There are only a few books that I’ve experienced both ways. I’m wondering if this is an area for exploration.
The Hitchhikers trilogy. All 5 books of it. Every interpretation adds a little something to the mix.
Someone else said all of Pratchett, and I’ll agree. My Discworld end goal is to own the physical, digital and audio book for each discworld novel.
I’ll also add in the Bobiverse books, and project hail mary. While both are excellent in their own right, the audiobooks are really something special.
The Expanse and Three Body Problem trilogy. My #1/2 favourite series of all time. Narrator is great in both series IMO.
I loved 3 body, can you share more about the Expanse? I’ve not heard anything about it other than I think a TV show maybe?
The Expanse is political/corporate intrigue set in the 24th century after humans have extended mining to the rings of Saturn. There are three major political camps:
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the United Nations of Earth and Luna — a bloated, old, slow, and traditional nation that has the only source of live soil samples, punishing universal basic income, and 30 billion mouths to feed. They are the “takers”.
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the Martian Congressional Republic — a trim, agile, militaristic, and focused nation that makes technological advances and works hard to stay alive on a hostile world. They are the “dusters”.
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the diffuse factions known under the umbrella term “Belters.” They are the workers, the downtrodden, the neglected, and the subjects of the great nations’ impunity. In a few short generations, their bodies changed, adapting to the ravages of microgravity and zero G. Their needs are simple: air, water, food. Their work is hard. Their lives are nasty, brutish, and short. But, they love fiercely, have a language and culture all their own, and refuse to bow before Earth and Mars.
“In fair Sol system, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”
The Expanse series is narrated by Jefferson Mayes. He is absolutely magnificent and really does bring the books to life.
Ok. We can be friends.
The Expanse is among my favourite sci-fi of all time. Others include Chris Claremont and Johnathan Hickman writing the X-Men, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Atwood’s Maddaddam trilogy. Three-Body may get there, but I read it amid reading the Expanse. Maybe the physical books will shift my mind some.
Three-Body was a great read and such incredible insight to a different perspective of sci-fi. The reveal of Dark Forest theory absolutely stopped me in my tracks. Death’s End was such a great conclusion to that storyline.
https://bookwyrm.social/book/205776/s/dungeon-crawler-carl
Such a great series full of funny and gut punching moments.
The books are fun to read, but the audiobook blows it out of the water. https://soundbooththeater.com/series/dungeon-crawler-carl/
I’ll start:
My fortunes converged with Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy. My reading of the physical copy was first, and the book sung.
Then, on opening the audiobook, the two actors really captured the cat-and-mouse interaction — each thinking the other is the prey — with such clarity and perfect tone. It was amazing.
If you’ve happened to read a fair amount of Cormac McCarthy would you suggest I read Stella Maris or Blood Meridian first? Cheers!!
Read The Passenger, then Stella Maris.
Blood Meridian is an amazing, terrifying, shocking, and eye-opening book. Ill never see another “Western” the same way again. It is among McCarthy’s most visceral.
I cannot recommend to anyone that they read this book. Much in the same way I love films like Requiem For a Dream, Dancer in the Dark, or Melancholia, I can’t inflict them on others. Blood Meridian is this perspective in book form.
If you’ve steeled yourself, by all means embark on Blood Meridian. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The Martian. This one has different flavor between the 2.
Close second etc would be The Expanse.
Honorable mention: Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers
