Book description
The Dragon (Atlan Saga) - Jane Gaskell
Gaskell's "The Dragon" emerges as a hidden gem in fantasy literature, showcasing why China Miéville counts her early work among the finest weird fiction ever written. This audiobook delivers Gaskell's prehistoric South American and Atlantean epic with compelling narrative strength.
The story continues the Atlan/Cija series with remarkable depth, building upon the foundation laid in "The Serpent" and "Atlan." What makes this particularly fascinating is how Gaskell, writing in her teens and early twenties, crafted a mythology that feels both ancient and refreshingly original. The split between earlier editions - originally combined as "The Serpent" before being divided into two distinct books - actually enhances the listening experience here, allowing each part to breathe fully.
Narrated with appropriate gravitas, the audiobook format perfectly captures Gaskell's lush prose style. Her ability to weave together mythical Atlantis with prehistoric South American settings creates an immersive soundscape that feels cinematic without being overly dramatic. The production quality maintains clarity even during the most complex mythological passages.
Gaskell's background shines through in unexpected ways. As the great-grandniece of Elizabeth Gaskell, she brings Victorian storytelling sensibilities to very non-Victorian subject matter. This creates a unique tension that works beautifully in audio format. The 1985 DAW Books edition, while showing its age, translates well to digital audio, preserving the author's distinctive voice.
"The Dragon" succeeds where many fantasy works fail - it treats ancient mythology with genuine respect while never becoming ponderous. The pacing keeps listeners engaged throughout, making this overlooked classic worth discovering. Particularly impressive is how Gaskell handles the relationship between human characters and mythological elements, never letting the fantastical overshadow genuine emotional stakes.
This audiobook deserves attention from fantasy enthusiasts seeking something beyond typical sword-and-sorcery narratives. Gaskell's work predates much modern fantasy while feeling surprisingly contemporary, especially in audio form where her descriptive powers truly shine.
NeoGermal
ListenBook's library organization features have transformed my chaotic audiobook collection into an organized masterpiece. Audiobooks have become my travel companions, and this app is my guide. This app has made reading a part of my lifestyle, no matter where I am. Audiobooks have become a staple in my routine, all thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. It's a must-have for any book lover. 📖📱 Library organization and book groups make managing my audiobook collection a breeze.
Red Heroine
Listening to audiobooks has turned mundane tasks into enjoyable experiences. 🌌 Elevating my reading routine – this app's functionality is the key to unlocking new worlds of storytelling. 📚🔑 Automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my library. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
Light Despair
ListenBook's player features are incredibly helpful. Chapters and bookmarks make navigation easy. Adjusting the tone of the voice adds a unique touch to my listening experience. I love the personalization! ListenBook is like a personal audiobook library in my pocket. Organized and easily accessible. I'm amazed by the extensive statistics tracking. It's fascinating to see my listening habits.
Steel
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my own audio content with unparalleled ease and comfort. With this app, I've turned mundane tasks into moments of inspiration and education – it's brilliant! ListenBook has transformed the way I engage with literature. It's like having a virtual bookshelf in my pocket.
Chlorine
This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. I'm thrilled that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features to cater to all types of users.
Bad Princess
I can't imagine my daily activities without this app – it's my go-to for staying informed and entertained. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer for immersive listening in any environment.
CoB@lt
Audiobooks have made long flights feel like a breeze – a true travel essential. The app's recommendations are surprisingly accurate – it's like they know my taste perfectly!
DARK HQ
Managing my audiobook collection is a pleasure thanks to this app's usability. The app is very intuitive. ListenBook makes finding and playing audiobooks simple. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while commuting. Perfect for both first-time listeners and audiobook veterans! The narrator's warm, inviting tone made this an incredibly comfortable listening experience. I particularly appreciated how well they handled dialogue - each character felt distinct without being cartoonish. The pacing kept me engaged throughout. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Steel Ginger
📱 Audiobooks at my fingertips – this app's ease of use is a booklover's dream come true! 📚🔥 Absolutely in love with this audiobook app! The seamless functionality and easy navigation make my reading time pure bliss. 📚🎧
Pitfall Whiskers
Effortlessly immersing in stories – this app's ease of use is a game-changer. The app's compatibility with Apple Watch elevates my workouts, making them more engaging and productive. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
Blood Taker
The Looping playback and Shuffle features on ListenBook help me customize my listening sessions to my liking. This app has added a touch of magic to my mundane moments – I'm forever grateful. The app is very intuitive. ListenBook makes finding and playing audiobooks simple.
ByteBard
I'm hooked on this app's ability to make every moment a reading moment. ListenBook makes my commute enjoyable. The audio filters really enhance the listening experience. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Fire Queen
ListenBook's detailed statistics feature helps me keep track of my listening habits. It's amazing to see how much I've learned from all those audiobooks! Sharing audiobooks with friends is a breeze thanks to ListenBook Pro's AirDrop and sharing options. Spread the joy of a good story! Has every feature I need. My top choice for audiobooks!
Venom Charms
ListenBook's compatibility with various formats ensures that my audio needs are met. With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of literature during my daily walks – it's truly invigorating. My productivity has soared since I started using ListenBook for my study materials. The app's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a true companion for all occasions. The quick access to chapters and controls makes the app a joy to use. I'm always in control.
Vagabond Warrior
I can't imagine my life without this app – it has made audiobook enjoyment effortless and convenient. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app is packed with useful features. This app is a must-have for audiobook enthusiasts. The ability to adjust skip intervals and playback speed is fantastic. I also love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Worth every penny! This was my first audiobook in this genre and I'm hooked! The performance brought the story to life in a way reading never could. Already downloaded another by the same narrator.
Demo
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch has made my listening experience even more seamless. Thanks to ListenBook, I've rediscovered the joy of exploring my favorite content on multiple devices. ListenBook's dedication to user convenience is evident in the drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers.
Silver Agent
ListenBook's audio filters have transformed the way I experience audio content – it's a real game-changer. ListenBook's basic audio filters enhance my listening experience and make it uniquely mine. This app's playback controls and features make it a breeze to customize my listening experience. Automatic artwork and metadata extraction add a professional touch to my audiobook library.
Palomino Cake
Audiobooks have become a staple in my routine, all thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. It's a must-have for any book lover. 📖📱 I can't believe how seamless the integration with Apple Watch is. My workouts just got better. Organizing my audiobook library has never been easier. The app keeps everything tidy. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the love of literature. The chapter navigation is a lifesaver. It makes finding my place so easy.
Midnight Rider
Audiobook multitasking simplified – this app's functionality is truly commendable. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic! The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
Pocket Mazda
ListenBook's smooth playback and easy navigation ensure that my audiobook experience is always top-notch. I'm blown away by the silky-smooth playback, even for high-quality formats like FLAC. Top-notch performance! I love the compatibility with iOS 16. The app runs smoothly and flawlessly. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections.
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