Orphans of Raspay on Audio in July?

Just spotted: an Audible entry that claims that the 7th Penric & Desdemona novella, "The Orphans of Raspay", is scheduled for release in audio on July 14th. There is a pre-order page up. Yay!

Through Blackstone Audiobooks as usual. Too early for the narrator to be named or the cover to be displayed yet, it seems. I'll keep an eye out.

Ta, L.
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Published on April 13, 2020 21:24
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message 1: by Heather-Lin (new)

Heather-Lin That's exciting! Your note about cover and narrator have me curious, though. It's always surprising to me anytime I discover all the ways an author isn't in charge of precisely how their work reaches it's audience. Like, the cover art, sometimes the blurb on the back, etc. With audio narrators, are they another thing the publisher chooses without author input, or do authors listen to auditions? I've always imagined the latter scenario.

In any case, I'm sure we're in good hands :) All your audiobooks have been beautifully produced, with my favorite of course, being Kate Reading's Paladin of Souls. 🖤


message 2: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Heather-Lin wrote: "That's exciting! Your note about cover and narrator have me curious, though. It's always surprising to me anytime I discover all the ways an author isn't in charge of precisely how their work reach..."

The audio producer usually selects (and pays) the narrator. I actually did do an audition for the first time for "Knife Children", since I wanted to switch to a male narrator for Barr's story. They sent me three audio samples of narrators reading the same first few pages. (Modern technology!) All were good, but Tim Campbell seemed best to "get" the dry humor of the tale. I later learned that he was a prior Bujold fan, which explained it.

I've worked closely with my old friend Ron Miller on my indie e-book covers, and it's still not something I really control. I've gradually realized covers are one of those joint efforts where, weirdly, no one involved does.

Ta, L.


message 3: by Jonathan (new)

Jonathan Palfrey For me, "The prisoner of Limnos" is the best of this series so far, but "The orphans of Raspay" is good enough, and worth rereading. I'm afraid I don't do audiobooks: they're too slow. I read much faster.


message 4: by Lois (new)

Lois Bujold Jonathan wrote: "For me, "The prisoner of Limnos" is the best of this series so far, but "The orphans of Raspay" is good enough, and worth rereading. I'm afraid I don't do audiobooks: they're too slow. I read much ..."

I'm pretty visual myself, but audiobooks have been a godsend for a friend, who used to read even faster than I used to, who developed eye issues that would have cut her off from books otherwise. So the transition was rather forced upon her, but she made it.

And, well, I sell ebooks too, so I trust everyone's covered.

Ta, L.


message 5: by Jonathan (new)

Jonathan Palfrey Indeed, I appreciate that audiobooks are useful for some. I've heard that they can also be useful on long car journeys, which I very rarely make.


message 6: by Heather-Lin (new)

Heather-Lin I'm enormously grateful for audiobooks as well, even though I dearly love curling up and reading traditionally. A 10 hour audiobook is only about a 5 hour eyeball book, but I adore being immersed in a story while I'm outside gardening, or cooking, or running errands, etc. It's like hanging out with a best friend (if the book is awesome ;) ) without the post visit fatigue!


message 7: by Serendi (new)

Serendi Jonathan wrote: "Indeed, I appreciate that audiobooks are useful for some. I've heard that they can also be useful on long car journeys, which I very rarely make."

I listen to most audiobooks at 1.25 speed; some double the speed. Makes it a bit faster...


message 8: by Jonathan (last edited Apr 15, 2020 08:13AM) (new)

Jonathan Palfrey Serendi wrote: "I listen to most audiobooks at 1.25 speed; some double the speed."

That's an amusing idea! Could also be useful for some.


message 9: by Penny (new)

Penny It's amazing how the pain of washing dishes or doing the daily mandatory hibernation walk can be eased by listening to audiobooks. If only all the Penric stories could be combined into one audio, in the internal order.


message 10: by Melvin (new)

Melvin Smitherman Since 1968 I've listened to audio books through NLS "National Library Service", and I've loved the fact that Blind & Physically Handicapped Persons such as my wife and I have such access to so much. That being said, we've been waiting for "The Orphans of Raspay" since it was released in 2018. ALEXA is nice, but she is not "Grover Gardner". I guess I've never really met a Bujold book I didn't enjoy. Of course, I've got to love Miles, you see, I'd be a muty on Barrayar too. If Grover Gardner doesn't narrate "The Orphans of Raspay" I will adapt and enjoy it too because I've already listened to ALEXA read it and it was a good read then. Ah for the human touch.


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