Recommend me an audiobook

Geralt · 03-27-2013, 08:20 AM

I never used these, so I'm bit apprehensive about them, but I like to try new things so here is a task for any willing to make a recommendation.

I would prefer a shorter book, in the case I won't like it.
Genre wise, please make it either a fantasy, sci-fi or classic. No romance or YA please.

Additional note: if the author is British, I would like the voice actor to be British.

Thank you.

HarryT · 03-27-2013, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geralt

I never used these, so I'm bit apprehensive about them, but I like to try new things so here is a task for any willing to make a recommendation.

I would prefer a shorter book, in the case I won't like it.
Genre wise, please make it either a fantasy, sci-fi or classic. No romance or YA please.

Additional note: if the author is British, I would like the voice actor to be British.

Thank you.

The "full cast" audiobook version of "Ender's Game" is excellent. I'm sure you'd enjoy that.

magicmonster · 03-27-2013, 09:41 AM

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein -not so short (14 hrs), but it seems to short. You can't wait to find out what is next.

For a truely short check out Brandon Sanderson's Legion- just over 2 hrs or George Martin's With Morning Comes the Mistfall also just over 2hrs.

fjtorres · 03-27-2013, 11:13 AM

David Drake's FAR SIDE OF THE STARS is available in MP3 form for free on the promo CD at Fifth Empire.
If you sign up for the free 30 day trial at audible you can get a free book or two and plenty of samples. David Weber's A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP is a nice listen.

DianNC · 03-27-2013, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geralt

I never used these, so I'm bit apprehensive about them...

Don't give up immediately if you find the initial experience less than satisfactory. It took me a while (in the beginning) to adapt to 'listening' rather than reading.

I'm so glad I persevered as I'm now a huge fan of audiobooks.

(Or...you may take to it right away, in which case disregard the above

)

Xanthe · 03-27-2013, 04:07 PM

Weber & Ringo's "March Upcountry".

retro · 03-27-2013, 07:55 PM

Dauntless book 1 of the Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell

This is the series I recommend to anyone who hasn't listened to a book before.
It's very entertaining, easy to listen to and a great series that is available through Overdrive at a lot of libraries.

I'll second David Drake too, anything he writes is a good listen.

Graphic Audio's sig is "a movie in your mind"!!

magicmonster · 03-27-2013, 10:51 PM

Graphic audio is awesome but expensive and it is like the original radio dramas.

DuaneAA · 03-27-2013, 11:47 PM

How old are you? If you're old enough to have at least vague recollections of the 1980's, I would recommend 'Ready Player One'. It's set in the future, but has lots of 1980's video game trivia. It is light, fast, fun with a lot of humor and would be a good choice as a first experience of an audiobook. Plus it is narrated by Wil Wheaton, who is one of my favorite narrators as he infuses his characters with a sense life and enthusiasm few other narrators can match.

Duane

owly · 03-28-2013, 03:59 AM

One thing to watch out for is that many audiobooks are abridged (shortened). Don't know why this is done (it's never done in Sweden) but can be good to know. Otherwise, why not go check out what they have at your local library? That way no financial loss if you don't like it :-) There is also the audiobook version of Project Gutenberg, LibriVox http://librivox.org/ The book have been read in either collaboration or solo. Go to the catalog and "More Search options" and you can choose language and if it's been read solo.

tubemonkey · 03-28-2013, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owly

There is also the audiobook version of Project Gutenberg, LibriVox http://librivox.org/ The book have been read in either collaboration or solo. Go to the catalog and "More Search options" and you can choose language and if it's been read solo.

Project Gutenberg and Internet Archive also have their own audiobook projects; though they both rely heavily upon LibriVox for material.

David Munch · 03-28-2013, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DianNC

Don't give up immediately if you find the initial experience less than satisfactory.

Absolutely! Especially if you come across some of the more.. Difficult ones (The Stand I'm looking at you!).

Couldnt live without audiobooks..

Apache · 03-28-2013, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuaneAA

How old are you? If you're old enough to have at least vague recollections of the 1980's, I would recommend 'Ready Player One'. It's set in the future, but has lots of 1980's video game trivia. It is light, fast, fun with a lot of humor and would be a good choice as a first experience of an audiobook. Plus it is narrated by Wil Wheaton, who is one of my favorite narrators as he infuses his characters with a sense life and enthusiasm few other narrators can match.

Duane

I am still trying to forget the '80s.

