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submitted 11 months ago by Masimatutu@lemm.ee to c/books@lemmy.ml
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[-] Svennas@lemmy.world 55 points 11 months ago

If you can find them I highly recommend listening to the Douglas Adams recordings, it is much better listening to the actual author read his own books IMO. Fantastic books no matter how you listen to them.

[-] s20@lemmy.ml 21 points 11 months ago

I agree in this case, but not every author is a good reader, and even when they are, their voice isn't always the right voice. I love Stephen King to death, but I'll pass on him reading The Stand. Meanwhile, I wouldn't listen to On Writing read by anyone else.

[-] orbitz@lemmy.ca 7 points 11 months ago

I enjoyed Needful Things narrated by him, don't think The Stand I listened to was by him though. I do agree On Writing is a good choice by him, helps it's about King too. Of course Needful Things starts with a couple of Maine old timers sounding like they're talking on a porch which his accent conveys very well. The first narrator for the Dark Tower series did Roland perfectly, was more difficult when they had to switch and definitely wouldn't want King instead, though it'd almost make sense if you know the story.

[-] s20@lemmy.ml 4 points 11 months ago

I didn't mean that King had read the stand, just that he would be wrong for that part. I can't think of one he read that he wasn't a good choice for, except maybe Desperation.

[-] Almizilero@lemm.ee 2 points 11 months ago

King read Wind through the Keyhole. That's how I learned that Rolands name is pronounced Des-chain and not De-schain apparently. Don't like it.

[-] Svennas@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

I agree there's definitely a few books I've stopped listening to because I didn't like the narration style or voice.

[-] orbitz@lemmy.ca 8 points 11 months ago

I have Fry doing the first book and Adams doing at least one othe book, I find Adams a bit flat but I do agree he does a good job. I listened to one of the Freeman read books and it didn't feel quite right but he's probably closer to Adams than Fry. That said I enjoyed Fry's Harry Potter readings many times so that may influence my preference. Generally I think authors will give their intended inflections in the reading which does help with the feel of a book.

[-] s20@lemmy.ml 32 points 11 months ago

Stephen Fry has what might be the best voice for audiobooks ever. It's like having your British grandfather read you a bedtime story. I imagine. I mean, my grandfathers were from Chicago and Missouri, so I guess I wouldn't know, but still.

[-] UnlimitedRumination@sh.itjust.works 8 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

And it was when reading this comment that I realized I was thinking of Philip J Fry and Stephen Fry is not him.
🧠💨

[-] Synthuir@lemmy.ml 4 points 11 months ago

Billy West reading H2G2 in Fry’s voice is now something that I need.

[-] Amilo159@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Why not Zoidberg?

[-] johnthedoe@lemmy.ml 23 points 11 months ago

Fry’s reading of Harry Potter is one of my favourite pieces of media of all time. And I’m not a Harry Potter fan. He’s an absolute master. I’m in. Thanks!

[-] lugal@lemmy.ml 18 points 11 months ago

Did you know that the books are based on a BBC radio play? So this is basically a audiobook based on a radio play

[-] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 11 points 11 months ago

If you want to go down that rabbit hole it gets pretty convoluted. Adam's talks about it in his biography. Its more of an amorphous blob than a cinematic universe.

[-] lugal@lemmy.ml 2 points 11 months ago

amorphous blob

I don't need to biography to know that that's a good description of the books and stuff.

The order of the stories is a different one in the books and the radio play, but who cares about the order.

Also: the original radio play was made into the first 2 (or 3?) books. Than he continued writing and later (I think about a decade) he made a radio play out of the other books.

[-] ptz@dubvee.org 13 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Yes, please. I've got a couple of Fry's autobiographies on audiobook and holy crap. You don't even really have to pay attention to them; just hearing him talk is relaxing, and the interesting stories are just a bonus.

[-] dingus@lemmy.ml 12 points 11 months ago

For half a moment, I thought this said "read by Philip Fry." Stephen makes a lot more sense.

[-] ColonelSanders@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

P.J. Fry Reading: "The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don't."

(Out loud to himself): "Huh, I never noticed that before!"

[-] Xyprus@beehaw.org 3 points 11 months ago

The Vogons are winning again, we are the greetest. Now we will leave earth for no raisin

[-] thatsage@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago

So... What would be a good way to download and listen to this on Android?

[-] lud@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

I put all my audiobooks on Plex and I use a specific app on my phone for listening to them.

It's not supported officially and it's janky but it works.

[-] zarathustra0@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

Is this from the people who pirated Stephen Fry's voice with AI wizadry?

this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2023
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