Raul Esparza records King's UNDER THE DOME... on 30 CDs!

[Pgenre]

Posted: 8/31/09 at 9:57pm

I just read that Raul Esparza has recorded the audiobook of Stephen King's supposed masterpiece, the forthcoming 1000 page UNDER THE DOME. It is 37 hours long on 30 CDs.

For those of you that have said you'd buy a recording of Raul reading the phonebook... your wish has been granted...

I wonder if King chose Raul himself? He's been known to have been pretty vocal about how his audiobooks are done, and has even "directed" some such as the 3d surround THE MIST.

I actually was planning on reading this one, but the Raul element has me questioning that decision. But 37 hours? I wonder if that's an abridged adaptation? Probably pretty doubtful. Sounds about right for 1000 pages.

P
Updated On: 9/1/09 at 09:57 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 8/31/09 at 10:04pm

I love Raul to death, but I don't think I could handle 37 hours of anything. I'm also scared of Stephen King, because I have the horror/thriller threshold of a small child. Good for him on getting this, though. I took a listen to one of the other audiobooks he did, and he did a great job.

Updated On: 8/31/09 at 10:04 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/31/09 at 10:07pm

I'll probably listen to it, but it will take me a few years. I'll let you know how that turns out.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/31/09 at 10:17pm

I LOVE long audiobooks. Something I can get into that fills blank spaces in the day. Depending on how the book is received, I will definitely be getting this.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 12:00am

Love Raul, but I probably won't be giving this one a listen. Sorry, but Stephen King creeps me out in a big way.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 12:31am

If it makes any difference, this is supposed to be his most "adult" book since BAG OF BONES. More thriller than horror is the word on the street. He's been working on this longer than anything he has ever published before and many are comparing it (the book cover included) to THE STAND which many feel is the only one of his novels that will stand the test of time. I think it is the un-King King of THE BODY (aka Stand By me)/ SHAWSHANK / GREEN MILE with a little NEEDFUL THINGS and INSOMNIA type scares, but nothing on the level of DESPERATION, RIDING THE BULLET or CELL.

P

[winston89]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 1:26am

I do doubt strongly that the audio version of King's new novel is going to be 30 hours. According to Itunes, the unabridged version of Hugo's Les Miserables is only around five or so and that book is longer then Under The Done is. And, in this day and age, 30 CDs is very hard to market specially for an audio book.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 1:43am

30, Girls, 30

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 1:46am

The Harry Potter book and tapes top 30 tapes for some of the books and they sale well

[Weez]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 7:16am

iTunes is talking balls, Winston. If an abridged John Grisham (first audiobook that came to hand) can take approximately 6 hours on 5 CDs, then there's no way you're getting the UNabridged Les Miserables in any fewer than 20, and that's being incredibly conservative! As a bookshop worker and a Stephen King fan, 37 hours sounds completely plausible for this one, and I think I'm absolutely going to have to buy it myself. :3

I mean, it is true that audiobooks of that length are tricky to market, but there are a couple of authors out there - JK Rowling being the other one - who have the fanbase that would go for an enormous unabridged audiobook. This is a bold move, but not a stupid one.

Updated On: 9/1/09 at 07:16 AM

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 8:44am

Just did a search on iTunes. Unabridged Les Misérables is 57 hours and 50 minutes. Winston, you must have been looking at the abridged version.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 9:10am

Pgenre, you don't think King's Dark Tower series will stand the test of time?

[Weez]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 9:31am

Perhaps if 5, 6, and 7 had lived up to the promise of the first 4, it'd certainly be a latterday Lord of the Rings (epic multivolume fantasy loved and derided seemingly in equal measure, not just "let's compare it to LOTR 'cos LOL"), but if we're strictly honest, he did go a little bit mental as far as the series is concerned. Perhaps if he'd had the necessary momentum to carry on after number 4, perhaps if he'd never been in the accident, perhaps if the accident had been worse and it had been left unfinished (although when that happens in fantasy fiction, there's always a family member willing to carry on, which isn't necessarily the best thing; although I rather suspect Joe would've done a fantastic job if he'd had to step up to the plate). Who knows? But there's a definite divide, and the latter installments just don't quite live up to the first 4. It'll live on as long as the rest of the back catalogue does, but who knows if anyone will still care in 200+ years time?

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 10:09am

Stephen King, no thanks.

[tazber]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 10:35am

Love King, and I know he's a big fan of audio-books, but I just don't see the point.

And the thought of listening to Raul assault my ears for any length of time gives me hives.

I will definitely be reading this new novel though.


For those who have forgotten

[Weez]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 10:42am

I tried reading on car journeys, but apparently that's against the law when you're the driver. Who knew? Audio books definitely have their place. :P

[J'aime GG]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 11:03am

Ugh. I'm conflicted. Long Stephen King novels are either transcendent (THE STAND) or literary waterboarding (IT). I'll have to check the reviews and get the paperback when available.

[Craww]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 11:23am

I've been interested in specific audio books before but could never force myself to do it. I enjoy reading. If I listened to audiobooks it would just cut into my music time.

Cool for him that he's found a good gig in these, though.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 11:27am

I love to read, but ever since I was little, I've had a tendency to get carsick. I can never read on a moving vehicle (except trains, for some reason), so audiobooks are great for me for long road trips.

37 hours might be a bit much, though.

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 1:41pm

I don't like King (except for THE STAND) but Esparza has done well with the two other audiobooks I've listened to, so I will listen to this unless the material gets too gross. I tried to read CELL but about 1/3 of the way in, the story got too gory and I had to quit.
Updated On: 9/1/09 at 01:41 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 2:16pm

And in terms of horror writing King is pretty tame.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 2:19pm

What else has Esparza done?

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 2:44pm

According to iTunes, Raúl has also recorded THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer and THE BOOK OF UNHOLY MISCHIEF by Elle Newmark.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 3:48pm

"Pgenre, you don't think King's Dark Tower series will stand the test of time?"

Not after WIZARD & GLASS became part of the series. He pulled a George Lucas with that, and the ones that followed.

The first three and EYES OF THE DRAGON, are, indeed, among his best. Roland Flagg is one of the *great^ villains of literature and King's characterlogical centerpiece.

I still stand by THE STAND though above all else.

I personally think ROSE MADDER is his best novel, with MISERY a close second... but what do I know?

THE STAND is his 21st century "Wasteland" in the vein of Elliot and I'm not sure if any of his other works could stand up to that sort of literary allusion/comparison.

Maybe UNDER THE DOME?

P

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 9/1/09 at 6:07pm

Am I the only one who couldn't get through THE STAND?

Loved CARRIE, though. Looking forward to this.