Commute to work, fan of Hyboria?

[Supplement Four]

Well how about listening to this during the drive!

http://www.tantor.com/BookDetail.asp?Product=1223_ComingConan

 

[Kev]

I ordered all three of the Conan audiobooks a few months back and have slowly been working my way through The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian.

It's pretty cool to hear the stories read aloud though I wish they could've found someone better to do it. He's not bad, mind, just not quite right for the job.

Plus, the way he pronounces some of the names seems kinda off...well, different from how I say them anyway. Hell, maybe I've been wrong all these years. :roll: Still, I'd like to know how much direction he got with those pronunciations.

 

[Paladyn]

I'm listening to last rtracks of Coming of Conan... (first draft of Phoenix on the Sword). Contrary to Kev, I find narrator doing his job excellent. Only thing that's not ok with me is, when he reads women parts, which sound quite silly. But this audiobook is worth it's salt.

 

[Supplement Four]

I like audio books, but only if the production value is high. I want a narrator to only narrate, while different actors speak the various parts. And, I want some music and some sound effects.

It's hard to find that kind of production value on an audio book, but there are some out there. I haven't listened to it, but I've heard tell that one of the Star Wars trilogies (Dark Empire?) is done that way.

I'm currently listening to the Bible, and it's done that way. It's a fantastic way to get throug the Good Book.

Wish Conan was done that way.

 

[Jotenbjorn]

Wait, I thought Conan was the Good Book.

 

[Paladyn]

I like audio books, but only if the production value is high. I want a narrator to only narrate, while different actors speak the various parts. And, I want some music and some sound effects.

It's hard to find that kind of production value on an audio book, but there are some out there. I haven't listened to it, but I've heard tell that one of the Star Wars trilogies (Dark Empire?) is done that way.

I'm currently listening to the Bible, and it's done that way. It's a fantastic way to get throug the Good Book.

Wish Conan was done that way.

You wish is my command. Following audio dramas should fit to your needs. Here you'll find Conan: Tower of Elephant. Here you'll find Conan: Frost Giant's Daughter. I don't know if they are free to distribute, found those links on Crom!'a blog.

 

[serene_muse]

I like audio books, but only if the production value is high. I want a narrator to only narrate, while different actors speak the various parts. And, I want some music and some sound effects.

It's hard to find that kind of production value on an audio book, but there are some out there. I haven't listened to it, but I've heard tell that one of the Star Wars trilogies (Dark Empire?) is done that way.

Sounds like what you're looking for is dramatized / full-cast productions. Those aren't cheap and audiobooks tend not to be cheap in general unless you go through a library or some sort of plan like Audible.com's subscriptions. I tend to prefer a well read unabridged version by a single reader (such as Patrick Tull for Aubrey/Maturin or Adrian Praetzellis for Librivox), but some of the best dramatized versions are very entertaining.

BBC Audio has some great examples. Mind those are usually actually BBC Radio full cast unabridged productions, but that means they're very very good *and* what you seem to be looking for in audiobooks. I think BBC Radio Four's website may have some online or rebroadcasts.

They've adapted some works Terry Pratchett, Tolkein, Philip Pullman, Redwall and Susanna Clarke for example. Wonderful stuff well worth the hunt.

http://www.bbcaudiobooksamerica.com/
Looks to have some

I've listened to some full cast Shakespeare too, using actual Shakespearean actors but with background audio and music so not play recordings. Series is called The Arkangel Shakespeare.

Though abridged Seeing Ear Theatre did some dramatized full-cast productions. Blackstone Audio may have some. Librivox (free, public domain audiobooks) has made some full cast productions.

Not heard the Robert E. Howard audiobooks yet as the library system I use doesn't seem to any in any of its libraries yet. There was an Australian group that does some rather good fanaudio works that had a growing number of REH audiobooks, but those got removed by the rights holders. >_< I think Librivox has some other REH audiobooks though.
http://librivox.org/newcatalog/search.php?title=&author=Robert+E.+Howard&action=Search

P.S. who does/released the version of The Bible you're listening to? That is one work I wouldn't mind listening to dramatized.

 

[serene_muse]

You wish is my command. Following audio dramas should fit to your needs. Here you'll find Conan: Tower of Elephant. Here you'll find Conan: Frost Giant's Daughter. I don't know if they are free to distribute, found those links on Crom!'a blog.

Those are alright (esp. for free) but (shrugs) there's something forced or lacking in them IMO. Dunno, maybe Conan as a character doesn't translate so well to audio form, too easy to start shouting and bombasting around perhaps. I had a similar issue with the heavy metal cookie monster growlings of the Australian audio readings of Conan. Got in the way for me.

Mind I've heard bits of an Elric audiobook and wasn't impressed with that either.

It's one reason I like Librivox so much, they're free so I don't waste any money if I'm disappointed and since its volunteer work the readers tend to be very enthused (which also helps if the quality is a bit uneven). Another is they have audiobooks of works that otherwise would not be made into audiobooks and/or are hard to find in print or in commercial audio.