August - update:

In the previous August posting, I mentioned the recording of another Doctor Who audio drama, promising to follow up with more details. And here they are: as soon as I knew this particular project was going to happen, I felt excited and nervous in equal measure - perhaps you can understand why...

The reason for my eager anticipation of working on these stories was in no small part due to the fact that two of  my 'new' colleagues were to include:

 

Tom Baker as The Doctor and 

Louise Jemeson as Leela.

We recorded two stories,

Trail of The White Worm. 
and another, details of  which are to be announced at a future date.

In the meantime, a huge 'thank you' to Tom and Louise for being so welcoming and friendly and for being so easy to work with. It's quite something to be in a small recording studio with such iconic performers - definitely an 'is this really happening?' kind of moment. There have been quite a few such moments during my time with BF, working with some amazing and wonderful actors, but I'm sure any Doctor Who fan will appreciate why this was such a special occasion.

As ever, the cast and production crew were fantastic and, when details are announced, I'm sure you'll understand even more clearly, why I feel so privileged to have been involved.

Also of course, great thanks are due to director Ken Bentley, whose consummate skill and generosity are an inspiration and delight - 

'Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing.'  *  

There's more to talk about next month from BF, with the release of a Doctor Who story I'm particularly looking forward to, The Doomsday Quatrain, which stars Sylvester McCoy and David Schofield.

More anon....


* Troilus and Cressida

August 2011

A very early post on the first day of the month, primarily because my first solo audio-book,  

The Madness Within, is released from The Games Workshop on the 4th.

I'm looking forward to hearing it and hoping that my errors aren't too glaring.

Desperate and isolated, Sergeant Estabann and Brother Cordoba of the Crimson Fists Space Marines are hunting the daemon that destroyed their battle-brothers. Their only hope remains with a Librarian on the edge of sanity, a potentially tainted Astartes who they are forced to trust. His psychic abilities can lead them to the daemon, where Estabann and Cordoba can avenge their brothers’ deaths. But is the greatest threat a foul denizen of the warp, or the power contained within a psyker’s mind?

Click this Black Library link to listen to an extract:  The Madness Within

or on this embedded link via Soundcloud:

Online reviews & comments:

'John Banks takes up the narrative duties this time round and shows us all why he’s pretty much got this Black Library audio book gig sewn up. Banks’ delivery captures the bleakness of the setting and the steadfast determination of the Marines who inhabit it. He also very much captures the urgency of Lyon’s plot and proves to be more than adept at moving with the plot’s natural ebb and flow.'  


‘The Madness Within’ is an urgently paced tale full of surprises and Space Marines doing what they do best (attacking stuff with dirty great chain swords and exhorting each other to further acts of courage). The atmosphere draws you in, the plot and interaction between characters makes sure that you stay.'

Graeme Flory

                                                        

'Working alongside Steve Lyons, we have John Banks, who brings the audio drama to life, and adds to the grim, dark and bleak setting of the monastery in the recruiting world...'

'Lyons and Banks manage to keep you listening and away from the pause button on your IPod'

                                                                                                                                    The Founding Fields

'What I liked about this audio drama in particular was the atmosphere it created with its use of sound effect and masterful voice acting.'                                                                                                                                Frost

 'I really liked this audio drama and go so far as to say that, together with Helion Rain, it is the best one the Black Library has published as of now. I really like the audio performance of John Banks.'

'I look forward to hearing more from John Banks in the future.'   

'one of the best audio dramas!'                                        Rated 5 out of 5 by Valorus

'...you have to acknowledge the skilled reading of John Banks who brings it to life...Great stuff!'

                                              Gareth Wilson  Falcata Times

'... the production values on display here are superb, from bolter fire, to daemonic howls to the Librarian’s spells, everything sounds right and accompanies the superb narration and voice acting to create the perfect atmosphere for the story.'

 

   Cover Artwork by  Hardy Fowler     

 'A truly bitchin' audio drama! Awesome!'