War of the Worlds

Just wanted to give a little shout out for my friend Scott Pollak, who has recently released an audiobook narration  of HG Wells’ The War of the Worlds on Audible.com.  There are so many pluses with this, I don’t know where to start…

First, the book itself is an amazing story of Earth’s attempts to repel an invasion from Mars with one of the best twist endings ever conceived.  I recall when I read it for the first time how vivid the story was and how immersed I became in Well’s storytelling.

Of course it is dated on many levels, being first published in 1898, but speculative fiction is at its best when it is a setting and not the story itself.  TWotW is a very human, very character-driven story by an author who understands character.  Which is why HG Wells remains a much more popular author than his contemporary Jules Verne, who focused more on how he envisioned futuristic technology.  Unfortunately for Verne, most of his predictions are wrong and his stories seem quaint in retrospect.

The other huge plus to this product is Scott Pollak’s voice work.  A sample is available at the website, and you can quickly appreciate Scott’s rich voice, his clear, natural reading, and his fabulous storytelling informed by his background in drama.  The production itself is very well done, reflecting Scott’s technical skills and wide range of experience.

I’m a podcast listener, who tries to make the most of my daily commute to the big city, and I love a good audio book.  The only drawback to Scott Pollak’s The War of the Worlds, is that I have to turn it off when I get to work!

Check it out here!
EDC