The Langoliers

This is the first in a four-part audio series of King's classic FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT. The story of 11 passengers headed from L.A. to Boston on the flight from hell is a rousing thriller. When the crew and most of the passengers on the plane disappear mid-flight, those left (including an off-duty airline pilot) decide to land in Bangor, Maine. Of course, that's smack dab in the middle of "King country," so things go further downhill from there, making for lots of suspense. Narrated by renowned actor Willem Dafoe, the story is brought to life in a stirring performance that offers layered characters and a climax wrought with tension. Dafoe is a pro, reading with the confidence and consistency of the best narrators. With a voice so gritty, honest, and foreboding, he's perfect for King's prose. L.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

September 22, 2008
When passengers aboard the American Pride flight to Boston awake to discover that most of the other passengers have disappeared, fear and panic ensues. After managing to land the plane, they find the world abandoned. While Willem Dafoe is a powerful actor, that ability doesn't necessarily guarantee a great audio performance. His choices for character voices are sometimes too caricatured and occasionally inconsistent. He also makes a great deal of mouth sounds (opening his mouth, clicking tongue, etc.). In general, he narrates well, but his noises distract somewhat from King's novella. The added musical soundtrack also detracts from this 1990 production (issued on CD for the first time), since often it's King's words with an accompanying silence that make the most intense experience for listeners.