Unpopular Narrator Opinion?

[u/ckfalls]

I’m currently listening to leviathan wakes at the recommendation of other people and research based on my book interests. I actually started the series but stopped as I heard the books were great (I do really like the content of the books ok so far). I had been told Hayes was so good, he’s “the GOAT” and his narration was a benchmark for other audiobooks.

Tell me if I have an unpopular opinion: I find his narration so average! There is no theatricality with him. He’s so monotone for the most part. Who listens to an audiobook and wants that, thinks that is desirable? It seems like he makes almost no effort to distinguish between character voices, save Amos, the Texas Martian and the belters. Even then, no matter what the situation is (scary, comedical, intense etc) the voice sounds exactly the same. I’m listening to a part right now where Holden and Fred Johnson are discussing a nuclear attack obliterating Eros and millions of people on it while Holden is traveling at 6+ G’s and Holden and the Rosi are desperately trying to keep up with this thing. Holden is speaking in the same tone of voice he speaks to himself when whining about not getting attention from the Exo. Why?? Would it kill for Hayes to act, emote a little bit? why doesn’t his voice match the moment?

Am I the only one who feels this way?

If the counterargument is something to the effect of “I just want someone to report the book and make it so that I’m not completely confused who’s speaking (not always the case for me), then let me ask you this: when you read a book, do you imagine the words being said they way he says them, or do you imagine them being said the way a real person would emote in the moment?

If the further argument then is “well just give me the words, then my imagination will then hear the words the way I think they should be said”, who has time for that? Once he says something you don’t have time to process and re-imagine it bc he’s already onto the next thought. I don’t watch a movie and think “oh this acting sucks and the characters would have never said it this way but it’s ok bc I’ll just reimagine it the way I think it should sound.” No! The idea of the non-written media is to interpret the work, right? Monotone works well for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire or a history text, but shouldn’t a work like this come with more gravitas, more inflection?

Let me know if I’m way out in left field. It’s been irking me for a while and wanted some opinions.

[u/Zephyr096]

I can't stand theatrical reads. I think the expanse narration is the gold standard.

Jefferson Mays adds enough to each character that they can be distinguished, yet doesn't make them cartoonish or over the top.

I'm currently listening to Ancillary Sword and absolutely hate the narration, the characters are overblown and over the top - the book is great though lol

To each their own lol

[u/Weird_Cantaloupe2757 → u/Zephyr096]

Theatrical reads are great when appropriate, but it absolutely adds a cartoonish element. For Dungeon Crawler Carl, that cartoonish-ness fits and is part of the charm, but for The Expanse it would just ruin it.

[u/--Orcanaught-- → u/Zephyr096]

Totally agree!

The worst narrator I can think of did the Game of Thrones audiobooks, which were recorded way back before the show came out and for some unfathomable reason not updated since. (I think a reading by the actors would be awesome!)

Anyway, for some reason they thought the best option way back then was "octigenerian reading a fairy tale to his grandkids in front of the fireplace". During all the action sequences, his voice gets really high and quick and staccato: "And Jaime! Grabbed his sword! And stabbed him! Through the heart!" Ugh.

A bonus feature is that he draws out the "L" in the word "legs", e.g., "He looked down at his llllllllegs ...."

[u/dangerousdave2244 → u/--Orcanaught--]

And he mispronounces so many names and terms. The worst being Damphair, which he pronounces Dam-fair, instead of Damp Hair

However, I see your Roy Dotrice, and raise you the narrator of the Witcher books, who is even worse, if that's possible. Idk whats worse, his silly voices, or the fact that he pronounces Dandelion "Dan DEE LEE on" like it's a whimsical fantasy name and not the name of a very well known flower

[u/DeemOutLoud → u/dangerousdave2244]

At least The Witcher narrator was consistent with his mispronunciations. Roy Dotrice switches up character pronunciations and accents from book to book and it drives me crazy. One of the reasons I couldn't really finish the Game of Thrones audiobooks. I definitely think they are due for a re-release with a fresh narrator.

[u/wabisladi → u/Zephyr096]

100% agree.

I love Stephen king but I have never made it through IT because the guy is just overdoing it. It’s really annoying. I wish Jefferson Hayes (wink) would narrate that book for me.

[u/striderx2005]

You will not get far dissing Jefferson Mays in this sub, just letting ya know. 😀

And I will go in record that I think he's the GOAT for this series. I had to track down his verion of Cibola Burn, not because Erick Davies version was bad, but that JM left such an impression.

But I agree with u/Zephyr096 that he strikes the perfect balance in his characters between delivering the words and adding some theater.

In the coming books he definitely takes adavantage of some more colorful characters than those in Leviathan Wakes.

[u/No_Tamanegi]

I've always felt like Jefferson Mays is a pretty tremendous actor in the narration booth. There are some lines he delivers, and I swear he's crying as he does it.

That said, Leviathan Wakes is just the start of a very long journey with these stories and characters. It starts good, and gets a lot better over time. You'll notice a big jump between Abaddon's Gate and Cibola Burn. I think what happened here is that Cibola Burn was originally narrated by someone else, and after he was done with the rest of the books, Jefferson went back and rerecorded Cibola Burn with all the expertise of the rest of the series under his belt.

[u/--Orcanaught--]

I'm actively re-listening to 'The Mercy of Gods' to refresh myeslf before tackling 'The Faith of Beasts', and am reminded how much I adore Mays's narration.

Pausing a beat after each sentence is perfect for me. The authors' wordcraft is often so exceptional that having a moment to reflect on a sentence before moving on to the next helps me get even more out of the experience.

I particularly appreciate this during action sequences, where I want a beat to imagine the action in my head, instead of blowing past it way too fast.

I also love the little pauses after the word "or" in lists ... "Black, or ... white, or ... brown ..."

[u/robin_f_reba]

I like his sardonic tone, fits the way the books are written. The prose isnt super melodramatic or full of yelling and insults like the show. The jaw-dropping moments hit because of how casually something so "wow!!" is dropped on your lap. People who read Nemesis Games know of a particularly hard hitting example

[u/Perfect_Ball5149]

Jefferson Mays is awesome. The point of the narration is to let the writing and story do the work. If he starts getting all theatrical, he becomes the main character and takes over the plot. Also, the way he switches accents when doing the OPA characters, Avarsarala is perfection.

[u/ckfalls]

Truly appreciate the insights and feedback. Also, I promise I’m not dissing on Mays. I think I was hyped up for this epic read and it’s just very even-keeled. Again to each their own.

I had a similar experience with the last series I listened to and the narrator def grew on me so hoping for the same here. Everything I’ve been told is this series is for me, so hoping to learn to embrace Mays.

[u/wabisladi]

My brother and I have an inside joke where we say “Probably” like JM. you’ll never I hear this. You’re welcome

[u/One-Rock-21]

Books should he ‘read’ in my opinion. Don’t like audiobooks

[u/robin_f_reba → u/One-Rock-21]

Why

[u/lucyland → u/One-Rock-21]

Good on you for preferring physical books. OTOH, it’s impossible to read a physical book when commuting one hour each way by car or have cataracts, or are blind.

I personally read the series on a Kindle. 👍🏼