Review of The Prestige by Christopher Priest

SFFaudio Audiobook Review

Fantasy Audiobook - The Prestige by Christopher PriestThe Prestige
By Christopher Priest; Read by Simon Vance
10 CDs – 12 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Published: 2006
ISBN: 0786168412
Themes: / Science Fiction / Magic / Magicians / 19th Century / Electricity / World Fantasy Award /

It’s difficult to say how long it’s been since I’ve been so enthralled with an audiobook as I was with this unabridged version of the World Fantasy Award-winning The Prestige. In very few words, the production was excellent. Simon Vance narrated, and since the story is primarily told through journal entries of the two main characters, he was basically called upon to portray these two dark, intricate magicians. He unreservedly succeeded – his performance was stellar. Because of his subtle care, the surprises of the novel were enhanced by his reading. And there are many surprises.

The main characters are late 19th century stage magicians (or “prestidigitators”, as they call themselves) named Alfred Borden and Rupert Angier. They perform in London, but at the height of each magician’s popularity, they tour America and Europe. But not together. No, these two guys are mortal enemies, out to better the other by whatever means necessary. Each one in turn performs a trick on stage that seems impossible to the other, and their personal quests are rooted in finding out how the other does it, and then to perform it better.

The novel is filled with fascinating detail about these magicians and their tricks. But even more interesting are the journals themselves. It becomes quickly apparent that the journal writers are not reliable. Christopher Priest was masterful in the way he made sure that the journal writers were speaking squarely from their own point of view, which was not always technically true; rather, like journal writers everywhere, they would write something about their own motives that justified events to themselves. The result is an intricate web that is slowly unraveled throughout the book. It’s an audiobook that merits a second listen; knowing what I know now, having finished, a second listen would reveal the breadcrumbs I missed along the way. I suspect I left several on the trail.

Also prominent is Priest’s portrayal of life in the 19th century. The values, the language, and the daily life of the characters all feel accurate, though I am no 19th century historian. The world’s reaction to the advent of electricity is a fascinating example. I couldn’t help but to think of modern parallels with the advent of the internet.

At first glance, this novel is fantasy. It even won the World Fantasy Award in 1996. But is this a fantasy novel? It really isn’t. Yes, there are magicians here, but they are stage magicians. As such, their tricks have perfectly reasonable explanations. Each of the main characters do specific remarkable things, but the reasons given for the way these things work are not magical, but scientific. More, I will not say, because this is a novel to be discovered for yourself, not to be read about. After I finished the book, I watched the recent film version. Be assured that there are enough major differences that a listen to this book will be a different (though similar) and very worthwhile experience – worthwhile enough to be the latest addition to SFFaudio’s Essential List.

Audio Sample: LINK

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

H.G. Wells Month – The Man Who Could Work Miracles by H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells Month

Podcast - Mister Ron's BasementMr. Ron of the Mister Ron’s Basement podcast, is one of most experienced podcasters in all of podcasting. He has produced more than 700 shows in more than two years! His is a daily podcast of funny stuff from the public domain. Not much of it has been SFF audio related, but there is an H.G. Wells story from way back in his archives. Here’s how Mr. Ron describes his contribution to our H.G. Wells Month…

Episode #175 of Mister Ron’s Basement is H. G. Wells’ 1899 story, The Man Who Could Work Miracles, which Wells himself rewrote as a screenplay for the wonderful 1936 Movie of the same name starring Roland Young. The musical intro and outro is also special – selections from a 1912 recording of ‘I’m The Guy’ penned by legendary cartoonist Rube Goldberg.

The Man Who Could Work Miracles by H.G. WellsThe Man Who Could Work Miracles
By H.G. Wells; Read by Ron Evry
1 MP3 – Approx. 37 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Podcaster: Mister Ron’s Basement
Podcast: October 2005
A man who vigorously asserts the impossibility of miracles, suddenly discovers that he can perform them! After being thrown out of a bar for what is thought to be a trick, he tests his powers, they work! Worried, he seeks advice from the local clergyman with hilarious results.

