fantasy – Page 89

Scott Brick releasing Stephen R. Donaldson’s The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant as audiobooks

SFFaudio News

Lord Foul's Bane by Stephen R. Donaldson One of the hottest audiobook narrators in the business is Scott Brick. Brick has recently installed a home studio and has been recording some of his favorite titles – which means there’s goin g to be some very interesting news for Fantasy fans shortly. Brick’s first release, coming soon, is…

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
By Stephen R. Donaldson

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Stephen R. Donaldson. It was followed by The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, also a trilogy, and The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, a planned quartet. The main character is Thomas Covenant, a cynical writer afflicted with leprosy, shunned and despised by society, who is destined to become the heroic saviour of an alternate world – or, perhaps, only of his own sanity. Throughout six novels published between 1977 and 1983, Covenant struggles against the evil Lord Foul – “The Despiser” – who intends to break the physical universe to escape its bondage and wreak revenge upon his arch-enemy “The Creator”. Many elements of the story correspond to those of Richard Wagner’s epic “Ring Cycle”, but with inverted values.
-from Wikipedia

As to why these books, Brick had this to say:

“I’m actually putting out The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant myself, and it should be in all the usual places: audible, iTunes, eMusic, Overdrive and Net Library, as well as iAmplify and a few others. It’ll also be available on my own site, ScottBrickPresents.com. I will likely be partnering with a major publisher for [hard copy] distribution, but this is essentially self-published. I just saw that no-one was recording it and thought what a shame it would be for people to miss this series. I literally sacrificed my final grades my freshman year at UCLA because I couldn’t put this series down. Awesome, awesome books.”

UPDATE:
Scott Brick has asked I point out that the first title he will be releasing is actually Fatal Revenant, the most recent book in the series. If all goes swimmingly with it he plans on releasing the earlier titles afterwards. I’ve got my fingers crossed!

Posted by Jesse Willis

SFFaudio Challenge Title: Red Nails by Robert E. Howard COMPLETE & UNABRIDGED

SFFaudio Online Audio

Mark Kalita, the narrator for the audiobook version of Robert E. Howard’s Red Nails informs me that he has completed his challenge title! This is the third completed title in our Second Annual SFFaudio Challenge. All 7 of the 7 chapters of this novella are available for download COMPLETE and UNABRIDGED! Woohooo!

Red Nails – A Tale Of Conan
By Robert E. Howard; Read by Mark Kalita
7 MP3s – Approx. 3.5 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Broken Sea Audio Productions / Hooligan Audiobooks
Published: December 2007 – January 2008
“Red Nails, a tale featuring the legendary Conan the Barbarian, was written by Robert E. Howard and began its written serialization in the July 1936 issue of Weird Tales. This thrilling audio novella begins with pirate-adventuress Valeria of the Red Brotherhood on the run after slaying a notable brigand. She is followed by Conan and the two soon fight their way to a great, walled city inhabited by two warring peoples. The adventure seekers soon find themselves embroiled in the feud and mayhem ensues as the city’s rulers make unholy plans for the mighty Cimmerian and his feisty female companion. Listen now as an ancient evil returns from oblivion and a wicked sorceress seeks to gain immortality at the cost of our Hyborian heroes!”

Posted by Jesse Willis

Radio Tales Of The Strange & Fantastic

SFFaudio Online Audio

Radio Tales Of The Strange & Fantastic is a website devoted to “bring[ing] you stories of the supernatural and the supernormal dramatizing the fantasies and the mysteries of the unknown.” The webmaster, Rich Carlson, has as his goal a “no frills (and no ads, no pop ups, no cookies) in a single page” of the best in OTR Speculative Fiction. And that’s just what it is! Newcomers to classic science fiction, fantasy, horror and adventure radio plays and long time fans of the medium can easily locate and download some of the best examples of the art form. RToTSF links to more than 50 hours of public domain favorites. With particular focus on the well-known novel and short story writers whose speculative works reached a wider audience via radio. Featured authors include the likes of:

