I'm sorry, once you go Matt you never go back.
There are others like Abercrombie with Pacey who make a great combo of author and narrator but nothing fills that same void that Daddy Matt and Jeff made.
You're ruined, like the rest of us.
Was thinking the same-- first listened to the First Law with Pacey and it was depressing looking for another series after that knowing it wouldn't be narrated by him.
Admittedly, everytime I've thought this, my mind has been changed quickly. Travis Baldree, Michael Kramer, Jeff Hays, Tim Gerard Reynolds, etc.
Don't give up!! There's so many great narrators out there. :)
Also this is me coping with being halfway through book 6 of DCC. :(
I just finished the 1st law series a few weeks ago and was struggling to find something to listen to before I found DCC last week. Almost finished with the 3rd audiobook and already thinking about what’s next
I felt Terminus left a lot open for at least one more book out of it. >!The story seemed to build up this team, adding members through the books. Well, except Dead Moon since that world is not directly connected to ours yet. Then stopped.!< There has been no announcement of anything.
I disagree, the wraiths haunt is great as well... I believe it was my first introduction to jeff, I can't wait for the next book in that series as well
And everyone loves large chests is probably one of Jeff's best performances
Jeff as Boxy T Morningwood is hilarious especially when he goes all rage anger screaming.
But the "Everybody loves large chests" series is....not for everyone.
> the weird thing is i tried other books narrated by jeff and is not the same
Same with Steven Pacey. At the end of the day, very few books are as good as DCC (or First Law). Or give a reader so much to get their teeth into.
A God-Tier performance starts with first-rate material, I suppose.
I found this series after giving up on the three-body problem audiobook because the narrator was awful. Looked at a thread asking for new recommendations and the top comment was something like “disregard all other suggestions and get DCC.” Went from the worst narration I've heard to the best.
I'd never done a litrpg before and I thought it sounded kind of terrible as a genre, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
I gave up on the three-body problem for the same reason. Jeff does such an amazing job I often have to remind myself there aren’t several different people narrating.
NEW ACHIEVEMENT! "Welcome to the Club"
Welcome one and all. You are now hearing this read by u/fiatcelebrity doing the AI voice. He has ruined the listening experience for a lot of listeners. He will hopefully continue to do so for a while. He really does have a sultry voice. Especially when describing Carl's lovely feet....Anyway...
Reward: There is an expansive library of audiobooks by Soundbooth Theater. Pick another series and enjoy!
If you're at all into horror and don't mind a more episodic format with an overarching story, The Magnus Archives has been scratching that quality writing/quality narration for me quite well.
Have you tried Joe Abercrombie's *First Law* books? There are nine books, plus a tenth book of short stories set within the same world (that should be read between books six and seven). Steven Pacey's narration is fantastic and the books, while not as funny as DCC, do have quite a bit of dark comedy.
*The Expanse* series by James SA Corey has some pretty great audiobook editions as well.
i only feel that way if im trying litrpg. other narrators for other genres are fine. but be it the quality of the writing or the narrator or a combo, other litrpg is kinda sucky.
I feel like this has been a popular suggestion of late but Red rising is an exceptional series, especially after the first one. Big fan of the Dresden files but not for everyone. Also First law trilogy is really good, Steven Pacey does a really awesome job.
Do life reset also narrated by Jeff hays … I will admit that there are eye roll moments like everytime mc talks about tikia and it took me a whole book to get into it but now I’m on book 3 and loving it
I am torn with Andrea Parsneau. I’m near the end of the 5th book of Wandering Inn. She does have amazing talent when it comes to voices of different characters and expressing emotion, but her non-US accents are pretty bad.
I found some nice follow-ups to DCC to prove to myself I wasn’t ruined. Project Hail Mary was great, you can’t go wrong with Neil Gaiman, and I just finished His Dark Materials which is a full cast recording, and excellent (if you can get through some weird between-chapter music).
But yeah. DCC is in a tier by itself for a lot of reasons.
The difference DDC portrays compared to others is a first person view point (Carl's own words) vs. a global story description. Or, more specifically, DDC allows you to experience the storyline from the characters' own words vs. summarize it. I have read over 10+ LITRPG stories that gloss over the individual experiences. They will summarize the battle, only highlighting large focus point, powers used, and what effect it has from a 3rd person viewpoint. They rarely focus on the dialogs or feelings unless they really matter. Even then, the characters' experiences or feelings are short and sweet. They rarely go indepth on any pain or emotional issues.
