The Hobbit

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with THE LORD OF THE RINGS.]--These mythical tales of Middle-earth were bestsellers when they appeared in the 1950s and '60s and are now enjoying a revival of interest including the popular movie LORD OF THE RINGS. These recordings are not readings of Tolkien's novels, but are adaptations of both works for full-cast radio production. If you want all of Tolkien's words, this is not the choice. If you want a full-scale production with sound effects and music, this is a very good choice. While it's difficult to say what a dwarf, an orc, or a wizard should sound like, all of the voices in this production seem entirely appropriate to the characters being portrayed. Some of the sound effects, such as horses endlessly clomping, are repetitive, but in general the sounds add to the sense of atmosphere. R.E.K. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine


Narrator Andy Serkis, whom many will recognize as the voice of Gollum from The Lord of the Rings movies, delivers a magnificent listening experience of the familiar classic. Serkis perfectly captures the nuances of each character, offering an engrossing performance of the story of a hobbit who is averse to adventure journeying with 13 dwarves to reclaim their treasure from a deadly dragon. Serkis adopts a wide range of vocal skill, capturing Bilbo's careful reluctance, dropping to a whisper as the hobbit sneaks about, and emulating Smaug's commanding growl as the dragon seeks the dwarves that would dare invade his lair. Serkis's remarkable singing voice is loaded with appeal. Both new listeners and old ought not miss this audiobook. A.K.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine