Good morning! Another busy week (!) in which, I think, a new little milestone has been passed. In the general scheme of things, it's a very minor milestone indeed, although I was quite surprised when it occurred. As I've been bleating on about over the last several postings, my recording schedule is pretty nuts at the moment. With that in mind, this week's audio book had to be completed within a five day time frame and in order to meet that deadline, I've somehow managed to record fourteen hours of narration over the last two working days - with of course, the unflagging support and encouragement of Mr Morrison Ellis, my ace producer for those last two monster sessions - six and a half hours recorded on Thursday and seven and a half hours yesterday. I think my previous 'best effort' was five and a half hours, so, a new little milestone...

The last week or so has also seen a flurry of audio releases, some of which, I'm going to hang back on briefly, until I can confirm that I'm actually allowed to talk about them. However, what I am certainly allowed to mention, is this audio drama from The Black Library, in which I narrate - and play the lead character - I know!!! 

Here are some details along with yet more fantastic artwork:

Taker of Heads

A Warhammer 40,000 audio drama

In the jungles of Aztlan, a losing campaign against the alien T’au Empire is reinforced by the fearsome Mortifactors, as the neophyte Adoni seeks to become a Taker of Heads.

In the jungles of Aztlan a deadly war of the shadows is being fought. And the Imperial Guard are losing. The alien t’au, though few in number, greatly outclass the soldiers of the Imperium and are taking a serious toll on their forces.

A call for aid is answered by the fearsome Mortifactors Chapter, who come to the world full of grim purpose. Adoni, an unblooded neophyte yet to earn his place, is amongst the war-party. As the Mortifactors descend into the jungle vastness, they hunt for a killer, one that will not die easily but that whom Adoni must slay if he is to become part of the Chapter and a Taker of Heads.

John Banks, Steve Conlin, Andrew Fettes, Emma Gregory, Matthew Hunt, David Seddon & Philip Nightingale 

Written by Ian St. Martin & Produced by Matt Renshaw

©2018 Games Workshop Limited (P)2018 Games Workshop Limited

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

Key of Infinity

Good morning! Welcome to today's posting, which features a collection of short 'commuter length' audio dramas from The Black Library. These stories were originally released as individual downloads and are available now, for the first time, on CD.

I realise that over recent months, the majority of releases featured here have been from the Black Library, either in the form of audio drama or solo audio books. These stories and indeed, the whole world of Warhammer, might not be your thing. Have no fear! I think, by the end of the year, the balance might well have shifted and the updates here, will go off in quite a different direction.

In the meantime, there are more releases to come from Games Workshop and I have just received an advance copy of a major November release, which I'm very keen to listen to. What I can say now, is that the cover artwork is quite stunning and I look forward to sharing images here as soon as they become available.

The 'crazy phase' of recording continues apace. This week is a very welcome prep week; I shall be recording a new book every week now till early October. Last week's audio book recording had 251 named characters, though mercifully, not all of them had a speaking part! When finally edited, that particular book, (880 pages), might have a running length around the 30 hour mark - roughly the length of three average audio books. We recorded it over five and a half days, at a little over five hours of recorded material per day, which, believe me, is quite a brutal pace, especially when continually switching beween narrator and character voices in multi-character conversations. Two of the next three books are of about the same length, so having a couple of days to prep is, as I say, very welcome!

If my voice and me make through the next few weeks, there will be a short time to prepare for the next audio book, scheduled for an early November recording and about which, I am very excited indeed. I look forward to telling you much more about it as soon as I'm allowed!

In the meantime:
  

The Key of Infinity & Other Stories

Warhammer 40,000

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. But war is waged in many ways. From the dark places where 10,000-year-old psychic warriors interrogate living machines from a time before man, to a treacherous assassination plot that could bring an end to a centuries-old legacy of honour, to relic hunters who want to wrest secrets from a plague-ridden traitor or cross swords with a sinister Chaplain of the Dark Angels, this collection of four audio dramas showcases battles of the mind and spirit in which the victors will be those with the strength to prevail against not only their foes but their own weaknesses.

Key of Infinity by John French

Thousand Sons sorcerer Ahzek Ahriman studies an ancient construct of the necrontyr race - but the necron is studying him right back and has plans of its own....

Running time: 18 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble and Saul Reichlin.