Apache

AnemicOak · 03-28-2013, 09:12 AM

I'll add. Listen to sample audio first to check out the narration for your chosen book(s). What one person might find a gem, you might find sounds like nails on a chalkboard.

Geralt · 03-28-2013, 12:39 PM

Well I followed HarryT advice and I treated myself to Ender's Game. I wanted to read that one for a while so it's a win win situation.

I really like the reading and the narration. The book is really nice too.
I have one problem though. My concentration tends to drift away from time to time so all I get is " bla bla bla and bla bla bla. He was bla bla bla.." And so on.. I have to go back and listen again to that part.
This never happened with normal books.

So far not bad anyway, I think I will keep using audiobooks. Maybe not so often, but yeah from time to time...

03-27-2013, 08:20 AM	#1
Geralt Witcher Posts: 933 Karma: 7321117 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Swamp. Slaying Drowners. Device: Kindle PW2	Recommend me an audiobook I never used these, so I'm bit apprehensive about them, but I like to try new things so here is a task for any willing to make a recommendation. I would prefer a shorter book, in the case I won't like it. Genre wise, please make it either a fantasy, sci-fi or classic. No romance or YA please. Additional note: if the author is British, I would like the voice actor to be British. Thank you.

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03-27-2013, 09:41 AM	#3
magicmonster Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 1033664 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Kindle 3, Nook Color, & Dell Axim X50v	The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein -not so short (14 hrs), but it seems to short. You can't wait to find out what is next. For a truely short check out Brandon Sanderson's Legion- just over 2 hrs or George Martin's With Morning Comes the Mistfall also just over 2hrs.

03-27-2013, 11:13 AM	#4
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	David Drake's FAR SIDE OF THE STARS is available in MP3 form for free on the promo CD at Fifth Empire. If you sign up for the free 30 day trial at audible you can get a free book or two and plenty of samples. David Weber's A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP is a nice listen.

03-27-2013, 04:07 PM	#6
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Weber & Ringo's "March Upcountry".

03-27-2013, 07:55 PM	#7
retro Groupie Posts: 195 Karma: 245 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: USA Device: Kobo Clara Blue PRS 350	Dauntless book 1 of the Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell This is the series I recommend to anyone who hasn't listened to a book before. It's very entertaining, easy to listen to and a great series that is available through Overdrive at a lot of libraries. I'll second David Drake too, anything he writes is a good listen. Graphic Audio's sig is "a movie in your mind"!!

03-27-2013, 10:51 PM	#8
magicmonster Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 1033664 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Kindle 3, Nook Color, & Dell Axim X50v	Graphic audio is awesome but expensive and it is like the original radio dramas.

03-27-2013, 11:47 PM	#9
DuaneAA Connoisseur Posts: 95 Karma: 1139736 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Minnesota Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 & Kindle Fire HDX	How old are you? If you're old enough to have at least vague recollections of the 1980's, I would recommend 'Ready Player One'. It's set in the future, but has lots of 1980's video game trivia. It is light, fast, fun with a lot of humor and would be a good choice as a first experience of an audiobook. Plus it is narrated by Wil Wheaton, who is one of my favorite narrators as he infuses his characters with a sense life and enthusiasm few other narrators can match. Duane

03-28-2013, 03:59 AM	#10
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	One thing to watch out for is that many audiobooks are abridged (shortened). Don't know why this is done (it's never done in Sweden) but can be good to know. Otherwise, why not go check out what they have at your local library? That way no financial loss if you don't like it :-) There is also the audiobook version of Project Gutenberg, LibriVox http://librivox.org/ The book have been read in either collaboration or solo. Go to the catalog and "More Search options" and you can choose language and if it's been read solo.

03-28-2013, 09:12 AM	#14
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I'll add. Listen to sample audio first to check out the narration for your chosen book(s). What one person might find a gem, you might find sounds like nails on a chalkboard.

03-28-2013, 12:39 PM	#15
Geralt Witcher Posts: 933 Karma: 7321117 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Swamp. Slaying Drowners. Device: Kindle PW2	Well I followed HarryT advice and I treated myself to Ender's Game. I wanted to read that one for a while so it's a win win situation. I really like the reading and the narration. The book is really nice too. I have one problem though. My concentration tends to drift away from time to time so all I get is " bla bla bla and bla bla bla. He was bla bla bla.." And so on.. I have to go back and listen again to that part. This never happened with normal books. So far not bad anyway, I think I will keep using audiobooks. Maybe not so often, but yeah from time to time...