The Audio versus the actual Book

[xLORDSNOWx]

This may be sacrilegious to the avid readers, but i've only listened to the series via audio books and love Roy Detrice and will be highly disappointed if Robert Lee or another narrator has to complete the series. (even though it is mentioned that Roy will be coming back) How will his voice and/or health hold up, not to mention GRRM's in the years to come. I'm sure Roy Detrice agreed to be the narrator with the thoughts of working with him in 2006 like originally planned (Does Roy Detrice and GRRM have an open contract?)

P.S. I read (listened to) the first four books last year, i didnt have any waiting time in between, until now. How long does it take for the audio version to be released in conjunction with the release of the actual book. It's so much easier for me in my busy life to listen on the way to work, etc, than sit down with a book.

 

[Boaz]

This is a topic for The Imp.

 

[The Imp]

This may be sacrilegious to the avid readers, but i've only listened to the series via audio books and love Roy Detrice and will be highly disappointed if Robert Lee or another narrator has to complete the series. (even though it is mentioned that Roy will be coming back) How will his voice and/or health hold up, not to mention GRRM's in the years to come. I'm sure Roy Detrice agreed to be the narrator with the thoughts of working with him in 2006 like originally planned (Does Roy Detrice and GRRM have an open contract?)

P.S. I read (listened to) the first four books last year, i didnt have any waiting time in between, until now. How long does it take for the audio version to be released in conjunction with the release of the actual book. It's so much easier for me in my busy life to listen on the way to work, etc, than sit down with a book.

Sorry if this response is late. My computer is dead, thanks to Windows, and I'm writing this on my old machine.

Sacriligious? IMHO, anyone who HASN'T listened to the audiobooks is missing out big time. I think that ABs provide a richer reading experience and are a level better than print books in the same way that TV is better than raido. All of the ABs are unabridged, but have the added benefit of having a great voice actor (in the case of the first 3 books) adding life to the text by giving each character a different voice.

Roy did an azmaing job with ADOT, ACOK and ASOS, but was contractually obligeted to another project at the time AFFC was being produced, and couldn't do that book. Lee is an OK reader, but Roy set a standard that was so high that EVERYONE who had read the first 3 books was majorly upset wiith his reading.There was at leadt one web petition asking that the book be re-recorded by Roy.

Roy will be 87 years old this coming May, so if he reads ADWD it may be his last one, unless GRRM can crank out the rest in a few years. I don't know of him being retired, but 87 is getting up there, and even if he's in great shape................

As for the time the AB will come out, I'd expect the release to be nearly simultaneous. The Harry Potter books came out on the day of release, , at least the least 3 did. I'd expect the same for ADWD.

Hope this helped.

 

[xLORDSNOWx]

Sorry if this response is late. My computer is dead, thanks to Windows, and I'm writing this on my old machine.

Sacriligious? IMHO, anyone who HASN'T listened to the audiobooks is missing out big time. I think that ABs provide a richer reading experience and are a level better than print books in the same way that TV is better than raido. All of the ABs are unabridged, but have the added benefit of having a great voice actor (in the case of the first 3 books) adding life to the text by giving each character a different voice.

Roy did an azmaing job with ADOT, ACOK and ASOS, but was contractually obligeted to another project at the time AFFC was being produced, and couldn't do that book. Lee is an OK reader, but Roy set a standard that was so high that EVERYONE who had read the first 3 books was majorly upset wiith his reading.There was at leadt one web petition asking that the book be re-recorded by Roy.

Roy will be 87 years old this coming May, so if he reads ADWD it may be his last one, unless GRRM can crank out the rest in a few years. I don't know of him being retired, but 87 is getting up there, and even if he's in great shape................

As for the time the AB will come out, I'd expect the release to be nearly simultaneous. The Harry Potter books came out on the day of release, , at least the least 3 did. I'd expect the same for ADWD.

Hope this helped.

Nope, your response was right on time, and thanks for the information. I did not know Roy was that old. How old is George? Wait, i don't know if i really want to know, that might really scare me.

It's funny because the only George RR Martin book i have physically read was "The Sworn Sword" which had the graphic illustrations by Marvel. (not very long, and almost finished the whole story in one sitting)

Yes, i agree totally. Obviously, if i had to i would read the book, but would much prefer listening to the audio book for all of the reasons you've stated above. It's good to hear that the AB should be released simultaneous, so i wont have to wait or purchase the book (even though i'll more than likely buy the whole series in book form (Hard Cover) with hopes of running into him for autographs)

 

[southron sword]

Ive heard the audio for AGOT. Id have preferred if there were a few diferent voices, just to change things up. When I hear Tyrion, then Cercei, and they sound similar they meld in my mind to form one ugly looking lady. But other than that, the AB was alright. I prefer to read though.

