SF Audio Books

[Bonsee]

Recently finished the audio version of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell performed by Simon Preeble, it was great. I am just starting the audio version of Quicksilver. Any other SF Audiophiles out there with picks or posts??

[SFFAudioScott]

Hi, Bonsee! I'm Scott... SF Audiophile reporting for duty.

Quicksilver is next up on my shelf - two of the finest SF audiobooks out there are two other Neil Stephenson titles: Snow Crash and The Diamond Age. Have you heard those?

[pearce]

My wife has recently become an audiophile, and has been listening to, alternately Lord of the Rings (she's only read it 9 or 10 times, as have I) and the Stephen King Dark Tower series (which she's read but I haven't), switching every couple nights or so -- I'm quite enjoying both.

[Guest]

Hi! I'm an audiobook addict, and some of my favorite "listens" have been the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. I'm sure other drivers think I'm crazy when they see me laughing out loud in my car!

I second the votes for Snow Crash and The Diamond Age by Stephenson. Also, Neil Gaiman's American Gods (although not strictly SF) was an excellent performance.

SF seems harder to find on audio than other, more mainstream genres!

Happy Listening! Penny the Librarian

[Susan Dunman]

Another title I enjoyed was The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger. It's a combination love story/time travel tale that explores the relationship between a husband and wife when the husband is regularly and unexpectedly whisked off to the future or the past due to a genetic disorder. His journeys often put him in the vicinity of his wife, but he may see her as a little girl or an old woman. - and she will also see him at different stages of life. It's sort of mind-boggling and the narration is done by a man and woman team (Maggi-Meg Reed and Christopher Burns) which makes the abridged 12 hour audio version all that more powerful. It's enough to give you a headache, but in a good way.

[SFFAudioScott]

I'm currently listening to <b>Shadow of the Giant</b> by Orson Scott Card. I actually read this one in print already. I don't usually read something and then listen to it, but it's interesting at how listening to a novel is a different experience than reading a novel. Perhaps this would happen if I read a novel twice back-to-back, but in listening I'm finding details that I missed while reading.

I really enjoy the crew that has performed all the Ender and Shadow novels. Stefan Rudnicki, David Birney, Scott Brick, Amanda Karr, Gabrielle de Cuir... in this one Stephen Hoye reads the chapter headers. Great stuff - very well done.

To the person that mentioned the Discworld audiobooks - where does one start with those?

[Guest]

Always happy to share Discworld with another! All the books more or less stand alone, but there is a recommended reading order. I grabbed one from the middle, because it was available, and then got hooked, and went back and read (and listened) in order as much as possible. Not necessary, but the character development is there!

A reading order I found helpul is through the L-Space Web:

http://www.ie.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/

It's been recently updated to include the latest 5 or so releases.

Happy listening! Penny the Librarian

[Batô]

Apparently the science fiction magazine Oceans of the Mind distributes an audio version on CD: http://www.oceansofthemind.com/
I haven't heard it myself, so I can't vouch for what the audio is like. Anyone know of any other magazines that do audio versions? There used to be one called Frequency Publishing, or something like that, but I think it's defunct now.

[drgnl80]

I just finished listening to Anansi Boys, Neil Gaiman's latest. EXCELLENT experience - the narrator, Lenny Henry, has the perfect accents for the characters. More fantasy than SF, but still an excellent listen!

Penny the Librarian

[admin]

In the book, it took me a few chapters to realize that most of the characters were black. Do the accents read aloud bring that out right away?

[Al Simms]

I picked up quite quickly that the main characters were black, but speaking as someone who is normally willing to shout Neil Gaiman's praises from any rooftop that I might findmyself upon, I found 'Anansi Boys' a little weak at times.

In the same way that I thought the sub-Wodehouse, sub-Python, sub Douglas Adams, very British wishy-washy humour of 'Good Omens to be rather tedious and rather strained, I felt that 'Anansi Boys' was just too trivial and too self-indulgent when it should have been a lot tougher.

To end on a positive note though, I've just seen 'Mirrormask' and thought it was quite wonderful and I'm looking forward to 'Stardust'.

Has anyone out there seen 'Pan's Labyrinth' yet?

[admin]

I read the book Mirrormask last night, and enjoyed the book even more than the film.

[rickoic]

Below is a list of Auduo Books I've got and listened to over the past couple of years. At bthe end is a list of stories and books that I've taken the text version of and converted it into audio which uses a computer generated voice to do the reading.

