The Official Blurb
[None]
My Review
This is another run of OTR ( Old Time Radio ). This collection contains 8 shows that feature creepy or mystery stories. THere's no real horror here, but some of them do get down right spooky.
The show seems to have been produced for the U.S Armed Forces Radio and even stars some men in uniform, not as soldiers but as actors, and as sound engineers!
It's an amusing collection of 30 minutes episodes. As you might expect there is some hiss, and the occassional scream might put your ear drums to flight.
Over all I enjoyed these shows. Best listened to one per day, as all at once and they are likely to lose "the edge". Listen in a darkened room for best effect :)
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3 - Would have been 3 but for the hiss and crackle
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first episode
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Sunday, 22 February 2009
That Affair Next Door
Official Blurb
The dead body of a woman was found under a large cabinet. But she had been dead four hours before the cabinet fell upon her. The owners of the house had been on vacation and the place empty. Who was she and why was she in the empty house all alone?
My Review
I seem to be on a run of detective novels at the moment! In this one we have a real gem. An older lady notices some odd happenings next door during the night and feels drawn to investigate and finds herself investigating a murder.
It's a typical lead-in to a detective novel and follows many of the usual tropes, however dont let that make you think it's dull. The lead character is a delightful old world lady who wouldn't say boo to a goose and has to collect all of her bravery to simply address police inspectors let alone ensnaring murderers. This makes the character appealing and when the book is being read by a voice that seems to match the first person perspective of the character it really brings the book to life.
The combination of reader and text here is really good.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
The dead body of a woman was found under a large cabinet. But she had been dead four hours before the cabinet fell upon her. The owners of the house had been on vacation and the place empty. Who was she and why was she in the empty house all alone?
My Review
I seem to be on a run of detective novels at the moment! In this one we have a real gem. An older lady notices some odd happenings next door during the night and feels drawn to investigate and finds herself investigating a murder.
It's a typical lead-in to a detective novel and follows many of the usual tropes, however dont let that make you think it's dull. The lead character is a delightful old world lady who wouldn't say boo to a goose and has to collect all of her bravery to simply address police inspectors let alone ensnaring murderers. This makes the character appealing and when the book is being read by a voice that seems to match the first person perspective of the character it really brings the book to life.
The combination of reader and text here is really good.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Monday, 9 February 2009
The Film Mystery
Official Blurb
The Film Mystery is one of eighteen detective novels by Arthur B. Reeve starring his best known character Professor Craig Kennedy and his trusty sidekick Walter Jameson, a newspaper reporter. The pair bears an unmistakable resemblance to the more famous British master sleuth and his doctor friend. The setting of this mystery is the early days of movie making, and the murder victim is Stella Lamar, “the beautiful idol of the screen, beloved of millions”, who collapses and dies during the filming of a scene for her latest movie.
My Review
This story is a classic detective story. As the blurb suggests we have a decisive observant lead character much like Sherlock and a side kick very much link Watson, that's the Watson of the original stories not the Watson played by Nigel Bruce in the films.
It's an interesting investigation that follows the usual pattern of following clues and red herrings but slowly the lead character builds their case. Rather like Sherlock stories , you as the reader dont seem to get all of the facts but this does not detract from what is a fun listen. Of clourse like all classic stories the criminal is not revealed until the very last paragraph!
This story is read by a number of different readers and there are some excellent presentations here that are delight to listen, including I note one voice professional.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
The Film Mystery is one of eighteen detective novels by Arthur B. Reeve starring his best known character Professor Craig Kennedy and his trusty sidekick Walter Jameson, a newspaper reporter. The pair bears an unmistakable resemblance to the more famous British master sleuth and his doctor friend. The setting of this mystery is the early days of movie making, and the murder victim is Stella Lamar, “the beautiful idol of the screen, beloved of millions”, who collapses and dies during the filming of a scene for her latest movie.
My Review
This story is a classic detective story. As the blurb suggests we have a decisive observant lead character much like Sherlock and a side kick very much link Watson, that's the Watson of the original stories not the Watson played by Nigel Bruce in the films.
It's an interesting investigation that follows the usual pattern of following clues and red herrings but slowly the lead character builds their case. Rather like Sherlock stories , you as the reader dont seem to get all of the facts but this does not detract from what is a fun listen. Of clourse like all classic stories the criminal is not revealed until the very last paragraph!
This story is read by a number of different readers and there are some excellent presentations here that are delight to listen, including I note one voice professional.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Short Ghost and Horror Story Collection 001
Offical Blurb
A collection of fifteen stories featuring ghoulies, ghosties, long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night. Expect shivers up your spine, the stink of human flesh, and the occasional touch of wonder.
My Review
I listened to this whole collection on a snowy February morning and was pleasantly surprised. A good collection of readers and only one or maybe two who could have done with better recording conditions. As I said all the readings were good, so if you tune out the noise that appears on a couple...