The Assassination of Gabriel Seth by Andy Smillie

Gabriel Seth, Chapter Master of the Flesh Tearers, has made many enemies in his long years defending the Imperium - and now they plot against him, planning his death. But Seth will not be taken down so easily....

Running time: 23 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Tim Bruce, Steve Conlin and Andrew Wincott.

Heart of Decay by Ben Counter

Two heroes of the Relictors Space Marine Chapter interrogate a prisoner - a hideous servant of the Dark Gods, a Traitor Astartes of the Death Guard.

Running time 28 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Matthew Hunt and Toby Longworth.

The Rage of Asmodai by C Z Dunn

Captain Vidarna of the Relictors finds a mission to capture a Chaos artefact complicated by Dark Angels Chaplain Asmodai, who has his own sinister mission.

Running time: 25 minutes. Performed by John Banks, Steve Conlin, Jonathan Keeble, Toby Longworth and Saul Reichlin.

Produced by Matt Renshaw
 

©2018 Games Workshop Limited (P)2018 Games Workshop Limited

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

 

Silent Souls...

Apologies again, for yet another lightning quick update; same excuse - crazy busy - (come November/December you might see what I mean!) - so a couple of very recent releases from The Black Library, which, as ever, I hope you enjoy!

The Lords Of Silence

A Warhammer 40,000 novel

The galaxy has changed. Armies of Chaos march across the Dark Imperium, among them the Death Guard, servants of the Plague God. But shadows of the past haunt these traitors…

The Cadian Gate is broken, and the Imperium is riven in two. The might of the Traitor Legions, kept shackled for millennia behind walls of iron and sorcery, has been unleashed on a darkening galaxy. Among those seeking vengeance on the Corpse Emperor’s faltering realm are the Death Guard, once proud crusaders of the Legiones Astartes, now debased creatures of terror and contagion.

Mighty warbands carve bloody paths through the void, answering their lord primarch’s call to war. And yet for all their dread might in arms, there is no escape from the vicious legacies of the past, ones that will pursue them from the ruined daemon-worlds of the Eye of Terror and out into the smouldering wastes of the Imperium Nihilus.

Written by Chris Wraight, Produced by Kylia Whitehead & Narrated by John Banks

Running length: 10 hours - 10 minutes

Raven Guard: Soulbound

A Raven Guard audio drama

On Delephron, a mag-train hurtles through the desert. Within its confines lies hidden a message that could bring the Raven Guard into such ill repute it would risk its very survival…

On Delephron, an immense mag-train hurtles through desert. Within its metal confines there lies hidden a message, one that could bring the Raven Guard into such ill repute it would risk its very survival. Only the Shadowmasters, the finest of the Chapter’s elite have the skill to infiltrate the high-speeding mag-lev and extract the message before their presence is known.

But dark forces stir against them, servants of the Plague God intent on their own fell purpose. And who is the Inquisitor Bledheim and what could he possibly know to inflict such a deadly blow to the sons of Corax?

 John Banks, Tim Bentinck, Steve Conlin, Emma Gregory, Matthew Hunt & Toby Longworth

Written by George Mann & Produced by Matthew Renshaw

I love the artwork for both these stories; I've added a few more images below for good measure. 

Lots more to come, but for the moment, alas. that's ...

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

Faker!

The third and final episode of Prophets of Waaagh, released entirely for your enjoyment!

The Waaagh! Faker

Part 3 of Prophets of Waaagh!

The greenskins have gathered to start the Waaagh! and bash things up. But when a trap is sprung, Uggrim's boyz have to team up with their rivals to fight their way out.

The latest adventure for the Red Sunz mekmob concludes in the final instalment of a three-part audio drama! A horde of orks are gathering from all over the planet have made their way to a salt lake camp. But they discover the Waaagh! is a false one set up by the Imperium using psychic technology to lure the orks into a trap. Uggrim and his biggest rival Grimgutz must work together to fight their way out.

Performed by Tom Alexander, John Banks, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Matthew Hunt, 

Jonathan Keeble, David Seddon & Joe Shire

Written by Guy Haley & Produced by Matt Renshaw

* * * * *

Currently in a 'prep week' and about to start recording the fifth of The Niccolo Books, by Dorothy Dunnett, next week. Very tempting to regard this as 'time off', though time is ticking and the next book is almost 900 pages long! Discipline JB, discipline!

