Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

By: Jane Austen, Ben H. Winters

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

From the publisher of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies comes a new tale of romance, heartbreak, and tentacled mayhem. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters expands the original text of the beloved Jane Austen novel with all-new scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed sea serpents, and other biological monstrosities.

As our story opens, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster Colonel Brandon. Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome matriarchs and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to the tentacles that are forever snapping at their heels?

This masterful portrait of Regency England blends Jane Austen's biting social commentary with ultraviolent depictions of sea monsters biting. It's survival of the fittest - and only the swiftest swimmers will find true love!

©2009 Quirk Books (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Silly fun.

Ok, so HEAR me out. This is so much better as an audiobook! The late great Katherine Kellgren worked her magic and gave an outstanding performance (as always) giving this silly match-up some extra gravitas.

FAQ 1: Yes, you should read Sense and Sensibility first. You need at least a good movie adaptation's foreknowledge of the story to appreciate the comedy.

FAQ 2: No, this is not as good as the book that started it all, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Where P&P&Z tried to entwine the Zombie story into the Jane Austen story artfully, S&S&SM sometimes seems to jam fishy mayhem into spots forcefully. However, it is still interesting and funny, and as mentioned previously, delightfully narrated by Katherine Kellgren.

This is silly and fun. If you are interested in this book then you probably already know what you are getting into. So roll with the waves and enjoy.

No hash job of an old story, a completely new take

I've read 'Pride, Prejudice and Zombies' and unlike that book which was a basic hash job of taking an existing story and adding Zombies and the training of the sisters. Here we have a complete rewrite of the story from the beginning to them. I was really not expecting such a complete job to be done on the book as was done. Here we have the same storyline as the original one. However, it has been completely rewritten to change the setting, add the sea monster story line and keep the same characters in line with who they were and how they were written in the original story of 'Sense and Sensibility.' We still have the sister ending up pretty much as they did in the original story line just with some real twists. I have enjoyed reading this book while driving and now and moving on to 'Persuasion'. I recommend this book over the entire 'Pride, Prejudice and Zombies' which to me having been written by two different authors don't flow at all.

Amusing Katherine K. read of a modified class ic

"Sub-station Beta" section is a bit steam punk in my mind's eye! Modified classics can be a great way to compare/ contrast for teens. Reading the original along with audio .

It's What You Should Expect

This is a great adaptation-parody. If you know the original but would enjoy comical sea monster gore then you'll enjoy this. I preferred Pride and Prejudice and Zombies but this is also pretty good and the ending has some nice twists! I would indulge in a sequel.

Hilarious!!!

Read Sense and Sensibility first in order to appreciate the dazzling humor of this book. I loved this book and will listen to it at least one more time.

Wonderful!

The story was amazing, the narration was spot on! I heard they were planning a movie adaptation, here's hoping they do it the justice it deserves!

Made me laugh

Seems like this clever author was really bored when his girlfriend insisted on watching chick flick period dramas and decided to make things a bit more interesting for the guys in the audience. Very funny, clever interwoven storylines!

I wish they'd turn this into a movie!

I loved this adaptation. I'm a huge Jane Austen fan, and know the story QUITE well, and I truly enjoyed this twisted version! I wish someone would turn it into a movie, using today's Steampunk aesthetic- I would LOVE to see it. I highly recommend this book. If you're a serious reader who ALSO just HAPPENS to have a healthy (albeit slightly sick & twisted) sense of humor, GO FOR IT!

Hilarious and entertaining!

I bought this after hearing the free first chapter and thought it was fabulous. The "sea monsters" theme works great for S & S (in which our beloved heroines are already "swimming with sharks" in the form of social-climbers, money-grubbers and hypocrites.) Secondary characters like the Middletons and the Palmers are more vivid and more logically motivated in this than in Austen!

I wish someone would make it into a movie. I loved the "Austen x Jules Verne" images in "Submarine Station Beta" and the "Austen x Lovecraft" themes.

A fantastic treat for someone who loves both Austen and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films.

Outrageously funny

I don't know what to say about this masterpiece which would do it justice, except that it surpassed all my hopes and dreams. Narration was brilliant, and the comedy pure gold. Sincerely wishing for this to make it to the screen.