By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Stephen Fry – Check. A collection of classic ghost stories – Check. That is all I need for a helluva good time!
Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry’s Definitive Collection is pretty much as it sounds. Stephen Fry has hand-picked his favourite classic ghost stories and performs them as only Mr Fry can – to perfection! Listening to this audiobook on Halloween added an extra layer to my experience, one that I managed in one sitting!
Master storyteller Stephen Fry has handpicked a plethora of terrifying tales involving ghosts, spectres, phantasms and apparitions, to bring a sense of terror and wonder to the listener. The full list of authors is as follows – Washington Irving, Amelia B. Edwards, Robert Louis Stevenson, Algernon Blackwood, Edgar Alan Poe, Charlotte Riddell, Bram Stoker, and my personal favourite, M.R. James. I am not surprised that Fry has chosen these authors, as the 18th and 19th centuries were the heyday of the ghost story. Whilst newcomers may recognise the names of Poe and Stoker, I am hopeful that Riddell and Edwards will be brought to a new audience. Out of all the tales, there were only two I hadn’t experienced before, but having read the author’s other works, I had an idea of the themes and writing style, and it met my expectations perfectly. If one is to hold these tales to modern standards, some might find these “boring” or not scary in the slightest. Thats fine. But those who appreciate the artistry of the authors will still find enjoyment in the terror that lingers in the pages.
Any audiobook, narrated by Stephen Fry, is always going to be exceptionally well performed. That is a given. So it will not shock you, dear reader, when I reaffirm that concept with his performance in this particular audiobook! Fry’s ability to draw the listener into the story is sensational, and he paints such a vivid picture in your imagination. Even though I have heard many of these tales before, there is something unbelievably special about Fry’s performance that they almost come across in a new light, as if I am hearing them for the very first time. When it comes to audiobook narrators, you can get no better than Mr Stephen Fry.
As for the production, the sound quality is incredible, as you would expect with the inclusion of Dolby Atmos. This, however, will come at a cost – the download size is around 1.6 GB, so be sure that you have plenty of spare storage on your phone! The decision to add sound effects and backing scores is likely to divide listener opinions. I always welcome them and am used to them, so never find it jarring or a distraction. Does it need them? Maybe not. I believe the power of Fry’s narration would be more than enough to carry to audiobook on its own. However, I do feel they have worth within the production, and I do believe they add to the overall atmosphere of the stories.
Stephen Fry’s masterful narration breathes new life into these classic tales of terror! Turn off the lights, put your headphones in and sit back to enjoy Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry’s Definitive Collection.
X-Geeks 