Audiobook Narrators. They can make or break a good book.

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I drive a lot for work. To while away the journey I listen to audiobooks.
A good book can be brought to life by a good narrator. Similarly, a good book can be made to sound disastrous if spoken by a poor narrator.

Perseverance can help. Many a time I've been ready to give up on an audiobook but persevered for an hour or two and found myself actually finding the narrator was well suited to the material and I was very glad I put in the time to let my ear become accustomed to the narrator. Otherwise, I'd have given up on a great listen.

Some narrators can be just too bad to encourage me to make an effort. Monotonous drawl. No life in thier voice and occasionally, just occasionally, it can be like listening to a schoolchild read a homework essay. Usually when that happens it's an author reading their own book. some, to my ears even sometimes mumble the words. Many, many authors do a great job. Some though would have greatly benefited by having a professional narrator do the job.

I've listened to many, many audiobooks. Just 3 examples of narrators,
Just started listening to a book being narrated by PHILIP FRANKS. He is doing an excellent job.
Previously attempted BILL BRYSON narrating his own books. I'd love to hear these books. They seem as if I'd really enjoy them but BILL BRYSON mumbles. I just had to give up.
LILLY ALLEN narrating her biography. Erm, the narration? Least said the better. :) Had to give up.

The vast majority of audiobooks are competently read.
What narrators are your favorites?
 
Thanks Minstadave
Just popped over to Audible to listen to a sample 10 seconds or so of these narrators.

R. C. Bray.. Sounds decent. I reckon I could get in to his narration after a very short time.
Peter Kenny.. Sounds right up my street as a narrator. Instantly likeable narration to me.
Sean Barrett.. sounds good to me but then that was just a 10 second glimpse. Can't really tell from that short listen. I'd give that narration time to grow on me.
 
Definitely agree it can make or break a book. Most audiobooks I've listened to have been well narrated, but there are some books I've started but had to just stop listening because the voice was so annoying. Certain accents just really grate on me, as does odd intonation or a lack / excess of emotion.

I really enjoy Neil Gaiman narrating his own books - just very nice to listen to.

Listening to a book narrated by Jauffre from Oblivion (Ralph Cosham), which was quite funny when I realised who it was, and his voice is quite good too (in a measured sober way - suitable for non-fiction, which is what the book is).

Ray Porter has done lots of sci-fi competently, and Roy Dotrice with the Song of Ice and Fire books... Nigel Planer, Celia Imrie were really good and my favourite narrators of the old Pratchett audio books, although unfortunately the recording quality (at least on audible isn't very good). Indira Varna is good on the new 'witches' Pratchett audiobooks - haven't listened to any of the other new ones yet though, but based on some samples I think she and Andy Serkis will be the best of the bunch, and I'm slightly worried Colin Morgan won't be that great and will over-act.... Shall see when I get round to listening to some more.

+1 for Peter Kenny and Stephen Fry too.
 
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Thank you kind folks. I'm bookmarking this on my browser. I occasionally find myself frustatedly searching for a decent book with a good narrator at short notice. Using some recommended narrators (as above) on my next search for a decent listen via Audible will help me narrow things down a bit quicker.


Oh, and one or two others from me:
Orlando Wells
Nigel Davenport
Anne Reid
William Roberts

There are hundreds, nay, thousands more top class narrators. It's just a bit difficult sometimes to find a great book by a great narrator. I've found a few though. Quite a few.(ooh, this thread just inspired me to do a little bit of digging. Found a couple of Bill Bryson books narrated by William Roberts. I'll give 'em a go:)
 
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My recommendations:

Toby Longworth - Gaunt’s Ghosts (WH40K), some of Iain M. Banks Culture novels and most of Peter F. Hamilton’s books.

Stephen Perring et al for Sandy Mitchel’s Ciaphas Caine (WH40K) books.

Not recommended:

The numpty who did the 3rd Altered Carbon book “Woken Furies” for Audible. It says it was the same bloke for all 3 books, but it isn’t. The stand-in on the third book gets the protagonist’s name wrong every damn time.

It’s “Kovach“ not “Kovaks”.
 
R.C. Bray doing Expeditionary Force.

Peter Kenny doing the Witcher books.

Do not like Sean Barrett who does some of the Wilbur Smith books and David Gemmell stuff.
Expeditionary Force is the best series! So worried about what going to replace it with after the final book comes in December!!
 
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Totally agree, some can kill a book before you can get into in.

Just going through my Audible library now ;

In general :
Nicholas Guy Smith
Victor Bevine
Oliver Wyman
Simon Vance
Simon Prebble

Special mentions :
David Rintoul - The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert ( First narrator to actually give me goosebumps, can't say more would involve a spoiler )
Harry Myers - Eversion by Alistair Reynolds ( Made the book imo, wonderful narration )
Yahtzee Croshaw - You'll either love him or hate him no middle ground
 
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I don't listen to audio books, but my kids listening to Stephen Fry on the Potter books does my absolute head in :D

Just exhausting listening to him.
 
I don't listen to many audiobooks, I should. Had listened to them when recovering from eye surgery as affected eye couldn't tolerate light.

One narrator I liked to listen to was Michael Tudor Barnes

99% of books I read/listen to are non fiction as English GCSE has killed off my pleasure for reading. When forced to read Lord(Bored) of the Flies - that was it.
 
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Does Clarkson do audiobooks?
He would be brilliant in war books. If you ever seen his documentaries on WW2 - so listenable. So would be a great audiobook narrator.

Edit - he does narrate his book Diddly Squat in his usual manner. Sample can be found on audible.
 
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Is it worth sticking with? I'm only on the first book at the moment but really liking it.
its an epic, one of the best ever Sci-Fi series ever made, in my opinion obviously...

I listen to between 3 and 5 books a week, mostly Sci-Fi or general fiction, some non fiction if I find something interesting.
I like Authors who choose the narrator, It tends to happen more now than ever before where some bend the story to fit the narrators style. As with Expo Force, Craig Alanson specifically adjust Skippy and Joe because of the way R.C. Bray portrayed the characters. And Dennis E. Taylor did with the Bobiverse series slightly changing the Bob's to suit Ray Porter.
 
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