Audible.com: Interviews with the people behind The Copper Bracelet

Aural Noir: Online Audio

The Copper BraceletAudible.com has two interviews of interest (available to Audible.com account holders). Both concern a rather unusual audiobook called The Copper Bracelet. It’s the sequel to The Chopin Manuscript – an audiobook created as a collaboration for the International Thriller Writers group. Here’s the novel’s description:

A peaceful picnic in the French countryside explodes in violence. A mysterious assassin hisses a deadly threat. And events are set in motion that could propel India and Pakistan down the road to nuclear confrontation.

Two years after the events of the “Audiobook of the Year” THE CHOPIN MANUSCRIPT, former war crimes investigator Harold Middleton and his Volunteers once again must crack a secretive conspiracy that not only threatens their lives, but the stability of the world. Their race against time will take them from London to the U.S. to Russia and beyond. And at the heart of it all is one question: what is the secret of the Copper Bracelet?

THE COPPER BRACELET is written by Jeffery Deaver, Gayle Lynds, David Hewson, Jim Fusilli, John Gilstrap, Joseph Finder, Lisa Scottoline, David Corbett, Linda Barnes, Jenny Siler, David Liss, P.J. Parrish, Brett Battles, Lee Child, Jon Land, James Phelan under the direction of project editor Jim Fusilli.

This is a serial novel with multiple authors, each author taking a chapter, continuing the story. I remember a similar audiobook, years ago, called Naked Came The Manatee. The most memorable thing about it was getting to see all the different writing styles.

Here are the two files of interest:

1. “Exclusive Interview with Alfred Molina” (the narrator)

2. “Authors Roundtable Interview with Jeffery Deaver, Lee Child, David Hewson & Jim Fusilli”

You can get both of these downloads (as well as the first chapter of the novel) HERE.

[thanks to tamahome02000]

Posted by Jesse Willis

Five Free Favourites #12 – Sherlock Holmes Pastiche

Aural Noir: Online Audio

Five Free Favourites

Looking for more Sherlock Holmes pastiche? Indeed, so are we! In that vein, look what a set of beautiful gems I found over on RadioArchive.cc

Cult Holmes

Poking around the internet I also turned up one viable “RealAudio” link from 1995 – using this, and some elementary HTML skill, I managed to reconstruct the links to the remainder of the files. I shall, perhaps, write a brief monograph on this process one day. If you’re looking for MP3 versions I suggest you visit RadioArchive.cc and do a search.

1.
BBC 7 - The Spy's Retirement by Jon Courtenay GrimwoodThe Spy’s Retirement
By Jon Courtenay Grimwood; Read by Andrew Sachs
1 Broadcast – Approx. 28 Minutes [UNABRIDGED?]
Broadcaster: BBC Radio 7
Broadcast: 2005
How did Holmes and Watson meet?
|REALAUDIO|


2.
BBC Radio 7 - The Lady Downstairs by Christopher FowlerThe Lady Downstairs
By Christopher Fowler; Read by Hannah Gordon
1 Broadcast – Approx. 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED?]
Broadcaster: BBC Radio 7
Broadcast: 2005
Holmes’ landlady has picked up a few tricks over the years.
|REALAUDIO|


3.
BBC Radio 7 - The Deer Stalker by Paul CornellThe Deer Stalker
By Paul Cornell; Read by Andrew Sachs
1 Broadcast – Approx. 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED?]
Broadcaster: BBC Radio 7
Broadcast: 2005
Holmes finds a most unusual weapon.
|REALAUDIO|


4.
BBC Radio 7 - A Shambles In Belgravia by Kim NewmanA Shambles In Belgravia
By Kim Newman; Read by Andrew Sachs
1 Broadcast – Approx. 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED?]
Broadcaster: BBC Radio 7
Broadcast: 2005
Professor Moriarty helps out a lady.
|REALAUDIO|


5.
BBC 7 - The Adventure Of The Lost World by Dominic GreenThe Adventure of the Lost World
By Dominic Green; Read by Andrew Sachs
1 Broadcast – Approx. 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED?]
Broadcaster: BBC Radio 7
Broadcast: 2005
Holmes investigates a series of gruesome trombonist murders.
|REALAUDIO|

Posted by Jesse Willis

Recent Arrival: The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

SFFaudio Recent Arrivals

Fantasy Audiobook - The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon SandersonThe Gathering Storm – Book Twelve of The Wheel of Time
By Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Read by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer
26 CDs – 34.5 Hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9781593977672

Here’s the first of the final three novels of the massive Wheel of Time series. Kate Reading and Michael Kramer continue narrating, which is great news.

Tarmon Gai’don, the Last Battle, looms. And mankind is not ready.

The final volume of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, was partially written by Robert Jordan before his untimely passing in 2007. Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of the Mistborn books, was chosen by Jordan’s editor—his wife, Harriet McDougal—to complete the final book. The scope and size of the volume was such that it could not be contained in a single book, and so Tor proudly presents The Gathering Storm as the first of three novels that will make up A Memory of Light. This short sequence will complete the struggle against the Shadow, bringing to a close a journey begun almost twenty years ago and marking the conclusion of the Wheel of Time, the preeminent fantasy epic of our era.

In this epic novel, Robert Jordan’s international bestselling series begins its dramatic conclusion. Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, struggles to unite a fractured network of kingdoms and alliances in preparation for the Last Battle. As he attempts to halt the Seanchan encroachment northward—wishing he could form at least a temporary truce with the invaders—his allies watch in terror the shadow that seems to be growing within the heart of the Dragon Reborn himself.