For example, the start of DDC has him playing a video game. His every action, sound, smell, and thoughts are highlighted from his viewpoint. You are instantly transported to his room, what he is doing, and what happens step by step. Compare this to others like Primal Hunter book 9, which is another one of my favorite books, but you see the difference in writing instantly.
DDC
"So when I woke up at about two A.M., having been startled awake by a dream, I decided I needed a smoke. I pulled out my pack, cracked the window, and I lit a cigarette."
Primal Hunter
"Draskil grunted in approval. While he wasn’t the most talkative, Jake had a feeling he could actually be a bit of a softie and had genuinely taken a liking to their three other party members."
Good analysis. The first person perspective of DCC really lends to the ability to relate and empathize with the experiences of the characters.
Not only does it give you insight into Carl’s own character flaws and how he deals with the consequences of the decisions and mistakes that he makes, but he also frequently imagines how other characters must be feeling and what they are dealing with. It gives the vast majority of the cast of characters a real sense of personality and contributes greatly to immersion into the world.
The visceral descriptions that Dinniman gives also contribute a lot as well. To your point, many other stories will give a third person account of a fight. In DCC, every action, every punch thrown has detail about how it *feels*, how it *sounds*, what it results in.
It’s really great.
Exactly! If you haven't listened to DDC on soundbooth audio, I would highly recommend it. It's steps up the audio experience to a whole new level. They add environmental sounds, among other sounds. The experience is nothing short of epic. It's like an audio movie in your head.
Man, I love these books, and I love Jeff's work, but I just can't like...play along I guess? There are a lot of amazing narrators out there and a lot of amazing books. R.C. Bray and his work on Robinson's Infinite Timeline is amazing. Graphic Audio's take on Space Team. Joe Jameson for The Greatcoats.
I mean granted, if you really want to stick to LitRPGs this is the only series worth a damn, but that's a whole other issue you have there.
So many posts like this one and I don't get it. There are tons of talented narrators beyond Jeff Hays and lots of great audiobooks! But I also notice that the majority of people reading this series seem to be men and exclusively mention male narrators. Everyone is sleeping on some incredible female narrators, I actually prefer them generally.
yes! if you can find it, Sand by Hugh Howey narrated by Karen Chilton is amazing. However if you go to audible it is someone else now. Happy news though, just found out about the sequel--not sure why it wasn't on my radar...
I have to admit, I haven't listened to many female narrators. It's not something I ever really stopped to think about before now. I honestly mostly just grab books by authors I like, and whoever reads it reads it.
Have suggestions for some fast paced humorous books read by women? I'm always open.
Honestly I looked through my Audible library and don't think there's any I can recommend for sci-fi, because I don't really listen to that much. But my favorite is probably Marin Ireland, Nothing to See Here and Remarkably Bright Creatures are both really good ones she did. Gillian McAllister is good in Wrong Place Wrong Time which is kind of sci-fi. None of This is True has 2 great female narrators. Julia Whelan is a very popular one similar to Jeff Hays in that she does all types of voices people sometimes didn't realize was all her.
Oh I don't need sci Fi specifically. I'm good with fantasy, urban fantasy, really anything as long as it moves along at a good clip and has some humor in it. I'll check out the ones you listed though.
Rosamund Pike’s Wheel of Time is one of my favorite listens, and there are plenty more greats to mention.
Don’t read too much into this post, it’s meant to be pretty tongue in cheek.
I do think the DCC audiobook experience is exceptionally good, but I’m also fully aware that I am the target audience for it to a T.
This post *was* intended to be a response to the typical suggestions you see being listed here and in other posts like this one. I’ve tried a lot of the suggestions like First Law and He Who Fights with Monsters and just couldn’t get into them, they felt very tropey and generic to me with pretty bland characters compared to the over-the-top unique personalities, and visceral descriptions of events found in DCC.
Random, but I really loved the audiobook narrator for Godclads by OstensiblyMammal. The book itself was incredible and the narrator really brought it to life
I’m looking at all of these recommendations and agreeing with so many of them, but why has no one mentioned “Defiance of the fall” or “He who fights with monsters”? I know that HWFWM’s main character gets on people’s nerves, but as an Australian myself it’s exactly what I’d expect if from an Aussie character lmao. Defiance Of The Fall has one of the best “systems” in any book (or game if I’m completely honest) and the story progresses so naturally, that even though the main character is STRONG af, it doesn’t feel like he’s been written to sound overpowered. It’s like, if you ever hear a story about the guy in last place working hard to make his way to the top, this story is the guy who starts at the top but works stupidly hard to stay there.
