Drood

A Novel

By: Dan Simmons

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

On June 9, 1865, while traveling by train to London with his secret mistress, 53-year-old Charles Dickens - at the height of his powers and popularity, the most famous and successful novelist in the world and perhaps in the history of the world - hurtled into a disaster that changed his life forever.

Did Dickens begin living a dark double life after the accident? Were his nightly forays into the worst slums of London and his deepening obsession with corpses, crypts, murder, opium dens, the use of lime pits to dissolve bodies, and a hidden subterranean London mere research or something more terrifying?

Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens' life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens' friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), Drood explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author's last years and may provide the key to Dickens's final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Chilling, haunting, and utterly original, Drood is Dan Simmons at his powerful best.

©2009 Dan Simmons (P)2009 Dan Simmons

Missing 20 hours of story!

Good story but disappointed that unabridged version not available. Only got 1/3 of the story. Missing 20 important hours that could have answered many unanswered questions and scenarios. Too bad, I think I would have enjoyed the unabridged version much more than this shortened one.

Really enjoyed this

I enjoyed the Dickensian style, the intertwined themes, the characters and the underlying mythic story. Simmons may be an acquired taste but I've enjoyed all the material I've read by him. I should say that the narrator was perfect for this read.

Not the unabridged version read by John Lee

I would like to obtain the unabridged audiobook "Drood" narrated by John Lee. The abridged selection available at Audible is narrated by Simon Prebble and is not as satisfying.

You need to make an unabridged English recording o

Audible much like things owned by smash’s drop in quality. By a lot, a lot a lot. This is a great book. A really enjoyable read and the audio book isn’t terrible, it’s just stupidly handled by audible. It’s so well written, the narrator does a great job. Why you would cut the book down by more than half is beyond me. If you have a chance to read a hard copy highly recommended it’s makes for a great summer read and or the perfect book for Halloween time. This audiobook is worth buying if you have extra credits or a long trip ahead of you. But read the book first to get the full story. Hopefully audible’s continued decline in quality and respect for writers will make a turn around one day. But considering they’re owe by Amazon………..probably not.

Drood

I really liked this book,until about halfway through. I'm not sure what was real or not after that. Narration was very good.

Simmons,Prebble,Dickins and Collins...What a team!

Since Dickins and Collins work show up in this story, I gave them credit too. Fan has crafted a nail biting thriller that kept me in suspense. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, I was always wrong! This is an awesome book; a twist on reality and history but playful with words; there is always a double meaning to every sentence. Simon Prebble is a master narrator! Not only did he bring the characters to life, but the the Era of 1800s as well.
I was driving a truck for ten hours when I started this and enjoyed every minute. If you like Edwardian Gothic Psychological Thrillers, you need to get this book. I have the printed version, but I would recommend Simon Prebble's narration to make the story come to life!

Mesmerizing! Hypnotizing! Fabulous!

I can hardly say how much I loved this book! It kept me fascinated (and up way too late at night) from beginning to end, and it has also opened up new literary doors for me that are just as interesting and exciting. This book will haunt you, as its main character, real-life writer and sometimes collaborator of Dickins, Wilkie Collins is haunted in the story. Since listening to this book a few weeks ago, I have now also heard the original "Mystery of Edwin Drood" and several of Collins' stories. I have also, unfortunately, wasted the time and money spent on "The Last Dickins" by Matthew Pearl (separate review on that book). The narration in "Drood" is excellent, the storyline enthralling, and the story SO well told. You sometimes do not know if you are listening to a story brought on by opium-induced hallucination or perhaps mesmerism (hypnosis), or neither. The tie-in with the characters of the real unfinished "Edwin Drood" story is seamless and inspired -- by the time you read/listen to the Dickins' original you feel that you already know so much behind-the-scenes information that you feel like a knowing "insider". I am now anxious to read some of the fanciful endings for "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" written over the years, and more Dickins, and Collins, of course. At 10-1/2 hours, this book is too short. What a shame is was abridged! In fact, when it had ended, rather than starting on my next book, I went back to the beginning and listened for another hour or so.
What a great book this is!

Creepy and hilarious

I didn't realize until too late that this was an abridged version. It felt choppy, as abridgements always do, but it was still fantastic. Simon Vance is pitch perfect, as usual. I enjoyed this so much, I am feeling an urge to read the complete written version, which at over 700 pages, is a bit daunting for something you just heard via Audible. But Simmons' writing is so filled with small perfect details, I can't stand to think of what I have missed. Excellent.

Who can you believe?

Is our narrator reliable? Or is he living in a drug induced haze? Who was Drood? Or was there a Drood? Dan Simmons conjures up the foggy streets of Victorian London before luring us down into the dank drug dens of the underground dwelling denizens. Spooky, atmospheric, layered and binge worthy. Do yourself a favor and download this today. #historicalfiction, #charlesdickens, #wilkiecollins, #victorianghoststory.

Haven't Bought It. Here's Why

I have read this nearly 800 page book not once but twice and would LOVE to buy it. It's a confusing story told by an unreliable narrator and is a marvelous blend of reality and hallucination as well as wonderful historical fiction. But abridged ?? Taking an axe to this of literally any book has to be a total trainwreck. If the unabridged copy appears I'm on it !!