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

The Lords of Terra

Week seven, audio book seven; an early start in the morning to continue this week's book and it's already late. So before sleep claims me, there's just time to post details of some Black Library stuff released earlier this week:

The Lords of Terra

The primarchs – and the Emperor’s closest ally, the mysterious Malcador – star in three audio tales that lay bare their ambitions.

 

As the Imperium of Mankind spreads across the galaxy, bringing all of humanity into its embrace, the advance is spearheaded by the primarchs, superhuman sons of the immortal Emperor. Each of these heroes is a warrior born and a leader bred, but darkness lurks in the hearts of some and threatens to tear apart all that they have worked to build.

This audio drama anthology contains three full cast tales, starring the primarchs Konrad Curze, better known as the sinister Night Haunter, and Perturabo, the Lord of Iron. In both stories, the seed of treachery in their hearts threatens to derail their efforts to bring unity to the nascent Imperium. In addition, one story focuses on the mysterious Malcador the Sigillite, the Emperor's closest ally and confidante, as he tells secrets to a dying friend.

First Lord of the Imperium by L J Goulding
Stone and Iron by Robbie MacNiven
A Lesson in Darkness by Ian St Martin

Performed by John Banks, Tim Bruce, Beth Chalmers, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Jenny Funnell, Matthew Hunt, Jonathan Keeble, Toby Longworth and Andrew Wincott

Produced by Matt Renshaw

Total running time 1 hour and 13 minutes

* * * * *

Bozgat's Big Adventure

Trapped alone (well apart from Frikk the grot, but he doesn't count, does he?), the mek Bozgat must find himself to safety – after he deals with a band of rebellious grots…

The latest adventure for the Red Sunz mekmob continues in the second part of a three-part audio drama! Bozgat, the smallest of the meks, runs out of fuel for his bike and is separated from the crew. Lost alone with Frikk the grot, he stumbles across a trading outpost deep in the desert and finds himself in trouble with a bunch of rebellious gretchin. Can Frikk save the day?

Written by Guy Haley

Performed by Tom Alexander, John Banks, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Matthew Hunt, Jonathan Keeble, David Seddon & Joe Shire

 Produced by Matt Renshaw

Running time 22 minutes 

...and finally:

Not the usual kind of voice I have to come up with for The Black Library, but now that it's all done, I think it works well - phew!

 

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

This meenz Waaagh!!!

Good afternoon!

Having completed recording on this week's book, along with some very interesting voice over and audio drama stuff, I now have a small 'window' of time, during which, I am trying to catch up with 'life', before starting prep for next week's book. And so, I can squeeze in the mention of a recording released earlier this week from The Black Library, details of which appear below:

Prophets of Waaagh!: The End of Daze

Part 1 of Prophets of Waaagh!

Stranded on a backwater world, Uggrim and his Red Sunz embark on a new adventure after their Stompa is attacked by a horde of snotlings – could it be a portent of a new Waaagh!?

The Red Sunz Meks are back! Uggrim, Snikgob, Bozgat, Talker the Madboy and Frikk the grot return. Their space hulk knocked out of the sky following the Great Rift, the boyz have fallen on hard times. Stranded on yet another backwater world, they are locked in an endless series of skirmishes over diminishing supplies with rival Mek Grimgutz.

When Fat Mork is beset by an invasion of snotlings, attacked by ork Wildboyz and Talker the Madboy goes a bit nuts, the boyz reckon a Waaagh is coming. Uggrim and his mekboys set out to join it.

Written by Guy Haley & Produced by Matt Renshaw

Performed by:

 Tom Alexander, John Banks, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Matthew Hunt, Jonathan Keeble, David Seddon & Joe Shire

Running time 21 minutes.

This short 'commuter length' audio drama, was almost too much fun to record and there are two more episodes to come. Although I'm principally playing a character called 'Mek Grimgutz', I confess to being strangely proud of my performance as one of the two Grots, who inevitably 'bite the dust' early on in proceedings; I think it's the very high pitched squeal I emit on point of death - don't know where it came from and didn't know I could actually make a sound like that! I'll highlight the character on my CV... maybe.