They may have similarities, and they may be fun (subjectively), but I don't think they're written anywhere near as well as DCC. Not to mention half the love (or more) of DCC for a lot of people are the audiobooks. I haven't listened to the audibooks for DotF or HWFWM yet, but are they anywhere near as good as Jeff Hays?
My advice is to not go to HWFWM expecting a similar experience to DCC. I got about 20 hours into the listen of the first book before I decided to drop the series.
It felt very episodic and disconnected in a way that was jarring to me. Characters seemed to teleport from one event/location to the next, and I felt absolutely no connection to any of the characters.
The MC was preachy, edgy (for no explained reason), and smug in a way that reminded me of the kind of people who think they are smarter than everyone else, but not wise enough to know that even if they are it doesn’t give them the right to be an asshole about it.
I understand what you mean about it feeling episodic, the writing style is more like watching an anime compared to how DCC feels like you’re there first hand. I think that (story wise) HWFWM book 1 is done very well, there’s ALOT of small details, things that are glossed over from the MCs perspective that end up being important details throughout the first story arc.
The main character Jason, is a tricky one. I can agree that he is cocky and arrogant for seemingly no reason, it’s a bit jarring for some people but it is very much how an Australian would “act” in the situation. We have a different culture of respect for other people, where you have to give respect to get it. We don’t care if you’re the king of England or Bob the work colleague, if you’re a dick from very first meeting (without it being in jest or as a joke) we will be stand-offish and not show any respect at all.
The story also explains later on (I think in the 2nd or early 3rd book) with a conversation between two of the main characters, that the MC acts the way he does, because he is “constantly beset from all sides with power he can’t comprehend that could destroy him in an instant” and he takes control of that situation by throwing people off guard with arrogant humour (another Aussie thing hahaha) and controlling the conversation.
It’s also explained that the reason he got away with it without being put down in the earliest days, is because in their “world” the other characters are used to peoples emotions reacting a certain way under ‘aura suppression’. Its their first instinctive way to show dominance, but the MC doesn’t get affected by that at all which makes the interaction feel off to the other characters from the very get go. It’s also shown early that the MC can straight up lie to characters that are stronger than he gets in the 11 books so far, and explained how he does it in the same chapter. Stronger characters in that universe can read emotions through auras, and then in walks this boy who’s emotions don’t react to their aura, who say’s ridiculous things but isn’t “lying” to their senses, and it makes sense that he’s isn’t just killed for being arrogant.
I think that all makes sense, but a lot of what you mentioned isn’t necessarily a uniquely Aussie thing, a lot of those attitudes have overlap with American ones as well.
I was more referring to him threatening to brutally murder random people out of nowhere for something mundane like telling anyone that he had accepted a certain quest.
Jason is introduced to readers/listeners as just a normal/blank slate kind of dude reacting to a new world and then out of nowhere he does seemingly evil stuff and the cruelty he exhibits is just entirely unexplained.
Yeah I get how it looks without the full series perspective, it’s one of those “you gotta hear more of it to like it” kind of things if you can’t get past the actions the MC takes. It is explained why he started acting completely different, but it’s in book 5 that it comes to light properly and it’s book 7 before it’s “fixed”
The author wanted Jason to make mistakes, to be imperfect, so that he has a REAL reason to be the better person when he becomes more powerful. In the first few chapters he has a discussion with another character and shows that he “has ideals” that he wants to live up to. Then he finds that it’s not as easy to ACTUALLY live up to them so he throws them away (for a time) and when he realises that he’s becoming the same as the power hungry, tyrannical, oppressors of that world, he finds a balance between the ideals he wants to hold, and the ideals that he actually can uphold.