Anderson, Poul A Galaxy Trilogy
Grisham, John A Painted House
Grisham, John A Time To Kill
Brown, Dave Act of War
Brown, Dan Angels and Demons
Asaro, Catherine Ascendent Sun
Hubbard, L. Ron Battlefield Earth
Reiss, Scott Black Monday
Clancy, Tom Clear and Present Danger
Coontz, Stephen Deep Black: Jihad
Sheffiled, Charles Diverenge
Sheffield, Charles Divergence
Heinlein, Robert A. Door Into Summer
Heinlein, Robert A. Double Star
Bradbury, Ray Fahrenheit 451
Heinlein, Robert A. Farmer In The Sky
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-01-Robots-1 Caves of Steel
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-02-Robots-2 The Naked Sun
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-03-Robots-3 The Robots of Dawn
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-09-Prelude To Foundation
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-10-Forward The Foundation
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-11-Foundation
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-12-Foundation and Empire
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-13-Second Foundation
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-14-Foundations Edge
Asimov, Isaac Foundation-15-Foundation and Earth
Heinlein, Robert A. Friday
Baldwin, Bill Galactic Convoy
Heinlein, Robert A. Have Spacesuit, Will Travel
Asimov, Isaac I, Robot
Heinlein, Robert A. J.O.B. A Comedy of Justice
Smith, E. E. Doc Lensman-1-Triplanetary
Smith, E. E. Doc Lensman-2-First Lensman
Smith, E. E. Doc Lensman-3-Galactic Patrol
Smith, E. E. Doc Lensman-4-Grey Lensman
Smith, E. E. Doc Lensman-5-Second Stage Lensman
Smith, E. E. Doc Lensman-6-Children of the Lens
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Mars Tales-1-A Princess of Mars
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Mars Tales-2-Warlords of Mars
Heinlein, Robert A. Number of the Beast
Clancy, Tom Red Rabbit
Clancy, Tom Red Storm Rising
Clarke, Arthur C. Rendezvous With Rama
Heinlein, Robert A. Rocket Ship Galileo
Grisham, John Skipping Christmas
Heinlein, Robert A. Starship Troopers
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Tarzan 01-Tarzan of the Apes
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Tarzan 02-Return of Tarzan
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Tarzan 03-Beasts of Tarzan
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Tarzan 04-Son of Tarzan
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Tarzan 06-The Jungle Tales of Tarzan
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Tarzan 07-Tarzan the Untamed
Ridley Pearson The Art of Deception
Astre, Patrick The Artifact
Grisham, John The Bleachers
Grisham, John The Brethren
Grisham, John The Broker
Burroughs, Edgar Rice The Cave Girl
Grisham, John The Chamber
Burroughs, Edgar Rice The Chessmen of Mars
Grisham, John The Client
Brown, Dan The Di Vinci Code
Darnton, John The Experiment
Grisham, John The Firm
Burroughs, Edgar Rice The Gods of Mars
Lescroart, John The Hearing
Clancy, Tom The Hunt For Red October
Grisham, John The Innocent Man
Grisham, John The King of Torts
Burroughs, Edgar Rice The Land That Time Forgot
Burroughs, Edgar Rice The Land That Time Forgot
Grisham, John The Last Juror
Heinlein, Robert A. The Menace From Earth
Heinlein, Robert A. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
Browne, Sylvia The Mystical Live of Jesus
Grisham, John The Partner
Grisham, John The Pelican Brief
Levinson, Paul The Plot To Save Socrates
Heinlein, Robert A. The Puppet Masters
Grisham, John The Rainmaker
Heinlein, Robert A. The Rolling Stones
Grisham, John The Runaway Jury
Grisham, John The Street Lawyer
Grisham, John The Summons
Clancy, Tom The Teeth of the Tiger
Barry, Steve The Templar Legacy
Grisham, John The Testament
Eugenides, Jeffrey The Virgin Suicides
Smith, E. E. 'DOC' The Vortex Blaster
Burroughs, Edgar Rice Thuvia, Maid of Mars
Heinlein, Robert A. Time Enough For Love
Heinlein, Robert A. To The Stars
Preston, Douglas Tyrannosaur Canyon


