Rogue Angel - 1 Destiny Graphic Audio Production

This is something I didn't expect either. Out of the blue, Graphic Audio emailed me and asked if I would like to listen to their production of the first Rogue Angel book, given I had written about it earlier. Seeing I liked the novel, I said sure, why not.

They are here, for people that are interested Graphic Audio - Rogue Angel : Destiny Their email said you can get audio cd, mp3 cd or download, so that should pretty much cover anyone. Mp3 download perhaps is a good idea too for those that don't do the windows media thing, but I suppose you can always get a cd instead. It would be a useful option for overseas readers, certainly.

Generally speaking, I am not one for audiobooks, as, for me, to listen to an audiobook will take several times longer than reading the novel of the same length. On occasion while working or on a long car trip I have done so.

I have listened to many more radio presentations, or old time radio episodes like The Shadow, or Tarzan, or the Lone Ranger, Green Hornet, or Superman. I much prefer those if I am going to listen to something, as they have acting and the whole thing in there. Some radio shows from the 1980s, and a Sherlock Holmes vs Dracula production that was also pretty much the same as the book, but not as fancy as this.

However, it appears what Graphic audio is doing is a combination. There is a narrator that is basically reading the parts of the book that is not dialogue. In this case it is a woman, which makes sense, as the hero of the piece in this case is female. However, all the dialogue is played by different actors of the appropriate gender. Also, there is a soundtrack, and sound effects. Gunshots, cars, thwackings, and a really cool noise when Annja does the disappear and reappear the mystical sword trick, which is excellent. The mobile phone noises were realistic enough to annoy my wife.

So, this is a hybrid production that is pretty much the full book, which all the added benefits an audio production can bring to enliven the experience. The tagline on the website says 'A Movie In Your Mind', for their books/productions in general. It seems they are not far wrong, as that is the production they are going for.

It all appears to be done quite well. The narrator/actress in effect is playing the straight woman (in a comedic sense), while the male character dialogue flows around her, as she tolerates them to greater or lesser degrees.

The Rogue Angel concept I think is a good one, and designed for crossover appeal. I am guessing that Annja is going to run into a love interest or two to appeal a bit more to romance fans, and there is also the female superhero arse kicker, for fans there, and a bit of the running around with guns for fans of that sort of action. Throw in some monsters and ghostbusting, and a magic sword, and you certainly have an interesting combination. Elements of Witchblade, Highlander, Tomb Raider and/or Relic Hunter, but featuring a character who is a little younger than that crowd.

If you like audio drama, I don't see why this wouldn't appeal, and if you like audio books (or old time radio dramas, or radio drama), there is a lot of that there, as well, which seems to me to be somewhat clever, but this is an area I am not particularly familiar with.

My rating for the actual book is here :-

http://superprose.blogspot.com/2007/01/rogue-angel-1-destiny.html

The actual content is pretty much the same, so that rating doesn't change, after a second run through. If I was tempted to change it, it would probably go slightly higher I think, after the repeat. However, I may be new to this sort of thing. This may mean it impresses me more than a highly experienced listener to books and drama I will give the production itself :

4 out of 5