Notes of Life

While I don’t listen to audio books, I find this rather odd. The analogy of changing actors is apt. I remember this happening once or twice with cartoons I used to watch, and it would put me off sticking with the show.

I’m a huge fan of Jim Butcher’s books, and I’ll be jumping on the hardcover when it comes out. If I had been listening to the audio books, the change of narrator would definitely have killed the sale for me.

<3,
-J

Hi Nikki,

I have to say that I have never listened to an audio book, mainly because headphones of any description give me earache, and also because I don’t think that I would enjoy having a book read to me.

I can understand how annoying it must be though, to have the narrator changed so far into a series. It always annoys me when they do that on a TV show, bringing back a character after a short break and ‘Hey Presto’ they have had a whole new makeover!!!

I’m another one who can’t enjoy audio books, namely because it’s impossible to get any peace in my house – the kids wouldn’t leave me alone long enough. That said I love James (as Spike) and while I have only read a few of the Dresden novels I do enjoy them and I’d be tempted to try one that he narrates.

Shelleyrae @ Book’d Out

Unlike the others, I am a HUGE audiobook fan. A lot of my day is working with my hands and don’t have time to relax and read. But also, I love story interpretations, and getting to hear great actors read novels and short stories is a real joy when done as well as James Marsters does with The Dresden Files.

That being said, I also read the Song of Ice and Fire series, and they encountered similar problems with Roy Dotrice. And though hearing a different narrator threw me off at first, the quality of the reading was good and i was right back in the battle of the Iron Throne after the first chapter.

So knowing that John Glover is a good character actor, having played so many different character types over the last few decades, I think that he’ll do just fine to keep me ensnared by Harry Dresden. And as with Roy Dotrice in ASOFAI I think that we’ll have James Marsters back in Cold Days.

It’s a shame that the release date schedule influenced the change of the narrator James Marsters, who has been the voice of the Dresden files since the beginning. I have been one of the many disappointed audiobook listeners, who have immediatly cancelled the preorder of the new audiobook.
Is there any chance of a second recording??

I was really looking forward to getting the audio book of “Ghost Story” as well as the hardback; and then I found out John Glover was narrating and not James Marsters. Nothing against Mr. Glover, he is a fine actor and has a lovely voice, but James Marsters is the voice I hear in my head when I read the books and the cognitive dissonance caused by hearing a different voice would just be too great, so I’m going to have to give this one a pass. At least I’ll have the audio book and James Marsters’ voice in my head while I read!

This news has totally ruined my day. Someone at Penguin Audio has completely under valued the contribution of James Marsters. He is a huge reason that I have enjoyed the Dresden File books.

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of Ghost Story and was disappointed when the original release date was pushed back. However I was fine with waiting until the book was fine tuned by Mr. Butcher. I appreciate the skill and effort that goes into creating these books. I would also have been more than willing to wait until any scheduling conflicts were overcome in order to get Marsters in the studio.

I will not be listening to Ghost Story on audiobook. James Marsters is Harry Dresden!

That being said.. for those of you who love the Dresden Files and haven’t listened to an audiobook. Do yourself a favor and go back and listen to one of the previous Dresden File audiobooks. They are great!

I am completely devastated by the change in narrator. James has grown with each succesive story and has imprinted himself on millions of listeners. As fine an actor as Mr. Glover is, I really don’t believe he could convince me that he is Harry Dresden or Thomas, Murphy, Ebeneezer, Toot-Toot, etc.

I would have gladly waited for a later release date, as I am sure many other would have. It’s not like every audiobook released coincided with the hardcopy’s. We waited a long time for Penguin to catch up.

I haven’t read a Dresden novel for quite some time. Now I’ll have to.

I, too, am disappointed. But I will listen to the sample on Audible and decide based on that. I do wish that they had waited for James. I remember reading a while back that the book wouldn’t come out until sometime in the fall. I was expecting to have to wait until then anyway.