PS: there's also this:

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

Incarnation... of Black Eagles?

Good afternoon! Another hot and sultry day here in the UK, though you'll here no complaints from me! Having spent the past five weeks recording five audio books and three audio dramas, in air-conditioned and windowless recording studios, I'm just happy to see daylight!

As this crazy phase of recording continues, with the next two weeks devoted to two further audio books and some voice-over work, I'm afraid to say that I'm compelled once again, to be brief with this update. Still, a couple of interesting releases from The Black Library to keep things ticking over - and here are some details:

The Horusian Wars: Incarnation

Book 2 in the Horusian Wars series

Inquisitor Covenant’s quest to stop a sect of renegade Inquisitors continues as he battles to deny their sinister design on an Imperial shrine world wreathed in darkness. As his foes seek to raise a Living Saint, Covenant must do the unthinkable…

 The epic story that began in Resurrection continues as Covenant faces a challenge that will test him body and soul.

Darkness approaches Dominicus Prime, a literal Season of Night that brings with it portents, madness and strange happenings. Standing alone as a beacon against the darkness is the Monastery of the Last Candle, a temple to the holy light of the Emperor. As the bishops and the cardinals vie for power and influence, a crisis looms among the Pilgrim Drift who are starving in their droves. Discord is rife and there are whispers of a rising cult, one committed to blood and horror. Into this political powder keg comes Inquisitor Covenant and his followers. 

Drawn to the shrineworld by the prescience of the Emperor's Tarot, they come seeking the agents of the Triumverate, a sect of Horusians bent on power themselves. It is the belief of Covenant that these radicals seek an incarnation, nothing less than a divine vessel, a living saint. To what end, he can only surmise, but Covenant knows it cannot bode well. He must deny the Horusians at any cost. The fate of the very sector may be determined by it. 

Unabridged audio book written by John French, Produced by Kylia Whitehead & Narrated by me.

* * * * *

Also newly released is this short audio drama, which was great fun to record:

Guns Of The Black Eagle

A Warhammer Age of Sigmar audio short

A mid-air showdown between two Kharadron Endrinmasters turns deadly serious as each uses obscure parts of the Kharadron code – and a fair amount of cheating – to try and achieve victory.

Disputes between Kharadron Overlords sky-captains are common – and some lead to outright conflict. Such is the case as the Black Eagle is bombarded by its sister ship of Barak-Zilfin, the feared Skarskorr's Glory. But this is more than just a battle of arms. The wits of the skyvessels' captains – and their knowledge of the obscure tenets of the Kharadron code – will be tested, and only the most knowledgable, determined and, perhaps, willing to cheat will see victory…

Written by C L Werner & Produced by Matt Renshaw

Performed by John Banks, Steve Conlin & David Seddon

                                                                                                                      Running time 20 Minutes

Lots of prep to do now for next week's book, so I'd better wrap up here and get on with it. Thanks for stopping by!

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

audio vlog...

Good afternoon!

A very quick posting I'm afraid, as I'm currently in the depths of a, frankly, crazy burst of audio book recording. The original schedule of five audio books in five weeks, has now become seven audio books in seven weeks, along with three audio dramas and some voice over narration.

However, there's always time for a bit of silliness and whimsy and in this 'vlog', instigated by Ladbroke Audio Executive Producer Neil Gardner, here's the first episode of two very tired people talking about audio books 'n' stuff; hope you enjoy...
  

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

June 2018 audio releases...

...and breathe!

You find me dear reader, at the confluence of two fairly intensive periods of recording, where taking a deep breath is always a good idea.

I'm delighted that my ongoing work with the Black Library is rolling along at quite a pace and equally pleased to be embarking on the eight book series, mentioned in a previous posting, of Dorothy Dunnett's 'Niccolo Books', the first of which, 'Niccolo Rising', was completed yesterday. My sense is that the audiobook will have a running length around the 25 - 26 hour mark - and we recorded it in four working days, hence my current preoccupation with breathing...

Because of the aforementioned 'confluence', I shall be off to Nottingham tomorrow, ready to begin recording an audio book and three audio dramas next week, which need to be completed by close of play on Thursday, in time to prep for the second Niccolo book, 'Spring of The Ram', which starts recording the following Monday and which seems to be a bit longer than the first book; perhaps 26 - 27 hours running time.

