The Official Blurb
Originally published as a penny dreadful from 1845 until 1847, when it first appeared in book form, Varney the Vampyre is a forerunner to vampire stories such as Dracula, which it heavily influenced.
Flora Bannersworth is attacked in her own room in the middle of the night, and although her attacker is seemingly shot dead, the body is nowhere to be found. The discovery of two small bite marks on Flora’s neck leads Mr Marchdale, an old friend of the family, to the conclusion that she was bitten by a vampire. While Flora recovers, her brother Henry and Mr Marchdale begin their hunt for the vampire. Their suspicions soon fall on the mysterious Sir Francis Varney, who has just bought an old abbey near Bannersworth Hall, and who bears an uncanny resemblance to Marmaduke Bannersworth, a long-dead ancestor of the family.
My Review
Hmmm... This was a long long story. I've been listening to it for a long time. the reason it took so long was that it didn't really engage me. I shot through the first 10 chapters or so but then my listening slowed up.
The problem was that I couldn't identify with the characters. This is partially because of the writting style. Which I can happily put down to the serialized nature of the stories source. Yet the characters weren't really ... memorable. That's not to say I couldn't keep track, but rather they didn't appeal. One or two of them came across as rather pathetic and others as plain stupid.
So is this a negative review. Well not really, I did get to the end which is a plus, one of the characters, a ships captain, kept me laughing and as the story progressed I actually found what sympathies I had, were for the "evil" vampire rather than victims"
It's a fair listen and worth trying to see if it appeals to you.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 1/3
Total Score 5/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Gulliver of Mars
Official Blurb
This escapist novel first published in 1905 as Lieutenant Gullivar Jones: His Vacation follows the exploits of American Navy Lieutenant Gulliver Jones, a bold, if slightly hapless, hero who is magically transported to Mars; where he almost outwits his enemies, almost gets the girl, and almost saves the day.
Somewhat of a literary and chronological bridge between H.G. Wells and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jones’ adventures provide an evocative mix of satire and sword-and-planet adventure.
My Review
Well the blurb hits the nail on the head. Not quite the rip roaring adventure of John Carter's exploits on Mars but never the less a fun listen.
It follows the hero of the piece as he travels across the face of Mars constantly discovering new and wonderous things in a haphazzard kind of way. In the truest tradition of the Pulp genre out hero is in love and must save his maiden, pretty typical stuff.
That said, the story is original, this is no John Carter rip off, it stands on it's own and makes an enjoyable listen from beginning to end. I like the characterisation of our hero, who keeps worrying about the unpaid tailor bill in his pocket!
The reader is pretty good, he doesn't do voices, but then he doesn't need to here, you can follow the push and pull of conversation regardless.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
This escapist novel first published in 1905 as Lieutenant Gullivar Jones: His Vacation follows the exploits of American Navy Lieutenant Gulliver Jones, a bold, if slightly hapless, hero who is magically transported to Mars; where he almost outwits his enemies, almost gets the girl, and almost saves the day.
Somewhat of a literary and chronological bridge between H.G. Wells and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jones’ adventures provide an evocative mix of satire and sword-and-planet adventure.
My Review
Well the blurb hits the nail on the head. Not quite the rip roaring adventure of John Carter's exploits on Mars but never the less a fun listen.
It follows the hero of the piece as he travels across the face of Mars constantly discovering new and wonderous things in a haphazzard kind of way. In the truest tradition of the Pulp genre out hero is in love and must save his maiden, pretty typical stuff.
That said, the story is original, this is no John Carter rip off, it stands on it's own and makes an enjoyable listen from beginning to end. I like the characterisation of our hero, who keeps worrying about the unpaid tailor bill in his pocket!
The reader is pretty good, he doesn't do voices, but then he doesn't need to here, you can follow the push and pull of conversation regardless.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Short Ghost and Horror Collection 003
Official 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 smell of human flesh, and the occasional touch of wonder.
My Review
An odd mix of short stories brought together as ghost and horror. I'm not actually sure that they all fit that particular mold. That said all of the readers are passable and the stories simply ok.
None of the stories are blood thirsty slasher stories. You shouldn't expect that sort of thing from these older public domain releases.
