"

Robert Glenister might fit. He did The Cuckoo's Calling and the next two in that series. Not sure he sounds exactly like Richard Burton but close

Hank wrote: "Robert Glenister might fit."

Close, another octave lower, I think. Almost James Earl Jones in depth.

Thanks!

Anna wrote: "Finally someone else who doesn't like Jim Dale!

Wil Wheaton though, I agree he's not the best narrator, but I associate him with quick, entertaining books, so it leans on the side of positive. But..."

High five! Anti-Dalers unite! :D

Disclaimer: I am without a doubt the worst person to take audiobook advice from. I have trouble listening to them to begin with, and some of my narrator opinions don’t jive at all with that of more experienced audiobook listeners. Plus, since I don’t listen to them often, I don’t have a wide range of experience. But I have opinions, so here they are… feel free to jeer. :)

In general, I have trouble listening to any narrator who reads too dramatically, or who just sounds too much like they’re reading a story. For example, Neil Gaiman. I usually see his narration skills referred to favorably, and sometimes adoringly, but I tried listening to Neverwhere and I couldn’t get through it. I couldn’t get past being spoken to like I was a child being read a bedtime story. I cringed and squirmed through a few listening sessions until I finally shut it off for good.

Even worse was my experience with Paul Boehmer, the narrator of The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks. He read every single thing, however mundane, with excessive melodrama. Eventually I found myself thinking, “Would you just shut UP?!” And then I made him shut up. It’s a miracle the power button survived the force with which I made him shut up. I may have tried to force myself to listen too long, because I still feel some residual anger...

On the other hand, I absolutely love Kevin Stillwell, the narrator of Carol Berg’s Rai-Kirah series which starts with Transformation. For my tastes, he’s pretty much the god of narrators. I feel about him the way other people feel about Neil Gaiman, I guess. :) He had the perfect balance for me. He reads most of the story in a somewhat understated and sardonic manner, adding drama to his voice only when it’s really appropriate, which makes it more effective for me. There were times he gave me chills, and his voice will now always be Seyonne (the main character) to me. I thought he did well with other character voices also; I was never confused about who was speaking. Even when the main character alternated between saying things out loud and thinking things inside his own head, I was never confused about which parts were being said out loud.

Oliver Wyman was another narrator who worked well for me, at least when I listened to the audios for Brandon Sanderson’s Legion novellas. He also keeps the melodrama to a minimum and I thought he did well with differentiating the different voices.

YouKneeK wrote: "In general, I have trouble listening to any narrator who reads too dramatically, or who just sounds too much like they’re reading a story. For example, Neil Gaiman. I usually see his narration skills referred to favorably, and sometimes adoringly, but I tried listening to Neverwhere and I couldn’t get through it. I couldn’t get past being spoken to like I was a child being read a bedtime story. I cringed and squirmed through a few listening sessions until I finally shut it off for good."

YouKneek, I completely agree with you regarding this, with the caveat that I am one of those NG adorers. I think he gets a pass there for me because he is a storyteller, and what I've heard him read have been his own stories to tell. If it was another reader "interpreting" the story that way, it would bug the hell out of me. Which is why I don't like Jim Dale. He adds too much of his own interpretation and character spin to the story.

Also agree with you regarding Oliver Wyman reading Legion. So much fun to listen to!

I don't often listen to audio books, but I do have a favorite I return to often. The All- Star Cast version of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. When the [execrable, imo]movie came out, he had the producers of the film pay for a 10 cd, 12 hour version of the book. It has 40 astounding actors and Max Brooks.

ladymurmur wrote: "Tim Curry reading the Sabriel series, by Garth Nix. Brilliant!

I actually have enjoyed Luke Daniels reading the Iron Druid Chronicles - except for his Oberon voice. Makes him sound ..."

Hmm, that is enough to make me really consider buying the Sabriel series. Tim Curry has such a great voice.

So the best Audio Book I have listened to, is A Night in the Lonesome October
Read by the Author of all people. He has such a great Laconic delivery that you actually can imagine he is the Watch Dog.

The Worst Audio Book is: Neuromancer

Another book read by the Author. But his delivery just plain out sucks. It was painful.

Both these books I had read previously and enjoyed as well. The Night in the Lonesome October, in hardbound has illustrations by Gahan Wilson which just adds to the enjoyment value for me.

Neuromancer is straight up Cyberpunk of the best kind.

