Publishers Weekly has a very interesting article today titled, "Tracking Amazon: 'Casual Vacancy' Cracks Top 10." (HERE)
Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling's upcoming novel. So what? Well, it's not going to be released until September 27, but it's already in the top 10 of orders. In fact, the top 20 has eight books that have not yet been published! Pre-orders are starting to dominate the market
#17 on the list is Wind Through The Keyhole. While many of us already have Wind Through The Keyhole in hand, that's because we bought the Grant edition -- the listed Scribner edition that's rising on the bestseller list isn't even out yet!
Also interesting is this note,
"Perhaps because of the small price discrepancy (the hardcover is only $1 more than the e-book), the print sales have far surpassed the e-book, as the e-book is ranked #84 on the Kindle bestseller list."
I know Stpehen King is not a bad reader, but he's certainly not George Guidall, (nor Frank Muller, bless his soul), so why, oh why, isn't George continuing the series? George and Frank were interchangeable, Stephen King will not be. Who made the decision to have the author read this? When a narrator stamps his mark on a series, especially someone as accomplished and distinct as George Guidall, it's imperative that the same audible character traits are maintained, in the name of fluency. It isn't a case of simply being able to read well...to bring an audiobook to life you have to be able to act. It's the dialogue that sorts the men from the boys, and as pleasant a reader that Stephen is, he's not an accomplished actor. We the readers are the onees parting with the cash, we the readers have invested our time in reading this series, surely we the readers should have been put first when considering who best should read this book? I won't be purchasing this version, and should a Guidall version never come out, well, I guess I'll never get to read Book 8 in the series. Shame...I've been a loyal fan of Dark Tower from the start!
ReplyDeleteSimon: I agree completely. Frank Muller created the Dark Tower universe for me and George Guidall continued it after Franks tragic accident. I have listened to Kings own narrations earlier and I think his skills (very impressive at that) are best left at writing.
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope that another version will be released in other markets (the UK perhaps).
Simon,
ReplyDeleteRemember. . .the Dark Tower was originally recorded by Stephen King. His first recording was The Gunslinger. They were RERECORDED by others. If you've been loyal to the DT audio from the start, then you remember those early recordings. He also recorded The Drawing of the Three. So of 8 books, he has recorded 3.
Let's also note that we should give the writer opportunity, if he so desires, to put his own art on display the way he wishes. Reading is part of displaying, framing, your artwork if you are a writer.
David
DeleteActually I only said I'd been loyal to the series from the start...meaning, from the first book. I didn't mean I was there buying the very first DT audiobook ever recorded. I meant I'd been loyal to the series. I'm very glad they were RERECORDED (did you know that the use of caps in messages is tantamount to shouting?), as we'd have missed out on some great narration by two giants of their craft.
If there were a choice of narrators on offer, then I have no problem with Mr King putting his own spin on his book. However, acting is a craft in itself, and for all his writing skills, his acting will not live up to the same standard, otherwise Stephen King the actor would be in more demand! I wouldn't buy a Stephen King created story, penned by Anthony Hopkins, because despite Hopkins brilliance as an actor, he's not a best-selling horror/fantasy writer! I'm not denying Stephen King's right have a go, but when there's no other choices, please let us have a professional audiobook reader to bring his stories to life.
I will just say this though. Even though there are better readers out there, Stephen King is better than many other professional narrators, and in my humble opinion, better than a few top names. I'm just saying that when the series has been read by two masters of their craft, why not finish with at least the one that is still with us.
definitely - its a let down.
ReplyDelete