Following straight on from the second Niccolo book will be the recording of a non-fiction book on the subject of 'serial killers', to be followed, guess what, by the third Niccolo book, 'Race of Scorpions', which will probably come in at around the 28 - 29 hour mark. In short; I'm scheduled to record five audio books in five weeks. No pressure then...

In the meantime, some of the stuff already recorded is, despite all efforts to the contrary, finding it's way onto the virtual and actual store shelves, all ready to be hoovered up by an insatiable public appetite for sounds to commute to, or build miniature armies to, or drive to, or whatever. Which is good!

Martyrs of Elysia

A Warhammer 40,000 audio drama

Accused of murdering a rival officer, veteran drop trooper Sergeant Zachariah must convince the ruthless Commissar Mastroval of his innocence if he is to survive.

A traitor’s death awaits Sergeant Zachariah of the 158th Elysian. Accused of murdering a rival officer, the veteran drop trooper must convince the ruthless Commissar Mastroval of his innocence if he is to survive.

As the interrogation reveals disturbing truths surrounding the high-ranking officer’s demise, Zachariah realises not all is as it seems. A secret he buried long ago, one perhaps even more condemning, is on the verge of being unearthed.

Written by Chris Dows, Produced by Matt Renshaw & Narrated by John Banks

* * * * *

Next up is this anthology of almost 'commuter length' audio dramas, which was released a couple of weeks ago by The Black Library; here are some details:

Shadespire: The Darkness in the Glass

A Warhammer Age of Sigmar audio anthology

In the shattered ruins of the City of Mirrors, three tales unfold. A Stormcast Eternal and Khorne Bloodreaver are linked by dreams of the past; a lone Stormcast seeks his brethren amidst the mirrors, and an aelven prince looks for something lost…

Long ago, the Katophranes of the city of Shadespire dared to defy their god. But in the Realm of Death, the ruler of the underworlds does not permit treachery, for Nagash rules all. To punish their attempts to cheat death, Nagash cursed Shadespire to an eternal half-life.

Now, centuries later, brave warriors enter the shattered remains of the Mirrored City in search of secrets and riches… and for other, darker purposes. The three tales in this audio drama anthology showcase the dangers and mysteries of Shadespire, as the Stormcast Eternals – and their allies and enemies alike – find themselves trapped, alone and in more danger than they could have possibly imagined.

Doombound by David Annandale

A Place of Reflection By David Guymer

The Autumn Prince by Guy Haley

Performed by:

John Banks, Ken Bradshaw, Tim Bruce, Beth Chalmers, Cliff Chapman, Steve Conlin, Matthew Hunt, Jonathan Keeble, 

Toby Longworth, Melvyn Rawlinson, Luis Soto & Andrew Wincott

Produced by Matt Renshaw

Each of these three audio dramas was previously available as part of the 2017 Black Library Advent Calendar.

* * * * * 

Released a couple of days ago, I'm very much looking forward to giving this audiobook a listen. I recorded it 'in house' at PRH Audio in London a few months ago and it's part of a series of similar history books and audio books, collectively known as 'Penguin Monarchs'.

Henry VIII: The Quest for Fame

Penguin Monarchs 

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Henry VIII: The Quest for Fame by John Guy, read by John Banks.


Henry VIII's reign transformed the physical and spiritual landscape of England. Magnificent, tyrannical, a strong ruler, a 'pillager of the commonwealth', this most notorious of kings remains a figure of extreme contradictions: a devout traditionalist who oversaw a cataclysmic rupture with the church in Rome, a talented, charismatic, imposing figure who nevertheless could not bear to meet people's eyes when he talked to them.

In this revealing new account, John Guy explores how Henry himself understood the world and his place in it - from his sheltered and increasingly isolated upbringing and the blazing glory of his accession to his desperate quest for recognition, fame and an heir, and the terrifying paranoia of his last, agonising, 54-inch-waisted years - and in doing so casts new light on his choice of wives and ministers, his impact on the European stage and his extraordinary legacy.
 

Running length: 3 hours - 25 minutes

 Written by John Guy & Produced by Roy McMillan
 

 ©2014 John Guy (P)2018 Penguin Books Ltd
  

* * * * *

And that's just about it for this update I'm afraid to say; there's much more in the pipeline and I'll reveal details at the appropriate time. Before then, there's more work to do than I care to think about! A bit of homework for my Saturday night's frivoloity, followed by packing for my travels during the coming week.

