Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Star Born
- Author: Andre Norton
- Narrator: Mark F. Smith
- Length: 06:45:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2011
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction
- ISBN13: SABLIBX978455
There’s a particular magic that happens when a classic science fiction tale meets the right narrator’s voice – it becomes something you don’t just hear, but experience in your bones. That’s precisely what happened when I pressed play on Andre Norton’s “Star Born”, narrated by Mark F. Smith, during a long train ride through the Chilean altiplano. As the crimson landscape rolled by my window, Smith’s voice transported me to Norton’s vividly imagined world with the same power as those Oaxacan grandmother’s stories from my travels.
“Star Born” (1957) unfolds like an ancient tapestry rediscovered – its threads still vibrant with Norton’s signature themes of cultural memory and survival. The story follows Dalgard, a human scout from a colony that fled Earth’s tyranny generations ago, and his merman companion Sssuri as they stumble upon a dangerous secret: the malevolent ‘Those Others’ are awakening ancient weapons with help from new Earth arrivals. Norton masterfully builds this world where history has become myth, technology has faded into legend, and identity is constantly negotiated between past and present.
What struck me most was how Norton’s depiction of societal regression echoed experiences from my anthropological studies. I once documented oral histories in the Amazon where tribal elders spoke of ‘the old ones’ who built stone structures now covered by jungle – much like the colonists’ distorted memories of their advanced past in “Star Born”. Norton understands how civilizations transform when cut off from their roots, and she explores this with both poetic sensitivity and thrilling adventure.
Mark F. Smith’s narration elevates this experience remarkably. His voice has that rare quality I associate with the best campfire storytellers – warm yet precise, capable of shifting seamlessly between Dalgard’s human perspective and Sssuri’s more alien cadence. When portraying ‘Those Others,’ Smith adopts a chilling detachment that perfectly captures their menace. His pacing during action sequences had me gripping my seat on that Chilean train, while his thoughtful delivery of Norton’s philosophical passages gave me pause to stare at the passing mountains.
The audiobook’s production (courtesy of LibriVox) maintains excellent clarity, though listeners should note this is a volunteer recording with occasional minor inconsistencies. What it lacks in studio polish, it more than compensates for in authentic storytelling spirit. At just under 7 hours, the concise runtime makes it perfect for a road trip or, in my case, a journey through surreal landscapes that mirrored the novel’s themes.
Compared to other classics like “A Canticle for Leibowitz”, “Star Born” stands out for its focus on cross-species friendship and its nuanced portrayal of how oppression manifests across generations. While some might find Norton’s mid-century prose occasionally dated, her imagination remains startlingly fresh – particularly in scenes where Dalgard and Sssuri communicate through mental connection, rendered by Smith with subtle vocal shifts that suggest profound intimacy.
For modern listeners, the novel offers surprising relevance. Its exploration of how truth becomes myth resonates in our era of information distortion. The tension between the colonists’ peaceful ways and the newcomers’ militaristic approach feels painfully contemporary. And Norton’s ultimate message – that identity is something we create rather than inherit – lands with particular power in audio format, as if whispered directly to the listener’s soul.
If you’re new to Norton’s work, this free audiobook serves as a perfect introduction to the ‘Grand Dame of Science Fiction.’ For longtime fans, Smith’s narration offers a chance to rediscover hidden layers in a beloved text. Either way, I recommend listening somewhere that lets you occasionally pause and stare at the stars – you’ll find yourself seeing them differently afterward.
With stories in my ears and the road ahead,
Marcus Rivera
