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Start giftingShort Stories - Volume One
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Learn moreHerbert George Wells was one of the most prolific and visionary British writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. H. G. Wells, as he is universally known, is now best remembered for his science fiction novels, although he wrote across many genres, including nonfiction. His fiction embraces history, science fiction, horror, satire, fantasy, and social commentary. Wells was also a futurist, foreseeing air travel, tanks (as in âThe Land Ironcladsââpart of this anthology) space travel, nuclear weapons, and even satellite television. Amongst his writings are dozens of short stories; some are very well known, others less so.
When planning this collection, Raconteurs sought stories that we enjoyed ourselves and which embody the range of H. G. Wellsâs imagination and talent. This collection of thirteen short stories includes gothic horror, fantasy, ghost stories, science fiction, satire, and stories of domestic and social commentary. It is a collection that we hope will intrigue and entertain youâand leave you wanting to hear more.
H. G. Wellsâs Short Stories - Volume One is produced by Raconteurs in partnership with Spoken Realms and includes:
âThe Magic Shopâ â read by James GilliesâThe Remarkable Case of Davidsonâs Eyesâ â read by Nigel PattersonâThe Door in the Wallâ â read by Greg WaglandâThe Man Who Could Work Miraclesâ â read by Malk WilliamsâThe Story of the Late Mr Elveshamâ â read by Tim BruceâThe Diamond Makerâ â read by Liam GerrardâMiss Winchelseaâs Heartâ â read by Helen LloydâA Moonlight Fableâ â read by James GilliesâThe Red Roomâ â read by Nigel PattersonâThe Starâ â read by Greg WaglandâThe Land Ironcladsâ â read by Malk WilliamsâThe Jilting of Janeâ â read by Tim BruceâThe Coneâ â read by Liam Gerrard
H. G. Wells was a professional writer and journalist, who published more than a hundred books, including novels, histories, essays and programmes for world regeneration. Wells's prophetic imagination was first displayed in pioneering works of science fiction, but later he became an apostle of socialism, science and progress. His controversial views on sexual equality and the shape of a truly developed nation remain directly relevant to our world today. He was, in Bertrand Russell's words, 'an important liberator of thought and action'. H.G. Wells was a professional writer and journalist who published more than a hundred books, including pioneering science fiction novels, histories, essays and programmes for world regeneration. He was a founding member of numerous movements including Liberty and PEN International - the world's oldest human rights organization - and his Rights of Man laid the groundwork for the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Wells' controversial and progressive views on equality and the shape of a truly developed nation remain directly relevant to our world today.
James A. Gillies has been a familiar voice across BBC television and radio for nearly a quarter of a century. Trained at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire, he has worked as an actor, continuity announcer, program narrator, and newsreader. He lives with his wife and two Norwegian Forest cats in Kilbarchan, Scotland.
British audiobook narrator and AudioFile Earphones Award winner Nigel Patterson has many credits as a stage, screen, and voice-over actor that influence his powerful characterization across a broad range of genres. AudioFile commented "his keen ear and impeccable diction give insights into the prevailing attitudes of the period . . . his wholly credible characters stay with you long after you unplug." A graduate linguist of the University of Oxford, he is fluent in French and Spanish, has lived and worked in the U.S. for fifteen years, and knows many different accents and dialects from around the world.
Greg Wagland is an actor, audiobook narrator, and voice artist. His audiobook credits include classics, fiction, history, poetry, biography, nonfiction, science fiction, as well as young adult and childrenâs fiction.
Malk Williams is a voice talent and Earphones Awardâwinning audiobook narrator.
Tim Bruce has a warm, friendly, characterful voice and works extensively in voice-over, cartoons, and audiobooks. A regular on the BBC, he is an award-winning actor with over twenty-five years of experience narrating audiobooks for publishers all over the world. Tim has also created a whole host of cartoon character voices for CBBC, Nickelodeon, Disney, and Cartoon Network.
Liam Gerrard is an award-winning voice artist with over ten years of experience working in every field of the voice industry, as well as a highly acclaimed stage and screen actor. His animation Walter Tull-Britain's First Black Officer was nominated for a BAFTA in 2016, and he has been nominated for an Audie Award in 2017. He has narrated over thirty audiobooks in a wide range of genres and styles. He comes from a large Irish family, although he was raised in Yorkshire before moving to the Middle East, where he went to school. He studied at Lancaster University and then as a classically trained actor at Mountview; he is currently the youngest actor to play the lead role of Prospero in Shakespeare's The Tempest in London's West End. He has worked for the most renowned theater companies, including the Royal Exchange Theatre (two Manchester theater award nominations), Edinburgh Lyceum Theatre (five Critics Choice nominations), Soho Theatre (MTN nomination), and most regional theaters throughout the U.K., including Alan Aykbourn's SJT, New Vic, Oldham Coliseum, Nottingham Playhouse, and Theatre by the Lake. His wide-ranging experience has also seen him perform Opera in Rigoletto. He is an associate lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University in Broadcast Voice and is also a communication skills specialist and trainer. In addition, he is an examiner for the Royal College of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons, Royal Scottish College of Surgery. In his spare time Liam is also a musician who plays the violin, drums, piano, and percussion. He also enjoys spending time with Peg, his Springer Spaniel, out on the Peak District whenever he can get away from the studio!
Helen Lloyd is a classically trained actor who has a keen ear for accents and loves to bring characters to life. The narrator of books in numerous genres, she delights in new challenges.
Reviews
âRaconteurs Audio LLP in conjunction with publisher Spoken Realms has produced three volumes of H.G. Wellsâ short storiesâhours upon hoursâand Iâm happy to report all with excellent result. The pacing is excellent throughout, as is the choice of stories. While many of these titles have been widely available for a long time by various other voices, this is a particularly welcome constellation. The individual performances throughout are nuanced and suitably dramatic but with no overacting. The talent pool includes BAFTA nominees, award-winning narrators, established voice-over artists and actors, as well as ITV and BBC personalities and documentariansâŚDefinitely worth your time.â
âThis audiobook is a pleasure to listen to. An ensemble of English narrators escorts the listener into the marvelous imaginings of Wells. Among the many auditory delights, James Gilliesâs nuanced performance of âThe Magic Shop,â Greg Waglandâs almost incantatory treatment of âThe Door in the Wall,â and Nigel Pattersonâs heart-stopping yet subtle rendition of the science fiction gem âThe Starâ excel. This audiobook collects a fine blend of Wells as fantasist (âThe Man Who Could Work Miraclesâ), satirist (âMrs. Winchelseaâs Heartâ), and futurist (âThe Land Ironcladsâ). The narrators capture his fine ear for language and eye for detail throughout this collection of short fiction written from the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries.â
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