Discworld Audio Books

[Zephyr]

Does anyone listen to the audio books?

I have several of Stephen Briggs audiobooks on my iPod. I've got a couple of the Nigel Planer ones, but for some reason Nigel can't hold my interest for very long, and his voices aren't quite as animated as Stephen Briggs. Unfortunately there's not a lot of Stephen Briggs available to the US market right now from my limited observations.

[Tonyblack]

I have a few of them - Thud! (SB), Wintersmith (SB), Lords and Ladies (NP), Feet of Clay (NP) and a couple of the abridged ones read by Tony Robinson.

I have to say that I'm not a great fan of audiobooks for the simple reason that I tend to get distracted and can only really enjoy them if I'm doing something that doesn't require me to think. So cycling, ironing and travelling. I couldn't just sit down and listen to one though.

And Stephen Briggs is my favourite so far.

[Zephyr]

It's my nighttime thing, before sleep.

I have very poor vision and at the end of the day my eyes are tired. It's tough to read but I'm not ready to sleep. So I lay in bed in the dark and listen to the books.

(I can never drift off when the Nac Mac Feegle are talking, though. Hardest I've laughed in a long time was recently as I listened to the Feegles arguing with each other when they were masquerading as human body parts in Hat Full of Sky. Stephen's translation of that is nothing short of brilliant.)

I'd very much like to listen to Unseen Academicals and read it at the same time. I've only listened to the book so far, and there are a few things I don't quite get but I bet reading and listening at the same time would bring a new element to the experience.

Something for a rainy day, it would be quite nice.

[Tonyblack]

Well, if you have any questions about UA, just ask. I've had to explain quite a few bits of it to Sharlene.

Seriously, ask - some of the football references are a bit odd if you aren't into soccer.

[raisindot]

I'm listening to Nigel Planer read "Carpe Jugulum."

While I do prefer his Nanny Ogg and Granny Wax renditions over Briggs's, Planer's Agnes is completely soppy and I get confused with his reading of the vampires. The "son" has a arisocratic voice that sounds like it should be the father's, and the mother's voice is much too "old" sounding. Also, his Igor is horrible, sounding more like a monster than the urbane, sarcastic, sophisticated and quite condescending servants that Briggs's voicings makes them.

J-I-B

[Zephyr]

I can't listen to Nigel Planer...I had his reading of Guards! Guards! on my iPod and honestly couldn't listen for more than five minutes at a time without losing complete interest. Halfway through I deleted it from my iPod. The sad thing is, Guards! Guards! is my favorite book - I figured it'd be a great one. Silly me.

In my opinion, one of Stephen Briggs' masterpieces is Monsterous Regiment. If you ever get the chance, listen to that one. I never tire of hearing it.

[Cheery]

Let's see... I've got The Fifth Elephant, Jingo, The Truth and The Amazing Maurice on my I pod, all unabridged (Hooray for gift cards), Night Watch on CD, also unabridged, Guards Guards, Making Money, Wintersmith and Going Postal (signed) all abridged and on CD.
I had to get used to Nigel Planer, but after a while I really liked him. I think Stephen Briggs is my favourite (Especially how he does all the watch characters. That definatly scores points ) Not so sure with Tony Robinson... Some of his voices are absulutely funny and brilliant, but sometimes things just sound wrong.

[raisindot]

In my opinion, one of Stephen Briggs' masterpieces is Monsterous Regiment. If you ever get the chance, listen to that one. I never tire of hearing it.

I have MR on my "to listen" list. It's my least favorite "modern" DW book, but I'm going to give it another try on audiobook, since Briggs can make even the lesser novels sound better.

J-I-B

[Tonyblack]

Has anyone heard Equal Rites read by Celia Imrie?

[Cheery]

Has anyone heard Equal Rites read by Celia Imrie?

Not really. I listened to a short preview (is that the right word?) on I Tunes store but I to me she sounded like she'd been reading it to a small child. I wasn't brave enough to pay 30 Francs in case I would be very disappointed.

Have you heard it?

[Cheery]

Oh, and has anyone listened to The Amazing Maurice lately (Stephen Briggs)?

I don't know if he did it on purpose, but I've found some similarities with other characters. Dangerous Beans sounds like Carrot, Darktan sounds like Vimes and there are two watchmen who sound like Nobby and Colon just with an accent. If he did it on purpose I think it's a nice touch because there are also some similarities in the personalities.

[Who's Wee Dug]

Has anyone heard Equal Rites read by Celia Imrie?

Just last week Tony,I did not like her reading that much I was disappointed especially with the male voice parts I doubt if I will listen to it again,she made the witches voices too reedy.

[Zephyr]

In my opinion, one of Stephen Briggs' masterpieces is Monsterous Regiment. If you ever get the chance, listen to that one. I never tire of hearing it.

I have MR on my "to listen" list. It's my least favorite "modern" DW book, but I'm going to give it another try on audiobook, since Briggs can make even the lesser novels sound better.

J-I-B

I felt the same way until I listened to it. Reason I bought it initially was it's something like twelve hours long...I forget, but it's one of the longest unabridged audio DW books. I needed something long for travel at the time.

When it was finished, it didn't seem long enough! Briggs does bring a whole new element to the book that makes it much more enjoyable, and after that it fast became one of my favorites.

[mspanners]

I have most of them now, joined a site that claimed to have all his books available..... but failed to mention that some of the titles on their site are abridged......... Celia Imrie is diabolical as a reader, She did Two unabridged versions for the UK market and they are nearly as bad as Tony Robinson's abridged versions... seriously don't get them!

Stephen Briggs and Nigel Planer are the lads you want, Nigel is the voice of Rincewind for me and MR Briggs is Vimes!

[Zephyr]

Oh, and has anyone listened to The Amazing Maurice lately (Stephen Briggs)?

I want that one! My rats want to listen to it! Can't seem to find it on audio by Stephen Briggs in the U.S.