Download the New Releases Audiobooks in Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

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Title: Tales of H. P. Lovecraft

Subtitle: Volume 1

Author: H. P. Lovecraft

Narrator: Rupert Degas

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-11-09

Publisher: Audio Rights Solutions

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 86 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Ten tales of horror, mystery, imagination and just plain down-home weirdness from the master of the macabre. Lovecraft is commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th century. Stephen King has called him "the twentieth century's greatest practitioner of the classic horror tale."

©2009 Beautiful Books Ltd; (P)2009 Beautiful Books Ltd

Members Reviews:

Several stories included

This audio book included several of the more obscure Lovecraft stories. 10 stories in all

The Alchemist

The Festival

The Beast in the Cave

Beyond the Wall of Sleep

Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn

The Descendant

The Hound

From Beyond

Cool Air

The White Ship

Great selection of tales, I am looking forward to the remaining volumes!

From the "Meh" to the "Actually Kind of Scary"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! Lovecraft is a seminal work for those who love sci fi/fantasy and has inspired many much-loved modern works. This collection is a good introduction to him and some of the pieces were actually a bit scary.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tales of H. P. Lovecraft?

When Lovecraft made you really feel how trapped and dead that man lost in the cave was.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Anything involving primates

Any additional comments?

This collection has some of his more obscure works (which are kind of "meh" - they aren't particularly scary and the endings are almost nonsensical even by Lovecraftian standards) and a few that are actually a bit scary when you think about them. There's a bit too much "spooky music" in between stories, but I'd still recommend this short collection. That last hour to 1.5 hours was amazing.

Be ye warned as nightfall approaches

H.P. Lovecraft is frightfully good at making the hairs on your body stand on end as he weaves tales of death and horror. His marvelous tales are rooted in the the Occult and will leave you frightened to your wits end.

Pretty good ... but some reading flaws

Enjoyed this a lot - I prefer single author collections over singleton short pieces; many of the other audible available Lovecraft works are singletons only. However, the reader does not do accents very well. His normal narration is fine, but some of the accents are somewhat ludicrous at best and barely understandable at worse. This exacerbated by the very occasional addition of sound effects. I do hope this reader does more volumes, but skips the accents and the unnecessary effects.

Quite the disappointment

I have been a fan of Lovecrafts's since I was a boy, but these stories are a waste of a credit. They have no build-up of suspense, they have no surprise endings, they have no substance in the body of work. Run away from this book.

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Title: The Affair of the Christmas Jewel

Author: Barry Roberts

Narrator: David Ian Davies

Format: Unabridged

Length: 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-09-09

Publisher: One Voice Recordings

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Flagged down by Inspector LaStrade of Scotland Yard as they walk through the icy winter streets, Holmes and Watson are transported to the home of the aristocratic Lady Whitebread. Once there, she tells them her traditional holiday centerpiece has vanished in the midst of the Christmas dinner - right under the very noses of her guests. The decoration? An enormous work of the jeweler's art centered upon a three inch round emerald called...the Christmas Jewel.

©2002 Barry Roberts; (P)2009 One Voice Recordings

Editorial Reviews:

David Ian Davies, veteran actor and product of the London Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, brings vibrancy to the wide range of voices and characters as Dr. Watson, Sherlock Holmes, and their acquaintances are enveloped within the mystery of who stole Lady Whitebreads traditional holiday centerpiece. Barrie Roberts has created another in his series of entertaining pastiches of the masterly Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this time built around a missing fruit knife and what Lady Whitebread refers to as "an ugly object, but [one] of preposterous value and an heirloom of my family."

Critic Reviews:

"The most incredible one-person audio you have heard. Has to be heard to be believed. David Ian Davies creates theatre in a book." (Charles Prepolec, one of the most respected Sherlockians)

Members Reviews:

Narration Great, Story Average

What did you like best about The Affair of the Christmas Jewel? What did you like least?

I very much like the narration of David Ian Davies. The contrast between his voices for Watson & Holmes has always stood out for me. In a bit of a side note, he is able to do high pitched voices without losing the clarity of the words.

What was most disappointing about Barry Robertss story?

The story had a good premise but it was way too easy to spot the culprit, even early on.

What about David Ian Daviess performance did you like?

See answer to first question.

Could you see The Affair of the Christmas Jewel being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

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Title: Rumpole for the Prosecution

Author: John Mortimer

Narrator: Leo McKern

Format: Abridged

Length: 1 hr and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-25-09

Publisher: Audio Holdings, LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Horace Rumpole is back! This time to relate his witty tales as an Old Bailey prosecutor with a penchant for gin and justice. Listen to Rumpole's biting cynicism and dry humor... then become a lifelong fan!

