Audio Books - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Rochelle · 02-25-2003, 08:13 PM

I'm sorry if this has already been addressed but I don't have the time to go back through the posts [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

My question is if the audio books are any good. I have a very long drive ahead of me this weekend and I was thinking about getting the Silmarillion on audio cd or even the LotR trilogy...are they any good?

I would PM someone but I have no clue as to who! *lol* You can either PM me or reply to this...thanks!

Arvedui III · 02-25-2003, 09:00 PM

There are some really really good ones, and some really really bad ones. I like BBC version of LOTR. The only problem with it is they try( enfiesis on the word try) to sing, and it's very iritating. There is also a pretty good version of the hobbit, but I can't think of the name of the tapes.

**lindil** · 02-25-2003, 10:02 PM

The Silmarillion audio book is astounding!

Martin Shaw does an incredible job.

I only have pt1 but I look fwd to pts 2-3.

I have a collection of JRRT reading some from the Hobbit, LotR and Tom Bombadil. Nice.

And a BBC hobbit. my girls like it but I find it on the same level as the animation ,but the music is better at least, none of that orson bean singing !.

The only thing that would have made the Silm better is if Kate Blanchett had done all of the womens' parts.

Imladrien · 02-26-2003, 06:24 AM

I have the Martin Shaw narration of The (Unabridged) Silmarillion. I have enjoyed it thoroughly. He has a great voice and I think he did very well with a 90% or better on pronunciation. It was fairly pricey...and I had to order it because the bookstores around me only carried the tapes.

I, also, have Rob Inglis narration of the (Unabridged) LotR. Ditto everything above. I got all three volumes of LotR at once because it was less expensive that way.

There is, also, Tolkien reading exerpts -- on tape for sure, don't know about cd's -- of which I have heard many great things. But, I don't have that -- yet...

There is the BBC version of (abridged) LotR, Rob Inglis narration of The Hobbit , and probably others which I know nothing about.
--Imladrien

the real findorfin · 02-26-2003, 06:30 AM

I agree, Martin Shaw's Silmarillion readings is simply the best. I've listened to them nonstop for about two years!

Definately a great buy for a long journey, thats when I listen to them most.

Elanor · 02-26-2003, 10:03 AM

I love the BBC dramatisation, as it was almost my first encounter with LotR. I really like the songs too, nothing wrong with them at all. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I've also got a fabulous set of Nicol Williamson reading The Hobbit, but I don't think they're still available to buy. My copies are ancient. [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

[ February 26, 2003: Message edited by: Elanor ]

davem · 02-28-2003, 08:36 AM

The BBC dramatisation is very good - its mono as it was originally braodcast in 1967. There are some very clever, funny, moments in it (for instance, at the end, when Gandalf & Balin are visiting Bilbo at the end, Balin points out to Gandalf that Bilbo is writing a book & Gandalf mutters 'He'll never get a publisher!) Downside is some very odd pronunciations -Torin, Tror, Train, as opposed to Thorin, Thror, Thrain. But overall a good romp.
Brain Sibley, the guy who adapted LotR for the BBC has also done adaptations of Smith, Niggle, Giles & the Bombadil/Barrow Downs episode he missed out of his LotR radio adaptation. All on cd in a set called 'Tales from the Perilous Realm' - most of them are good, but the adaptation of Smith (probably my favorite of Tolkien's stories) is quite bad.

02-25-2003, 08:13 PM	#1
Rochelle Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Bonfire Glade RtR 80 miles Posts: 376	Audio Books I'm sorry if this has already been addressed but I don't have the time to go back through the posts [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] My question is if the audio books are any good. I have a very long drive ahead of me this weekend and I was thinking about getting the Silmarillion on audio cd or even the LotR trilogy...are they any good? I would PM someone but I have no clue as to who! lol You can either PM me or reply to this...thanks! __________________ Ad Astra Per Aspera (A rough road leads to the stars) "Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens"

02-25-2003, 09:00 PM	#2
Arvedui III Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In Rohan, with Carolina on my mind Posts: 629	There are some really really good ones, and some really really bad ones. I like BBC version of LOTR. The only problem with it is they try( enfiesis on the word try) to sing, and it's very iritating. There is also a pretty good version of the hobbit, but I can't think of the name of the tapes. __________________ I have no idea what you just said, but I'm inspired!

02-25-2003, 10:02 PM	#3
lindil Seeker of the Straight Path Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal Posts: 1,680	The Silmarillion audio book is astounding! Martin Shaw does an incredible job. I only have pt1 but I look fwd to pts 2-3. I have a collection of JRRT reading some from the Hobbit, LotR and Tom Bombadil. Nice. And a BBC hobbit. my girls like it but I find it on the same level as the animation ,but the music is better at least, none of that orson bean singing !. The only thing that would have made the Silm better is if Kate Blanchett had done all of the womens' parts. __________________ The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night exchanging lore & wisdom such as they still possessed that they should not fall back into the mean estate of those who never knew or indeed rebelled against the Light.

02-26-2003, 06:30 AM	#5
the real findorfin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Mirkwood Posts: 514	I agree, Martin Shaw's Silmarillion readings is simply the best. I've listened to them nonstop for about two years! Definately a great buy for a long journey, thats when I listen to them most. __________________ Legends of Middle Earth

02-26-2003, 10:03 AM	#6
Elanor Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: my own corner of the Shire Posts: 316	I love the BBC dramatisation, as it was almost my first encounter with LotR. I really like the songs too, nothing wrong with them at all. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] I've also got a fabulous set of Nicol Williamson reading The Hobbit, but I don't think they're still available to buy. My copies are ancient. [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] [ February 26, 2003: Message edited by: Elanor ] __________________ "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." Henny Youngman (1906 - )

02-26-2003, 06:24 AM	#4
Imladrien Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 21	I have the Martin Shaw narration of The (Unabridged) Silmarillion. I have enjoyed it thoroughly. He has a great voice and I think he did very well with a 90% or better on pronunciation. It was fairly pricey...and I had to order it because the bookstores around me only carried the tapes. I, also, have Rob Inglis narration of the (Unabridged) LotR. Ditto everything above. I got all three volumes of LotR at once because it was less expensive that way. There is, also, Tolkien reading exerpts -- on tape for sure, don't know about cd's -- of which I have heard many great things. But, I don't have that -- yet... There is the BBC version of (abridged) LotR, Rob Inglis narration of The Hobbit , and probably others which I know nothing about. --Imladrien

02-28-2003, 08:36 AM	#7
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	The BBC dramatisation is very good - its mono as it was originally braodcast in 1967. There are some very clever, funny, moments in it (for instance, at the end, when Gandalf & Balin are visiting Bilbo at the end, Balin points out to Gandalf that Bilbo is writing a book & Gandalf mutters 'He'll never get a publisher!) Downside is some very odd pronunciations -Torin, Tror, Train, as opposed to Thorin, Thror, Thrain. But overall a good romp. Brain Sibley, the guy who adapted LotR for the BBC has also done adaptations of Smith, Niggle, Giles & the Bombadil/Barrow Downs episode he missed out of his LotR radio adaptation. All on cd in a set called 'Tales from the Perilous Realm' - most of them are good, but the adaptation of Smith (probably my favorite of Tolkien's stories) is quite bad. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."