R,A> Salvatore Auditioning Narrators for D&D Adiobooks

[Daran]

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.as...

I'm amazed it took Wizards so long to market any D&D audiobooks, let alone bestselling ones.

[P. Aaron]

Yoiks. Boyet delivers each sentence like he's using a bad pickup-line in Waterdeep's sleaziest bar. I felt like I needed to wash the oil off after hearing the sample. He also managed to mispronounce "Taulamril" (okay, it's a proper name) and "Scimitars" (which isn't). Fail.

David Marantz shared Boyet's bad habit of pronouncing "Drizzt" with a buzzing emphasis on the "z"s which sounded like a hive of bees. Also, odd pacing and emphasis. He hits "Drizzt" and "Woad" as though they were foreign words every single time.

Victor Bevine was soothing. Sean-Astin-esque. Definitely my choice between those three.

[Daran]

P. Aaron wrote: "Yoiks. Boyet delivers each sentence like he's using a bad pickup-line in Waterdeep's sleaziest bar. I felt like I needed to wash the oil off after hearing the sample. He also managed to misprono..."

I agree. By far the best choice.

I do wish Salvatore had phrased what they are looking for better. His website and facebook post had the title "Decide the voice of Drizzt;" which had everyone arguing about who sounded the most like the dark elf. But the books aren't in the first person. It would be cool if they got a different voice actor to narrate the journal entries at the beginning of each section. Someone who sounded like like him. I must confess, though, I have no idea what a dark elf ranger sounds like.

[P. Aaron]

Daran wrote: "I must confess, though, I have no idea what a dark elf ranger sounds like."

According to Hollywood, probably Christian Bale doing his Batman mouthful-of-gravel delivery. According to the physics of Drizzt's in-book lithe 5-foot body, probably sounds like Renee Zelwiger.

I'd compromise with Hugh Jackman. Any guy who can do up Wolverine's Dark and Brooding silliness is already chanelling Drizzt's angst in the best of ways. Hus Broadway chops mean he's going to be able to sell the over-the-top drama of the series. Plus, I would buy butter from him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwi0bs...

[Daran]

Well, they made the right decision. He sounds good, and I'm looking forward to adding these books to my endless loop of Pratchett, Jordan, and Butcher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC4l4G...