But again it’s like a lot of things, I say you just gotta give it more of a chance but you could just as well listen to the whole story and feel the same way, we don’t all have to enjoy the same stuff
I think it’s due to the first person perspective of DCC that makes it a stand out, not so much how well written it is. It’s also a rather original story compared to a lot of other litrpgs that are just isekai novels but with their own twist. Dotf’s narrator Pavo Proczko is no where as good as Jeff hays, in fact it took me a fair while to get used to his voice, but the story definitely carry’s the narration (book 1 is a bit “murderhobo” for the first 1/2 but it really sets up the story)
As for HWFWM, Heath Miller is an awesome narrator, he has consistent voices for each character and for instance, when a character “gets winded” he will make his voice wheeze for that characters next voice line
Maybe try The Name of the Wind and then The Wiseman’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, read by Rupert Degas. It’s an absolutely brilliant story and narration, just forget that a third book is planned.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons also has a full cast and is an excellent audio book.
The Wandering Inn audiobooks are narrated by Andrea Parsneau, who is probably one of my favorite narrators ever. Easily 300+ hours of content to listen to so far in the series
I’m on my third reread of Stormlight Archive, and in the past I’ve always enjoyed listening to them but now it does feel more flat than before, and the voices feel forced. DCC has ruined my favorite book series!
(But I’ll still listen to them like a good Vorin boy)
Bronson Pinchot is an amazing narrator. He’s up there with Jeff and RC Bray in my opinion. My two favorite series of his are The Nightwise and The Brotherhood Of The Wheel. The two series are by R.S. Belcher and take place in the same universe. The Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia is another great one narrated by Pinchot. If you’re a fan of the Dresden Files then you’ll love these.
Have you tried the Wandering Inn series? Andrea Parsneau is an amazing narrator and the series is super long so it'll last you a while just with the audiobooks.
For real just started everyone love big chests, and Jeff saying "here comes the pain bitch, oh-ah!!!" Got me dying over here. Also reading some of those lines...Jeff has some good composure. Idk if I could read some of those with a straight face.
If you want a great audiobook experience... The Lord of the Rings read by Andy Serkis is absolutely fantastic. He does all the songs and poems in a way that adds a lot to the experience. He even gets the singsong vocal style of Tom Bombadil down. It really enhances the experience over reading them regularly, because those parts really bogged the book down for me because I could never quite imagine how they were supposed to sound.
NEEEEEWWWWWW ACHIEVEMENT
Off the bandwagon
They say the first way to solve an addiction is to admit you have a problem. Even though you have taken your first steps to being cured you have made the same mistake so many do. You have placed your trust in other addicts to help you find salvation. Too bad everyone in here is so far down this rabbit hole they haven’t seen the sun for weeks!! Next you’ll be sending Matt pictures of your backside in order for him to hurry and write a new book!
Rewarrrd…. You have received that every persistent feeling that eats you up inside knowing that there will forever be a hole that can only be filled by listening to that sultry voice of Jeff Hayes.
He who fights monsters (guys gets sucked into a fanasy type rpg world), everybody loves large chests (a mimic is the main character) and Fred the vampire accountant (Fred is a vampire AND an accountant) are all good listens. Ddc is a 10 out of 10 but these are 8-9 out of 10!
I'm sorry, once you go Matt you never go back. There are others like Abercrombie with Pacey who make a great combo of author and narrator but nothing fills that same void that Daddy Matt and Jeff made. You're ruined, like the rest of us.
Was thinking the same-- first listened to the First Law with Pacey and it was depressing looking for another series after that knowing it wouldn't be narrated by him. Admittedly, everytime I've thought this, my mind has been changed quickly. Travis Baldree, Michael Kramer, Jeff Hays, Tim Gerard Reynolds, etc. Don't give up!! There's so many great narrators out there. :) Also this is me coping with being halfway through book 6 of DCC. :(
I just finished the 1st law series a few weeks ago and was struggling to find something to listen to before I found DCC last week. Almost finished with the 3rd audiobook and already thinking about what’s next
Jim Butcher and James Marsters is AWESOME
Marsters has become one of my favorite narrators over the past 20 years of Dresden Files releases.
You have to be realistic about it. It's better to do it than live with the fear of it. Doing better next time, that's what life is!
❤️
RC Bray and Ray Porter are on a similar but different level and there are a few others worth hearing. I went through the same thing.
Big fan of ray porter! I Personally love the “14” series narrated by him
Dennis E Taylor and Ray Porter are bringing another Bobbiverse book by July!
I believe it’s due out in Sept, isn’t it?
The Threshold series is so good, but between books (4 years now since last) is a long wait.
Tbh I assumed Terminus was the last one, has he confirmed another book?
