Good afternoon and welcome to a sizzling UK, where we are currently experiencing unprecedented summer temperatures; welcome also, to only the third posting of the year.
At the moment, I'm in the position of having completed the recording of an audiobook and awaiting notes from the proof listener, so that I can go back and correct whatever errors I've made and fix whatever technical blips and glitches that have somehow slipped, unnoticed, through the initial editing process. Once those corrections have been made, I can call a wrap on the project and allow myself a little time for rest and recuperation; a short break, which is much needed - my first time-out since June 2020.
The timing of such a break has been pretty good, as temperatures continue to rise and my home studio becomes too hot to work in. Much as I love my job, I'm truly looking forward to kicking back for a while, before starting up again with a variety of recording projects, which are already scheduled through to April '23!
So here are details of the latest releases since the mid-June update:
The Long Dark: Doan Series Book 2
The road to becoming a Doan warrior is a long one.
While Cam must face distrust and long days of training, he also attracts the interest of Uelia, the beautiful Festival Master of High Home.
His acts of bravery swell his fame and the jealousy of his brother. With winter approaching, the people of High Home decide to cross the Long Dark to see what’s on the other side.
What they find splits the Doans and the people of High Home, and Cam and his new mother are faced with an awful choice: leave the people of High Home to suffer or flee with their Doan companions to find their people?
A shooting in the heart of Stargate Command is only the beginning for Daniel Jackson and Vala Mal Doran.
Suddenly it’s friend against friend, none of their allies can be relied upon and they’re the universe’s only hope to foil the latest scheme concocted by the last System Lord, Ba’al.
Will Daniel, Vala and a few of Vala’s less than savoury friends be enough to stop a conspiracy that reaches deep into the heart of Stargate Command and threatens to destroy everything they’ve spent years building?
3.1 Half Life by James Swallow
Daniel Jackson is in custody for a crime and no one believes he is
innocent - because Stargate Command has absolute proof of his guilt.
Luckily, one person is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Unluckily, that person is Vala Mal Doran, reformed thief and least trustworthy member of team SG-1.
Can she clear Daniel’s name and help him discover what’s really going on?
3.2 An Eye for an Eye by Sally Malcolm
A visit from Vala’s 'friend' Keto results in the Sun Tzu, Daniel and
Vala being sent to investigate a rapidly disintegrating ship.
Once there, they discover evidence of Ba’al’s experiments - but they’re not prepared for what else he’s left behind.
It’s a case of nature or nurture - but will Daniel and Vala make a decision that will save the Sun Tzu or condemn all on board to death?
3.3 Infiltration by Steve Lyons
Having discovered that Ba’al has placed a clone infiltrator close to one
of his old friends, Daniel accompanies the Sun Tzu to warn him of the
imminent danger the clone poses.
Meanwhile, Vala enlists the aid of some of her former ‘associates’ to track down Ba’al and bring him to justice. But can she trust any of them to complete the mission without betraying her for their own ends?
3.4 Excision by Peter J Evans
A visit to Vala's 'friend' Keto turns into a family reunion when she and
Daniel are abducted by Vala's former associate Zoder and the crew of
his ship, The Capital Venture.
Zoder has discovered a vast construct in space and plans to strip it of any assets it may contain. But he needs Daniel and Vala's expertise to complete the mission safely. Unfortunately, the group is about to stumble upon a secret which someone is murderously keen to keep quiet...
3.5 Duplicity by Richard Dinnick
A series of thefts from a planet's library piques Daniel's interest, so he and Vala investigate.
With some help from Keto, the pair go undercover in an attempt to find out why the treasures are being taken.
But in a spaceport where the locals find it difficult to trust anyone, are they wandering calmly in front of the barrel of a gun?
3.6 Time's Wheel by Sharon Gosling
While visiting the planet Gezegen, Daniel starts to notice disparities between what he thought he knew and the world around him.
Seeking answers, Daniel gets Vala to contact the Asgard, believing they will have some insight into the changing reality. But once Daniel and Vala discover the full extent of the problem, will they be able to avert the end of the universe as they know it?
And, more importantly, will they want to?
These stories were originally published in 2012, and were previously available to purchase in two boxsets from Big Finish.
