• The Ersatz Elevator

  • A Series of Unfortunate Events #6
  • By: Lemony Snicket
  • Narrated by: Tim Curry
  • Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,015 ratings)

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The Ersatz Elevator  By  cover art

The Ersatz Elevator

By: Lemony Snicket
Narrated by: Tim Curry
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Publisher's summary

Dear Listener,

Like the previous books in A Series of Unfortunate Events, there is nothing to be heard here but misery, despair, and discomfort, and you still have time to choose something else to listen to.

Within the chapters of this story, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

I have sworn to write down these tales of the Baudelaire orphans so the general public will know each terrible thing that has happened to them, but if you decide to listen to something else instead, you will save yourself from a heapful of horror and woe.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Don't miss the rest of A Series of Unfortunate Events or Audible's exclusive interview with Lemony Snicket!
©2001 Lemony Snicket (P)2001, 2003 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Despite Snicket's perpetual caveats to 'put this book down and pick up another one', the Baudelaires are dynamic characters who inspire loyalty to the inevitable end of the series." (School Library Journal)
"Tim Curry knows just how to deliver Snicket's brand of alternately dry and over-the-top humor. The voices Curry creates are perfect." (AudioFile)

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What listeners say about The Ersatz Elevator

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great to have Tim Curry back!

Tim Curry makes this already clever and witty series come to life. We are so happy he has returned. Ooohh the cough. It just wasn't the same without him.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Readers don't come any better

The pairing of author Lemony Snicket and reader Tim Curry is simply brilliant! Like certain film directors and their favorite actors, when artists collide who just "get" each other, the work comes to life in a way that transcends the medium. I am a great fan of Lemony Snicket's "Unfortunate Events" Series. I love the relentless ingenuity of the Boudelaire orphans, and the way that 'adults' fail them at every opportunity. Curry's gleeful malevolence as Olaf, and the depths of shallowness that he manages to impart in his characterizations of the Squalors makes me giddy. I recommend all of the books in this series that Curry has recorded. Though Lemony Snickett himself does a better than average job as author-turned-narrator on some of the other books, the offerings with Tim Curry are the best of the series.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Provide some sanity while driving kids around

As a family we listened to all the Lemony Snicket books. Although it has been a few years, my children who are teens still remember these books. I use to have to download the audio books and then burn them onto CDs. Now I just play my ipod through the blue tooth connection on my car. Although the technology has changed, these books are classic. One of the best attributes is that you and your children can learn some big new words. Its great for vocabulary building. If you have a long drive your kids will sit there and listen to these books for hours on end. Since you will be trapped in the car with them, you will also have to like books. I enjoyed listening just as much as they did.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Tim Curry is Phenomenonal

These books are awesome, and Tim Curry only makes them better. His enthusiasm, and ability to do different voices for each character really brings the story to life.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Good stuff

I had toyed with the idea of picking up these books on occasion at various places. After I heard the interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air (on my 40th birthday no less), I had to give these a try. This not just kidstuff (although they are completely kid appropriate). These are so much FUN!!! My husband and I listen to them over and over and laugh our heads off. Misery loves company -- and I am hooked. The characters in this one are really great -- and the image of Salmonella Restaurant (featuring All Salmon all the time) will stay with you forever.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Tim Curry is LEGEND

I first started the a series of unfortunate events books in 5th grade when school had made me despise reading and my mom gave me a audiobook. I read it till it was falling apart and I did the same with the sequel and every book Tim Curry has read that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. He is a legend.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

not the best

I struggled to listen to this one. the new narrator is just not doing it for me.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

All right

This was a cool book!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

More Lemony Snicket.

This book, Was an amazing one... I don’t notice any audio problems, In the following book’s.
I enjoyed Lemony Snicket’s audio actually.
Because, He made the book... So he makes the voices perfect. And if you lower your volume, There should be no audio problems.


The book.
Besides the audio,a The book was an amazing one.
I can tell, the author (Lemony snicket) Wants you to think ahead.
Which is amazing too do.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AMAZING!

good expression in his voice. story has twists and turns to it. I recommend reading the rest of the books.

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1 person found this helpful