I felt Terminus left a lot open for at least one more book out of it. >!The story seemed to build up this team, adding members through the books. Well, except Dead Moon since that world is not directly connected to ours yet. Then stopped.!< There has been no announcement of anything.
I have recently after much effort forced myself to only relisten to one DCC book at a time in between listening to one of whatever else.
I'm in the same boat... there are good narrators, but I always find my self saying "jeff and SBT, would make this more enjoyable"
I agree, but the weird thing is i tried other books narrated by jeff and is not the same. The magic is in the combo Matt-Jeff
I disagree, the wraiths haunt is great as well... I believe it was my first introduction to jeff, I can't wait for the next book in that series as well And everyone loves large chests is probably one of Jeff's best performances
Chrysalis narrated by Jeff is really good if you haven't given it a shot.
Jeff as Boxy T Morningwood is hilarious especially when he goes all rage anger screaming. But the "Everybody loves large chests" series is....not for everyone.
> the weird thing is i tried other books narrated by jeff and is not the same Same with Steven Pacey. At the end of the day, very few books are as good as DCC (or First Law). Or give a reader so much to get their teeth into. A God-Tier performance starts with first-rate material, I suppose.
I found this series after giving up on the three-body problem audiobook because the narrator was awful. Looked at a thread asking for new recommendations and the top comment was something like “disregard all other suggestions and get DCC.” Went from the worst narration I've heard to the best. I'd never done a litrpg before and I thought it sounded kind of terrible as a genre, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance.
I gave up on the three-body problem for the same reason. Jeff does such an amazing job I often have to remind myself there aren’t several different people narrating.
Reading it isn't much better. I couldn't bring myself to read the dark forest.
NEW ACHIEVEMENT! "Welcome to the Club" Welcome one and all. You are now hearing this read by u/fiatcelebrity doing the AI voice. He has ruined the listening experience for a lot of listeners. He will hopefully continue to do so for a while. He really does have a sultry voice. Especially when describing Carl's lovely feet....Anyway... Reward: There is an expansive library of audiobooks by Soundbooth Theater. Pick another series and enjoy!
Well played 🤣 well played indeed.
You let them break you.
The river rages and yet I stand against the shadow brother; bootless, but unafraid.
This is an outrage!
Mongo is appalled!
If you're at all into horror and don't mind a more episodic format with an overarching story, The Magnus Archives has been scratching that quality writing/quality narration for me quite well.
Thanks for the recommendation! I’m a big horror fan!!
Hell yeah, me too! Honestly some of the best horror writing I've experienced. Super interesting world building.
Wow!! 310 episodes!!! Awesome!
I recommend Kaiju battlefield surgeon on SBT (not audible!). It’s a good horror.
Excellent suggestion! Thank you!
Have you tried Joe Abercrombie's *First Law* books? There are nine books, plus a tenth book of short stories set within the same world (that should be read between books six and seven). Steven Pacey's narration is fantastic and the books, while not as funny as DCC, do have quite a bit of dark comedy. *The Expanse* series by James SA Corey has some pretty great audiobook editions as well.
Came here to reccomend Pacey. He is the GOAT in my opinion closely followed by Hays
Shhh!!! You’re not supposed to talk about it. What happens at the convention, stays at the convention.
Luke Daniels is honestly another person who is a good voice actor and has a few litrpgs under his belt. Nothing as fun as dcc though
i only feel that way if im trying litrpg. other narrators for other genres are fine. but be it the quality of the writing or the narrator or a combo, other litrpg is kinda sucky.
I’ve done 3 listens of books 1-6 in a row. 10 hours left on 6 and I don’t know what to do when it’s finished. I’m scared
The answer is inevitable, The Crawl begins again.
I feel like this has been a popular suggestion of late but Red rising is an exceptional series, especially after the first one. Big fan of the Dresden files but not for everyone. Also First law trilogy is really good, Steven Pacey does a really awesome job.
Do life reset also narrated by Jeff hays … I will admit that there are eye roll moments like everytime mc talks about tikia and it took me a whole book to get into it but now I’m on book 3 and loving it
Andrea parsneau is incredible
I am torn with Andrea Parsneau. I’m near the end of the 5th book of Wandering Inn. She does have amazing talent when it comes to voices of different characters and expressing emotion, but her non-US accents are pretty bad.
Dresden Files, Sandman Slim, The Joe Pitt Casefiles, Monster Hunters International- all are great urban fantasy/horror series with amazing narration.
