The Official Blurb
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Radio Drama.
My Review
Well the official blurb is informative!?! What we have here is a 25 minute short amature production radio drama of the classic story of the title.
The producers have done a fairly good job of reducing the novel down to it's bare minimums producing a script that works in the timeframe. Alas, it's not enough time to do the characters justice, but no 30 minute show possibly could.
The sound effects and incidental music are roughly inserted so the smooth blended feel of a professional sound are missing.
Despite the shortcomings I enjoyed this for what it was. Rather like when you go to an amature dramatics play, if you dont expect too much you have a good time.
If you have a spare 30 minutes of ear-time and you know the story you'll probably enjoy this as much as I did.
Technical note : This is an "m4a" file rather than an "MP3", so you may have to use a player such as QuickTime.
Reading 2/3
Production 1/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 5/9
Download from the Internet Archive
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
The Association of Semi-Superpeoples in: Nazi Radio Tower of Doom!
Official Blurb
In the days leading up to World War II, a group of mystery men joined together to fight injustice in all its forms. From gangsters and racketeers to Nazi saboteurs and communists, these brave men and women did their best to thwart evil in all its myriad forms. And though they often failed, and miserably, no one can deny the group known as The Association of Semi-Super Peoples did⦠stuff.
My Review
This is a short radio comedy thats as wacky as the title suggests. As you might have guessed a bunch of Nazi's are setting up a radio tower...of doom and the local Super Heros/Journalists/Comedians have to deal with the situation. It made me laugh, while wincing at the foul language and non-pc jokes. I laughed but was never entirely sure that I should have been. You have been warned, bad words are used, not work safe, not kid safe, not politically safe.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from the Internet Archive
In the days leading up to World War II, a group of mystery men joined together to fight injustice in all its forms. From gangsters and racketeers to Nazi saboteurs and communists, these brave men and women did their best to thwart evil in all its myriad forms. And though they often failed, and miserably, no one can deny the group known as The Association of Semi-Super Peoples did⦠stuff.
My Review
This is a short radio comedy thats as wacky as the title suggests. As you might have guessed a bunch of Nazi's are setting up a radio tower...of doom and the local Super Heros/Journalists/Comedians have to deal with the situation. It made me laugh, while wincing at the foul language and non-pc jokes. I laughed but was never entirely sure that I should have been. You have been warned, bad words are used, not work safe, not kid safe, not politically safe.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from the Internet Archive
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Thuvia, Maid of Mars
Official Blurb
In this novel the focus shifts from John Carter, Warlord of Mars, and Dejah Thoris of Helium, protagonists of the first three books in the series, to their son, Carthoris, prince of Helium, and Thuvia, princess of Ptarth. Helium and Ptarth are both prominent Barsoomian city state/empires, and both Carthoris and Thuvia were secondary characters in the previous two books.
My Review
Let me start by saying that if you've enjoyed any of the previous "John Carter" Mars books then you'll enjoy this one just as much. It's pulp sci fi with a thrilling constant action edge that keeps you listening. Yes you might see the end coming but that doesn't make the trip any less fun.
The story follows the son of John Carter as he finds, loses and then hunts down love! As with all of the other novels much that is new to the reader is introduced as the world is explored. In the previous novels there was always some new factor, new races, new location to be discovered and this story follows that pattern.
Swords are drawn just as redily as rifles and everyone has a grudge to settle so the action just does not stop.
As a superb bonus the reader of this audio book is excellent, and although he doesn't put on voices he does a tremendous and excellent job of reading this novel, a professional job in fact.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download from Librivox
Download the first chapter
In this novel the focus shifts from John Carter, Warlord of Mars, and Dejah Thoris of Helium, protagonists of the first three books in the series, to their son, Carthoris, prince of Helium, and Thuvia, princess of Ptarth. Helium and Ptarth are both prominent Barsoomian city state/empires, and both Carthoris and Thuvia were secondary characters in the previous two books.
My Review
Let me start by saying that if you've enjoyed any of the previous "John Carter" Mars books then you'll enjoy this one just as much. It's pulp sci fi with a thrilling constant action edge that keeps you listening. Yes you might see the end coming but that doesn't make the trip any less fun.
The story follows the son of John Carter as he finds, loses and then hunts down love! As with all of the other novels much that is new to the reader is introduced as the world is explored. In the previous novels there was always some new factor, new races, new location to be discovered and this story follows that pattern.
Swords are drawn just as redily as rifles and everyone has a grudge to settle so the action just does not stop.
As a superb bonus the reader of this audio book is excellent, and although he doesn't put on voices he does a tremendous and excellent job of reading this novel, a professional job in fact.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download from Librivox
Download the first chapter
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Uller Uprising
The Official Blurb
Uller Uprising is the story of a confrontation between a human overlord and alien servants, with an ironic twist at the end. Like most of Piper’s best work, Uller Uprising is modeled after an actual event in human history; in this case the Sepoy Mutiny (a Bengal uprising in British-held India brought about when rumors were spread to native soldiers that cartridges being issued by the British were coated with animal fat. The rebellion quickly spread throughout India and led to the massacre of the British Colony at Cawnpore.). Piper’s novel is not a mere retelling of the Indian Mutiny, but rather an analysis of an historical event applied to a similar situation in the far future.
My Review
This is a classic sci fi book and if thats your bag then your going to enjoy this reading. The story follows an uprising of aliens on a world run by humans. The aliens vastly outnumber the humans and generally speaking are not as well armed or trained as the good guys ( humans ).
As both sides become stressed and worried about their position the stakes rise as does the action and excitement.
None of the characters are particularly noteworthy in this book and they all slot into the general background to fill out the cast. The story does slowly build towards its climax so you are drawn along with the narration.
Speaking of narration the reading in this book is perfectly fine but does suffer now and then from a little noise.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from Librivox
Download the first chapter
Uller Uprising is the story of a confrontation between a human overlord and alien servants, with an ironic twist at the end. Like most of Piper’s best work, Uller Uprising is modeled after an actual event in human history; in this case the Sepoy Mutiny (a Bengal uprising in British-held India brought about when rumors were spread to native soldiers that cartridges being issued by the British were coated with animal fat. The rebellion quickly spread throughout India and led to the massacre of the British Colony at Cawnpore.). Piper’s novel is not a mere retelling of the Indian Mutiny, but rather an analysis of an historical event applied to a similar situation in the far future.
My Review
This is a classic sci fi book and if thats your bag then your going to enjoy this reading. The story follows an uprising of aliens on a world run by humans. The aliens vastly outnumber the humans and generally speaking are not as well armed or trained as the good guys ( humans ).
As both sides become stressed and worried about their position the stakes rise as does the action and excitement.
None of the characters are particularly noteworthy in this book and they all slot into the general background to fill out the cast. The story does slowly build towards its climax so you are drawn along with the narration.
Speaking of narration the reading in this book is perfectly fine but does suffer now and then from a little noise.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from Librivox
Download the first chapter
Friday, 2 January 2009
Terror of the Artic - Doctor Who
Official Blurb
After receiving a distress signal from a dimensional void, The Doctor and Christine are lead to the 19th Century Arctic where they become involved in one of history's greatest unsolved mysteries.
They soon discover a pair of British sailing vessels trapped in the ice. The crews are dying one by one despite the fact that the crewmen are healthy and have an abundance of supplies, shelter and food. The Doctor, perplexed by the unexplained deaths as well as the distress signal, pledges his aid.
My Review
I couldn't find any real background about this podcast presentation of a Doctor Who story. It's a full cast drama in 8 parts that you'll have to download individually. It's typical Doctor Who stuff and a right good listen. Adventure, and cliff hangers make it so that you keep coming back for more.
It does smell of an amature production, some of the audio level changes between characters are higher than you would expect from a professional production. I wonder if the actors where ever in the same room as the interactions are not quite right at times. I noticed this because at times it sounded like some of the audio dramas I've put together where the actors never met.
My little quibbles here are merely techncal and shouldn't put you off listening to what is a ripping good yarn well told and reasonably acted. If you have any interest in Doctor who or sci fi then this will be right up your street. It's about 4 hours in total but presented in 8 half hour chunks.
Reading 2/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download the full story here.
Download the first episode
After receiving a distress signal from a dimensional void, The Doctor and Christine are lead to the 19th Century Arctic where they become involved in one of history's greatest unsolved mysteries.
They soon discover a pair of British sailing vessels trapped in the ice. The crews are dying one by one despite the fact that the crewmen are healthy and have an abundance of supplies, shelter and food. The Doctor, perplexed by the unexplained deaths as well as the distress signal, pledges his aid.
My Review
I couldn't find any real background about this podcast presentation of a Doctor Who story. It's a full cast drama in 8 parts that you'll have to download individually. It's typical Doctor Who stuff and a right good listen. Adventure, and cliff hangers make it so that you keep coming back for more.
It does smell of an amature production, some of the audio level changes between characters are higher than you would expect from a professional production. I wonder if the actors where ever in the same room as the interactions are not quite right at times. I noticed this because at times it sounded like some of the audio dramas I've put together where the actors never met.
My little quibbles here are merely techncal and shouldn't put you off listening to what is a ripping good yarn well told and reasonably acted. If you have any interest in Doctor who or sci fi then this will be right up your street. It's about 4 hours in total but presented in 8 half hour chunks.
Reading 2/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download the full story here.
Download the first episode
Thursday, 1 January 2009
The Kraken Wakes
The Official Blurb
None.
My Review
Yet again, not an audio book but another radio presentation of a classic story. This drama comes from the pen of John wyndham and was put together by the BBC. It's a creepy story of disaster of an world wide scale and the purveyor of this crime is a Lovcraftian type creature. Something so beyond our understanding and so other-worldly that understanding between us ( humans ) and them/it is just not going to happen.
This full cast drama is a classic example of BBC-well-done audio that draws you into the story and holds you there fully absorbed in the story. It's really a very good story to start with and the scripting, acting and sound effects bring it to life.
If your a fan of H.P. Lovecraft or sci-fi then you should do yourself a favour and take a listen to this audio treat.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download the full show from here
Download the first half
None.
My Review
Yet again, not an audio book but another radio presentation of a classic story. This drama comes from the pen of John wyndham and was put together by the BBC. It's a creepy story of disaster of an world wide scale and the purveyor of this crime is a Lovcraftian type creature. Something so beyond our understanding and so other-worldly that understanding between us ( humans ) and them/it is just not going to happen.
This full cast drama is a classic example of BBC-well-done audio that draws you into the story and holds you there fully absorbed in the story. It's really a very good story to start with and the scripting, acting and sound effects bring it to life.
If your a fan of H.P. Lovecraft or sci-fi then you should do yourself a favour and take a listen to this audio treat.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 3/3
Total Score 8/9
Download the full show from here
Download the first half
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