Quote:
Originally Posted by CRussel
If you started with Simon Vance, the chances are you'll continue to prefer him. Having started with Patrick Tull, I have a preference for him. But I've listened to the Simon Vance versions, and they're really quite good, so I don't see a strong reason to change. That being said, there is at least one other reader out there, and I was not impressed.
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I finally got around to trying Patrick Tull reading
Master and Commander, which I read earlier this year before I started listening to the Vance versions of the next six novels. He is, of course, excellent and I think you nailed it with going with the one you listened to first, as I'm going to stick with Vance as the voice in my head (cheapness is also a factor here, as Overdrive has the Vance versions).
Parsing the differences between the two, I'll note that while you snarked with reason about Vance's Maturin, I think he does a better Aubrey. More young and vigorous, while Tull's is more grizzled seadog even though Aubrey is still in his twenties in the first book. And I think Vance is funnier, giving more measure to the humor in the stories, although Tull does an excellent narration in the raconteur style.
So yes, ultimately it's a you-pick-it situation. The dream version would have Vance reading Jack and Tull reading Stephen.