Computer voice

Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 01
Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 02
Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 03
Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 04
Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 05
Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 06
Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 07
Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 08
Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 09
Hubbard, L. Ron Mission Earth: Book 10
Anthony, Piers Bio of a Space Tyrant-1-Refugee
Anthony, Piers Bio of a Space Tyrant-2-Mercenary
Anthony, Piers Bio of a Space Tyrant-3-Politician
Anthony, Piers Bio of a Space Tyrant-4-Executive
Anthony, Piers Bio of a Space Tyrant-5-Statesman
Anthony, Piers Bio of a Space Tyrant-6-The Iron Maiden
Chandler, A. Bertram Calver-1-The Rim of Space
Chandler, A. Bertram Calver-2-The Ship From Outside
Bear, Greg Foundation-16-Foundation and Chaos
Benford, Gregory Foundation-17-Foundation's Fear
Brin, David Foundation-18-Foundation's Triumph
Clarke, Arthur C. Garden of Rama
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-01-The Road to the Rim
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-02-To Prime the Pump
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-03-The Hard Way Up-1-With Good Intentions
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-04-The Hard Way Up-2-The Subtractor
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-05-The Hard Way Up-3-The Tin Messiah
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-06-The Hard Way Up-4-The Sleeping Beauty
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-07-The Hard Way Up-5-The Wandering Buoy
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-08-The Hard Way Up-6-The Mountain Movers
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-09-The Hard Way Up-7-What You Know
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-10-The Broken Cycle
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-11-Spartan Planet
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-12-The Inheritors
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-13-The Big Black Mark
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-14-The Far Traveller
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-16-The Sleeping Beast
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-17-Journey's End
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-18-Star Courier
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-19-To Keep the Ship
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-20-Matilida's Stepchildren
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-21-Star Loot
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-22-The Anarch Lords
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-23-The Last Amazon
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-24-The Wild Ones
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-25-Chance Encounter
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-26-Into The Alternate Universe
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-27-Contrband from Outerspace
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-29-Grimes at Glenrowan
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-30-Grimes and the Great Race
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-31-Grimes Amoung the Gorumets
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-32-Grimes and the Odd Gods
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-33-Grimes and the Jail Birds
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-34-The Gateway to Never
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-35-The Rim Gods
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-36-The Bird-Brainded Navigator
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-37-Last Dreamer
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-38-The Tin Fishes
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-39-The Commodore At Sea-1-Hall of Fame
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-40-The Commodore At Sea-2-The Sister Ships
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-41-The Commodore At Sea-3-The Man Who Sailed the Sky
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-42-The Commodore At Sea-4-The Rub
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-43-The Dutchman
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-44-The Last Hunt
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-45-On the Account
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-46-Rim Change
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-47-The Dark Dimensions
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-48-The Way Back
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-49-The Wild Ones
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-50-Catch The Star Winds
Chandler, A. Bertram Grimes-51-Doggy In the Window
Norton, Andre Horn Crown
Heinlein, Robert A. I Will Fear No Evil
Chalker, Jack L Lords of the Middle Dark
Chalker, Jack L Masks of the Martyrs
Smith, E. E. Doc Master of the Vortex
Heinlein, Robert A. Orphans of the Sky
Chalker, Jack L Pirates of the Thunder
Norton, Andre Plague Ship
Norton, Andre Port of Dead Ships
Norton, Andre Postmarked The Stars
Clarke, Arthur C. Rama Revealed
Heinlein, Robert A. Revolt in 2100
Norton, Andre Sargasso of Space
Norton, Andre Seakeep
Norton, Andre Song Smith
Norton, Andre Sorceress of the Witch World
Norton, Andre Spell of the Witch World
Heinlein, Robert A. Star Beast
Norton, Andre Star Hunter
Heinlein, Robert A. Starman Jones
Norton, Andre Storms of Victory
Heinlein, Robert A. Stranger In A Strange Land (Working on this one right now)
Norton, Andre The Crystal Gryphon
Norton, Andre The Gate of the Cat
Norton, Andre The Jargoon Pard
Norton, Andre The Key of the Keplian
Norton, Andre The Mage Stone
Heinlein, Robert A. The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag
Norton, Andre The Warding of the Witch World
Vogt, A.E. van The Weapon Makers
Vogt, A.E. van The Weapons Ships of Isher
Chandler, A. Bertram The Winds of If
Vogt, A.E. van The Wizard of Linn
Norton, Andre Trey of Swords
Norton, Andre VooDoo Planet
Norton, Andre Ware Hawk
Norton, Andre Warlock of the Witch World
Chalker, Jack L Warriors of the Storm
Norton, Andre Web of the Witch World
Norton, Andre Witch World
Norton, Andre Year of the Unicorn