©1990 John Mortimer; (P)2009 Audio Holdings, LLC

Editorial Reviews:

Horace Rumpole is a staunch defender. In fact, only one time in his long career has been a prosecutor, and this audiobook, Rumpole for the Prosecution, is that story. Leo McKern's voice acting is familiar to those who saw him play Rumpole on the popular British TV series. With unending wit and droll narration, Rumpole is at it again at the "Old Bailey". John Mortimer's book series is appealing, hilarious, and heartwarming, as Rumpole prosecutes crime and solves yet another mystery.

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Title: Rumpole and the Man of God

Author: John Mortimer

Narrator: Leo McKern

Format: Abridged

Length: 1 hr and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-24-09

Publisher: Audio Holdings, LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Known as the Bailey hack for his chain smoking, the irrepressible Rumpole is engaged to defend a priest who is accused of theft. Meeting up with old friend George for after-work drinks, Rumpole can't help but notice that George's female companion looks suspiciously familiar.

©1979 John Mortimer; (P)2009 Audio Holdings, LLC

Editorial Reviews:

Rumpole and the Man of God, one in John Mortimer's The Trials of Rumpole compels listeners to hang on every word, as Leo McKern charmingly again performs the role of the droll barrister. In this installment of the audiobooks based on the popular British television series, Rumpole is engaged to defend a priest who is a thief. In the course of daily business, Rumpole's after-dinner drinks with George get interesting as he recognizes George's lady friend. With a dry wit and a unwitting penchant for solving mysteries, Rumpole is at it again!

Members Reviews:

The inimitable Leo McKern does Rumpole

I love the Rumpole stories and no one performs them better than Leo McKern. McKern also has tremendous range as the other characters who appear in this one. The longstanding characters : wife Hilda ( She Who Must Be Obeyed) and the group of flawed colleagues at Rumpole s law "chambers" ,are as amusing as ever. The plot is entertaining and satisfying. The whole thing is very funny! My only criticism is that these stories aren't really long enough for a whole book,and a always want more. That John Mortimer is a brilliant writer goes without saying!

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Title: Metamorphosis and Dragonfield

Author: Milbre Burch, Jane Yolen

Narrator: Milbre Burch

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-03-09

Publisher: Kind Crone Productions

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

So begins "Dragonfield", by celebrated author Jane Yolen. Paired with Milbre Burch's "Metamorphosis" (James Tiptree Jr. Award Semi-Finalist), these two contemporary fairy tales of true love and high adventure will enchant and entertain you.

Critic Reviews:

"Two unique tales that adapt classical fairy tale motifs of transformation - the slaying of a dragon and the marriage of a prince to a frog - and make them contemporary." (Yellow Moon Press)

"Milbre Burch beautifully communicates a set of values rarely found in fairy tales.... Where else would one of the prince brothers bring home his male beloved?" (Ladyslipper Catalog)

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Title: Malice Domestic 2: An Anthology of Original Mystery Stories (Unabridged)

Author: Mary Higgins Clark (editor)

Narrator: Mason Adams, Susan Anspach, Mary Catlett, Samantha Eggar, Robert Forster, Richard Gilliland, Loryn Locklin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-22-09

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark presents this delightfully chilling collection of original mystery stories. This fitting tribute to the world's most beloved crime writer, Dame Agatha Christie, showcases a house full of top contemporary writers at their very best.

©1993 Martin Greenberg; (P)2009 Phoenix

Members Reviews:

Three Stars

Not my favorite.

Five Stars

Looking forward to some great short stories.

THREE EXCELLENT STORIES AND FOUR CLUNKERS IN A COLLECTION OF SIXTEEN

So far, there are 9 other volumes in this series. MALICE DOMESTIC 2: AN ANTHOLOGY OF ORIGINAL TRADITIONAL MYSTERY STORIES (1993) has a very short introd. by Mary Higgins Clark (less than 2 pages) and contains 16 original short stories of varying merit: (1) "Who Shot Mrs. Byron Boyd?" by Amanda Cross (pen name of Prof. Carolyn Heilbrun); (2) "Dog Television" by Robert Barnard; (3) "Goodbye, Sue Ellen" by Gillian Roberts; (4) "Even Steven" by Taylor McCafferty; (5) "Water" by Sally Gunning; (6) "You Never Know" by Sarah Shankman; (7) "The Return of Ma Barker" by Gary Alexander; (8) "A Romance in the Rockies" by K. K. Beck; (9) "Checkout" by Susan Dunlap; (10) "The Nieman Marcus Body" by Lucretia Grindle; (11) "Anna and the Snake People" by Ed Gorman; (12) ". . . That Married Dear Old Dad" by Margaret Maron; (13) "Parris Green" by Carole Nelson Douglas; (14) "Kim's Game" by M. D. Lake (pen name of Prof. Allen Simpson); (15) "Arsenic and Old Ideas" by Jan Grape; and (16) "Cold and Deep" by Frances Fyfield.