Poul Anderson, Isaac Asimov, Ambrose Bierce, Algernon Blackwood, Ray Bradbury, Fredric Brown, John Brunner, Arthur C. Clarke, L. Sprague de Camp, Guy de Maupassant, Arthur Conan Doyle, H. Rider Haggard, Robert A. Heinlein, Shirley Jackson, M. R. James, Fritz Leiber, Murray Leinster, H.P. Lovecraft, Archibald MacLeish, Edgar Allan Poe, Frederik Pohl, Robert Silverberg, Curt Siodmak, Carl Stephenson, Dalton Trumbo, H. Russell Wakefield, Stanley Weinbaum, H. G. Wells, Jack Vance and Roger Zelazny.

This is a site worthy of repeated visits.

Posted by Jesse Willis

Happy Public Domain Day 2008!

SFFaudio Commentary

Since the inception of the SFFaudio in 2003, and especially since the SFFaudio Challenge back in 2006, there have been many queries directed my way about copyright. I’ve had no formal training, but having a blog and getting questions about it means I’ve had to learn quite a bit about it. Copyright is a form of protection grounded in law granting original works of artistic creation protection for a set period. Various copyright laws are in force in many countries of the world. One source I’ve found for my own country is the indispensable CopyrightWatch.ca blog. As today is the first of 2008, this day marks the birth of many new public domain works. As CopyrightWatch author Wallace McLean points out “thousands, indeed millions, of creative works from the collective cultural past of our little planet and its many countries [become] Public Domain [today] in most countries of the world” That makes January 1st a birthday party of sorts! Included amongst the newly public domain works are some by notable SFF authors. Here are a few of the details from the extensive post on the blog…

In the largest bloc of countries of the world, with the majority of the world’s population, the general copyright term of life+50 expired no later than midnight this morning for the works whose author, or last-surviving of multiple authors, died in 1957. These works, which have passed out of copyright and become part of our commonly-held cultural heritage, include works of art and literature, accounts of discovery and adventure, biographies and autobiographies, scientific and philosopical treatises, film and theology, architecture and poetry; in short, products of the human mind in every medium, in every field of creativity, discovery, and endeavour.

The life+50 class of the newly-Public Domain includes:

Anglo-Irish fantasy writer Lord Dunsany

American pulp sci-fi author Ray Cummings

And many more!

The second-largest bloc in the world copyright map, with about half the countries of the life+50 universe, is the life+70 universe, which includes much of Europe (this means that works by authors, or last-surviving authors, who died in 1937 are now public domain in the life+70 countries. Authors or other creators of “works” who died in 1937) include:

American fantasy and science fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft

Scottish novelist and dramatist J.M. Barrie

And many more!

In the United States, unpublished works by the life+70 class of authors are also in the public domain as of today, joining published works by the same authors, if published before 1923. Published works by those auhors, if published after 1922, may still by under copyright in the U.S. In Canada and the United Kingdom, however, the situation is reversed. While published works by authors who died 50 or more years ago are public domain in Canada (or more than 70 years ago in the U.K.), unpublished works, such as letters and other papers, are still under copyright in Canada for works by authors who died after 1949, and in the U.K. for unpublished works by all authors, no matter how long ago they died. This anamolous class of unpublished works will not see their British Public Domain Day until January 1, 2039, or in Canada until January 1, 2049, unless and until the Parliaments of the two countries finally see fit to eliminate this confusing and culturally counterproductive bit of legislative stupidity.

…

Also entering the public domain around the world today are works of anonymous or pseudonymous authorship which were published in 1957 (or whichever other year applies according to your local copyright term for such works.)

But let us nevertheless pause to celebrate the gains that the public domain has made today, in Canada and throughout the world. It’s your past, your cultural heritage, your public domain. Promote it, celebrate it, and use it, or we will lose it.

