Seconding the Discworld series, but specifying that while the Random House Audio version narrated by Nigel Planer is excellent- The newer version by Penguin Audio with Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy and either Indira Varma or Collin Morgan are absolutely top shelf.
I was put off before I started them because I assumed it was the “Narrated by a full cast” type of thing which is usually terrible. This is one main narrator (either Collin or Indira if it’s a wizard or witch heavy book, respectively) and then a new voice for the “author’s asides” that makes you feel like Sir Terry Pratchett is telling you little secrets himself and then one special character gets their own voice actor who is just perfect and adds even greater depth to the magic of these books.
Bobiverse is also fantastic.
AND The audio version of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir gets a little extra something by being an audio version. If you haven’t read that I recommend going in completely blind with no spoilers at all if possible, don’t read a single thing about it first.
(Edit: just saw that Chainweasel just edited to also add Project Hail Mary… maybe we should be in a book club together, lol. )
Edit 2: The Children of Memory series by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a very special one that has stayed with me and I still get misty thinking about it. Just wonderful.
AND The audio version of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir gets a little extra something by being an audio version. If you haven’t read that I recommend going in completely blind with no spoilers at all if possible, don’t read a single thing about it first.
agreed. went in without spoilers, and even the book version is surprising in what you’re likely refering to
I have all of the Nigel Planer versions of discworld and have been putting off the new versions for exactly the same reason lol.
And maybe we should look into a book club lol
I saw roadkill by Dennis e Taylor is likely to get a sequel too, I enjoyed that one as well
It’s probably a toss up between the Discworld series and the Bobiverse series.
Edit: for standalone book it would probably be Project Hail Mary.
Shameless plug:
lemmy.world/c/bobiverse
Seconding the Discworld series, but specifying that while the Random House Audio version narrated by Nigel Planer is excellent- The newer version by Penguin Audio with Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy and either Indira Varma or Collin Morgan are absolutely top shelf.
I was put off before I started them because I assumed it was the “Narrated by a full cast” type of thing which is usually terrible. This is one main narrator (either Collin or Indira if it’s a wizard or witch heavy book, respectively) and then a new voice for the “author’s asides” that makes you feel like Sir Terry Pratchett is telling you little secrets himself and then one special character gets their own voice actor who is just perfect and adds even greater depth to the magic of these books.
Bobiverse is also fantastic.
AND The audio version of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir gets a little extra something by being an audio version. If you haven’t read that I recommend going in completely blind with no spoilers at all if possible, don’t read a single thing about it first.
(Edit: just saw that Chainweasel just edited to also add Project Hail Mary… maybe we should be in a book club together, lol. )
Edit 2: The Children of Memory series by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a very special one that has stayed with me and I still get misty thinking about it. Just wonderful.
agreed. went in without spoilers, and even the book version is surprising in what you’re likely refering to
Oh, right! I heard that the book version has an illustration on the inside front cover that totally spoils. How stupid.
I have all of the Nigel Planer versions of discworld and have been putting off the new versions for exactly the same reason lol. And maybe we should look into a book club lol I saw roadkill by Dennis e Taylor is likely to get a sequel too, I enjoyed that one as well
I enjoyed bobiverse a lot when it was about science.
I could not be less interested in the metaphysics of the soul direction it’s been taking :(
I second this! Project Hail Mary.
I genuinely think the audiobook is the best version of this book. There are things that work best in audio, I’ll avoid spoilers and leave it at that.
It’s the same reader that does the bobiverse books, and they’re pretty great.