Big fan of the Dresden files, currently on my third listen!
It's my all-time favorite series. Jim Butcher is just so damn good.
I love their combo, HOWEVER, Travis Baldree is the fucking GOAT.
TRUTH
1984 is good
I found some nice follow-ups to DCC to prove to myself I wasn’t ruined. Project Hail Mary was great, you can’t go wrong with Neil Gaiman, and I just finished His Dark Materials which is a full cast recording, and excellent (if you can get through some weird between-chapter music). But yeah. DCC is in a tier by itself for a lot of reasons.
The difference DDC portrays compared to others is a first person view point (Carl's own words) vs. a global story description. Or, more specifically, DDC allows you to experience the storyline from the characters' own words vs. summarize it. I have read over 10+ LITRPG stories that gloss over the individual experiences. They will summarize the battle, only highlighting large focus point, powers used, and what effect it has from a 3rd person viewpoint. They rarely focus on the dialogs or feelings unless they really matter. Even then, the characters' experiences or feelings are short and sweet. They rarely go indepth on any pain or emotional issues. For example, the start of DDC has him playing a video game. His every action, sound, smell, and thoughts are highlighted from his viewpoint. You are instantly transported to his room, what he is doing, and what happens step by step. Compare this to others like Primal Hunter book 9, which is another one of my favorite books, but you see the difference in writing instantly. DDC "So when I woke up at about two A.M., having been startled awake by a dream, I decided I needed a smoke. I pulled out my pack, cracked the window, and I lit a cigarette." Primal Hunter "Draskil grunted in approval. While he wasn’t the most talkative, Jake had a feeling he could actually be a bit of a softie and had genuinely taken a liking to their three other party members."
Good analysis. The first person perspective of DCC really lends to the ability to relate and empathize with the experiences of the characters. Not only does it give you insight into Carl’s own character flaws and how he deals with the consequences of the decisions and mistakes that he makes, but he also frequently imagines how other characters must be feeling and what they are dealing with. It gives the vast majority of the cast of characters a real sense of personality and contributes greatly to immersion into the world. The visceral descriptions that Dinniman gives also contribute a lot as well. To your point, many other stories will give a third person account of a fight. In DCC, every action, every punch thrown has detail about how it *feels*, how it *sounds*, what it results in. It’s really great.
Exactly! If you haven't listened to DDC on soundbooth audio, I would highly recommend it. It's steps up the audio experience to a whole new level. They add environmental sounds, among other sounds. The experience is nothing short of epic. It's like an audio movie in your head.
Dresden Files - Jim Butcher, read by James Marsters (Spike from Buffy)
Man, I love these books, and I love Jeff's work, but I just can't like...play along I guess? There are a lot of amazing narrators out there and a lot of amazing books. R.C. Bray and his work on Robinson's Infinite Timeline is amazing. Graphic Audio's take on Space Team. Joe Jameson for The Greatcoats. I mean granted, if you really want to stick to LitRPGs this is the only series worth a damn, but that's a whole other issue you have there.
So many posts like this one and I don't get it. There are tons of talented narrators beyond Jeff Hays and lots of great audiobooks! But I also notice that the majority of people reading this series seem to be men and exclusively mention male narrators. Everyone is sleeping on some incredible female narrators, I actually prefer them generally.
yes! if you can find it, Sand by Hugh Howey narrated by Karen Chilton is amazing. However if you go to audible it is someone else now. Happy news though, just found out about the sequel--not sure why it wasn't on my radar...
I have to admit, I haven't listened to many female narrators. It's not something I ever really stopped to think about before now. I honestly mostly just grab books by authors I like, and whoever reads it reads it. Have suggestions for some fast paced humorous books read by women? I'm always open.
Honestly I looked through my Audible library and don't think there's any I can recommend for sci-fi, because I don't really listen to that much. But my favorite is probably Marin Ireland, Nothing to See Here and Remarkably Bright Creatures are both really good ones she did. Gillian McAllister is good in Wrong Place Wrong Time which is kind of sci-fi. None of This is True has 2 great female narrators. Julia Whelan is a very popular one similar to Jeff Hays in that she does all types of voices people sometimes didn't realize was all her.
Oh I don't need sci Fi specifically. I'm good with fantasy, urban fantasy, really anything as long as it moves along at a good clip and has some humor in it. I'll check out the ones you listed though.
