How about the Trek books on tape?

[jayrath]

At least, that's what we used to call them. Does anyone else enjoy them? They're cut down tremendously, of course, but they're also sometimes enhanced when read by cast members.

Anyone have any favorites? Does anyone find some titles to be more entertaining and compelling in this format?

 

[Paris]

I enjoy the "books on tape"...even the abridged versions. But having said that, I've also found an unabridged version of John Vornholt's TOS novel, Sanctuary, and I enjoyed it much more. I can't remember exactly how long it was, but at least 6 hours or so I think. The unabridged versions of the Vulcan's Soul books (Exodus, Exiles, Epiphany) are also quite long and are a great listen. They're all better than the 1.5 hour versions of several of the other books...

 

[Smellincoffee]

I've only had the pleasure of enjoying one, and I think it was more of an audio dramatization than a straight reading of Greg Cox's The Rise of Khan Noonien Singh.

 

[Greg Cox]

I've only had the pleasure of enjoying one, and I think it was more of an audio dramatization than a straight reading of Greg Cox's The Rise of Khan Noonien Singh.

Thanks! I certainly can't complain about the voice talent on those audiobooks. Anthony Stewart Head did the first one and Rene Auberjonois did the second . . . .

A shame we couldn't get Ricardo Montalban, though!

 

[Therin of Andor]

At least, that's what we used to call them. Does anyone else enjoy them? They're cut down tremendously, of course, but they're also sometimes enhanced when read by cast members.

Well, of course, the pre-CD ST abridged audios have their roots in a very different era. Fans bought them if they wanted to enjoy a new presentation by a favourite ST actor, or if they'd read the book and wanted a refresh, or if they were too lazy to read the book. Unabridged audios in any genre were quite unusual. You had to obtain them from the Blind Society, or be prepared to have numerous cassettes taking up room.

My complete listing:
http://therinofandor.blogspot.com.au/2007/05/i-hear-star-trek.html

I enjoy the "books on tape"...even the abridged versions. But having said that, I've also found an unabridged version of John Vornholt's TOS novel, Sanctuary

Mmmm. "Sanctuary"? Was it an officially licensed version? Who narrated?

 

[JD]

They aren't just for people who are too lazy to read the whole books, sometimes people aren't able to for one reason or another. If my problems I was having with my arms had continued and gotten to a point where I couldn't hold my Nook, I would have switched over to audio books. And before I was able to read well enough to get through a whole novel, I got and listened to the audios.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Here in Germany, there are official and unabridged audio versions of all five Vanguard books available for download.

I would love to listen to them during my daily commute, but unfortunately the German translation is rather bulky (blame the language) and lacks the emotional impact of the original (blame the translators).

If these (or some nice audio versions of the various relaunch novels) were available in English, I'd buy them in a heartbeat. Surely if such a thing is possible in Germany, it must be in the US.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Anyone have any favorites?

Yesterday's Son and Time For Yesterday read by Doohan and Nimoy

Q-in-Law read by DeLancie and Barrett

 

[Therin of Andor]

If these (or some nice audio versions of the various relaunch novels) were available in English, I'd buy them in a heartbeat. Surely if such a thing is possible in Germany, it must be in the US.

Someone need only buy a license. That's what Recorded Books did for their unabridged "Vulcan's Soul" trilogy, despite Pocket already releasing Book 1 as an abridged audio. The novelization of "Star Trek Nemesis" was released unabridged by Sound Library/BBC Audiobooks America, despite Pocket already releasing an abridged audio. and Simon & Schuster finally took the plunge with the "Star Trek" (2009) novelization by Alan Dean Foster, read by Zachary Quinto.

If you know someone with a visual impairment, they'd probably have access to the Blind Society's library. IIRC, such organisations have permission to tape volunteer-narrated unabridged novels for their users.

 

[Greg Cox]

They aren't just for people who are too lazy to read the whole books, sometimes people aren't able to for one reason or another. If my problems I was having with my arms had continued and gotten to a point where I couldn't hold my Nook, I would have switched over to audio books. And before I was able to read well enough to get through a whole novel, I got and listened to the audios.

Exactly. My father did lots of long-distance trucking and he loved his audiobooks because it gave him something to listen to on long hauls to Spokane or whatever.

Similarly, my girlfriend is a professional sculptor who enjoys listening to audiobooks while her hands are occupied for hours at a time . . . .

 

[Smitty]

I tried them and just could not enjoy them knowing that they were so heavily abridged. I listen to a ton of books (via audible) and would love nothing more than for trek lit to be available in all its' glory!

 

[Destructor]

I've got a few of the audio books from Audible, from memory, they were:

Prime Directive (as read by James Doohan. It was fine)
Spock v. Q (more of a stage show than a book, but it was fine).
The 34th Rule (as read by Armin Shimmerman, this was heavily abridged, and I was told on these forums by the co-author that neither he nor Armin were happy with the abridgement).

 

[Therin of Andor]

Prime Directive (as read by James Doohan. It was fine)

The 34th Rule (as read by Armin Shimmerman, this was heavily abridged, and I was told on these forums by the co-author that neither he nor Armin were happy with the abridgement).

Both 180 mins, both abridged by George Truett. "Prime Directive" was a hardcover; "The 34th Rule" was a chunky MMPB. Abridging is an art form - and an editor's nightmare.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I'm a big fan of the trek audio books and have several of them on mp3 now. The first one that I ever bought is the audio book for "Imazdi" read by Jonathon Frakes. I got Marina Sirtis to sign the cover at my first ST convention. I love the Shatnerverse audio books.