Overall, if I were giving this anthology a letter grade, I would rate it as a "B-" and would be giving extra credit to one story that is NOT in any sense a "traditional mystery story." The ninth story, "Checkout," is a fairly clever, semi-humorous afterlife Fantasy with a punning title; it contains no mystery or crime or detection in any ordinary sense of these terms--but it is an enjoyable piece nevertheless. (And, despite its unusual subject and approach, "Checkout" was awarded both an ANTHONY and a MACAVITY in 1994.)

Otherwise, I would give an "A-" to the second story, which is cleverly told from a dog's viewpoint, and a solid "A" to the sixth and sixteenth stories (Shankman's tale about New Orleans commuters is excellently plotted and very well written, while Fyfield's is a brilliant character disclosure story, slightly marred when the author forgetfully calls one character by the name of another several times at the end). I would give a solid "C" to three stories--the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth: the first two seem surprisingly amateurish in their characterization and plotting, unlike other stories I've read by Gorman and Maron, while "Parris Green" (an Irene Adler "case" involving Oscar Wilde, an artist, and a dead model) has an excess of historical detail weighing it down.

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Title: Christmas Classics

Subtitle: Stories for the Whole Family

Author: Charles Dickens, O. Henry

Narrator: full cast

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Listen to a collection of classic stories by the world's most beloved writers. Here are the complete stories, unabridged, for you and your family to enjoy together this Christmas and for many Christmases to come. Family favorites and remembered treasures are in this collection, as well as a few light-hearted surprises.

(P)2006 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Members Reviews:

Christmas Classics: Stories for the whole Family

The stories are read too fast. Also, a selection of shorter stories would be more interesting to listen to.

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Title: Keeper of Dreams, Volume 3

Subtitle: Feed the Baby of Love and Other Stories

Author: Orson Scott Card

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-24-08

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 25 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Together, the three volumes of Keeper of Dreams comprise nearly every story Card has written since the publication of Maps in a Mirror.

Members Reviews:

Enjoyable 'reads'

Although I am a fan, and have 'read' some of his science fiction and fantasy work (there is so much), I enjoyed Keeper of Dreams (Vol. 1-3) a great deal. Such variety and ever amazing creativity. I also enjoyed, for the most part, the Morman stories of Vol. 3 as well. Recommend all three - you will not be disappointed.

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Title: Devan Short Stories

Author: Devan

Narrator: Revathy Sankkaran

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-16-08

Publisher: Kizhakku Pathippagam

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

Devan was one of the greatest of 20th-century Tamil writers, known for his witty and humorous stories. He was a competent and accomplished writer, who used several interesting and varied techniques in fiction writing. From travelogues to recipes, from detective stories to social dramas, he has written them all.

Short stories in this collection include: Kandasamy Pen Puli Sakthi Mothiram Vaira Bulakku Kadhal Poyin Athisaya Thampathigal Nadigan Narayanan Sundarammavin Aavi Kanjanoor Sengamalam Veerabaguvin Sanjalam Thanga Penavum Vaira Mothiramum.

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Title: Chapter and Hearse

Author: Catherine Aird

Narrator: Bruce Montague

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-06-08

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories & Anthologies

Publisher's Summary:

This collection of mysteries contains the following short stories: "A Change of Heart", "Due Diligence", "Time Gentleman Please", "Cold Comfort Far", "Chapter and Hearse", "The Widow's Might", "Handsel Monday", "Preyed in Aid", "A DIfferent Cast of Mind", "Examination Results", "Child's Play", "Like to Die", "Dead Letters", "Gold, Frankincense, and Murder", "The Trouble and Strife", "Losing the Plot", "A Soldier of the Queen", "Touch Not the Cat", "Exit Strategy", "The Wild Card", "Coup de Grace", and "Dummy Run".

©2003 Catherine Aird;

Members Reviews:

Delightful collection

This is a wonderful collection. Some of the stories feature the characters well known from Aird's novels, but some have quite different characters and quite different periods.

A few of the plots are obvious, but Aird's characters and her senses of place are always wonderful.