 

[The Imp]

GRRM is 61 BTW/ I think his birthday was back in October or so. That's not old by today's standards, and for me, his apparent love for food is more troubling than years.

 

[chairface]

I've read through the books twice, and listened to the audio versions once. I have to agree with SS about having a few different people voice the characters. This isn't a failing on Roy's part - I think it's pretty much impossible for one person to come up with a good and distinctive voice for all those different characters.

This would probably also help with some of the small inconsistencies in the voicing - like Ser Rodrik going from "strong, tough knight" to "dottering old man". Again, it's just got to be difficult to remember what kind of voice you've chosen for a character.

 

[Interference]

I've only ever had one audio book, but I listen to a lot of readings on the radio and I'm afraid I just find myself criticising the performance and thinking how I'd have read it.

Your head is the best actor when it comes to reading - Martin Jarvis notwithstanding

 

[The Imp]

I've read through the books twice, and listened to the audio versions once. I have to agree with SS about having a few different people voice the characters. This isn't a failing on Roy's part - I think it's pretty much impossible for one person to come up with a good and distinctive voice for all those different characters.

This would probably also help with some of the small inconsistencies in the voicing - like Ser Rodrik going from "strong, tough knight" to "dottering old man". Again, it's just got to be difficult to remember what kind of voice you've chosen for a character.

If I was going to find fault with Roy I'd also say that his Tyrion in AGOT is very different from what it ultimately evolves into, but, his overall job is amazing/ I rank him up there with Frank Mueller, which is saying a lot. I've been reading ABs almost exclusively for the past 10-12 years, and no one compares to these guys IMO. If you want an idea of how good Roy really is, listen to Robert Lee do AFFC so badly that you won't want to finish the book.

Maybe having bad eyesight has made me more sensitive to differences that others might not notice. When I'm watching a movie, I can very often know the name of the actor by hearing their voice, and not really recognize them until later. Most often I can tell which character it is that Roy is reading before you could be sure if you were reading the print edition. Anyway, to each their own I guess. For me, out of necessity, I do the ABs and love them, although I starting using them when I was still able to drive. I used to almost commute between Massachusetts and New York City, and ABs made long rides on quiet highways enjoyable rather than boring.

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

I'll start off by saying that I haven't listened to any audiobook versions of GRRM's work so I can't comment on that.

Speaking more widely I haven't really listened to many audiobooks anyway and I found that the ones I did, didn't really add to the experience in any way and I found myself frustrated with the pace of some of them as they speak a lot slower than I can read.

I'm sure there are some wonderful audiobooks out there but if I had to listen to that sort of format, I'd prefer it in the form of a radio play, rather than some sonorous voice slowly reciting the whole thing.

There was a wonderful send up of audiobooks in a really old episode of the Simpsons where he thinks he has 24 hours to live and listens to the audiobook version of the bible...

 

[chairface]

I think we're in agreement, Imp - Roy does do a fantastic job. The best that could reasonably be expected, I think it's fair to say.

And I really did have to grit my teeth through John Lee.

 

[The Imp]

I think we're in agreement, Imp - Roy does do a fantastic job. The best that could reasonably be expected, I think it's fair to say.

And I really did have to grit my teeth through John Lee.

Right, John Lee. I think I said Peter Lee above. The truth is, BRUCE Lee could have done a better job if he was still alive

 

[southron sword]

What about Christopher Lee?

 

[xLORDSNOWx]

God Lee! That's enough!

 

[C Of K]

And then there's Robert Edward Lee. Son of Henry Light Horse Harry Lee.

Roy did a great job reading. For some reason he did read Theon differently than he did most other characters. He didn't use an accent for him, but there was something in the rythm of the Theon chapters that was different. Something in his voice that let you know Theon wasn't so smart as he thought himself to be. Anyway, it turned out great.

 

[TPA]

Difference between Dotrice and Lee

Dotrice: Gravely gruff voices for tough guys, world looks warlike and bleak as it should, his voice lends itself well to the mood.

Lee: All characters are off on a "jolly good advencha". That old cliche fantasy deep tone voice "Well met good sirs!" I cannot stand that crap.

 

[xLORDSNOWx]

Difference between Dotrice and Lee

Dotrice: Gravely gruff voices for tough guys, world looks warlike and bleak as it should, his voice lends itself well to the mood.