Egwene al’Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, is a captive of the White Tower and subject to the whims of their tyrannical leader. As days tick toward the Seanchan attack she knows is imminent, Egwene works to hold together the disparate factions of Aes Sedai while providing leadership in the face of increasing uncertainty and despair. Her fight will prove the mettle of the Aes Sedai, and her conflict will decide the future of the White Tower—and possibly the world itself.

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Review of Genesis by Bernard Beckett

SFFaudio Review

Genesis by Bernard BeckettGenesis
By Bernard Beckett; Read by Becky Wright
4 CDs – 4 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9781423381501
Themes: / Science Fiction / Philosophy / Artificial Intelligence / Freedom /

Anax is a student who wants to enter the prestigious Academy and who is undergoing her final exam. A grueling oral presentation of several hours long given before examiners who conduct question and answer sessions is the device used by Bernard Beckett to show us Anax’s world. Anax’s presentation is about an almost mythological figure of history, Adam Forde. Adam lived in a time when the outside world suffered from catastrophic plagues which were responded to by building a wall around their island republic and shooting anyone who tried to break through. When he breaks one of the republic’s most sacred laws, Adam is put on trial. It is Adam’s crime and trial that Anax analyzes.

As Anax takes us further into Adam’s story we gradually become engrossed in questions of personal freedom versus safety and quality of life that arise. Beckett pushes this question further toward the end where Adam becomes engaged in a life-and-death game of wits that turns on the differences between mechanical intelligence and human intelligence. As Adam struggles to find a defining difference we become involved as well in considering what it is that makes us human.

The examiners are philosophers which, as Plato imagined in The Republic, are the rulers of Anax’s society. The emphasis on philosophy in the question and answer session is anything but dry. Anax is forced to push her knowledge and logic past any limits she has previously imagined in order to perform adequately. Ultimately Anax is forced to the same sorts of examinations that we have been doing through the story, which culminate in an interesting twist.

Becky Wright’s narration perfectly points up the elegant prose and superb style of writing. She does an excellent job especially since there is not a lot of action in the novel and most of it is told through conversation or Anax’s presentation of her story.

This is a short audiobook at only four hours long. Yet it is a gripping four hours. Highly recommended.

Posted by Julie D.

Recent Arrival: Return to the Hundred Acre Wood

SFFaudio Recent Arrivals

Fantasy Audiobook - Return the to Hundred Acre Wood by David BenedictusReturn to the Hundred Acre Wood
By David Benedictus; Read by Jim Dale
3 CDs – 3 Hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9780143145073

It was eighty years ago, on the publication of The House at Pooh Corner, when Christopher Robin said good-bye to Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. Now they are all back in new adventures, for the first time approved by the Trustees of the Pooh Properties. This is a companion volume that truly captures the style of A. A. Milne – a worthy sequel to The House at Pooh Corner and Winnie-the-Pooh.
 


 
Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Review of Star Trek by Alan Dean Foster

SFFaudio Review

Science Fiction Audiobook - Star Trek by Alan Dean FosterStar Trek
By Alan Dean Foster, Based on the movie, written by Roberto Orci and Alex Hurtzman
Read by Zachary Quinto
7 CDs – 8 Hours – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio
Published: 2009
ISBN: 9780743598347
Themes: / Science Fiction / Time travel /

|HEAR AN EXCERPT – Kirk on Trial|

Star Trek is dead. Long live Star Trek! Like lots of others, I went to the film expecting to hate it, but came away liking it, even though it was not the Star Trek I knew. In fact, the film pretty much killed Star Trek as I knew it. A bad thing? I’d use the word “unfortunate” because I look at Star Trek and see a huge missed opportunity for intelligent television. I don’t see any thoughtful writing in the franchise’s future – we didn’t see much of it in Voyager and Enterprise either. It had nearly turned into every other show, and this movie just finished the job.

Yet, it wasn’t a bad movie. It was very much a product of the Hollywood Blockbuster machine. Danger, action, sex, witty dialogue, big special effects, some things that make zero sense… it’s all here. It was exciting, it looked great, I liked the actors, and I liked recognizing things that they threw in there from the Original Series. It was fun.

But I’m not here to review the movie. This is Alan Dean Foster’s novelization of the film, read by Zachary Quinto, who portrayed Spock. Back in the 1970’s, Alan Dean Foster wrote one of the best novelizations I’ve run across – Alien. I must’ve read it three or four times as a kid. And he’s no stranger to Star Trek – he wrote the Star Trek Logs which were novelizations of the episodes of the Animated Series. He did a great job with this book, too.

Zachary Quinto also did a great job narrating. The voices are new, even if the characters weren’t. Quinto was an inspired choice to play Mr. Spock, and of course plays that character in the reading as it was on the screen. The others weren’t exactly attempts at mimicry, but rather more subtle changes in cadence. With Chekov and Scotty, he did the accents, and is real good at both of them. An excellent performance, throughout.

In eight hours of unabridged narration there is nothing here that deviates in any significant way from the movie. It just takes longer, but that’s not a bad thing. You come away with what a novel gives you that movies can’t: the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters. Also, there are some scenes from Kirk and Spock’s childhoods that weren’t in the movie, and other things scattered through the book.

So that’s the new Trek. We’ll see what happens from here.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson