Hatrack River Forum: OSC Books in Audio

This is topic OSC Books in Audio in forum Discussions About Orson Scott Card at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by EndlessBean (Member # 12100) on :

Does anyone else listen to the OSC audio books. They're really great and I love listening to OSC speaking on his books afterwards. OSC himself actually prefers his books to be read aloud, so I highly reccomend those of you who enjoy his books to listen to them.

Posted by kassyopeia (Member # 12110) on :

Yeah, I have the Enderverse series audio books. The performances are solid but not outstanding, IMO, with two exceptions: Peter's voice tends to stammer, even in situation in which the character should be at his ease, which doesn't work at all for me. The Hive Queen, on the other hand, is done brilliantly, achieving just the right alien-ness by a combination of intonation and electronic post-processing (which is something I generally can't stand, but here they get it just right).

Posted by BandoCommando (Member # 7746) on :

IMO, the Hive Queen voice is annoying. I tend to enable the double-speed feature during those section. Strangely enough, it sounds like normal speed then!

I agree with kassyopeia about Peter. In the Bean book's in particular, I thought the narrator made Peter sound weak and lacking in confidence. This only worked sometimes, but didn't work, say, when Peter was supposed to be lecturing Bean and Carlotta.

Posted by kassyopeia (Member # 12110) on :

I can see how the Hive Queen voice would be a matter of taste. On double-speed she, just like any other voice, sounds like Donald Duck, though! [Wink]

Posted by Rodger Brown (Member # 11476) on :

I love the audio and in fact most of my posts are questions about different audio releases. I may be speaking to the choir but go to audible.com and sign up. Best way to buy audiobooks without breaking the bank.

Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

The newest Ender's Game audiobook is fantastic-- but Stefan Rudniki is brilliant even when he's just breathing.

I really enjoyed the collection of 'The Elephants of Posnan,' especially 'Feed the Baby of Love' narrated by OSC. Very well done.

Posted by EndlessBean (Member # 12100) on :

I can't really relate to the Enders books cause I've only listened to Shadow of the Giant and Shadow of the Hegemon and War of Gifts on Audio all of which are superb.

Posted by Steve_G (Member # 10101) on :

Has anybody found a non-abridged version of Enchantment? I own the abridged version and its abysmal due to the lack of skill in the abridging, however the voice-acting is quite well done. The book was so bad it prompted me to create my first post after years of lurking here. http://www.hatrack.com/cgi-bin/ubbmain/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004655;p=0&r=nfx#000000

I love every audio book by OSC except that one. I highly recommend going through all of them after reading the paper version.

Posted by stilesbn (Member # 11809) on :

Audible has an unabridged version of Enchantment.

http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/enSearch/searchResults.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&N=0&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&D=enchantment+card&Dx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntk=S_Keywords&Ntt=enchan tment+card&x=0&y=0

Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :

The unabridged Enchantment is terrific!

As for the rest of the OSC books on audio, I like most of them, but was very disappointed with most of the Homecomming series. They just sounded wrong somehow.

Posted by GinaG (Member # 11862) on :

I do like the audio books. I especially like Stefan Rudnicki, who did Empire and some of the Enderverse voices.

Posted by Rodger Brown (Member # 11476) on :

DDDaysh are you talking about the new releases of the Homecomming series or an older set?

Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :

The new releases. I didn't know there was an older set.

Posted by oscfan (Member # 12170) on :

How did you guys get the audio books? Can you download them for free or do you have to buy them?

Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

Buy them. Or go to the library.

Posted by Traceria (Member # 11820) on :

Or if you have some spare change laying around and don't want to outright buy them, try something like simplyaudiobooks.com.

Posted by Rodger Brown (Member # 11476) on :

audible.com for me. 25 bucks a month for two books. worth every penny

Posted by Vincent1 (Member # 11729) on :

Library is great for audio books. I find them too expensive to buy, except on the clearance bin, for something you'll probably only listen to once.

I don't like the non-English accents, especially when the characters are thinking. I assume when reading the Asian or other non-English characters are thinking or speaking in their native language there would not be an accent. No Far-ra-ra-ra's.

Other than that I do like the different reader's. It helps to keep up with who's talking.

Peter is played as way too whinny. He is never written as a self doubting writer, the reader sounds that way.