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The Martian Chronicles

A Full-cast BBC Radio 4 Drama

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Derek Jacobi and Hayley Atwell lead an all-star cast in The Martian Chronicles, a thrilling new dramatisation, reimagining Ray Bradbury's timeless fable of doomed Martian colonisation.When the first expedition to Mars mysteriously disappears, Earth sends a second to find out what happened. But the real mission is classified. And only Captain Wilder knows the truth. Spender, an anthropologist on Wilder's crew, attempts to prevent the colonisation that she believes will eradicate the last of an ancient people living on Mars. But to what lengths will she go? As the honourable but duty-bound Captain Wilder tracks the now rogue Spender into the Martian mountains, the future of this ancient planet is at stake. Meanwhile, Earth itself teeters on the brink of its own global catastrophe as the very survival of humanity hangs in the balance...This audio release also includes a special behind-the-scenes mini-documentary with interviews from the stars, plus six special teasers examining the Martian culture!'Derek Jacobi turns in a subtle, nuanced but incredibly powerful performance as Captain Wilder.' - The Radio Times'Boasting an impressive cast, pacey direction and phenomenally atmospheric sound design, it's certainly a polished production.' - SFX MagazineOriginal novel © Ray Bradbury 1950. The Martian Chronicles ℗ © B7 Enterprises Ltd 2015. All rights reserved.

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  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The Martian Chronicles was probably never intended to represent the real planet. Bradbury's Mars is a shifting metaphor for "the frontier" or for mystery. This lush prose poem was obviously composed in terms of sound; even the production uses purely aural devices, such as echoing repetition. Peter Marinker demonstrates a clear understanding of the writer's intention, and he has the vocal technique to project it effectively. He makes it easy for the listener to become engulfed in the dreamy, luminous atmosphere that is as much Bradbury's message as the story line. J.N. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      Ray Bradbury explains his goals for his collection of stories about settlers on Mars in his introduction: It's a "fable"--with echoes of Sherwood Anderson's WINESBURG, OHIO. Narrator Stephen Hoye brings that fable quality alive with touches of bemusement and irony as he delivers the stories of the humans who want to shape a strange planet and the planet's unique ways of resistance. Rather than making the tales of Mars seem fantastic, Hoye makes them more poignant or eerie by giving them an everyday quality, whether he's telling how Martians fend off the first human invaders or how humans deal with the folly of other humans. Bradbury's parables hold up well today. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      This series of interconnecting short stories about life on Mars is not strictly science fiction but rather a thoughtful and elegant exploration of the human condition that just happens to be set on another planet. Scott Brick takes a slow pace that suits the tales, with their old-fashioned language, full of "goshes" and "gees." But the author's style doesn't detract from the power of his text, and Brick's smooth voice imparts all the drama and solemnity of humans making their way in an alien world. His voice trembles with rage and fear, soothes with velvet tones, and captures the drama of a newsreel announcer when talking about rocket ships. Brick is the perfect narrator to bring these classic stories to new listeners. G.D. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:740
  • Text Difficulty:3-4

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