What are we listening to? (audiobooks)

[taosaur]

I've surprised myself by holding on to Kindle Unlimited for a couple months at full price, mostly because of audio books and to a lesser extent comics. I tore through the main arc of The Mongoliad, and I'm in book three of the Worldwalker series, though I've switched over to text on this one as I finally was able to pick up the thread of the most recent Foreigner audiobook. The Mongoliad audiobooks were free (and solidly narrated, great action fantasy/alt-history) and the Worldwalker audiobooks I "added narration" at $2 each. Worldwalker is written like a sloppy thriller - present day, POV all over the place, USA Today prose - but the themes and tropes are right up my alley. It's a mashup of urban fantasy and UFOs right from the start, but you can tell the author's stronger influences are probably psychological thrillers and superhero stories.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Well, but first I'm reading To Die But Once -- the 14th Maise Dobbs book from Jacqueline Winsepar, read by Orlagh Cassidy, whose voice for these is somehow perfect. I can't imagine it would work for too many other series, but for this one it's just right.

Finished, and quite enjoyed. I've like this series from the beginning, and this latest one is a good example of it. Next up, the first in Mercedes Lackey's Owl Mage series, Owlflight. I nearly abandoned this after the first 2 hours of nothing but the main character's adolescent and purile whining about how bad his life was and how he was put upon. OK, I got it after 10 minutes, and I'll give you another 20 or so for emphasis. But enough! However, I got past that and I'm now rather enjoying it. And it makes a good book for swimming with, now that we're into the meat of the story.

[David Munch]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

The big issue that I've found is that the quality of narrator can vary quite a bit ranging from very good (Bronson Pichot did Glory Road and Nick Podehl did Farmer in the Sky) to average. What did you think of the narrator for Between Planets?

It was read by Andrew Eiden, and I found him quite good!

I just finished up Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan. A standard high fantasy story, which I ended up giving 4/5. It held me most of the way through, and was quite well written. My only caveats was too much forced world building (ie. piles of information which were not needed at all), and I am sure a good editor would have cut ~20% of the book.

Currently doing Jules Vernes' From Earth to the Moon, and will likely finish it today (Only 5 hours on audiobook). It is sorta dull, as the story is practically non-existant half-way through, and it reads more like a report on how to build a fantasy canon. Not at all how I thought it would be. Vernes do have a good sense of humor though. Not enjoying it nearly as much as Around the World in 80 days though.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by David Munch

It was read by Andrew Eiden, and I found him quite good!

I just finished up Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan. A standard high fantasy story, which I ended up giving 4/5. It held me most of the way through, and was quite well written. My only caveats was too much forced world building (ie. piles of information which were not needed at all), and I am sure a good editor would have cut ~20% of the book.

Currently doing Jules Vernes' From Earth to the Moon, and will likely finish it today (Only 5 hours on audiobook). It is sorta dull, as the story is practically non-existant half-way through, and it reads more like a report on how to build a fantasy canon. Not at all how I thought it would be. Vernes do have a good sense of humor though. Not enjoying it nearly as much as Around the World in 80 days though.

ok, thanks.

I liked Sullivan books up to the Age of Legend. For some reason, I haven't been able to get through those. The Crown Tower is the only book of his that I have in audiobook format. It's in my to be listened to stack.

[David Munch]

Finished From Earth to the Moon. 3/5, although I was close to 2/5, since it isn't much of a story. Only Jules funny writing style saved it.

Currently doing One Second After by William R. Forstchen, a post apocalyptica scifi, which I, 3/4 through it, really likes. Very well written, good characters, believeable story, and no annoying kids or superhero types. Depending on how it ends (It is gearing up to a big action fight finale, which I don't think suits the story very much), I'd likely listen to the next one too. It is read by Joe Barrett, who's doing a fantastic job!

[pwalker8]

Finished up Monster Hunter Memoir: Saint. The reader, Oliver Wyman, is one of my favorites and he's perfect for the slightly snarky style of these books. I would give the text a 4 and the narration a 5.


Next up, Hero in the Shadows, book 3 of Gemmell's Drenai saga. I love the Drenai series and the narrator Sean Barrett suits the series. He kind of sounds like an old bard telling a story while Oliver Wyman is definately a voice actor.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Finished, and quite enjoyed. I've like this series from the beginning, and this latest one is a good example of it. Next up, the first in Mercedes Lackey's Owl Mage series, Owlflight. I nearly abandoned this after the first 2 hours of nothing but the main character's adolescent and purile whining about how bad his life was and how he was put upon. OK, I got it after 10 minutes, and I'll give you another 20 or so for emphasis. But enough! However, I got past that and I'm now rather enjoying it. And it makes a good book for swimming with, now that we're into the meat of the story.

Finished Owlflight, and moving on to the next, Owlsight. These are moderately lame, but make good swimming books where concentration isn't required.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Finished Owlflight, and moving on to the next, Owlsight. These are moderately lame, but make good swimming books where concentration isn't required.

Yep, I had just re-read the ebooks a few months ago and that was my take on it. (well, except the part about making good swimming books)

[David Munch]

Currently on The First Fomic War by Orson Scott Card.
Been a while since I've been listening to anything by him. He's a good writer, but I do think he takes waaay to much time before moving the plot anywhere. I am now 2 hours in, and he's still just introducing characters without getting anywhere with a plot.

[taosaur]

I'm in the second book of Scott Meyer's Magic 2.0 series (Off to Be the Wizard was book one). It's less fantasy and more in the vein of Ready Player One with a bit of Douglas Adams thrown in, despite the predominantly medieval setting. It's a lot of fun, and probably better on audio with Luke Daniels' narration (I've been whisper-syncing).

[Catlady]

I listened to John McCain's The Restless Wave, narrated mostly by Beau Bridges; the first and last chapters were narrated by McCain himself. We have lost a great man.

[BenG]

I'm on vacation this week. I listened to Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullars and narrated by Susan Sarandon on the drive down to Georgia. I think this was a free download from Audible Channels a year or two ago.
Sarandon does an incredible job narrating and uses a great (for a Jersey girl) understated Southern accent.

[Tarana]

I just finished The Light of Burning Shadows by Chris Evans. Loved the book, Book 2 in Iron Elves trilogy, and adored the narration by Michael Kramer. Sadly, the final book not only has a different narrator, but is not available to US market. I haven't yet started the Brandon Sanderson Stormlight trilogy, but I'm happy to read that Michael Kramer narrates that as well.

[taosaur]

Originally Posted by Tarana

I haven't yet started the Brandon Sanderson Stormlight trilogy, but I'm happy to read that Michael Kramer narrates that as well.

Fair warning, it's not a trilogy. It's the first three books of a projected ten, not likely to conclude in much under two decades. Fantastic stuff, though.

[trichobezoar]

Hopefully I'll start listening to The New Art of Negotiating tomorrow, once I decide which device to listen to it on. :l

The sooner I listen to it the better 'cause I keep finding myself in compromising positions--being generous to a fault with my time, energy and resources.