Raul Esparza records King's UNDER THE DOME... on 30 CDs!

I just read that Raul Esparza has recorded the audiobook of Stephen King's supposed masterpiece, the forthcoming 1000 page UNDER THE DOME. It is 37 hours long on 30 CDs.

For those of you that have said you'd buy a recording of Raul reading the phonebook... your wish has been granted...

I wonder if King chose Raul himself? He's been known to have been pretty vocal about how his audiobooks are done, and has even "directed" some such as the 3d surround THE MIST.

I actually was planning on reading this one, but the Raul element has me questioning that decision. But 37 hours? I wonder if that's an abridged adaptation? Probably pretty doubtful. Sounds about right for 1000 pages.

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Updated On: 9/1/09 at 09:57 PM

I'll probably listen to it, but it will take me a few years. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Love Raul, but I probably won't be giving this one a listen. Sorry, but Stephen King creeps me out in a big way.

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I do doubt strongly that the audio version of King's new novel is going to be 30 hours. According to Itunes, the unabridged version of Hugo's Les Miserables is only around five or so and that book is longer then Under The Done is. And, in this day and age, 30 CDs is very hard to market specially for an audio book.

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The Harry Potter book and tapes top 30 tapes for some of the books and they sale well

Just did a search on iTunes. Unabridged Les Misérables is 57 hours and 50 minutes. Winston, you must have been looking at the abridged version.

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Perhaps if 5, 6, and 7 had lived up to the promise of the first 4, it'd certainly be a latterday Lord of the Rings (epic multivolume fantasy loved and derided seemingly in equal measure, not just "let's compare it to LOTR 'cos LOL"), but if we're strictly honest, he did go a little bit mental as far as the series is concerned. Perhaps if he'd had the necessary momentum to carry on after number 4, perhaps if he'd never been in the accident, perhaps if the accident had been worse and it had been left unfinished (although when that happens in fantasy fiction, there's always a family member willing to carry on, which isn't necessarily the best thing; although I rather suspect Joe would've done a fantastic job if he'd had to step up to the plate). Who knows? But there's a definite divide, and the latter installments just don't quite live up to the first 4. It'll live on as long as the rest of the back catalogue does, but who knows if anyone will still care in 200+ years time?

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Love King, and I know he's a big fan of audio-books, but I just don't see the point.

And the thought of listening to Raul assault my ears for any length of time gives me hives.

I will definitely be reading this new novel though.


For those who have forgotten

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Ugh. I'm conflicted. Long Stephen King novels are either transcendent (THE STAND) or literary waterboarding (IT). I'll have to check the reviews and get the paperback when available.

I love to read, but ever since I was little, I've had a tendency to get carsick. I can never read on a moving vehicle (except trains, for some reason), so audiobooks are great for me for long road trips.

37 hours might be a bit much, though.

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And in terms of horror writing King is pretty tame.

According to iTunes, Raúl has also recorded THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer and THE BOOK OF UNHOLY MISCHIEF by Elle Newmark.

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Am I the only one who couldn't get through THE STAND?

Loved CARRIE, though. Looking forward to this.

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