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Two Plays for Voices Review – Publishers Weekly

From PW Daily for Booksellers (October 17, 2002):

As a writer, transplanted Brit Neil Gaiman has always had the proverbial irons in lots of different fires, winning accolades for his comics (Sandman), novels (American Gods), children’s books (Coraline, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish) and a BBC television series (Neverwhere), among other things. In fact, he takes great enjoyment in seeing his work adapted for various media. One type of adaptation he is particularly fond of is the audiobook.

“I love audiobooks,” Gaiman told PW Daily in a recent interview. “[When they’re done right], they can be one of the coolest things about having books out there.”

Demonstrating his support of the audio genre, Gaiman agreed to narrate his children’s novel Coraline (July 2002) for HarperAudio. He even suggested that Harper release the audiobook several months ahead of the print version. “I thought it might reach some people who wouldn’t think of picking up an audiobook otherwise,” he explained.

HarperAudio loved the idea, but due to a pushed up pub date for the print book, the Coraline audio ended up hitting shelves the past June, only a few weeks early. Regardless of timing, both versions have performed very well thus far.

Dipping further into the audiobook well, this month Gaiman celebrates the release of Two Plays for Voices (HarperAudio), an audio adaptation
originally produced for the Sci Fi Channel of two short stories from Gaiman’s collection Smoke & Mirrors. Brian Dennehy and a full cast perform “Murder Mysteries” and Bebe Neuwirth and a full cast perform “Snow Glass Apples.”

This audio only production is available on two cassettes, lasting two hours, $18.95; two CDs, $22.95. It’s a must have for any Gaiman fanatic.–Shannon Maughan

Only thing to add is it’s also a must have for people who are simply interested in what you can do with audio as a dramatic medium; if you find you like it, you might want to try the programs produced by ZBS and the BBC as well.