Journey to the Center of the Earth: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry

By: Jules Verne

Narrated by: Tim Curry

Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Journey to the Center of the Earth is one of literature’s earliest works of science fiction. It vividly animates a fantastical subterranean world as an intrepid crew, led by the eccentric Otto Lidenbrock, traverses the planet’s core and its various bizarre obstacles: giant mushrooms and insects, a herd of mastodons, prehistoric humans, a treacherous pit of magma, and more.

Tim Curry, narrator of the customer favorite A Christmas Carol, returns for an encore performance that delivers a range of distinct character voices and captures the energy and enthusiasm of a time when scientific exploration was a brand new adventure.

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Public Domain (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Very nicely done

I'm only part way into the book, but I like it a lot. Tim Curry is a hoot to listen to and adds a lot to the character.

Such a Pleasure for the Ears

I read Jules Verne as a child and I will always be grateful for the world of imagination he opened for me. There is a timeless quality to his stories even though much of the science is dated. Verne was always more about adventure based on scientific exploration than what we think of as "hard sci-fi" now. This story is now 150 years old and is still fun.

But would I read it again? Probably not. I WILL listen again. Tim Curry has one of the most beautiful voices ever and he makes this old story come to life.

A classic for a reason

Tim Curry puts forward a truly stupendous narration as he takes the listener into the depth of the earth. Cataloging the journey of an eccentric professor and his more reasonable, but somewhat weak willed and cowardly nephew as they explore the unknown, Jules Verne classic is worth your time. Much recommended.

Fantastic

a wonderful journey! Tim Currey does a wonderful job. Never a single even over the most esoteric Islands phrase. simply fantastic!

Really puts the “science” in science fiction

I first read this book when I was a very young girl, and it is amazing how much of it I recalled upon re-reading it 40 years later. Certainly, the details have faded from my memory, but as I listened to the audiobook (given a glorious reading by Tim Curry) I felt myself transported to my early childhood. I felt again the fascination for geology, paleontology and archeology this book and other similar ones engendered in me. For the book is a veritable encyclopedia of vocabulary and theories from these disciplines. No matter that many of the concepts are outdated, any young person with an interest in the sciences would find the tale of the “savant” Professor Lidenbrock, his fearful nephew Axel and their intrepid guide Hans fascinating. I recall looking up many of the words in a dictionary as I read, and am certain that this book played a key role in my lifelong interest in science and science fiction.

Childhood Favorites

July's Verne was one of my favorite childhood writers. It has been a joy to reconnect after retirement.

The Journey

I love the movie so I thought it was time to read the book. Most of the time the book is so much better, but I have to admit the movie interpretation was better to me. With that said, I did enjoy the story and the narration. It was entertaining.

Jules Verne: A man ahead of his time

If you could sum up Journey to the Center of the Earth: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry in three words, what would they be?

Authentic adventure story

What other book might you compare Journey to the Center of the Earth: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry to and why?

I do not normally select "adventure" stories, so I have no basis for comparison. However, I was struck by the far greater credibility of the original, as compared to earlier movies loosely based on Jules Verne's novels. In view of my enjoyment of this novel, I have just downloaded "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". I like the newly-discovered authenticity associated with this novelist, whose imagination and scientific ideas remain remarkably accurate.

Have you listened to any of Tim Curry’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I love Tim Curry. He has a very wide range of voices and his characterizations always bring a story to life.

I first became familiar with him (as a reader) in a series of abridged recordings of (Audio Renaissance) books by Umberto Eco, an author not well represented in "Audible"), namely Foucault's Pendulum and Island of the Day Before.

In Journey to the Centre of the Earth, he once again excels. I would love to hear more unabridged recordings from Tim Curry.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A new rendering faithful to the erudition, vision & spirit of Jules Verne.

I love Tim Curry

Where does Journey to the Center of the Earth: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Seriously one of the best Sci-Fi out there, okay so not only is Time Curry such an excellent story teller but the story to be told was just fantastic. I think this is one of Jules Vernes greatest, what an imagination he really paints a scene. I loved this so much I listened to it twice.

What about Tim Curry’s performance did you like?

Tim Curry was fantastic from the whimpering Axel to the bombastic Professor Lidenbrock, a most excellent story teller.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I loved this book when I read it and I loved it even more being read to me

An amazing escape.

A really fantastic story! It is well narrated by Tim Curry and pleasant to listen to.