Date: Sat, 22 Apr 1995 00:21:57 EDT
From: FMFV90A@prodigy.com (DR SCOTT F KENWARD)
To: jls20@hermes.cam.ac.uk, pl7714@xx.acs.appstate.edu
Subject: Stephen King Audiotapes
Congratulations on what is shaping up to be a first class Stephen King WebSite. I have a particular niche of interest here that may warrant inclusion in your site.
I have compiled a list of Stephen King Audiotapes that are commercially available.
I suppose what I enjoy most about these tapes is that I have the best of both worlds. Almost all of King's stories on tape are unabridged. Many other otherwise fine authors have allowed abridgements, to the detriment of their work. There is simply no way that characters can be fully developed or plot lines fully unfolded in a typical 2 or 4 cassette abridgement.
The readers of King's audiotapes, to me anyway, have been uniformly very good to excellent (I wonder if the author has any input here...). The dramatic reading of the full text only enhances the story. It allows for subtle shades of emotion to further clarify the state of mind of the characters. I particularly enjoy King's own rendition of his works.
There is a drawback to these tapes, however. The money I've spent on gasoline while idling in the office parking lot would surely buy several hardcover editions. Time flies when your havin' fun...
My award for Best Dramatic Reading of a Stephen King Audiotape goes to Frances Sternhagen for Dolores Claiborne. Thanks for asking.
The following is a mostly complete list of available Stephen King Audiotapes. They range in price from about twenty to eighty dollars (another drawback). They are available from most larger bookstores or from mail order (Audio Editions - 800-231-4261).
Keep up the good work. See you on the Web.