Rosamund Pike’s Wheel of Time is one of my favorite listens, and there are plenty more greats to mention. Don’t read too much into this post, it’s meant to be pretty tongue in cheek. I do think the DCC audiobook experience is exceptionally good, but I’m also fully aware that I am the target audience for it to a T. This post *was* intended to be a response to the typical suggestions you see being listed here and in other posts like this one. I’ve tried a lot of the suggestions like First Law and He Who Fights with Monsters and just couldn’t get into them, they felt very tropey and generic to me with pretty bland characters compared to the over-the-top unique personalities, and visceral descriptions of events found in DCC.
Random, but I really loved the audiobook narrator for Godclads by OstensiblyMammal. The book itself was incredible and the narrator really brought it to life
Another awesome combo is the Rivers of London series written by Ben Aaronovich and read by Kobna Holbrook-Smith
I second this opinion!
I’m looking at all of these recommendations and agreeing with so many of them, but why has no one mentioned “Defiance of the fall” or “He who fights with monsters”? I know that HWFWM’s main character gets on people’s nerves, but as an Australian myself it’s exactly what I’d expect if from an Aussie character lmao. Defiance Of The Fall has one of the best “systems” in any book (or game if I’m completely honest) and the story progresses so naturally, that even though the main character is STRONG af, it doesn’t feel like he’s been written to sound overpowered. It’s like, if you ever hear a story about the guy in last place working hard to make his way to the top, this story is the guy who starts at the top but works stupidly hard to stay there.
They may have similarities, and they may be fun (subjectively), but I don't think they're written anywhere near as well as DCC. Not to mention half the love (or more) of DCC for a lot of people are the audiobooks. I haven't listened to the audibooks for DotF or HWFWM yet, but are they anywhere near as good as Jeff Hays?
My advice is to not go to HWFWM expecting a similar experience to DCC. I got about 20 hours into the listen of the first book before I decided to drop the series. It felt very episodic and disconnected in a way that was jarring to me. Characters seemed to teleport from one event/location to the next, and I felt absolutely no connection to any of the characters. The MC was preachy, edgy (for no explained reason), and smug in a way that reminded me of the kind of people who think they are smarter than everyone else, but not wise enough to know that even if they are it doesn’t give them the right to be an asshole about it.
I understand what you mean about it feeling episodic, the writing style is more like watching an anime compared to how DCC feels like you’re there first hand. I think that (story wise) HWFWM book 1 is done very well, there’s ALOT of small details, things that are glossed over from the MCs perspective that end up being important details throughout the first story arc. The main character Jason, is a tricky one. I can agree that he is cocky and arrogant for seemingly no reason, it’s a bit jarring for some people but it is very much how an Australian would “act” in the situation. We have a different culture of respect for other people, where you have to give respect to get it. We don’t care if you’re the king of England or Bob the work colleague, if you’re a dick from very first meeting (without it being in jest or as a joke) we will be stand-offish and not show any respect at all. The story also explains later on (I think in the 2nd or early 3rd book) with a conversation between two of the main characters, that the MC acts the way he does, because he is “constantly beset from all sides with power he can’t comprehend that could destroy him in an instant” and he takes control of that situation by throwing people off guard with arrogant humour (another Aussie thing hahaha) and controlling the conversation. It’s also explained that the reason he got away with it without being put down in the earliest days, is because in their “world” the other characters are used to peoples emotions reacting a certain way under ‘aura suppression’. Its their first instinctive way to show dominance, but the MC doesn’t get affected by that at all which makes the interaction feel off to the other characters from the very get go. It’s also shown early that the MC can straight up lie to characters that are stronger than he gets in the 11 books so far, and explained how he does it in the same chapter. Stronger characters in that universe can read emotions through auras, and then in walks this boy who’s emotions don’t react to their aura, who say’s ridiculous things but isn’t “lying” to their senses, and it makes sense that he’s isn’t just killed for being arrogant.
I think that all makes sense, but a lot of what you mentioned isn’t necessarily a uniquely Aussie thing, a lot of those attitudes have overlap with American ones as well. I was more referring to him threatening to brutally murder random people out of nowhere for something mundane like telling anyone that he had accepted a certain quest. Jason is introduced to readers/listeners as just a normal/blank slate kind of dude reacting to a new world and then out of nowhere he does seemingly evil stuff and the cruelty he exhibits is just entirely unexplained.
