An audiobook as the definitive form

I while back I pondered on the idea of audiobooks becoming the 
predominant form. I indicated that I also didn't think I could 
understand what that would look like.

As often happens, the hard part is not finding the rights 
answers, it's finding the right questions. Having found the right 
question, the answer arises easily.

Christmas Eve I was reminded of at least one work where I 
consider the audiobook to be definitive. It's not a novel, but a 
short story, "The Shepherd", by Frederick Forsyth.

I've never read this story, and if I ever tried to, I would hear 
Alan Maitland's resonant tones echoing through the pages. An Alan 
Maitland reading of "The Shepherd" has been a Christmas Eve (or 
as close as possible) tradition on CBC's "As It Happens" for 29 
years, and I consider the audio version to be definitive. Make no 
mistake - it was and always will be written by Frederick Forsyth. 
But Alan Maitland's performance makes it his own. Its just like 
"My Way" *is* Frank Sinatra - or any of a legion of other songs, 
written by songwriters, but ultimately tied to a single 
performer.

For those that want to hear what I mean, the CBC is hosting (for 
a limited time) a podcast of the reading. Click to 
http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/podcast.html and scroll down to 
"2007-12-24 The Shepherd" to find the link to the MP3.


:: chris smith ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: nihil tam munitum quod non expugnari pecuna possit - cicero ::


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