I have bought all the Dresden Files audiobooks so far and listened to each of them several times. They are my favorite series. Yes, the actor change bothers me, and yes I loved James Marsters as Spike in the TV shows, but there’s no way I’m going to miss a Dresden audiobook just because somebody else is reading it. I’m buying it all right, with or without James Marsters.

That being said, maybe they could get James to do Toot-Toot at least?

I too was devastated to learn that James wouldn’t be narrating this edition of “The Dresden Files”. I also will hope (in vain) that Mr. Marsters will one day record a performance of “Ghost Story” (trust me dude.. the *legions* of Dresden fans will hold a collection for you and pay!)

I’m with Nellibly though in that I will listen to a sample first before I decide whether or not to make a purchase (I loved John Glover’s performance as the devil in “Brimstone”).

I do hope that the decision to change narrators wasn’t due to a personal issue between any of the parties involved. James Marsters performing as Dresden is ALWAYS worth the wait. Just ask those of us who had to wait YEARS before books 5 -7 were released. If Penguin Audio And Marsters can work out a later release date for a Marsters read “Ghost Story”, I predict that sales of it will surpass sales of Mr. Glover’s rendition. Though I do wish I still had the option of paying for hard copies (CDS) instead of just the Audible version.

Since I see it mentioned, I’ve got to comment on Toot-toot’s voice. I also like the way Marsters currently performs it, but it’s definitely a change from the way he performed it initially in “Storm Front”. It makes me wonder who was behind the change since Jim wrote:

“His voice was high-pitched, but more like a little kid’s than the exaggerated kind of faery voices I’d heard in cartoons.”

I still really like the way it’s read now.

I am an avid Audiobook reader. Much like Aron A, I work with my hands alot and do not have the luxury of sitting to read a book. However, listening to audiobooks has become a fantastic way to enjoy reading again.

After getting over the initial knee-jerk reaction of, “NO!!! James Marsters is the one true voice of Dresden.”

I’m curious to see what John Glover will do. I will still buy the audiobook. Unless John does a HORRIBLE job, I will likely continue with the series.

One way of looking at it is the difference in voices, represents the changes in Dresden after all the chaos of the last book.

Just downloaded the first chapter from Audible. If Glover had been the voice of Dresden from the beginning, maybe, but I just can’t get over the change. I’m getting the book on my Nook.

Sample chapter is out and it’s a total disaster. Skip the audio version this time. Very disappointing.

I listened to the Glover narration of the first ten minutes this morning. No, he certainly isn’t James. I’m very disappointed, but I’ve never bought the text versions of any of Jim’s books for myself. I’m a voracious audiobook listener. So, to make a long story short, I’ll be purchasing this title as well. My question is, and if it’s already been covered then please forgive my redundancy, but why doesn’t Penguin just put Mr. Marsters under contract to do all of the books for the foreseeable future? Why are these talented folks only hired on a book to book basis? Can someone enlighten me? I don’t know how these things are arranged, but I AM curious.
As far as Mr. Glover is concerned, I’m sure he’ll do as good of a job as someone can when put into this sort of situation. I can’t help but feel sorry for him, though, because no matter how well he may or may not do, he cannot compete with Harry’s true voice… James Marsters. I’ve often wished James was taller just so he could be cast as Harry if the Hollywood folks ever wanted to take another stab at turning this fine series into a television show.
Thanks!

“That being said, maybe they could get James to do Toot-Toot at least?”

Really? Fascinating. I love James Marsters and his voice for everyone else, but his Toot voice just makes me cringe.

The problem with delaying the book until Marsters was available is that a) he may not have been available for the forseeable future, and b) there are people who cannot read the book and to make them wait isn’t entirely fair.

By the way, two bits of information on the Jim Butcher forums:

1. Apparently, Mr. Marsters cancelled on the day he was meant to do the reading. For “personal reasons”. That makes me nervous: is he OK? Is his family OK?