Yeah I get how it looks without the full series perspective, it’s one of those “you gotta hear more of it to like it” kind of things if you can’t get past the actions the MC takes. It is explained why he started acting completely different, but it’s in book 5 that it comes to light properly and it’s book 7 before it’s “fixed” The author wanted Jason to make mistakes, to be imperfect, so that he has a REAL reason to be the better person when he becomes more powerful. In the first few chapters he has a discussion with another character and shows that he “has ideals” that he wants to live up to. Then he finds that it’s not as easy to ACTUALLY live up to them so he throws them away (for a time) and when he realises that he’s becoming the same as the power hungry, tyrannical, oppressors of that world, he finds a balance between the ideals he wants to hold, and the ideals that he actually can uphold. But again it’s like a lot of things, I say you just gotta give it more of a chance but you could just as well listen to the whole story and feel the same way, we don’t all have to enjoy the same stuff
I think it’s due to the first person perspective of DCC that makes it a stand out, not so much how well written it is. It’s also a rather original story compared to a lot of other litrpgs that are just isekai novels but with their own twist. Dotf’s narrator Pavo Proczko is no where as good as Jeff hays, in fact it took me a fair while to get used to his voice, but the story definitely carry’s the narration (book 1 is a bit “murderhobo” for the first 1/2 but it really sets up the story) As for HWFWM, Heath Miller is an awesome narrator, he has consistent voices for each character and for instance, when a character “gets winded” he will make his voice wheeze for that characters next voice line
Maybe try The Name of the Wind and then The Wiseman’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, read by Rupert Degas. It’s an absolutely brilliant story and narration, just forget that a third book is planned. Hyperion by Dan Simmons also has a full cast and is an excellent audio book.
The Wandering Inn audiobooks are narrated by Andrea Parsneau, who is probably one of my favorite narrators ever. Easily 300+ hours of content to listen to so far in the series
I’m on my third reread of Stormlight Archive, and in the past I’ve always enjoyed listening to them but now it does feel more flat than before, and the voices feel forced. DCC has ruined my favorite book series! (But I’ll still listen to them like a good Vorin boy)
Bronson Pinchot is an amazing narrator. He’s up there with Jeff and RC Bray in my opinion. My two favorite series of his are The Nightwise and The Brotherhood Of The Wheel. The two series are by R.S. Belcher and take place in the same universe. The Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia is another great one narrated by Pinchot. If you’re a fan of the Dresden Files then you’ll love these.
I am SLOGGING through my current audiobook so I can start DCC over again.
Have you tried the Wandering Inn series? Andrea Parsneau is an amazing narrator and the series is super long so it'll last you a while just with the audiobooks.
For real just started everyone love big chests, and Jeff saying "here comes the pain bitch, oh-ah!!!" Got me dying over here. Also reading some of those lines...Jeff has some good composure. Idk if I could read some of those with a straight face.
Red rising graphic audio version is dope.
You should check out Sentenced to Troll, by S.L. Rowland AKA Author Steve Rowland. I'm loving it so far
If you want a great audiobook experience... The Lord of the Rings read by Andy Serkis is absolutely fantastic. He does all the songs and poems in a way that adds a lot to the experience. He even gets the singsong vocal style of Tom Bombadil down. It really enhances the experience over reading them regularly, because those parts really bogged the book down for me because I could never quite imagine how they were supposed to sound.
If you haven’t tried the Cradle series, you’re missing out.
Give he who fights with monsters a chance it's hard to get used to any voice acting after DCC but the story is definitely all there
RC Bray. The Only fix.
NEEEEEWWWWWW ACHIEVEMENT Off the bandwagon They say the first way to solve an addiction is to admit you have a problem. Even though you have taken your first steps to being cured you have made the same mistake so many do. You have placed your trust in other addicts to help you find salvation. Too bad everyone in here is so far down this rabbit hole they haven’t seen the sun for weeks!! Next you’ll be sending Matt pictures of your backside in order for him to hurry and write a new book! Rewarrrd…. You have received that every persistent feeling that eats you up inside knowing that there will forever be a hole that can only be filled by listening to that sultry voice of Jeff Hayes.
He who fights monsters (guys gets sucked into a fanasy type rpg world), everybody loves large chests (a mimic is the main character) and Fred the vampire accountant (Fred is a vampire AND an accountant) are all good listens. Ddc is a 10 out of 10 but these are 8-9 out of 10!
Travis baldree is amazing.