Jim Dale versus Stephen Fry!

Yeah, Stephen Fry wins, hands down. Maybe because I learned british-english at school and reading Harry Potter at the same time just cemented those two together forever. Jim Dale sounds way to american for a story that takes places in Great-Brittain.

But a narrator I really enjoy but haven't been mentioned in this thread is Marguerite Gavin! She narrated the Hollows series (which I also really enjoyed) except for the... fourth one (I think). And the person who did it was... well horrible. I still don't get how somebody can pronounce a name totally different when in the first books it was a certain way. DO YOUR HOMEWORK PERSON.

That escalated in a mini rant..

TL:DL Stephen Fry rules. Marguerite Gavin makes everything better.

OK, one of my fav's is Wil Wheaton doing pretty much anything by John Scalzi.

And my absolute bestest audio read this year was True Grit by Charles Portis. Donna Tartt absolutely nailed the main character, Mattie Ross.

Ada wrote: "Jim Dale versus Stephen Fry!

Yeah, Stephen Fry wins, hands down. "

YES.

Edwin wrote: "OK, one of my fav's is Wil Wheaton doing pretty much anything by John Scalzi.

And my absolute bestest audio read this year was True Grit by [author:Charl..."

One more on the TBR, as long as I get it added now and don't add any in 2018 I can win the contest! (totally doable)

Dj wrote: "So the best Audio Book I have listened to, is A Night in the Lonesome October
Read by the Author of all people. He has such a great L..."

Wow, I read your post thinking, 'I have the Neuromancer audiobook, it's not my favorite but it's not awful. Is that really William Gibson reading?' Then I found a sample of Gibson's version on Google and now my ears are bleeding. I think that would have made me hate Neuromancer. (I don't have the Gibson version for the record.)

The best audiobook I've ever listened to was Campbell Scott reading The Shining. His character voices are absolutely brilliant without going over the top. It strikes the perfect balance between audio drama (which I'm not really into for books) and an unengaging, flat reading. I can't recommend that version enough; I've listened to it several times myself.

I’ve just had to give up on the audio book of Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson because I found the narrator’s (James Yaegoshi) twangy American accent too much of a distraction. A misfit of book and reader.

It's a shame because the audiobook of Words of Radiance I listened to earlier this year was excellent.

Wil Wheaton reading Ready Player One was excellent! He also read Armada with equal finesse.

Carolyn McCormick is also awesome reading The Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff VanderMeer, as well as The Hunger Games trilogy.

One more who deserves mention is Hillary Huber whose reading of The Library at Mount Char gives a superb performance in the audio version. She completely supplies individuality to the characters and real life to the story. Highly recommended listening.

My favorite audio book narrator is Bahni Turpin. She is absolutely amazing in every book she does, though I don't think she does much science fiction or fantasy. She did narrate The Underground Railroad and The Hate U Give. Neither of which I have listened to but both receiving rave reviews from friends. I first listened to her on Here Comes the Sun Amazing!! Then on another book 'Til the Well Runs Dry where she adopted so many dialects and characters in the same scenes, it was hard to believe it was the same narrator. I think she's so good that I cannot adequately gush in this post!!!

Also, wanted to second the Jim Dale love!! He's how I ingested Harry Potter and he was magical (no pun intended)!!

Bill wrote: "Robin Miles doing The Broken Earth series was really good but think that is the only SFF she did.

Think my favori..."

She also narrated Binti. I found that as she went on in The Broken Earth, she got better - I thought her performance for The Fifth Season wasn't great (just acceptable), but by the time they hit The Stone Sky she was really doing well.

Robert wrote: "Wil Wheaton reading Ready Player One was excellent! He also read Armada with equal finesse."

He also reads for John Scalzi's books. I quite enjoyed his performance on The Collapsing Empire, and I have Lock In on my radar due to Wil's performance.

Lowell wrote: "Bill wrote: "Robin Miles doing The Broken Earth series was really good but think that is the only SFF she did.

Think my favori..."

She also narrated Binti. I found that as she wen..."

Thanks Lowell. Anna had mentioned it also so I picked it up and finished it yesterday. Really great book and narration.

I have fallen in love with Stefan Rudnicki. I heard him read Love is the Plan and the Plan is Death and OMG. He was more than amazing.

https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fi...

I don't think I could read this story.

I also like Gabrielle de Cuir and really, really enjoyed her narration of A Word Shaped Like Bones.
https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fi...