2. There is nearly a 0% chance of there being a second release of Ghost Story, read by Marsters, because, they say, that might be perceived as an insult to Mr. Glover. This was, however, before the release of the first chapter and the cascade of 1-star reviews, so much so that you have to wade through nearly all of page 6 in 8 pages of reviews before you hit your first positive one. (Ranked by “most useful”). Apparently people are *extremely* passionate about this. Penguin might lose so many sales that they beg him to do it – but Marsters and Jim Butcher would both have to agree, and it doesn’t seem likely that that will happen.

Well, I downloaded the book from audible without even looking at who was reading. Boy, was that a shock. These things should come with big warning labels: NEW READER! CHANGE IN READER” or something…Drat, well I bought it now… I am just hoping that they do a reissue with James Marsters reading it. Just following the comments, it seems uncertain what the reason for Mr. Marsters not doing it this time, whether a scheduling conflict or something else, but I hope it is something that can be resolved.

Im not happy at all, you can not change the narrator of a established audio series!! And this one is my favourite!! So unhappy right now!!

I am absolutely gutted.
I do not really like audiobooks, the voice actors never seem to really work for me.
James Marsters as Harry is the only audiobook series i’ve ever been able to get into (and into in a big big way, i’ve listened to the series 3 times over).
As has been said, no offence to Glover. I have always enjoyed his roles in acting and from what i’ve heard he seems to have done a good job on ghost story, but he just isn’t Harry. I hope to god they sort this out and get Marters to do a second recording. Otherwise i’m going to have to live with a broken heart

I, too, am gobsmacked that they would change in the middle, since, like many others, I came to the Dresden Files by way of being a James Marsters fan. I may never have found the books otherwise.

I sew quite a bit and find the audiobooks indispensable, listening to them either directly from my computer via iTunes or through my iHome. I am currently reading Ghost Story, because I listened to the sample chapter and was thoroughly put off.

Mr. Glover is a fine actor, but he is NOT the voice of Harry Dresden, full stop. Sorry to be so pedantic, but there it is. I am curious to know what the projected vs. actual sales are for this Ghost Story recording, as well.

[...] Dresden Files: Ghost Story – Audiobook Issues [...]

I went in with an open mind, but having listened to Ghost Story (well, half of it so far), I just don’t think that John Glover gets it right. He plays Harry too manic. He does a decent job with the other characters, but Harry’s jokes fall flat without the deadpan delivery, and it’s jarring.

I got the audiobook and saw finally that it wasn’t narrated by James Marsters. So I won’t listen to this. I only listen to the audiobooks because of James Marster’s great reading and the wonderful work he did with Harry and all the other characters.
I can’t say how much disappointed I am. No words.
Maybe John Glover did a good job but this has to be judged by somebody who will get my audiobook at ebay.
(I’m living in Germany and I just don’t want to send the audiobook back to Amazon in the US. So I’ll sell it on ebay. *sigh*)

Two friends have tried to listen to it and hated it. I found you while hunting to see if there was another version available. I won’t be buying it or any more read by John Glover. I am not saying he is a bad reader, just the wrong reader, switching this far into a series doesn’t work for me at all.

I am also a huge Dresden Files fan. I had preordered the book and read it – finding it a less easy read than the previous books. I looked forward to the audio, I seem to get more from listening, and had re-listened to all the series before I got the John Glover version of Ghost Story. I really think Mr. Glover does a fine job on this book. I’m very fond of Marsters’ versions (save many early mispronounciations), but I don’t think Mr. Glover is so bad. This is a hard book, less action and more philosophy. I’m enjoying listening to it. Just as the new Star Trek crew appeal to me, this has good qualities too.

I just love the Dresden Files and especially the audio books. James Masters is Harry Dresden. When I got Ghost Story I didn’t know that someone else was narrating it and it was a huge shock at first. Then, after listening to it for a bit, it was a huge annoyance. It appears that John Glover did not know who Harry Dresden is and probably never even listened into one of the older books. I stopped and gave up on the audio version after about 20 minutes. It just was not possible for me to listen to it. It just sounded wrong. Not like Harry at all. Now I bought the book and have James Masters voice in my head while I’m reading it.