On an uncharted, storm-swept island, the magician Prospero uses his powers and those of the flighty spirit Ariel to wreck the ship of his wicked brother, Antonio, stranding its crew and passengers. Meanwhile, through more magic, Prospero’s daughter, Miranda, has fallen in love with Ferdinand, son of the of king of Naples. This 2001 BBC Radio 3 production starring the late Philip Madoc (Prospero) and Nina Wadia (Ariel) sounds timeless in its traditional use of stage rhythms and diction. This is not an audiobook one mows the lawn to. For American ears it may take a little concentration to pick up all the words, and it may be worthwhile to read along (as this reviewer did) to maximize the pleasure of listening to one of Shakespeare’s most romantic and fanciful works. B.P. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
Profanity in books is a topic people never tire of debating. Is it okay, is it useful, will it corrupt the youth? (Won’t someone please think of the children?) I remember my high school English teacher being simply aghast at my love of Stephen King, decrying his use of the gory, the macabre, and the […]
Beloved for the expansive nine-book Kushiel’s Legacy epic fantasy series, and most recently the author of the delightfully skewed Agent of Hel urban fantasy trilogy, Jacqueline Carey has kept us on tenterhooks waiting to see what she’ll do next. And now we can show you: next February, Carey will publish Miranda and Caliban, a soulful […]
Spaceships, body swaps, quests for missing family members, remakes of Wuthering Heights and The Tempest, and some seriously twisted horror stories have us jonesing for July. Whether you’re into contemporary murder mysteries, spy games, Zen Buddhism, or unconventional bucket lists, this month delivers introspective takes on a variety of genres, not to mention the highly anticipated conclusion to Kiersten […]
The final week of July brings us several books about siblings and the shadows they cast in both life and death. Retellings of the Tempest and The Little Mermaid, a first romance for a girl with photosensitivity, and two new fantasy series, featuring sisters and huntresses, respectively, should top your late summer to-devour list.