Enjoy the sunny weather wherever you are and if it isn't sunny where you are, you have my sympathy, as I shall be confined to a variety of windowless recording studios for the next several weeks, well away from any kind of sunshine. Hope the World Cup goes well and Le Tour de France and the F1 GP season - missing you already! :-) 

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

The Puppet Show

Welcome to The Puppet Show....





                     "Expertly narrated by the annoyingly talented John Banks" M.W. Craven


A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District's prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues, and the police are helpless.

 
When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of.
He is reluctantly partnered with brilliant but socially awkward civilian analyst Tilly Bradshaw, and the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan, and for some reason Poe is part of it.

As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. And in a shocking finale that will shatter everything he's ever believed about himself, Poe will learn that there are things far worse than being burned alive....

 Unabridged Audiobook Length: 9 hrs and 46 min

©2018 M. W. Craven (P)2018 Hachette Audio UK

This is a fabulous novel which I thoroughly enjoyed recording. It's published today in all formats and in a short while, I'm off to the launch party at a bookshop in central London. I'm looking forward to meeting the author, Mike Craven; I rarely get to meet authors, so it should be a fun event.

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

 

Rock and Roll is Life

Good afternoon! The quickest of quick updates I'm afraid; the current work situation involves a lot of preparation and I feel as though I'm in the foothills of the Himalayas, strapping on a couple of oxygen tanks and getting ready for the great ascent. As the information is already (!) available on the audible.co.uk web site, I can at least mention what I'm doing; which is unusual and means that I don't have to be 'coy' for the next six months!

Starting in late June, I'm scheduled to record the eight books of Dorothy Dunnett's 'The Niccolo Books' series, a project which should be fun and which certainly falls into the 'great challenge' category of narration. As far as I can estimate, the shortest of the eight books has a running time of about 24 hours; others are well up into the 30 hour plus range; a little bit like The Malazan series I did a couple of years ago I suppose.

However, in the meantime, I have three audio dramas to record next week and a non-Niccolo book in the first week of July, so, lots of prep as I'm sure you can imagine!

In the other meantime (?), here are some details of an audio book I recorded in April which was released at the end of May:

"Rock and Roll Is Life is the new novel from the country's leading man of letters, D. J. Taylor.  You may remember the Helium Kids. Back in their late '60s and early '70s heyday, they appeared on Top of the Tops on 27 separate occasions, released five Billboard-certified platinum albums, played sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden and were nearly, but not quite, as big as the Beatles and the Stones.

Three decades later, in the big house on the outskirts of Norwich, Nick Du Pont is looking back on the roller-coaster years he spent as their publicist in a world of licensed excess and lurking tragedy. What follows is not only the story of a rock band at a formative time in musical history, when America was opening up to English music and huge amounts of money and self-gratification were there for the taking.

For the tale is also Nick's - the life and times of a war baby born in a Norwich council house, the son of an absconding GI, whose career is a search for some of the advantages that his birth denied him. It is at once a worm's eye of British pop music's golden age and a bittersweet personal journey, with cameo appearances from everyone from Elvis and Her Majesty the Queen Mother to Andy Warhol.

Rock and Roll Is Life is a vastly entertaining, picaresque and touching novel inspired by the excess and trajectories of the great '60s and '70s supergroups and of the tales brought back from the front line by a very special breed of Englishmen who made it big in the States as the alchemists and enablers, as well as the old making way for the new in the era of the baby boomers.

At its heart is one man's adventure and the poignancy of the special relationships that dominate his life."

©2018 D. J. Taylor (P)2018 Little, Brown Book Group

* * * * * 

Tomorrow, 7th June, sees the release of M.W. Craven's fabulous novel "The Puppet Show", which I also recorded in April. The audio book and printed novel are being released simultaneously and I've been invited to the launch party tomorrow evening. Having had no opportunity to listen to the recording yet, my fingers are very firmly crossed in the hope that I haven't made a horrrible mess of it! That aside, it should be a fun evening; I'll let you know... !