Four of the readings however stood out amongst the others for special mention. The two Poe stories are pretty good readings with this version of "The Telltale Heart" being particularly well done ( just a couple of pops on the mic's ). The "Tropical Horror" and "Empty House" stories are pretty good to.
As usual with a mixed bag of stories the appeal of the individual narratives varies from story to story. I found four that I really liked and I expect any listener will find a like number of favourites.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the Poe story
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 smell of human flesh, and the occasional touch of wonder.
My Review
An odd mix of short stories brought together as ghost and horror. I'm not actually sure that they all fit that particular mold. That said all of the readers are passable and the stories simply ok.
None of the stories are blood thirsty slasher stories. You shouldn't expect that sort of thing from these older public domain releases.
Four of the readings however stood out amongst the others for special mention. The two Poe stories are pretty good readings with this version of "The Telltale Heart" being particularly well done ( just a couple of pops on the mic's ). The "Tropical Horror" and "Empty House" stories are pretty good to.
As usual with a mixed bag of stories the appeal of the individual narratives varies from story to story. I found four that I really liked and I expect any listener will find a like number of favourites.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the Poe story
Saturday, 4 July 2009
The Machine Stops
Official Blurb
Published in 1909, this science fiction short story takes place in a future where mankind, seemingly no longer able to survive on earth’s surface, exists in a vast underground civilization known as “The Machine”. Each individual lives in an isolated, fully-automated cell-like room, connected to global information and communication systems, but cut off from all direct experience. The narrative focuses on Vashti, an “advanced” mother whose total dependence upon The Machine has led her (like most others) to increasingly reverence and even worship it; and her “untechnological” son, Kuno, who has begun to deny The Machine’s omnipotence and even seeks to escape if possible. Kuno’s radical views are validated as the The Machine’s systems begin to malfunction and eventually fail completely.
The story has proved to be far ahead of its time, with remarkably accurate predictions of modern technologies, and paints a chilling picture of over-dependence on them. This recording marks the 100th anniversary of the original publishing.
My Review
This a short story presented here in three chapters. It's a sci fi story set in a world where man is organised, fed, watered and clothed by "the machine". It's one womans story as she discovers her son who has been outside of the machine.
It's well written and kept me listening. The story has a way of constantly revealing facts about this odd ( to us anyway ) future where all wants are met. A very interesting society has developed with odd behaviours and attitudes.
The story ends with a pathos filled creshendo that I found appealing.
It's not a high action story nor a terrible high tech one, it's about the people in this strange environment.
I listened to the whole thing in one sitting when I hadn't meant to, the reader was a joy his presentation excellent. However if this reader doesnt appeal to your preferences I've noticed that Librivox has a second version of the story by others.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
Published in 1909, this science fiction short story takes place in a future where mankind, seemingly no longer able to survive on earth’s surface, exists in a vast underground civilization known as “The Machine”. Each individual lives in an isolated, fully-automated cell-like room, connected to global information and communication systems, but cut off from all direct experience. The narrative focuses on Vashti, an “advanced” mother whose total dependence upon The Machine has led her (like most others) to increasingly reverence and even worship it; and her “untechnological” son, Kuno, who has begun to deny The Machine’s omnipotence and even seeks to escape if possible. Kuno’s radical views are validated as the The Machine’s systems begin to malfunction and eventually fail completely.
The story has proved to be far ahead of its time, with remarkably accurate predictions of modern technologies, and paints a chilling picture of over-dependence on them. This recording marks the 100th anniversary of the original publishing.
My Review
This a short story presented here in three chapters. It's a sci fi story set in a world where man is organised, fed, watered and clothed by "the machine". It's one womans story as she discovers her son who has been outside of the machine.
It's well written and kept me listening. The story has a way of constantly revealing facts about this odd ( to us anyway ) future where all wants are met. A very interesting society has developed with odd behaviours and attitudes.
The story ends with a pathos filled creshendo that I found appealing.
It's not a high action story nor a terrible high tech one, it's about the people in this strange environment.
I listened to the whole thing in one sitting when I hadn't meant to, the reader was a joy his presentation excellent. However if this reader doesnt appeal to your preferences I've noticed that Librivox has a second version of the story by others.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
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