This short novel exhibits the author's sardonic fatalism, a kind of humor so dark that, before the work closes, it's more sad--or angry--than funny. A basically good man dies in a stickup, finds himself in hell, whence proceed comic misadventures. Elkin gives his dramatis personae an endearing quality--except for God, who is a petulant, willful despot. George Guidall, one of the best audiobook narrators, misses none of the beats. Wisely, he reads with a comic tone, but without the comic timing of gags that would turn satire into the Three Stooges. He stints on none of the drama, yet pulls back on the bigger moments to keep them from turning bathetic. His interpretation conjures up a phantasmagoria by Hieronymus Bosch in a prankish mood. If he errs, it's in his inability to give Joseph, a minor character here as in the New Testament, the Yiddish inflections the author wrote for him. There is something of Dostoyevsky as much as of Elkin in Guidall's horrifically funny afterlife, something bigger than the text he reads from.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1997
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This much anticipated sci-fi audiobook sequel shakes things up with a full-cast narration. The story picks up right where the first book in this duology stops--the robots known as "The Carls" have left, and April May, one of the first to discover them, has disappeared. Exploring new perspectives and experiences, this remarkably talented ensemble of narrators creates an appealing mix of likable characters as listeners follow a group of young people left behind in this post-Carl world. The plot can be heavy-handed at times, but the social commentary is eerily reminiscent of the world's current circumstances. Listeners will want to listen to the first book, AN ABSOLUTELY REMARKABLE THING, to get the most from this follow-up.
Pub Date: July 7, 2020
Duration: 15 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593146316
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
As soon as one hears longtime Discworld narrator Stephen Briggs's comically heartfelt and mildly tuneful rendition of Discworld's national anthem, one realizes why some books should be heard and not just read. The devil hires a publicist. An artist paints the sky the wrong color. This collection of razor-sharp satire spans Terry Pratchett's long and prolific career, dating back to 1963. The sound of words and the sound of ideas always attracted Pratchett, and both Briggs and Michael Fenton Stevens excel at emphasizing Pratchett's special blend of sophistication and silliness, especially when they're providing character voices to dozens of witches and wizards. Wonderfully entertaining and an absolute must-listen for all longtime Pratchett fans.
Pub Date: March 17, 2015
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780804193597
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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