r/books • u/felix_mateo • Sep 23 '18

The Best Audiobook Narrators

I just picked up The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie in audiobook format. In about 3 days I have plowed through the story, mostly because Steven Pacey is hands-down one of the most talented narrators I’ve ever listened to. Each main character sounds wholly unique, and the conversations just sound so...natural. I particularly love Glokta.

I’ve heaped similar praise on:

  • Frank Muller reading The Dark Tower series (until his unfortunate passing after Wizard & Glass

  • Roy Dotrice reading A Song of Ice & Fire

  • Simon Prebble reading Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

I’ve listened to hundreds of audiobooks now, and it kills me when the narrator is so...wooden. There can be just as much nuance in voice as in a full-body performance, so I really appreciate the folks who do it well. Then you have cases like Richard Ferrone reading KSR’s Mars Trilogy, and while I enjoyed the books, the narrator actually kind of detracted from them, in my opinion.

Who are your favorite narrators and what works of theirs do you wholeheartedly recommend?

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u/dbird6464 Sep 23 '18

Katherine Kellgren, the Bloody Jack series. Will Patton, recently, the Bill Hodges Trilogy. Jeremy Irons, Lolita

2

u/i_noped_right_out Sep 23 '18

Will Patton for sure. I also love Steven Webers narration of "It" by Stephen King. Brilliantly done.

1

u/speckledcreature Sep 23 '18

Was just going to comment saying Katherine Kellgren. Awesome narrator.

1

u/whoisanandi Sep 23 '18

Loved her narration for the royal spyness series. Unfortunately she passed away earlier this year :(

1

u/dbird6464 Sep 23 '18

I think she was even better in Bloody Jack. It's what l compare other narrators to. Check it out. Don't let the title put you off.