audiobooks

[dUnKle]

Can anyone recommend any quality audiobooks that I can get hold of (either free or pay for) that are worthy of a listen

I dont want anything too highbrow or classical just something engrossing to listen to

Is there a complete Sherlock Holmes collection available (somethinG i ahevalways fancied reading)

To give you some idea of my tastes, the most common authors on my shelves are

Stephen King
Tom Clancy
Lee Child
James Patterson
Andy Mcnad
Colin Dexter
Bernard Cornwell
James Herbert

[sharger]

I don't know if it fits your bill.... but A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr is excellent. Its weird how much I thought I knew about my Country.... but didn't!!!

[nheather]

I listen to a lot of audiobooks in my car, though mostly science fiction and fantasy so can't help with your suggestions.

The reader makes a huge difference. For example Stephen Fry reads very well, but I don't know what he does other than Harry Potter.

The 'His Dark Materials' are also read well using different voices for the characters so quite play like.

I really like the Terry Pratchett books - some are read by Nigel Planer, some by Tony Robinson, and some by Stephen Briggs. Each is excellent in the own way and bring the story to life with lots of different accents - the only problem is that the different readers interpret the same character in different ways - which seems odd as you move from book to book.

But some have been terrible, with very flat monologue - I listened to Angels and Demons and that was very much like that.

So my advice is find a genre you like and then find an unabridged book with a good reader. I can't stress enough how much difference the reader makes.

Try your local library - they usually have a good selction to borrow for a few quid each and then pop them on your iPod.

Cheers,

Nigel

[dUnKle]

Never even thought about library
cheers

[rickinyorkshire]

The only Audio Books I have are the 'Dark Tower' series by Stephen King. One of them (I think waste lands) is actually read by him, make of that what you will. But the guy who reads the others (not sure of names) is quite brilliant. All 7 books lasted me a through my final year at uni on public transport

[mrmcdean]

You have to try Scott Sigler. Ive never really listened to any audiobooks prior to his stuff. I was looking around Itunes podcasts and came accross this guy. Hes written quite a few books that hes put out on podcasts so they are free to download (or you could buy the audiobook from Itunes ?? - you can send him a donation etc if you go to his website Scott Sigler: Bestselling Horror Author and Failed Pimp )

I started of with Infected then went to his follow up Contagious but have now listened to 4 or 5 all within a couple of months.

Its kind of a mixed genre - horror/action with a helping of real world science in there to give it a grounding in reality. He's even covered futuristic American football in The Rookie which I enjoyed despite my lack of knowledge of the game.

I appreciate that its all down to personal taste but if your looking for new stuff and Stephen King is on your shelf then Scott Siglers stuff has to be worth a go.

Other than that just look through the podcasts on Itunes as there are plenty of audio books available for free.

Hopefully you'll enjoy.

[mda1974]

Have a look on Audible.co.uk

They have a huge range you can download and often offer a free trial of their subscription service.

I signed up and got two free books before I canceled

[mda1974]

Found this link for a free trial.

As far as a book goes, I'm not a big reader but did really enjoy Angels & Demons and Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

[Chadford]

Another option you may consider is the 'BBC Radio Ripper'...

BBC Radio Ripper - Rip music from BBC radio (about £20)

I've been using this app for about three years now. It allows you to rip BBC listen again radio shows to MP3 very quickly (from the BBC iPlayer web site).
I do this mainly to burn discs for the misses so that she can listen to them in the car on her way to work and back.
Generally I spend a bit of time on a Sunday morning ripping shows in my study whilst watching Hollyoaks .

For you I guess maybe...

Radio 4. Book of the Week.
Radio 4. Saturday Play.
Radio 4. Book at Bedtime
Radio 4. Classic Serial
etc.etc.
Loads of stuff on Radio 7.

I really can't recommend this more - I've downloaded 100s of hours (probably 1000s) of quality radio productions from the BBC.

[rickinyorkshire]

Originally Posted by mda1974

Found this link for a free trial.

As far as a book goes, I'm not a big reader but did really enjoy Angels & Demons and Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

It still asks for payment details and a payment of £8

[imightbewrong]

Originally Posted by rickinyorkshire

The only Audio Books I have are the 'Dark Tower' series by Stephen King. One of them (I think waste lands) is actually read by him, make of that what you will. But the guy who reads the others (not sure of names) is quite brilliant. All 7 books lasted me a through my final year at uni on public transport

Yep - I recommmend this - took me through a year of commuting into London. Although the set I had didn't have any stephen king narration. It was all one guy except the first and last (I think). The orignial narator did 1-6, then had a motorbike accident, so someone else did the last one, and then the first was slightly re-written, and the same guy did a new version of that.

Anyway - I've only listened to this series, although I have Simon Schama's (sp?) books (narrated by him) which I haven't listend to yet.

[krish]

Have enjoyed Jeff Lindsay's Dexter audiobooks
Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004) (basis of the TV series)
Dearly Devoted Dexter (2005)
Dexter in the Dark (2007)

probably due out next
Dexter by Design (2009); Dexter is Delicious (~2010)

[Knyght_byte]

if you like Stargate, the audio book read by michael shanks isnt bad.

i wouldnt mind getting Rats, Lair and Domain on audiobook, trying to think who'd be best to read them tho....would love to see them made in to modern decent films, I reckon they'd do quite well if they went for an 18 rating and didnt pander to the kiddie factor.

[fizl]

For the terry pratchett ones, I would avoid the tony robinson ones simply as they are abridged versions of the book.

For something dark, try perfume - story of a murderer. Bernard Cornwells the winter king is good as a talking book, as are the harry potter books.

Have you thought about looking for podcasts?

shaz

[nheather]

For the terry pratchett ones, I would avoid the tony robinson ones simply as they are abridged versions of the book.

That will explain why I haven't heard any by him - just planer and briggs.

I do find it slightly odd when listening to a series of books that the way the two portrey the characters can be quite different - Carrot and Angua in the City Watch are good examples.

Cheers,

Nigel