One of my favourite books, awful narration

If you're buying this book, you've probably read it in the past and love it like me.
The narrator almost ruined it for me. He has managed to make all of your favourite characters sound very, very irritating. Tania sounds like a Tory MP. Bupu is a redneck. He's also seen fit to choose very irritating pronunciations of key names mostly by inserting hyphens. Dray-conians really chafes. "Kitchara," grates a lot. Maybe you pronounce these things the same as the narrator, I don't know, but when you've heard them in your head for the best part of 30 years one way and they come out another..... it's not fun.
Should've gotten the guy who is doing Gemmel's work.

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10 people found this helpful

Thoroughly Enjoyable

I first read this story as a 7 year old boy, a family member had found the books in her attic and everyone knew I was heavily into reading back in the 90's
To re read/hear this story really was just as enjoyable and exciting as the very first time.

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Not bad but slightly dated

Been some time since I read it for the first time. The story is slightly dated very 80s

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Disappointed

This was the first fantasy book I ever read, 22 years ago to be exact so when i saw it audible i was excited but the narration was awful. Every character has exactly the same voice and whispers and shouts are the same pitch. Its left down an amazing story and I'm glad I didn't but all the books at once. A real shame.

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31 people found this helpful

Love the story, can't stand the narrator!

I loved this book in my teenage years and fancied taking a trip down memory lane with the audio book... I wish I hadn't bothered; whilst the story still retains its charm, I just couldn't put up with the narrator... and I tried! Really tried. Strange vocal timing a la William Shatner, focussing on commas for strange pauses in the narrative, and some of the character voices...? Questionable. Take my advice if you're interested in the book, read it yourself - don't bother with this. I returned it for a credit!

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robot reader

great story spoiled by what sounds like machine narration do not buy this book .

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Great story, poor narration

I love this classic fantasy story, but the narrator is off. Weird accents that sometimes switch between character and overall sub par.

By book 2 it gets a little better, but the way he pronounce Mishakal gives me hives (Mishigal). Darcanoians become Drake-oh-nians Instead of Drah-koh-nians.

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Great Story. Mechanical Performance

I loved the Dragonlance saga since my teenagers years and these tales started a love affair with genre that lasts to this day. Unfortunately the performer chosen to lend his voice to these stories does not do justice to the them, the characters or this beautiful world in general: he manages to sound robotic as if he was a software reading rather than a human with odd pauses, sing-along tone and unnatural and unnecessary accents.
Truly a shame for this magnificent story and world.

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2 people found this helpful

Now an established classic as far as I'm concerned

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've always adored the Dragonlance series since they were first written. Based on one game of Dungeons and Dragons, who knew what a stunningly realistic set of characters would be created and how deeply loved they would become across the world! "...not the stuff of heroes..." the group battle tragedy, personal loss, injury, dragons and gods whilst discovering their true inner selves - some good, some not so good and some so touching and heart warming I dare you to keep a dry eye!

The narrator is very good and my only criticism here is that his portrayal of some of the dialogue and voices is not how I have heard them whilst reading the books, but he's one man and has just one voice so let's be fair here! He did a brilliant job reading and playing an entire cast of extremely diverse characters, human and otherwise.

Who was your favorite character and why?

So many to chose from but like so many others I know, I just love the story of Raistlin and his journey as it progresses through Chronicles and Legends. His relationship with his brother Caramon, the rare glimpse of caring Raistlin has for the sorry creature Bupu and his insatiable lust for power that eventually drives him to seek Godhood!

What does Paul Boehmer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Paul Boehmer brought a new vision to the story, pronunciation of names and places which must have been done with the writers and a whole new way of looking at the characters. I loved his portrayal of Tasselhof and Fizban in particular and how he treated all of the characters with respect and attention to detail.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

All of the above. Dragonlance will make me laugh (Tasselhof and Fizban), cry (Flint in particular at one point) and feel so many other emotions as the group matures and so do their relationships and interactions.

Any additional comments?

This is a grandly scoped story of good versus evil where gods are real and everything is at stake for an entire world. You will laugh, cry and fall deeply in love with a band of extremely complex characters whose battle will affect the lives of millions in their world. They love, they argue and bicker amongst themselves, they come to blows. Some live happily ever after, some die, none are left unaffected. I defy anyone to not love these books.

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1 person found this helpful

Good conversation.

A good conversation on the first fantasy novel I ever read. There are better fantasy stories out there but I will always have a nostalgic space for Dragonlance.

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