One Narrator Isn't Enough
A talented narrator transforms an audiobook, and while some solo performances are already out of this world, sometimes a story calls for an entire ensemble. Whether you're after fantasy or a zombie apocalypse, these five titles prove that casting can be every bit as important as the story itself.
Geon George on Unsplash The Sandman — Neil Gaiman and Dirk Maggs
Audible's rendition feels closer to an elaborate drama than your everyday audiobook. James McAvoy leads the cast as Dream, while Kat Dennings plays Death and Michael Sheen does an impeccable job as Lucifer. Riz Ahmed, Taron Egerton, Andy Serkis, and Neil Gaiman himself also appear.
Daisy Jones & The Six — Taylor Jenkins Reid
Because Reid's novel is written as an oral history, it practically lent itself to multiple voices—and you’ll get them. Jennifer Beals voices Daisy, Pablo Schreiber portrays Billy Dunne, and Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, January LaVoy, and Julia Whelan are among the large supporting cast. The result makes the band's interviews even more convincing.
Lincoln in the Bardo — George Saunders
Calling this cast "large" doesn't really do it any justice, but we’ll try! Lincoln in the Bardo uses an extraordinary 166 performers (yes, you read that right), including Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Carrie Brownstein, Susan Sarandon, Ben Stiller, Bill Hader, and Julianne Moore. With so many people contributing to the unusual story, the crowded studio actually works in its favor.
World War Z: The Complete Edition — Max Brooks
If you're going to recount a zombie catastrophe through survivor interviews, you need plenty of survivors to sell the story. This edition delivers them with some of the biggest names we could ask for, including Mark Hamill, Alan Alda, Nathan Fillion, Simon Pegg, Common, Alfred Molina, and F. Murray Abraham.
American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition — Neil Gaiman
For a novel packed with gods and larger-than-life personalities, a full ensemble is only half the battle. You also need to be talented, which is exactly what Daniel Oreskes and Ron McLarty are! If you've only read this one, Audible’s version offers a distinctly different experience.
