In the Hall of the Dragon King by Graphic Audio

Graphic Audio produces full cast audio dramatizations that are available at truck stops and travel centers. Most of their audio productions have not even been remotely interesting to me, that is until I learned that they were to pick up The Dragon King Trilogy by Stephen R. Lawhead. That got my attention and I started saving up my frequent fueler points.

I've read a few of Lawhead's fiction books and listened to several on audio format, unabridged. The more I listen, the more I am convinced that this writer is not only talented, but he really takes the time to study ancient cultures. Languages and linguistics, for example, are often times so lost by the authors that it becomes a distraction and renders the story completely unrealistic. Lawhead seems to have a knack for not allowing modern vocabulary terms and slang to keep him from telling a good story. For me that makes him an exceptional artist.

Here I am, having just finished the first book, In the Hall of the Dragon King, writing a review. Reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, only without the unusual earthlings he was so fond of, it is full of rich characters, enchantment, friendships, loyalty, betrayal, humility, courage, heroes, villains, hope, suspense, etc.; everything that makes a good story 'great.' While Tolkien's spiritual emphasis can be easily overlooked in his trilogy, here, Lawhead cleverly weaves his tale in such a way that he is able to express the spirtual demension without losing the reader by turning it into a sermon. For Lawhead, it is simply a natural part of the telling of the story.

Having first listening to the unabridged production by Oasis Audio, narrated by Tim Gregory, I was quite impressed with how much detail was retained in the abridged edition by Graphic Audio. The good news is that the first book does well as a 'stand alone,' that way you won't feel cheated if you can't get around to the second book.

The book would be perfect for a family road trip or vacation. So, shut off the DVD player and engage your imagination! No bad language or sexual content to worry about (except for the advertisements at the end). No more violent than what is found in the life of King David. 

5 Stars

Free Downloads:

Sample: First Chapter by Graphic Audio

Behind the Scenes Interview with the Director

Graphic Audio Interviews Stephen R. Lawhead

The best bet for the unabridged audio version by Oasis is Audible.com.

A Quick List of Best AudioBooks - Fiction

I am finally posting some of my all time favorite fiction audiobooks. Of course the reader is always an important contribution to the experience and these are excellent narrations. Enjoy!

The Circle Trilogy (later renamed The Circle Series) by Ted Dekker, unabridged version by Rob Lamont. I've read a number of Dekker's books and while there are some that are better than others, I have enjoyed them all. His book, Three is close second.

The Oath by Frank E. Peretti, the abridged version includes a haunting narration by Joseph Campanella, but the unabridged version is equally good.. I first read this while driving my truck across Ohio late at night. Wow! If you’re partial to thrillers, Peretti and Dekker worked on a book together called House.

The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen Lawhead, unabridged. A superb writer who is extremely well researched in history, language and geography, like no other fiction writer I've known. I've also found his King Raven Trilogy and The Song of Albion trilogy to be of exceptionally rare quality. Perhaps he may be considered to be the new C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein, rolled into one? You decide, and let me know in the comments.

The Pawn by Steven James. This is definitely not for the faint of heart and narrator, Richard Ferrone, will keep you riveted to your player long after you’ve arrived at your destination. Although the first book is the best in my opinion, the whole The Bowers Files series stands out as first class writing, filled with nail-biting suspense and great character development.

Deception by Randy Alcorn, Frank Mueller does a fabulous job on the first person narration of the third installment of the Ollie Chandler detective series, which captivated my attention.

False Witness by Randy Singer. As a lawyer and pastor, this writer brings some unique contributions to the publishing house. But don't think that means he is afraid of getting gritty.

The Testament by John Grisham. While Grisham does not write under a Christian banner, this writing will take you on a spiritual journey where you will discover what living life is really all about.

The Bancroft Strategy by Robert Ludlum. I'm a big fan of Ludlum, but this book takes a surprising spiritual twist, which is a unique contribution to his literary style riding on his intriguing cloak and dagger thrills. Here Ludlum dives head first into the meaning of life and explores the implications of its significance.