Running time: 369 minutes
A note from Series Producer, Paul Spragg:
"Without a local actor and director to turn to out in Vancouver, it was decided to link up the UK and Canada so that Michael could be directed from London and recorded in Vancouver, with John Banks coming in to read other parts alongside the ones he’d already been playing in the stories.
It was a difficult process, with Skype turning out to be the most effective way of linking the two studios and reducing to almost zero the satellite delay that can slow things down and spoil the energy of a scene. Michael slipped back into character effortlessly, and John Banks helped enormously by changing voices and accents to differentiate characters."
Audio Drama performed by:
Separated from Inquisitor Cowl, Interrogator Spinoza hoists her crozius and sets to protecting what’s left of their organisation while continuing her quest for truth. But can she survive the dire straights she finds herself in, as she guards humanity from enemies within and without?
Luce Spinoza comes into her own, with the weight of her lord’s fate sitting heavy on her shoulders, while pushing forward with their mission. With enemies closing in on all sides, she must choose a path for herself.
The Throneworld is in turmoil, wracked by the opening of the Great Rift and the failure of the Astronomican. Inquisitor Erasmus Crowl, his mind and body ravaged by what he has seen in the Hollow Mountain, is missing, taking with him the clues to the conspiracy that has come to obsess him.
Luce Spinoza, his interrogator, must choose whether to seek him out or defend her diminished realm from the many forces that still seek to destroy it. As enemies circle, Interrogator Spinoza enters a race against time to find the evidence she needs. But with the fate of humanity itself hanging in the balance, she must decide what lengths she is willing to go to in order to uncover the truth.
Written by Chris Wraight, Produced by Richard Stephenson and Performed by John Banks.
Audible UK review samples:
"John Banks and his voice acting, wow! Unlike some audio books where the narrator puts little effort in distinguishing different parts, John somehow manages to make male and female characters easily distinct and convey so much emotion. Bravo."
"...great voice acting performance from John Banks!"
The Horus Heresy is an epic conflict spanning hundreds of worlds and thousands of battles, laced with countless tales of heroism and valour, betrayal and villainy. This anthology collects some of the most memorable, featuring every one of the Loyalist and Traitor Legions.
Whether you're a veteran Legionary or exploring the grim setting of the Horus Heresy for the first time, this handpicked collection of 21 existing short stories features gripping tales for each of the Loyalist and Traitor Legions that waged wars of betrayal and destruction on an immeasurable scale.
Never has the Imperium known a weapon as deadly as the massed might of a Space Marine Legion. Together, these mighty warriors form an unbreakable spear at the fore of the Great Crusade. Together, they quest to reclaim humanity's birthright – its dominion over the stars. Each Legion is led by a legendary primarch, and the greatest among them is Horus Lupercal, Warmaster of the Imperium. Yet at the height of his power, this beloved son betrayed his oaths, taking half his brothers with him into damnation.
Condemned to an eternity of war, the galaxy burns as loyal Space Marine Legions and their traitorous kin tear apart everything they bled to build. This anthology collects over 20 existing stories from a variety of authors, featuring every one of the Space Marine Legions and ranging from the Unification Wars to the most brutal days of the Age of Darkness.
Contents: Produced by Tara Rawson, I recorded ten of these stories:
Narrated by:
The Crown of Fire & Fury
A war on two fronts. A fight for a crown. A prophecy coming to pass. The ancient enemies emerging from the shadows...
Oakharrow has been conquered—for now. But Aelthena has never given up easily. Fleeing her city, she goes to the jarls of Baegard, seeking their aid to take back her home. But politics are at play, and Ha-Sypt is on the move. Only one can wear the Iron Circle and lead Baegard's armies. In determining who will wear the crown, Aelthena must make a choice: do what is best for her nation, or for herself.
Bjorn sets his sights to a greater challenge: the arrival of a prophesied war. Knowing too little of the giant who attacked his home, he and his companions travel to the Inscribed priests to learn more. Among them, Bjorn uncovers ancient secrets and develops his newly discovered magic. But both knowledge and power have a price, and Bjorn will pay in sorrow and blood.
The Runewar has come—monarchs will rise and fall.
The Crown of Fire & Fury is book two of The Runewar Saga, a new epic fantasy series by best-selling author J.D.L. Rosell. Continue the tale inspired by Norse and Egyptian mythology and brave the war-riven land of Enea.
