Hello Planet, I know its probably faux pax for a newbie to post a new thread, so I submit to any torture that's in store for me. I searched the site for this topic (THANKS for getting Search back up), and was surprised that no one mentioned the audiobooks. I felt compelled!

How many of you have listened to the Rob Inglis audiobooks of LotR and The Hobbit (unabridged)? They are not cheap but they are available for purchase. And if you are even the slightest bit a Tolkien fan, it is money waaaay well spent. I have some thoughts and questions to those who have heard it...

First of all, can you imagine how how long it must have taken to record?? Seriously... open a few random pages tonight and read it aloud to yourself. How long does it take to get through two pages? How many times do you stumble? As for myself the answer is several. And I'm big into public speaking and so forth. Now, imagine reading it aloud with emotion and slipping in and out of dozens of characters on the fly. It must have taken incredibly long, even if Inglis is a master reader and performer and hardly makes mistakes. But stop for a minute and truly imagine what it took to read and record. There are hundreds of unique words to learn and pronounce properly. There are dozens of characters per scene in some cases (Council of Elrond), and he gives each character their own voice. Then there are the songs. I don't know if there is a canonical book out there that gives the tunes to the songs, but if not, Inglis or someone had to invent the tunes for the words. And he sings it, and its mind blowing. I used to (I'm ashamed to admit) skip a lot of the songs the first few times I read it. They just didn't "speak" to me. But now, I love to read them (and listen to them). Like when Gandalf overcomes Wormtongue and "possessed" Theoden in the Golden Hall.... I used to think it was kind of cheesy that Gandalf partially "defeats" them with a song. But having heard it performed, an given its emotional impact, when Gandalf sings "Galadriel, Galadriel!" it actually sends chills up my spine. His reading is terrific.

He gives inflections in all the right places. When I read the books I now hear his voice in my head. He says everything with such panache. I mean, wow. And with the audiobook, you can "live" in the secondary universe virtually anywhere. In the car, while hiking in nature, at work, while playing a LotR video game or board game. Listen to your favorite chapters over and over, or maybe learn to appreciate passages in new ways. I for one was never really that wild about the second half of TT. A lot of 3 characters talking and wondering around without much in the way of plot development or action. I mean, how long do they sit in front of the Black Gates talking about what to do next? But the audiobooks made me appreciate that stuff even more, especially when Faramir gets involved, and REALLY especially Shelob's Liar. And the way Inglis voices Sam in The Choices of Master Samwise, as poor Sam is debating within himself and later kicking himself... its all rather touching.

Another question... how much do you think Inglis got paid?! GIven how long it must have taken, how many words to read, how many unique words to memorize, how many characters to perform... I mean, how much do you think he got?? I imagine quite a bit. Perhaps those of you in the UK are very familiar with who he is, but, I mean, is he a genius? Or did he really just take his time, read it multiple times, make corrections? Is he a savant or something? I'm sure there are other audiobooks, but Inglis's is the definitive one as far as I know. Any others to recommend?

Anyway, I just had to start this topic because truly it is mindblowing and something every fan should hear. We  need to talk about it.

I personally love audiobooks. I think in some ways they help you visualize the scene in your mind. I listened to the chapters I like over and over, like "Many Partings". I love listening to them when I go to bed. It's like having someone to tell you a story until you fall asleep, as if you were a child.

About the voice reading LOTR, I cannot say I love it as much as you do. It's "too dark" for me. I love voices expressing the pain and sorrow of the characters, but this one is maybe "too old", I don't know how to explain... but anyway it's still better than the voice reading the Children of Hurin: since this is absolutely my favorite Tolkien book, I listened to the complete audiobook (and re-listened to some chapters many time, like "The Death of Beleg" or "The Death of Turin" but, again, the voice sounds too old. I cannot listen to a probably 50/60-year-old-man with a deep voice telling about the deeds of a beautiful, young and strong Turin, if you take my meaning.

