Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Food of the Gods
- Author: H.G. Wells
- Narrator: Alex C. Telander
- Length: 06:18:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2011
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction
- ISBN13: SABFAB9780161
There’s something particularly delicious about listening to classic science fiction while traversing landscapes that feel equally alien. I first encountered “Food of the Gods” while riding a rickety train through the Andes, where the towering mountains made Wells’ giant creatures feel almost plausible. The experience reminded me of those evenings in Oaxaca, where grandmothers’ stories blurred the lines between reality and fantasy – just as Wells does in this prescient 1904 novel.
Alex C. Telander’s narration captures the perfect Edwardian tone for this scientific fable. His crisp enunciation of phrases like ‘Herakleophorbia IV’ makes the fictional growth compound sound as real as the chemical names I’d hear from street pharmacists in Bangkok. There’s a wonderful dryness to his delivery when portraying the stuffy scientists Bensington and Redwood that highlights Wells’ satire of academic arrogance – a theme that resonates deeply with me after years interviewing researchers in remote field stations.
The audiobook truly shines in its treatment of scale. Telander’s voice subtly expands when describing the giant wasps, making you feel their ominous buzzing in your bones. I found myself gripping my seat during the chicken attack sequence, remembering how small I’d felt watching condors circle in Patagonia. Wells’ genius lies in how he uses size as a metaphor for power structures – an approach that reminds me of indigenous creation myths I’ve collected, where tiny ants often outwit towering gods.
Some contemporary listeners might find the pacing uneven – the scientific exposition comes thick and fast early on, much like the dense academic papers I waded through during my anthropology days. But stick with it, because when the societal chaos begins, Telander’s performance accelerates into something resembling the breathless adventure tales told by Cuban cigar rollers I’ve met. The narrator particularly excels in the later chapters’ political debates, giving each faction distinct vocal textures that recall the passionate arguments I’ve heard in Lisbon coffeehouses about colonial legacies.
Compared to other Wells works available on LibriVox, this stands out for its blend of biological horror and social commentary. Where “The Time Machine” feels like a polished lecture, “Food of the Gods” has the raw energy of a campfire warning tale – perfect for audio format. Telander understands this, allowing moments of silence after particularly jarning developments, much like the pauses my Oaxacan storytellers would use to let consequences sink in.
For travelers like myself who appreciate thought-provoking entertainment during long journeys, this free audiobook offers particular delights. The descriptions of overgrown countryside will color your view of passing landscapes – I found myself eyeing Uruguayan pastures suspiciously for days afterward. And the core question of scientific responsibility remains painfully relevant as we grapple with AI and genetic engineering.
While the character development isn’t as nuanced as in Wells’ later works, the concepts more than compensate. The growing conflict between ‘small people’ and giants plays like a grotesque parody of British class tensions that still echoes in today’s wealth disparities. I’ve seen versions of this drama play out from Mumbai’s slums to Manhattan penthouses – just without the literal giants.
May your literary journeys be as nourishing as your physical ones,
Marcus Rivera
