Fantasy Aficionados discussion

I have not listened to the WOT series in audio but I have heard the narration team performing The Way of Kings, and I thought they did a great job with that book. Kramer in particular was excellent.

Since you already have them it can't hurt to give the first one a shot at least.

I do agree though. Epic fantasy books do not make the transition in to audio as well as books from other genres.

Which books did you find to be badly narrated?.

I'm currently listening to WOT in audio format. I'm listening to The Shadow Rising right now, which is the 5th book. I've read the whole series before, so I already know the basic story. The narrators do a good job. They switch back and forth. The man (Kramer) narrates when the POV is from a male and the female narrator (Reading) does the narration from the women's POV. It helps that I already know the series. There are a lot of people, places, and such. If you need something visual to keep track of all of that the audiobook may not be the best way. There is an interview with Robert Jordan after one of the books where he says he listens to the audio version just to see if the readers interpret the story the same as he envisioned it in the first place. As far as I know, he approved of all the versions he listened to.

Glad I could help. Just so you know, the first book is mostly Kramer reading it. It's mostly from a male POV. There's only a little from the women's POV in the first book. Kate Reading reads a lot more in the later ones. The first time I listened to the first, I was surprised when I first heard the 2nd reader, just because I was used to the other and hadn't expected it.

Neida wrote: "One of the worst ones so far for me was Flesh & Fire by Laura Anne Gilman narrated by Anne Flesnick. Her performance of Malech made me rip my headphones off after 4 chapters. I also did not enjoy Dick Hill as a narrator for War of the Mein (Acacia) - I ended up getting the paperbacks for the rest of the series.

I will give Kramer a try for WOT.
"

You have been very unfortunate so far Neida. I've listened to a ton of audiobooks over the last five years and Dick Hill and Anne Flosnik would both make my top five list of least favorite narrators.

Kramer and Reading are far easier to listen too!.

I "read" one George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire books in audio format and found that enjoyable, esp since it eased a long subway commute. But I will need to reread that one eventually in print--his work is too complex for audio format.

I listened to one of the WoT books and liked the narrators too. The one I listened to was actually mostly Reading and it took me a little time to adjust to Kramer each time he came in but they're both enjoyable. It was the first audio I went through with two narrators though, so I think I just wasn't used to the switching back and forth.

I'm late to the discussion...sorry. Neida, I've listened to some of them. Happily the first 6 are before the series took the nose dive I and some others are upset with....

I'm currently reading the WoT on audiobook as well (just finished The Fires of Heaven), and I've been very impressed with the narrators. Both are great but especially Kramer. He makes it very easy to know who is speaking just by changing his voice.