King Kong

Stefan Rudnicki treats this pulpy novelization of the original Kong film with respect, allowing listeners to appreciate on its own terms the familiar story of the giant ape found on a lost island and brought to its doom in New York City. Rudnicki's deep, craggy voice (a bit like Leonard Nimoy's, but deeper) and seriousness help one past the campy or dated parts. His voice doesn't vary much, but the differing characters come through clearly enough. The fifth disc contains commentaries by science fiction writers, movie people, and those who straddle both worlds. The best inform or enhance one's enjoyment, such as those by Ray Harryhausen and Harlan Ellison. W.M. 2006 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

December 5, 2005
Rudnicki provides his melodious baritone to this novelization of the classic movie, King Kong
, which is pretty much the 1933 screenplay, scene for scene. Rudnicki presents the story in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner. He keeps his characterizations diverse but restrained, even when dealing with the natives on Skull Island and their 1930s fabricated language. He maintains a solid, respectful tone for the somewhat dated and melodramatic prose and provides a fine, laid-back performance. Even more enjoyable are the commentaries found on disc five. Of the commentators presenting their thoughts on the film, Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen give the most reverent testimonies, crediting their viewing of the original King Kong
as a life-changing event. In contrast, Orson Scott Card states that he just doesn't get all the hubbub. For him, the film, with its primitive-by-today's-standards animation, is "a complete bust." With curmudgeonly charm, the most humorous commentary goes to Harlan Ellison, who praises the original 1933 film and vilifies those who would seek to remake it. The other commentators (including Larry Niven, Catherine Asaro, Jack Williamson, Marc Scott Zicree) offer various insights to Kong
, but most tend to be fond tributes to this ultimate tale of the beast and his beauty. Simultaneous release with the Modern Library paperback.