But I love listening to audiobooks anyways. Especially because they help me with my English: not only I learn new words, but they also tell me how to pronounce them!

Most of Tolkien's writings are, or have been, available in audio format; beginning in the 70s with long-playing records (LPs) of the man himself reading extracts from TH, and LotR, and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. The latter also has songs; that is, some of Tolkien's poems set to music by Donald Swann. The music scores are available in book form; 'The road Goes Ever On'.

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned the name of the narrator of The Children of Hurin. This is none other than Sir Christopher Lee himself; and I think he makes an excellent job of it. The only performance I'm not too keen on is Martin Shaw's reading of TH. Too low-key fro my taste. But Shaw makes an excellent job of reading The SIlmarillion. I like Nicol Williams'  reading of The Hobbit, too (abridged though is may be).

Sir Derek Jacobi has recorded The Father Christmas Letters; and Roverandom; and also a compilation tape of Farmer Giles of Ham; Smith of Wootton Major and Leaf by Niggle. All of these productions are unabridged; and they are magical. Brian Sibley adapted FGH, SWM and LBN for the radio many years back; these are (or were) available on tape. Brian Blessed plays farmer Giles with gusto. Leaf by Niggle is a favourite of mine; both in both the play and esp. in the unabridged  reading by Jacobi - that phrase 'a little gentle treatment' is very moving.

The list goes on; and it's not restricted to Tolkien's fiction. I have here two tapes of Tolkien's translations from the Middle English - 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'  is one one set; and 'Pearl' and Sir Orfeo' is on the other. Both have cover illustrations by John Howe. And both covers are autographed by the narrator; Terry Jones of Monty Python fame - he's an English scholar, too.

The rarest of the all is Tolkien's own recording of his poem 'The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth, Beorhthelm's Son'. Tolkien recorded this on his own tape recorder, at home in Sandfield Road, Oxford. he makes a very good actor. he did the sound effects himself; hooting like an owl, and moving furniture to imitate the sound of the cart. With headphones on, one can hear the ticking of the clock, and a car going by outside the window.

wonderful information Geordie. Thankyou! I do not have any audio on any Tolkien works except for a single cd on the riddle between Bilbo Baggins and Gullum. This was done by JRR Tolkien himself. I loved his voice, but honestly, the way he spoke I was actually frightened and stopped listening half way through. He made the scene so sinister and disturbing that I freaked out. I will listen again one day, one bright and sunny day with everyone in the house with me! I admit I was shocked,for I read it without a twinge. Just something in the way he did Gollum. shiver.

The only audios I have are some of the works of Sherlock Holmes. The gentleman that does them is unbelievable . He does all the voices, and ladies even sound rather like ladies, if slightly affected. He is so enchanting I could listen to him forever.And then I have the entire of The Last Battle by the BBC and I think David Suchet is in it. It is very well done and I love the background noises and such. I long to have the works of Tolkien in audio. What a thrill that would be.

Shadowfax wrote:

"and that he worked 6 hours a day, 6 hours a week.  The stamina that "old man" has is just incredible.  As a 29 year old, I doubt I could have done the same.   As much as Rob Inglis probably loved narrating LotR, I can only imagine he said to himself, "why did I ever take this job.... its so daunting!" several times. "

Yes, it's a punishing schedule, but then British actors of his day came up through the repertory companies, which would tour the country doing several plays every month. And often, this would include two performances per day, six days a week. Here's what the Horn Book article has to say on Rob's working methods:

"...Rob Inglis needed to work six hours a day, six days a week. He would record all morning and then take a lunch break. After he had rested on a mattress in a loft in the studio (which he called his eyrie) he would continue recording until it was time to eat, go to his room, and prepare for the next day's taping. The staff plied him with Black Berry Forest tea and Pepperidge Farm cookies. In return, he inspired them to join him in doing headstands every morning to warm up for the rigours of the day".

As for a stage dramatisation - well that would work, but it's already been done, in Brian Sibley's adaptation of LotR by BBC radio in 1981. Ian Holm played Frodo.