Publisher Description
On the alien, sunless planet they call Eden, the 532 members of the Family shelter beneath the light and warmth of the Forest’s lantern trees. Beyond the Forest lie the mountains of the Snowy Dark and a cold so bitter and a night so profound that no man has ever crossed it. The Oldest among the Family recount legends of a world where light came from the sky, where men and women made boats that could cross the stars. These ships brought us here, the Oldest say—and the Family must only wait for the travelers to return. But young John Redlantern will break the laws of Eden, shatter the Family and change history. He will abandon the old ways, venture into the Dark…and discover the truth about their world. Already remarkably acclaimed in the UK, Dark Eden is science fiction as literature; part parable, part powerful coming-of-age story, set in a truly original alien world of dark, sinister beauty--rendered in prose that is at once strikingly simple and stunningly inventive. Reader List: "John Redlantern" Read by Matthew Frow “Tina Spiketree” Read by Jayne Entwistle “Sue Redlantern” Read by Ione Butler “Gerry Redlantern” Read by Robert Hook “Gela Brooklyn” Read by Heather Wilds “Mitch London” Read by Nicholas Guy Smith “Carolyn Brooklyn” Read by Hannah Curtis “Jeff Redlantern” Read by Bruce Mann
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“An ensemble cast delivers the
compelling story of a young man who forces part of his ‘family’ to set out and
explore the strange sunless planet where they are marooned, rather than just
sit and wait for help. The story is told from the points of view of different
characters. Matthew Frow does a notable job as the bold John Redlantern as do
the narrators who portray the members of the “Bat-face” tribe, people
born with cleft palates because of generations of inbreeding. All speak with
rough British accents except for the word ‘family,’ which comes out as snide and
childlike with a drawn-out ‘a’ sound, an odd choice but one that eventually
begins to sound appropriate. This production is impossible to turn off.”
—
AudioFile
About Chris Beckett
Chris Beckett is a university lecturer living in Cambridge, England. His short stories have appeared in such publications as Interzone and Asimov’s Science Fiction and in numerous “year’s best” anthologies. In addition to the Arthur C. Clarke award for Dark Eden, he won the Edge Hill Prize, the UK’s premier award for short story collections, for his collection The Turing Test.
About the Narrators
Fred Sanders, an actor and Earphones Award–winning narrator, has received critics’ praise for his audio narrations that range from nonfiction, memoir, and fiction to mystery and suspense. He been seen on Broadway in The Buddy Holly Story, in national tours for Driving Miss Daisy and Big River, and on such television shows as Seinfeld, The West Wing, Will and Grace, Numb3rs,Titus, and Malcolm in the Middle. His films include Sea of Love, The Shadow, and the Oscar-nominated short Culture. He is a native New Yorker and Yale graduate.
Matthew Frow is a voice talent and audiobook narrator.
Jayne Entwistle is a voice talent and Earphones Award–winning narrator.
Hannah Curtis is an actress known for her appearances in The Shadow, Hollyoaks, and The Heavy. She graduated from Elmhurst School of Performing Arts and is involved with organizations such as the Actors Center in London and the Howard Fine Acting Studio in Los Angeles.
Bruce Mann, Earphones Award–winning narrator,studied classical acting at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has been a successful voice-over artist and actor for over ten years.
Nicholas Guy Smith, an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator, is a highly rated and diverse voice-over actor who has been heard in feature films, television commercials, and video games. He has voiced characters for Disney, Warner Brothers, Universal, and the Cartoon Network.
Heather Wilds is an award-winning narrator and actress. She has won three AudioFile Earphones Awards for her narrations. She trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and the University of Glamorgan and has appeared in numerous plays, receiving critical acclaim. She has also performed in award-winning short films, appeared on television and in commercials, and has worked extensively as a voice-over artist.