Audiobook Sample

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Hello fellow travelers of the literary landscape, Marcus Rivera here. As someone who’s spent countless hours listening to stories while crossing deserts and mountains, I know how a great narrator can transform a journey. Today, I want to take you down a different kind of road – the twisted path of Stephen King’s ‘The Tommyknockers’ as brought to life by Edward Herrmann.

There’s something particularly unsettling about listening to horror in broad daylight. I discovered this while driving through the Nevada desert last summer, the sun beating down on my rental car as Edward Herrmann’s voice filled the cabin with King’s tale of alien possession. The contrast between the stark, beautiful landscape outside and the creeping dread in my headphones created an experience I won’t soon forget – much like the grandmother’s stories in Oaxaca that seemed to transform the very air around us.

Herrmann’s narration is nothing short of masterful. He captures the slow unraveling of Haven, Maine with a voice that’s both folksy and foreboding, like your favorite uncle telling a campfire story that gradually turns into a nightmare. His Bobbi Anderson has that perfect blend of curiosity and obsession, while his Gard is all rough edges and barely-contained chaos. The way he handles King’s trademark dialogue – those authentic New England cadences and working-class rhythms – makes the horror feel uncomfortably close to home.

King’s story itself is a fascinating beast. Written during what he’s called his ‘cocaine years,’ there’s a raw, manic energy to the prose that Herrmann channels brilliantly. The Tommyknockers is less about aliens than it is about addiction – to knowledge, to power, to the dangerous thrill of transformation. Listening to it, I kept thinking about my own obsessions, those ideas that dig into your brain and won’t let go, much like the mysterious object Bobbi finds in the woods.

The audiobook’s 25-hour runtime might seem daunting, but Herrmann’s performance makes it fly by. He handles the large cast with impressive range, from children to elderly townsfolk, each voice distinct yet part of the same terrible chorus. The scenes where the townspeople begin their transformations are particularly chilling – Herrmann’s voice takes on an eerie, metallic quality that perfectly captures King’s vision of human beings becoming something… else.

That said, this isn’t King’s tightest narrative. Some digressions feel like backroads that don’t quite lead anywhere, though Herrmann’s narration makes even these detours enjoyable. The novel’s climax, while terrifying, suffers slightly from the sheer scale of what King’s trying to accomplish. But these are minor quibbles in what’s otherwise a masterclass in audio horror.

For fans of cosmic horror, this audiobook is essential listening. It pairs well with long drives through empty landscapes, though I’d advise against listening alone at night. Herrmann’s performance elevates King’s text, finding nuance in even the most grotesque moments. It’s a reminder of why audiobooks can be such a powerful medium – when voice and story align perfectly, the result is magic. Or in this case, something closer to dark magic.

As I sign off from this review, I’m preparing for another long drive – this time through the red rock country of Utah. I’ll be bringing another audiobook along, but I know part of me will still be hearing Herrmann’s voice whispering about what lies buried just beneath the surface of ordinary places. Because that’s what the best horror does, isn’t it? Makes you look twice at the world you thought you knew. Until next time, keep listening – but maybe leave a light on. – Marcus
Marcus Rivera