Discussion: Audiofic fantasy

[lindenharp]

So, I've been having this fantasy.  No, not that one.  Not that one, either.  :-)

I listen to a lot of audiobooks, mostly downloadable ones.  They make my commute easier and distract me from boring housework.  I was happy when I discovered audio fanfic on sites like this.

I found myself wondering: if I were going to record one of my fics, which would I choose?  The true answer is that I wouldn't.  At least, I wouldn't do it myself.  I don't have a good voice for that sort of thing.  But if I were going to have something recorded, it would be Valiant Tales.

Here's the fantasy part: I'd want a different narrator for each tale, with a voice to match.  That means gender and accent.  Most of them are male, mostly British, but also Spanish, Italian, French, and Norwegian.  Several Americans, including a couple with regional accents.

After that project, I'd like David Tennant and Catherine Tate to record All the King's Horses.  If I'm going to dream, I may as well dream big.  :-)

Comments

[garpu.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I know. I'd be thrilled with one chapter: chapter 11 of Spiegel with David Tenant, Catherine Tate, Miles Richardson, and Noel Clarke. :)

Have you listened to many of the Big Finish audios? They're excellent.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I've gone from turning up my nose to mainlining audiobooks. Wonderful inventions, aren't they? Neil Gaiman says that they almost went out of business, and then the ipod was invented.

I love the idea of several different narrators for the Valiant Tales. That would be utterly cool!

[lindenharp.livejournal.com]

I have a list of recommended BFAs, and haven't gotten around to buying some. I have listened to a couple of the audiobooks read by DT and loved those.

[lindenharp.livejournal.com]

Wonderful inventions, aren't they?

Yes. There are some very talented readers out there who can do multiple characters. Jim Dale, who reads the Harry Potter books, is fantastic. I've also enjoyed some multi-actor productions: especially books by Tamora Pierce.

I love the idea of several different narrators for the Valiant Tales. That would be utterly cool!

I think it would -- not just because it would make each character more "real", but it would reinforce the sense of these individual stories being pieces of a mosaic.

[garpu.livejournal.com]

Yah, I"ve liked the audio books from them, too. There are only a handful of Big Finish Audios I've heard that I didn't like.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Check out the Big Finish webpage; they've put one of their stories up for free as a couple of podcasts, and I can pass on the code for the free download story in DWM. That way you can check 'em out for free.

Also, I got my first set of CDs in a job lot on Ebay for half price.

I'm with garpu - there are very few I don't like, and it's hundreds of hours of audio.

I like the audio-only adventures too - the BBC ones and the Torchwood and SJA ones.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm particularly fond of Stephen Briggs myself, the reader of the Terry Pratchett books. Good range of voices and nice, clear, easy to understand.

If you ever need a Midatlantic American female voice, I'm in.

[lindenharp.livejournal.com]

If you ever need a Midatlantic American female voice, I'm in.

Not currently, but there is one female character whose nationality is unspecified: The Consultant.

Do you think you can sound like you have six doctorates and pale saffron hair?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

By preference I'd rather be one of the characters I didn't want to hit with a brick...

[lindenharp.livejournal.com]

You don't want to be Marie Suzette? Everyone wants to be Marie Suzette.
;-)

Looking over the possibilities again, what about The Reporter? I had assumed she was British, but there's nothing in her narrative to say that she couldn't be American.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'll have to look that one up, I don't remember it off the top of my head. But sure!