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

 

Blackshields: Red Fief

A Horus Heresy Audio Drama

Endryd Haar leads his battered warband of renegade Blackshields into battle once more. Answering a distress call from an old friend, Haar seeks out the tithe-world of Duat, intent on plunder.

As the forces of the Warmaster close in on Terra, Endryd Haar leads his warband of renegade Blackshields into battle once more. With his forces battered in the wake of their raid on Xana, Haar finds himself in desperate need of warriors.

Answering a distress call from an old friend, Haar seeks out the tithe-world of Duat, intent on plunder. But when he discovers what is hidden there, Haar is faced with a decision that will determine his fate – and perhaps that of Terra itself.

Performed by Gareth Armstrong, John Banks, Toby Longworth, Andrew Wincott, Tim Bruce & Steve Conlin

Written by Josh Reynolds and Produced by Matt Renshaw 

* * * * *

Shockingly, this audio drama was released a week ago and I've only just been able to upload details of it here. This is the second of Josh Reynolds' 'Blackshield' adventures and I'm truly delighted to be playing Endryd Haar, the anti-hero of the stories. There's a fabulous cast for this drama too and as I got a very rare early copy, I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. Part of the enjoyment was of course, thinking back to the fun we had in the studio, but it's also very pleasing to listen to a piece of work that stands up and plays well. I enjoyed it and hope, if it's your kind of thing, that you will too.

I've been away from home for the last couple of weeks, being busy in the studio with some fabulous audio drama projects and the continuation of a long story arc in audio book format and now I'm just catching up with all the stuff I've neglected recently - like this blog!

Further busy times ahead in the very near future, though I do now have some time at home to start prepping again for the next tranche of recording, which, again, shockingly, will take me all the way through to mid October!

There's some new Sigmar stuff coming from the Black Library, which lots of folks are excited about and I was asked to record a 'trailer - reveal' with regard to what's happening - and here it is:

Thanks for stopping by -

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

Skald: The Short Story Collection

Skald: 6 Original Crime & Thriller Short Stories


Commissioned by Audible and written especially for audio format this collection brings together six crime stories through the themes of discovery, destination and arrival.

Top narrators bring these gripping tales to life acknowledging the Scandinavian tradition of oral storytelling.

In this collection Ben Okri and Martin Edwards explore 'discovery' in their stories; Sophie Hannah and Emma Dibdin each draw on 'destination' for their tales of painful pasts; and Elly Griffiths and Parker Bilal tackle the theme of 'arrival' in their stories.

Skald is one of three short story collections written by our favourite best-selling novelists and emerging authors, and curated based on the themes of arrival, discovery and destination. Jali collates science fiction tales while Bard collates contemporary fiction.

Stories written by Martin Edwards, Ben Okri, Sophie Hannah, Emma Dibdin, Elly Griffiths & Parker Bilal 

 Narrated by John Banks, Jessica Dennis, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Damian Lynch, Colleen Prendergast & Katy Sobey

Running Length 4 hours - 30 minutes

©2018 Audible, Ltd. (P)2018 Audible, Ltd.
 

 

I must say, it was great fun to record 'Bully The Blue Bear' by Sophie Hannah for this series. I narrated the story, directed by Tamsin Collison and then Colleen Prendergast (in the photo, right) came in and the two of us recorded the rest of the story together in dialogue.

We were subsequently interviewed for a short promo by Audible Studios, which was a hoot and, as usual, I blathered on for ages. The amount they eventually used in the video was tiny in comparison to the deluge of noise I came up with. Colleen, in contrast, was concise and sensible and I'm very glad she was there, otherwise, I might still be talking and pontificating on life and the universe - as one does!

Alas, the video is bigger than the upload limit for this site (!); though it can be viewed at the Audible web site (Skald: The Short Story Collection) or on my Twitter feed (top left on this site).

* * * * *

On a different subject; the last couple of weeks have been very busy in the recording studio and the latest audio book was finished on Saturday evening. The dealine for publishing on this one is quite tight and in addition to actual recording, editing and checking also take up a chunk of time, so, we had to get it recorded asap, hence a late Saturday completion.

This week is mostly about prepping for the next two weeks in studio, so I'd better sign off now and get on with some work!

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

"As ve spoke the ritual lines, Magos Dominus Militaris Xaiozanus Skitara Xilliarkis Exasas dilated the dorsal spiracles of vis intertracular lymphoid to release a cloud of bacteriophagic incense."