You can subscribe to the podcast, and visit the basement daily, via this feed:

http://slapcast.com/rss/revry/index.xml

Commentary: Radio Drama & Dystopia

SFFaudio Commentary

Exploring Dystopia - Radio Dystopia

“The purpose of Exploring Dystopia is not to kill time, play with web editors, stimulate the ego, build a virtual monument or something like that. The raison d’être of Exploring Dystopia is simply to promote dystopian fiction, thus stimulating people to think for themselves.”

-Niclas Hermansson (editor of Exploring Dystopia)

And that’s just what you’ll find on the Exploring Dystopia website. It is a super-detailed, highly engaging exploration of the seamier side of utopia. You’ll find endless resources at the site, but I found myself enthralled by one particular section:

This section is solely comprised of a 1300 word essay entitled “Voices In The Night: An Introduction To Dystopias In Radio Drama.” The essay is written by Jeff Dickson, the master behind The OTR Plot Spot. You’ll find it a terrific study of both the history and the power of dystopian fiction in the Radio Drama form. Go check it out!

BBC7 has C.L. Moore’s Shambleau

Online Audio

BBC 7's The 7th Dimension BBC Radio 7 has an new project Saturday, a reading of C.L. Moore’s classic Shambleau! The story was produced by Gemma Jenkins as a commission for the 7th Dimension. This is the most famous of Moore’s famous pulp adventure Northwest Smith stories. Shambleau was Moore’s first professional sale, it first appeared in the November, 1933 issue of Weird Tales and the sale netted her a cool $100.00. The hero of the story is Northwest Smith, a spaceship pilot and smuggler, who’ll remind you of both Indiana Jones and Han Solo both. Smith lives in a future in which humanity has colonized the solar system. The relationship of the planetary primitives, on these planets, to the earth colonists, is analogous to the situation between the Native Indians of the Americas or the Aboriginies of Australia to European colonials. Smith is a ruthless, self-serving, and cynical anti-hero with a core of goodness. “Shambleau” mixes themes of sexuality and addiction during Smith’s encounter with a strange female alien. Details follow…

Science Fiction Audiobooks - Shambleau by C.L. MooreShambleau
By C.L. Moore; Read by; Read by Elizabeth McGovern
3 Radio Broadcasts – Approx. 90 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC 7 / 7th Dimension
Broadcast: Saturday April 21st, 28th and May 5th at 6.30pm and 12.30am
An adventure set on Mars, bounty-hunter Northwest Smith lands himself in trouble when he comes to the aid of a beautiful young woman who is being attacked by an angry mob.

NOTE: Those outside the UK can get all of the above using the BBC7 Listen Again service for up to 6 days following the broadcasts.

BBC WorldService has Kenyan Science Fiction

SFFaudio OnlineAudio

BBC WorldserviceBBC World Service’s African Performance contest for 2006 was won by a Kenyan teacher and columnist John Rugoiyo Gichuki. His 2006 entry, Eternal Forever, is Science Fiction! This guy won for 2004 as well (though that one wasn’t an SF play as far as I can tell). Hopefully there will be more Speculative Fiction entries for the 2007 contest. The good news, you can listen to the 2006 winner and the runner ups (none else are SF) HERE. Details on Eternal Forever itself follow…

Eternal Forever
By John Rugoiyo Gichuki; Performed by a FULL CAST
1 REALAUDIO File – Approx. 30 Minutes [RADIO DRAMA]
BROADCASTER: BBC World Service
BROADCAST: April 2006
Set in the year 2410, in the United States of Africa, it is the tale of Kwabena whose wife and son have mysteriously disappeared. His desperate search to find them brings him into contact with a scientist, Dr. Chishedi, who has helped to create a top secret parallel world into which his family have been transported. Kwabena is given the opportunity to join them in this unknown world, but it’s a big decision to make as it will change his life forever.

Via [JMX and his Silent Universe]

Canadia: 2056 is airing! Catch it now!

SFFaudio OnlineAudio

Canadia 2056Canadia: 2056 episode 1 has already aired in Eastern Canada. It is, at the time of this post, airing in Central Canada and will begin airing in Alberta and British Columbia very shortly. If you haven’t already heard it, there’s still an opportunity. Click on over to the Streaming Radio Map for CBC Radio One. Click on an Alberta feed or a British Columbia feed to catch the last two original episode airings.

Canadia: 2056 airs this Friday at 11:30 AM (Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern) on CBC Radio One.