Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Farseer: Assassin’s Apprentice
- Author: Robin Hobb
- Narrator: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 17:21:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 03/03/2010
- Publisher: Tantor Media
- Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s a particular magic that happens when a great fantasy novel meets the perfect narrator – it becomes more than a story, it becomes an experience that lingers in your bones. That’s exactly what I discovered when I pressed play on Robin Hobb’s “Farseer: Assassin’s Apprentice”, narrated by Paul Boehmer, during a long train journey through the misty highlands of Scotland. As the rain streaked the windows and the landscape blurred into something almost mythical, Fitz’s world came alive in a way that felt as real as the heather-covered hills outside my window.
Hobb’s masterpiece unfolds like a richly embroidered tapestry, each thread carefully placed to create a complete picture that only reveals its full beauty when you step back to appreciate the whole. The story of Fitz, the royal bastard trained in the deadly arts of assassination, is at once intimate and epic – a coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of political intrigue and supernatural threats. What struck me most was how Hobb makes the personal feel monumental and the grand feel deeply personal. Fitz’s struggles with identity and belonging resonated with me in ways that reminded me of my own travels through remote villages where I was neither quite outsider nor local.
Paul Boehmer’s narration is nothing short of alchemy. He captures Fitz’s vulnerability and growing strength with such nuance that I found myself forgetting I was listening to a performance. His ability to distinguish between characters – from the gruff stablemaster Burrich to the calculating King Shrewd – is remarkable without ever veering into caricature. There’s a particular scene where Fitz bonds with a wolf that gave me chills – Boehmer’s delivery of the animal’s simple thoughts was so authentic it transported me back to nights I’ve spent around campfires listening to wildlife in the wilderness.
The magic systems in this world are particularly fascinating. The Skill, a form of royal magic, is portrayed with an almost painful beauty – its use exacting a physical and emotional toll that feels viscerally real. The Wit, Fitz’s more instinctive bond with animals, reminded me of indigenous traditions I’ve encountered in my travels, where the boundary between human and animal consciousness is more permeable. Hobb doesn’t just describe these powers; she makes you feel their weight and consequence.
What makes this audiobook experience truly special is how well it captures the novel’s emotional landscape. The political machinations of the Farseer court unfold with all the tension of a taut wire, while Fitz’s personal journey carries the raw ache of adolescence magnified by his extraordinary circumstances. There were moments when I had to pause the narration simply to sit with what I’d heard – particularly in scenes dealing with Fitz’s training, where the line between education and cruelty becomes disturbingly blurred.
For listeners new to epic fantasy, this serves as a perfect gateway – complex enough to satisfy but never confusing in its world-building. For seasoned fans, it’s a masterclass in character-driven storytelling. The 17+ hour runtime might seem daunting, but like my favorite journeys, the time passes far too quickly when you’re immersed in something this compelling.
If I had one critique, it would be that some of the court intrigue sections in the middle could feel slightly slow in audio format compared to print. However, Boehmer’s performance keeps even these passages engaging, and they pay off beautifully in the story’s climactic moments. The audio production itself is flawless, with clear diction and excellent pacing that makes for easy listening even during action sequences.
Having experienced both the printed and audio versions, I can confidently say this narration adds new dimensions to Hobb’s prose. There’s a particular passage describing the sea cliffs of Buckkeep that, in Boehmer’s delivery, made me smell the salt spray so vividly I was momentarily convinced I was standing on those windswept heights rather than in my cramped train compartment.
May your next literary journey be as transformative as mine through the Six Duchies,
Marcus
Marcus Rivera