Your mission dear reader, should you wish to accept it, is to have a shot at saying the above line out loud and to say it 'with purpose'...

Tricky huh? Well, it was a very small part of my Imperator 'mission' and I found it quite tricky!

It's taken from a fantastic story though, by Gav Thorpe, and I enjoyed the challenge of performing the text as an audio book. It was released a couple of days ago on the 23rd of April, so I can now look forward to hearing the finished production and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it works in audio as well as it works in print. Tricky...tricky...

Here are some details from The Black Library:

Imperator: Wrath of the Omnissiah

An Adeptus Titanicus novel

The Casus Belli, an Imperator Titan that has defended the Imperium for ten millennia, marches to war at the head of an army of Adeptus Mechanicus – but will treachery end the god-machine's long legacy of glory?

Holy warbringer of the Legio Metalica, the Imperator Titan Casus Belli has routed armies and levelled cities over ten thousand years of service in the name of the Machine God.

As war engulfs the Dark Imperium this mechanical god of battle arrives to destroy the renegade armies and tech-priests of Nicomedua. At the head of a battlegroup of Titans, Imperial Knights and skitarii, Casus Belli must defeat tainted war engines, Traitor Legionnares and armies of cultists.

While apocalyptic battles rage across the planet, a no less deadly battle unfolds within the Titan itself, as Magos Exasus, leader of the Casus Belli’s Tech-guard, must find and defeat the enemy within before their insidious plans come to fruition.

Written by Gav Thorpe & Narrated by John Banks 

Unabridged running time: 9 hours - 39 minutes

* * * * *

Thanks as always for stopping by the web site, it's been some while since I've been able to update as I've been very busy recording lots of new stuff. The reason I have a little 'free' time this afternoon is that I'm trying to shake off a cold. A cold! I hate having colds (who doesn't?) and this one has affected my voice quite a bit, which is very boring. 

Fingers crossed, the cold will soon abate and I'll be back in studio very soon; next up is an excellent crime/detective story and I'm really itching to get on with it! There are also some interesting audio dramas and books coming in the pipeline and I'm looking forward to telling you all about them ASAP. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy Imperator.

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

Sherlock Holmes: The Master of Blackstone Grange

This story, The Master of Blackstone Grange, recorded in September 2017, marks my 100th audio drama with director Ken Bentley. It was released at the end of March as part of a box set, along with The Adventure of the Fleet Street Transparency, both written by Jonathan Barnes.

"The arrival at Baker Street of a client who, unusually, seeks advice from both men brings to their attention the existence of an isolated manor house in the east of England known as Blackstone Grange. The place, for so long the locus of wild rumours of witchcraft and sorcery, has acquired a very modern new master – a charismatic socialite named ‘Honest’ Jim Sheedy, a man of boundless ambition whose influence over British society appears, inexplicably, to be growing.

The detective learns that Colonel Sebastian Moran, released early from prison, travels to meet with Sheedy on the very day of his freedom. But curiosity curdles into obsession when Mycroft warns his brother, in the strictest possible terms, against investigating any further."

Nicholas Briggs (Sherlock Holmes), Richard Earl (Dr John Watson), Harry Peacock (‘Honest’ Jim Sheedy), Lucy Briggs-Owen (Genevieve Dumont), Tim Bentinck (Mycroft Holmes / Apothecary), John Banks (Colonel Sebastian Moran), Eve Webster (Grace / Ettie), Nigel Hastings (Horace Grigg), David Birrell (Inspector Felix Abell / Lord Arthur Perowne), Tomm Coles (Ferndown / Chilcott), Blake Ritson (Dr Kemp), Anjella Mackintosh (Lydia Rangeley / Sally), Leighton Pugh (Hubert Rangeley / Clark / Mr Blythe / Impressario). Other parts played by members of the cast.

Written by Jonathan Barnes & Directed by Ken Bentley 

* * * * *

The last few weeks have been occupied with some interesting and diverse audio projects - details to follow - and lots of preparation for a very busy phase of recording to come over the next few weeks. Certainly, the time between now and the middle of May is going to be a bit crazy; a drama and a book to record next week alone! I'll let you know how I get on!

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