V for Vendetta

By: Alan Moore

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Remember, Remember the Fifth of November

Imagine a Britain stripped of democracy, a world of the not-too-distant future in which freedom has been surrendered willingly to a totalitarian regime which rose to power by exploiting the people's worst fears and most damning weaknesses.

This is the setting for the parable of Evey, a young woman saved from death by a masked man calling himself V. Beguiling and dangerous, V ignites the fuse of revolution when he urges his fellow citizens to shed the blanket of tyranny and oppression that they have permitted themselves to be cloaked in. While those in power take steps to neutralize the threat, police pursue the mystery of V, unaware of the terrible truth that awaits them. But it is Evey who, with V as her enigmatic guide, sets out on the painful path of deception and self-discovery, deconstruction and re-creation, vindication and vengeance.

Novelization by Steve Moore, based on the graphic novel illustrated by David Lloyd and published by Vertigo/DC Comics. Based on the screenplay written by the Wachowski Sisters.

©2006 DC Comics (P)2006 Blackstone Audiobooks

Excellent!

If you saw the movie, this will not disappoint! The narrator pulled you into the story, makes you laugh and cry. Highly recommend this audiobook.

Not for the pure of heart

I recently listened to V for Vendetta written by Alan Moore, novelized by Steve Moore, a novelization that was based off both the graphic novel and the screen play, and narrated by Simon Vance. 

V for Vendetta is set in a world where America was using viral warfare as a standard tactic in its bid to spread its empire, before being stopped cold by the Chinese. In the wake of their defeat and military collapse, most of the world fell into disorder.

In the UK, however, swift action was taken after religious terrorists, of the Muslim belief, used captured American bioweapons against multiple targets in the UK, killing millions. It was at this moment that a radical conservative Christian government was swept into power, in Downing Street, by promising order and safety, in exchange for the right to kill enemies of the state without unduly burdening the already overburdened justice system with the details.

Thus the stage is set. As the story begins we first find Evey Hammond, a young assistant at BTN, the British Television Network, on her way to a date with Gordon Deitrich, the host of a popular television show. She is clearly headed to this date, in defiance of curfew, mainly because she hopes to develop a romantic relationship in order to advance her own career. 

On her way to her date, she's caught by Fingermen, a Gestapo like secret police force. As a punishment for her defying curfew they prepare to rape her in an alleyway, clearly unconcerned as to what onlookers in the neighborhood might think of their actions. 

It's at this moment that a man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and dressed in a style reminiscent of a bygone era comes to her aid. Despite his unusual method of speaking, he quickly dispatches her assailants. 'V', as he styles himself, then invites her to witness a musical concert he is headed to. She agrees and, unwittingly, comes to be associated with him and his terrorist attack on the old Bailey, the central court of London.

Simon Vance did an excellent job with the narration of this novel. Having seen the movies, I wished he had stressed certain phrases differently, but that being said I still found his performance quite satisfactory. 

Conclusion: This novelization is based primarily off the screenplay as opposed to the graphic novels. That being said, I believe the graphic novels were used as inspiration and the writing here filled in many holes left open by the screenplay. This novelization added real depth and even relationships to the story that were not fleshed out on screen. It wasn't simply a rehash of the movie, but it paints vividly and adds new textures to the overall picture. 

Many of the characters in this tale are quite complex. If you seek heroes without fault or motives that are wholly innocent, you won't find them here. The question remains, is 'V' a terrorist or a freedom fighter? Freedom isn't always championed by those who are pure of heart, merely those who still have a heart. 

This novelization is hard to pin down in regards to who will and who won't enjoy it. Regardless of where you fall on this scale, it should make you think. In that regard alone, I believe it's worth a read.

Leftist Distopia

Let me. I gin by stating that Zi loved the movie and this version of the book which follows it almost exactly. It was written from the screenplay, the original version being a graphic novel.
The enemies of humanity, unlike those of 1984, were right wing politicos--fascist, although not in the old sense of the word a la Mussolini, but the new meaning a la AntiFa. The main character, V, is compelling and the struggle to be free from an oppressive government was quite moving. All the while, my mind returned to the new left, their covered faces, and their violence directed towards Facist (in the new sense, which is hard to pin down). It would not at all surprise me if the organisation was inspired by the book/movie.
I recommend it to be read with 1984. Together they paint a compelling picture of the dangers of totalitarian ideology, regardless of its political leanings...

Absolutely Classic

Obviously incredible book, very similar to the movie and totally worth it. I wish Evie didn't sound so weak the whole book through, but a minor thing in the end. 5 godamn stars!

Extraordinary.

Beautifully rendered cautionary tale of an Orwellian dystopia. I highly recommend it, whether one is familiar with the movie or graphic novel--or unfamiliar with either.

Beautifully written, wonderfully thought provoking

It was so good. And it seems as though the writing is timeless in its nature.

great story

this is essentially a more detailed story of the movie. great narrator. if you have seen the movie then you pretty much don't need the book, unless you want more background info.

A fabulous distopian tale

What did you love best about V for Vendetta?

The story is so much more in depth than the movie, understandably. The narrator had a great voice for this piece and did an excellent job.

What did you like best about this story?

There was not a dull moment in the book. I loved getting more detail than the movie. I have not read the graphic novels.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Evey is removed from her prison cell.

If you could take any character from V for Vendetta out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would love to take Evey out to dinner. The transformation she underwent was amazing and I would love to talk to her at length.

Exactly like the movie.

Great story and performance. I loved the movie and thought the book would provide more details. However the movie was based on this screenplay. This book is really just a recording of the screenplay. Sadly to say the book will not provide any greater insight. Enjoyed it none the less.

Simon Vance Made this story memorable

Simon Vance absolutely nailed this performance. I prefer his narration when it comes to books about England, or of English origin. This is because I find his voice easy to understand and hear when the speed of narration is sped up to 2x speed or faster. As an American, I don't like to struggle with the accent at high speed, which is a problem for me with a lot of Brittish narrators.

I have never seen the movie V for Vendetta, but after listening to this book multiple times, I have put it on my must watch list. What made this book memorable for me was the guessing game I kept playing throughout the book, specifically "Who is the man behind the mask?" While a lot of the conclusions that I created lead to dead ends, the sense of mystery is what got me hooked.