Lee: All characters are off on a "jolly good advencha". That old cliche fantasy deep tone voice "Well met good sirs!" I cannot stand that crap.

I agree. However, i think Lee did a good enough job with Davos. When Dotrice first introduced Davos in ACOK i thought he sounded too jolly. Both seem to make the characters sound much older than they are. Nevertheless, Dotrice is hands down the right man for the job.

 

[No One]

I agree. However, i think Lee did a good enough job with Davos. When Dotrice first introduced Davos in ACOK i thought he sounded too jolly. Both seem to make the characters sound much older than they are. Nevertheless, Dotrice is hands down the right man for the job.

I'm not a fan of audio books but I did recently try both the Lee and Dotrice readings. Neither version sat well with me. I much preferred what little I heard of Dotrice but thought both versions sounded too much of a "jolly good advencha" as TPA said.

When I listened to Lee, I thought his Joffrey belonged in the three scrooges routine; with Dotrice, Ned wasn't nearly sombre enough and Syrio Forel sounded Irish rather than of a mediterranean/middle eastern slant. That's just not right.

When it comes down to it, there's a lot of room for subjective reading and we all tailor the mood of the narrative and the manner of the characters and their speech to our own preferences. I'd prefer a much more 'toned down' version of the narrative.

Imp - have you thought of trying e-books? that way you could magnify the text to whatever suits you. I did a cursory search and found a site called EbookMall where you can order at least the first three books and i daresay the fourth. They seem like great value too - for instance AGOT & ACOK seem to be available for a total of 5 dollars.

I don't really know the site though, so you may want to look at it yourself or find another.

I'll post a link (I can't recall just now if we're supposed to link to outside sites so I'll remove it as soon as I find out otherwise). In the meantime, just click below:

EbookMall

 

[The Imp]

I'm not a fan of audio books but I did recently try both the Lee and Dotrice readings. Neither version sat well with me. I much preferred what little I heard of Dotrice but thought both versions sounded too much of a "jolly good advencha" as TPA said.

When I listened to Lee, I thought his Joffrey belonged in the three scrooges routine; with Dotrice, Ned wasn't nearly sombre enough and Syrio Forel sounded Irish rather than of a mediterranean/middle eastern slant. That's just not right.

When it comes down to it, there's a lot of room for subjective reading and we all tailor the mood of the narrative and the manner of the characters and their speech to our own preferences. I'd prefer a much more 'toned down' version of the narrative.

Imp - have you thought of trying e-books? that way you could magnify the text to whatever suits you. I did a cursory search and found a site called EbookMall where you can order at least the first three books and i daresay the fourth. They seem like great value too - for instance AGOT & ACOK seem to be available for a total of 5 dollars.

I don't really know the site though, so you may want to look at it yourself or find another.

I'll post a link (I can't recall just now if we're supposed to link to outside sites so I'll remove it as soon as I find out otherwise). In the meantime, just click below:

EbookMall

Thanks for doing that research for me. I greatly appreciate it. To be honest, the only thing I might consider doing would be a must read that sin't and will never be available on audio. For instance, if ADWD wasn't going to be available I'd sit down with my Mr. McGoo reading glasses and a bottle of Tylenol and work through it. Maybe I'd talk my wife into reading it to me That would be one way to get her to read ASOIAF. Part of why I like audio is becuase I can read while I'm doing other things, such as walking to the bus, ridong the bus, eating at a restaurant if I'm dining alone, even while playing certain video games. I also like the added elements that audio adds. I will definitely check that site though, and thanks again.

I had no problem with Roy's Ned btw. Syrio's Irish accent never bothered me because I didn't realize during my first reading that he shouldn't have sounded that way, and since I was used to it, I was never bothered when I did know better.

Did Lee re-record some of the earlier books? My recollection is that he only did AFFC.

 

[No One]

Imp - It would be interesting to hear your comparisons between the two mediums if you ever did read the books, but I appreciate that it's a matter of overwhelming convenience for you.

Re: Ned. I'm sure Sean Bean's delivery in the series will be closer to how I imagined his voice and Braavosi has always struck me as being directly equivalent to eastern european/ middle-eastern nations. Then again, no two readings, actual or audio, are ever going to be the same for different people. In effect, there are as many versions of the books as there are people who have read or listened to them.

And thinking back on it, you may be right about Lee - I'm not 100% on whether or not the first version I tried was Lee, but thought it was. I could be wrong.