The stories vary from one or two minutes long up to about 30 minutes, so even if a particualr story is not to your taste you've not long to wait until the next one comes along.
Coming from differn't readers means that the volume level alters between each story so keep you fingers near the volume control and protect your precious ears!
Two in particular caought my fancy, "Strange Orchid" and "Casting Runes", both were amongst the longer of the stories and both from well know authors. All of the stories are of a public-domain-vintage so there is nothing "slasher" or particularly nasty here, they all deal with the super natural in one may or another.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from Librivox
Download the one of the stories
A collection of fifteen stories featuring ghoulies, ghosties, long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night. Expect shivers up your spine, the stink of human flesh, and the occasional touch of wonder.
My Review
I listened to this whole collection on a snowy February morning and was pleasantly surprised. A good collection of readers and only one or maybe two who could have done with better recording conditions. As I said all the readings were good, so if you tune out the noise that appears on a couple...
The stories vary from one or two minutes long up to about 30 minutes, so even if a particualr story is not to your taste you've not long to wait until the next one comes along.
Coming from differn't readers means that the volume level alters between each story so keep you fingers near the volume control and protect your precious ears!
Two in particular caought my fancy, "Strange Orchid" and "Casting Runes", both were amongst the longer of the stories and both from well know authors. All of the stories are of a public-domain-vintage so there is nothing "slasher" or particularly nasty here, they all deal with the super natural in one may or another.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download from Librivox
Download the one of the stories
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Mounted Police Life in Canada : a record of thirty-one years’ service (1916)
Official Blurb
Learn more about the famous and respected Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This book is the personal recollections of one ‘Mountie’; his life, experiences and trials as an officer in a new frontier – The Canadian Northwest.
My Review
As a memoir this book is well written and always interesting. It follows the exploits and life of a man who leads from the front and has some firm ideas about how the law should be implemented.
The general outline of the book is a series of anecdotes and interesting cases and situations that the officer in question has been involved in. Ranging from dealing with foreign dignitaries to cattle thieves and gun toting "Indians", the telling is always well delivered and is never boring. The author has the knack of limiting his tales to the pertinent facts and only including stories that have some element of interest to the reader/listener.
The reader is an experienced librivox reader has a good delivery, so if you have any interest in the history covered I think your going to like this one.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download from Librivox
Download the first chapter.
Learn more about the famous and respected Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This book is the personal recollections of one ‘Mountie’; his life, experiences and trials as an officer in a new frontier – The Canadian Northwest.
My Review
As a memoir this book is well written and always interesting. It follows the exploits and life of a man who leads from the front and has some firm ideas about how the law should be implemented.
The general outline of the book is a series of anecdotes and interesting cases and situations that the officer in question has been involved in. Ranging from dealing with foreign dignitaries to cattle thieves and gun toting "Indians", the telling is always well delivered and is never boring. The author has the knack of limiting his tales to the pertinent facts and only including stories that have some element of interest to the reader/listener.
The reader is an experienced librivox reader has a good delivery, so if you have any interest in the history covered I think your going to like this one.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download from Librivox
Download the first chapter.
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Red Shadows
Official Blurb
Red Shadows is the first of a series of stories featuring Howard’s puritan avenger, Solomon Kane. Kane tracks his prey over land and sea, enters the jungles of Africa, and even faces dark Gods and evil magic — all to avenge a woman he’d never met before.
My Review
This story was my first introduction to the Solomon Kane character, and what a great pulpy dark story it is. The protagonist comes across an dying maiden who he doesn't know and is thrown into an adventurer that crosses continents.
What I found amazing in this short story is that it remained a short story. In a mere sentence or two great swathes of the chase are hinted at, great literay moments that have just been bypassed.
Despite the hinted at "missing" sections the story does not let up and speeds along at a pace that will keep you listening.
The hero is just that, a man with a sword on a goodly quest. If you like a pulp story then this is something your going to like. The reader has a great deep voice that lends weight to the telling.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download from Librivox
Download the first chapter
Red Shadows is the first of a series of stories featuring Howard’s puritan avenger, Solomon Kane. Kane tracks his prey over land and sea, enters the jungles of Africa, and even faces dark Gods and evil magic — all to avenge a woman he’d never met before.
My Review
This story was my first introduction to the Solomon Kane character, and what a great pulpy dark story it is. The protagonist comes across an dying maiden who he doesn't know and is thrown into an adventurer that crosses continents.
What I found amazing in this short story is that it remained a short story. In a mere sentence or two great swathes of the chase are hinted at, great literay moments that have just been bypassed.
Despite the hinted at "missing" sections the story does not let up and speeds along at a pace that will keep you listening.
The hero is just that, a man with a sword on a goodly quest. If you like a pulp story then this is something your going to like. The reader has a great deep voice that lends weight to the telling.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
Download from Librivox
Download the first chapter
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