The Bible: New Revised Standard Version

Following on from my last posting here earlier today (two posts in a single day shock???), 2015 certainly was busy! In August 2015, after almost a year of various deliberations, producer Neil Gardner and me, started to record the New Revised Standard Version of The Bible, in all it's unabridged glory. After a further two years of transforming our recorded text into a downloadable 'app', complete with optional commentaries, publisher SPCK has just released the finished 'product'.

Here are some details:

The NRSV: The Bible for Everyone app contains a superb new audio version by John Banks, specially commissioned by SPCK from Ladbroke Audio, bringing the NRSV to life as never before.



The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible is one of the most widely loved English versions of the Bible. Descended from the King James Version, it combines academic rigour with a flowing style.


The NRSV: The Bible for Everyone app features:

- Complete NRSV Bible text
- Add your own notes to Bible verses
- Bookmark your favourite verses
- Powerful search and browse functionality
- Share verses as images on social media

This new app, offering fantastic value, seamlessly integrates the audio with the text, and includes the option to add access to the For Everyone series of commentaries and Bible studies written by Tom Wright and John Goldingay, via in-app subscription.

New #android and #ios #app: NRSV Audio Bible for Everyone. Complete #NRSV text and audio:

iTunes: http://ow.ly/g4kk30gMT3y             Google Play: http://ow.ly/UKrx30gMT4v 

* * * * *

The notion of sitting down in front of a microphone and recording the Bible from beginning to end, was both daunting and slightly surreal. I'd never read The Bible in it's entirety before, although I did know particular sections quite well. Some of it came as a surprise, some of it made me think about things in quite a new light and some of it taught me how to build a temple!

As a school-child, we would listen to radio broadcasts of David Kossoff, a wonderful actor, (right), reading Bible stories; he was so good at being able to bring the Bible and it's huge cast of characters to life and of course, to my young ears, he was the definitive voice of God!

I certainly haven't aimed to 'compete' with anyone for similar 'deification'; instead, I wanted to articulate the text in a clear and direct manner, with a little verve perhaps and a desire to allow the stories to tell themselves, without too much of a 'helping hand' from me. Maybe I got it right, maybe not - or maybe I got it right in part. Whatever the outcome, I feel truly honoured to have been entrusted with such a challenging narration and should you decide to give this recording a try, I do hope you will forgive my errors and enjoy listening to The Bible.

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens! 
 

Deadhouse Landing

Two years ago, in December 2015, I recorded Dancer's Lament: Path to Ascendancy Book 1 by Ian C. Esslemont, a prequel to his epic series of novels set in the Malazan Empire, which I also subsequently recorded. A couple of months ago, I was delighted to record the second book of the Path to Ascendancy, Deadhouse Landing. The audio book is now available from audible.co.uk and various other outlets and here are some details:

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Deadhouse Landing by Ian C. Esslemont, read by John Banks.

"Returning fans to the turbulent early history of what would become the Malazan Empire, the second chapter in Ian C. Esslemont's thrilling new epic fantasy sequence....

After the disappointments of Li Heng, Dancer and Kellanved wash up on a small insignificant island named Malaz. Immediately, of course, Kellanved plans to take it over. To do so they join forces with a small band of Napans who have fled a civil war on their own home island. The plan, however, soon goes awry as Kellanved develops a strange and dangerous fascination for a mysterious ancient structure found on the island.

The chaos in the region extends to the metaphysical planes also as a young priest of D'rek starts to question the rot at the heart of the worship of the god of decay. And back in Li Heng, Dassem, now the proclaimed Sword of Hood, finds himself being blamed for a plague which leads him to a crisis of faith - and searching for answers.

During all this, war with the neighbouring island of Nap threatens, recruited allies wonder at Kellanved's sanity, and powerful entities take more of an interest in the little mage from Dal Hon. Dancer faces a hard choice: should he give up on his partnership? Especially when the fellow's obsession with shadows and ancient artefacts brings the both of them alarmingly close to death and destruction.

After all, who in his right mind would actually wish to enter an Elder mystery known to everyone as the 'Deadhouse'?"

Unabridged Audiobook

Length: 16hrs 49 mins

©2017 Ian C. Esslemont (P)2017 Random House Audiobooks

...all for now, more just as soon as it happens!