Happy Public Domain Day 2008! If you start making audiobooks or audio dramas out of these author’s works let me know. I’ll make links!

Posted by Jesse Willis

New Releases

Friday, December 21, 2007 Jesse Willis Leave a comment

I love the smell of trilogy in the afternoon, it smells like…

The Phoenix Unchained – Book One of The Enduring Flame
By Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory; Read by William Dufris
11 CDs, 2 MP3-CDs – 13 Hours 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Tantor Audiobooks
Published: 11/12/2007
ISBN: 9781400135745 (CDs), 9781400155743 (MP3-CDs)
In this opening volume of a new epic fantasy trilogy from bestselling authors Lackey and Mallory, Harbormaster-to-be Harrier and the young nobleman Tiercel begin a marvelous journey to uncover their destinies. Along the way, they meet a charming female centaur, several snooty Elves, and the most powerful dragon their world has ever known.

Now this novel, like others by Harrison, takes its inspiration from classic movie titles…

Every Which Way But Dead
By Kim Harrison; Read by Marguerite Gavin
2 Mp3-CDs or 13 CDs – 16 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Tantor Audiobooks
Published: December 2007
EAN: 9781400154739 (MP3-CDs), 9781400104734 (CDs)
Some days, you just can’t win. Witch and former bounty hunter Rachel Morgan has managed to escape her corrupt company, survive living with a vampire, start her own runner service, and face down a vampire master. But her vampire roommate, Ivy, is off the wagon; her human boyfriend Nick is out of town indefinitely and doesn’t sound like he’s coming back, while the far-too-seductive vampire Kisten is looking way too tempting; and there’s a turf war erupting in Cincinnati’s underworld. And there’s a greater evil still. To put the vampire master behind bars and save her family, Rachel made a desperate bargain. Now there’s hell to pay—literally. For if Rachel cannot stop him, the archdemon Algaliarept will pull her into the sorcerous ever-after to forfeit her soul as his slave. Forever.

Originally written in 1966 when its author was only 17, it was published in paperback in 1980 by Manor Books, which went bankrupt shortly afterwards. It’s been out of print for 24 years. This newly expanded/re-written edition is available now in audio too…

The Morcai Battalion
By Diana Palmer; Read by Todd McLaren
1 Mp3-CD or 8 CDs – 9 Hours 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Tantor Audiobooks
Published: December 2007
EAN: 9781400155835 (MP3-CD), 9781400105830 (CDs)
Drama and excitement explode in this new, expanded version of New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer’s legendary first book, The Morcai Battalion. A ragtag band of humans from the Terravegan colonies fights the Rojok invaders and their ship is destroyed. Rescued by the Centaurian commander of the terror-inspiring Holconcom, the humans must learn to live with their hostile alien counterparts when they are captured by the Rojoks and thrown into the galaxy’s most horrible prison camp. The female exobiologist has to save the life of the alien commander in order to save her captain, her comrades, and herself. A rocket ride full of action, humor, and sacrifice.

The children’s fantasy classic in an all new unabridged version exclusive to audible.com…

Redwall
By Brian Jacques; Read by Stuart Blinder
Audible Download – Approx. 12.5 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers / audible.com
Published: November 2007
As the inhabitants of Redwall Abbey bask in the glorious Summer of the Late Rose, all is quiet and peaceful. But things are not as they seem. Cluny the Scourge, the evil one-eyed rat warlord, is hell-bent on destroying the abbey’s tranquility as he prepares to fight a bloody battle for the ownership of Redwall.

In a clockwork world who could doubt the existence of God? None, but some still doubt the existence of angels. Another exclusive to audible title…

Mainspring
By Jay Lake; Read by William Dufris
Audible Download – Approx. 13.5 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: macmillan audio / audible.com
Published: December 2007
The mainspring of the Earth is running down, and disaster to the planet will ensue if it’s not rewound. To do the job the Archangel Gabriel approaches a young clockmaker’s apprentice and explains the problem. He can’t be that surprised, in a clockwork solar system, where the planets move in a vast system of gears around the lamp of the Sun – how could he be. This is a universe where the hand of the Creator is visible to anyone who simply looks up into the sky and sees the track of the heavens, the wheels of the Moon, and the great Equitorial gears of the Earth itself.

The latest Hugo Award winning novel, exclusive to audible.com…

Rainbows End
By Vernor Vinge; Read by Eric Conger
Audible Download – 14 Hours 45 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: macmillan audio / audible.com
Published: December 2007
Set a few decades from now, Rainbows End is an epic adventure that encapsulates in a single extended family the challenges of the technological advances of the first quarter of the 21st century. The information revolution of the past 30 years blossoms into a web of conspiracies that could destroy Western civilization. At the center of the action is Robert Gu, a former Alzheimer’s victim who has regained his mental and physical health through radical new therapies, and his family. His son and daughter-in-law are both in the military, but not a military we would recognize, while his middle-school-age granddaughter is involved in perhaps the most dangerous game of all, with people and forces more powerful than she or her parents can imagine.

Posted by Jesse Willis

Audiobook version of Red Nails by Robert E. Howard is underway

Thursday, December 20, 2007 Jesse Willis Leave a comment

I credit the speed to which the Broken Sea folks are getting their audiobooks produced to the years of experience in recording audio drama. One among the BSAP crew is a virtual celebrity of the amateur audio drama community. Mark Kalita is a writer, producer and actor in audio drama scene. You’ll find his work, writing and voice over at both Darker Projects and Broken Sea, he’s played roles in the production of at least a good dozen productions including both Doctor Who and Star Trek as well as numerous original series.

His latest venture is the audiobook version of Robert E. Howard’s Red Nails. This is a Conan adventure also featuring a wily she-pirate named Valeria and is one of the titles from the Second Annual SFFaudio Challenge. Mark has already released 4 of the 7 chapters of this novella. Red Nails first appeared in 1936 as a three part serial in three issues of WEIRD TALES magazine. In it Conan encounters a lost city in which the degenerate inhabitants are pro-actively resigned to their own destruction. Also, of note, there’s a cool-looking animated movie version headed for a DVD-only release in 2008.

Red Nails is the last Conan story Howard wrote and the last major fantasy he completed. On the verge of abandoning fantasy for more commercial concerns, Howard devoted considerable thought and effort to his final allegorical statement. In a letter to Clark Ashton Smith, Howard had this to say about Red Nails:

“Sent a three-part serial to Wright yesterday: “Red Nails,” which I devoutly hope he’ll like. A Conan yarn, and the grimmest, bloodiest and most merciless story of the series so far. Too much raw meat, maybe, but I merely portrayed what I honestly believe would be the reactions of certain types of people in the situations on which the plot of the story hung…”

Intrigued? Have a listen, and judge for yourself…

Red Nails – A Tale Of Conan
By Robert E. Howard; Read by Mark Kalita
MP3s – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Broken Sea Audio Productions / Hooligan Audiobooks
Published: December 2007 – ???
“Red Nails, a tale featuring the legendary Conan the Barbarian, was written by Robert E. Howard and began its written serialization in the July 1936 issue of Weird Tales. This thrilling audio novella begins with pirate-adventuress Valeria of the Red Brotherhood on the run after slaying a notable brigand. She is followed by Conan and the two soon fight their way to a great, walled city inhabited by two warring peoples. The adventure seekers soon find themselves embroiled in the feud and mayhem ensues as the city’s rulers make unholy plans for the mighty Cimmerian and his feisty female companion. Listen now as an ancient evil returns from oblivion and a wicked sorceress seeks to gain immortality at the cost of our Hyborian heroes!”

|Chapter 1 MP3|Chapter 2 MP3|Chapter 3 MP3|Chapter 4 MP3|
|Chapter 5 MP3|Chapter 6 MP3|Chapter 7 MP3|

Posted by Jesse Willis

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