Book description
One of the most popular genres of modern times, fantasy literature has as rich a cultural and literary heritage as the magical worlds that so enrapture its readers. In this book, a concise history of the genre, Adam Roberts traces the central forms and influences on fantasy through the centuries to arrive at our understanding of the fantastic today.Pinning the evolution of fantasy on three key moments - the 19th-century resurgence of interest in Arthurian legend, the rise of Christian allegory, and a post-Ossian, post-Grimm emergence of a Norse, Germanic and Old English mythic identity - Roberts explores how the logic of 'the fantastical' feeds through into the sets and trappings of modern fantasy. Tracking the creation of heroic and high fantasy subgenres through antiquarian tradition, through C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and into the post-Tolkien boom in genre fantasy writing, the book brings the manifestation of the fantastic beyond literature into art, music, film and TV, video games and other cultural productions such as fandoms. From Tennyson and Wagner, through Robert Graves, David Jones, Samuel Delany, Dungeons and Dragons, Terry Pratchett and Robin Hobb, to the Game of Thrones, Skyrim, The Witcher and The Lord of the Rings media franchises, the book digs into the global dissemination and diversity of 21st-century fantasy. Accessible and dynamic, wide-ranging but comprehensive, this is a crash-course in context for the most imaginative form of storytelling.
Light Lion
ListenBook's dedication to delivering high-quality sound and user-friendly features has won me over. ⏰ Waking up to audiobooks – mornings have never been this magical and inspiring! ☀️🎧 Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a great way to spread the joy of storytelling with friends.
Willow Dragon
ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I always have access to my favorite content. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun and interactive way to bond over stories. The app is perfect for road trips. It keeps me entertained for hours. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time.
RiddleRanger
This app is like a personal audiobook concierge! The ability to download and organize audio files effortlessly is a game-changer for my reading routine. 📱📖 Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature.
Soda Delirium
ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. I'm addicted to this app's seamless integration with my daily activities. 🏡 Cleaning the house with an audiobook in the background – talk about productivity! 🧼📖 ListenBook has become my workout companion of choice. It keeps me motivated and entertained during exercise. The app's support for multiple formats is flawless. Very satisfied.
Crash Enforcer
Book groups feature keeps series and related titles together. Neat and tidy! ListenBook has redefined how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an essential tool for my literary pursuits. ListenBook has become my go-to workout companion. It keeps me motivated and entertained. ListenBook has redefined my audiobook experience. It's an essential tool that enhances every listening session. ListenBook Pro's unlimited audiobook length is a game-changer.
Squatch
ListenBook is like a personal audiobook curator, allowing me to enjoy my favorite speeches and lectures with unmatched comfort and convenience. Packed with useful features. My favorite audiobook app!
Zod
The chapters feature on ListenBook enhances my audiobook exploration – it's like flipping through pages. Looping playback is a brilliant study tool. Thanks to ListenBook, my learning has improved! ListenBook has rekindled my passion for learning. I'm exploring new topics every day. Looping playback has revolutionized my language learning journey. I'm making rapid progress. An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Midnight Bat
Elegant design and easy-to-use interface. Very happy with ListenBook. The import process is seamless. I had no trouble adding my audiobooks.
Mallow Man
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks with enhanced sound quality and personalized settings. No more converting files – this app effortlessly handles various formats, saving me time and effort. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval add a professional touch to my carefully curated audiobook collection.
Snapdragon
I can finally tackle my reading list while stuck in traffic – what a win! User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is impressive. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Golden Cougar
The auto-rewind feature after interruptions is a small thing that makes a big difference. From MP3 to FLAC, this app plays them all flawlessly. Say goodbye to compatibility issues! Sharing audiobooks with friends is a bonding experience made easy through AirDrop and sharing options. I'm impressed by the app's compatibility with CarPlay. It keeps me entertained on long drives.
Force
This app has transformed my long flights into productive and enjoyable experiences. 💡 This app is a brilliant way to squeeze in reading time amidst my busy schedule! 📱👩🍳 ListenBook is my go-to companion for immersive audiobook experiences. The ease of use and extensive format support make it a must-have! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature. ListenBook’s CarPlay support makes listening in the car a seamless experience.
LuminaLore
The app's performance is exceptional, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted audiobook experience. It's clear that it's designed with audiobook enthusiasts in mind. Beautiful design and intuitive interface. Very user-friendly. Love how I can adjust playback speed and audio volume. ListenBook caters to all my needs.
Domino
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magical spell that transports me into the heart of the story. I love the compatibility with iOS 16. The app runs smoothly and flawlessly.
Slug-em-dog
Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off – no more searching for my spot! ListenBook's audio filters and controls have revolutionized the way I enjoy my audio content. ListenBook's intuitive interface and quick controls make it a pleasure to navigate through audiobooks. Tone adjustment is a brilliant addition that lets me personalize the narration to my liking. It adds an extra layer of connection to the audiobooks. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
Heavenly Connection
Audiobooks have made waiting in lines and queues so much more bearable. This app's intuitive features and easy navigation make it a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. 🎉 Unlocking the door to imagination – this app is my key to endless stories and endless possibilities. 📚🔑 The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Gumby Train
I can't believe I waited so long to start listening to audiobooks – this app has converted me! ListenBook has made my daily routines more vibrant and exciting with its immersive features. Audiobook enthusiasts, celebrate! This app's thoughtful features, like auto-rewind and easy chapter navigation, cater perfectly to our reading cravings. 🎉📚
Dandelion
This app has turned audiobook listening into a daily ritual for me. Easy sharing with friends via AirDrop. Very convenient.
Minty Devil
🌌 Igniting my imagination while preparing dinner – this app adds flavor to every meal! 🍲📖 I don't have strong feelings about this one either way. The narration was competent but forgettable. The story itself was more engaging than the performance.
ZenaCake
📱 Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's ease of use is a booklover's dream come true! 📚🔥 Book groups help me keep series together and navigate my collection more efficiently. A great feature! Listening stats keep me motivated to read more. Great addition!
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience