Based on the times of each of the books, it looks like it includes some of the Appendices.

The Fellowship of the Ring - 10 hrs and 59 mins
The Two Towers - 10 hrs and 16 mins
The Return of the King - 12 hrs and 54 mins

Trotter wrote:

Based on the times of each of the books, it looks like it includes some of the Appendices.

The Fellowship of the Ring - 10 hrs and 59 mins
The Two Towers - 10 hrs and 16 mins
The Return of the King - 12 hrs and 54 mins

These times surely can't be correct? Isn't Rob Inglis' reading 54 hours? These times would suggest that the new reading is abridged by some 20 hours.

onthetrail wrote:

Trotter wrote:

Based on the times of each of the books, it looks like it includes some of the Appendices.

The Fellowship of the Ring - 10 hrs and 59 mins
The Two Towers - 10 hrs and 16 mins
The Return of the King - 12 hrs and 54 mins

These times surely can't be correct? Isn't Rob Inglis' reading 54 hours? These times would suggest that the new reading is abridged by some 20 hours.

You are right they are a lot shorter.

I'll probably sign up for Audible to get this, if I get the free trial then it should cost £15.98 in total after three months for all three books, I expect the CDs will be around £75 based on previous prices.

I would also like to add my minority voice in saying that I am not going to listen to Serkis reading either H or LotR - I just don't like his voice. And as someone who has been listening to audiobooks quite happily (Discworld, mostly) the voice really is the main selling point.

P.S. More generally speaking I find it incredibly disappointing that Jackson casts his shadow even after two decades on any reasonably Tolkien-related product. I do understand the appreciation for his work but I would really, really love to see other people offer their adaptations.

Olwe wrote:

P.S. More generally speaking I find it incredibly disappointing that Jackson casts his shadow even after two decades on any reasonably Tolkien-related product. I do understand the appreciation for his work but I would really, really love to see other people offer their adaptations.

While most of us would like to forget them, the last of the regrettable Hobbit movies came out less than seven years ago. Not to derail this thread too much, but based on rumors of the Amazon series, I’m not sure how much I’m looking forward to other people’s adaptations either.

Olwe wrote:

I would also like to add my minority voice in saying that I am not going to listen to Serkis reading either H or LotR - I just don't like his voice. And as someone who has been listening to audiobooks quite happily (Discworld, mostly) the voice really is the main selling point.

P.S. More generally speaking I find it incredibly disappointing that Jackson casts his shadow even after two decades on any reasonably Tolkien-related product. I do understand the appreciation for his work but I would really, really love to see other people offer their adaptations.

To be fair, these recordings were kind of a happy accident. Serkis was trying to do something cool during lockdown and I think it was a brilliant thing. I really enjoyed his mega reading. And actually enjoyed the audiobook of The Hobbit. I will have a listen to the Rings audio but I treat anything that is not the actual book as a curiosity at best because my own inner voice for characters will always be mine, regardless of how good some voices are. The movies, regardless of their flaws brought millions to the books and this new AS reading will bring a few more. Not on the same level of course but it will still bring new readers who maybe find the idea of trekking through such a mammoth work daunting and that can only be a good thing.

Well Olwe. So I’m not completely alone. 🙂