The Infernals

A Novel

By: John Connolly

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

From New York Times best-selling author John Connolly, a wonderfully strange and brilliant novel about a boy, his dog, and their struggle to escape the wrath of demons.

Young Samuel Johnson is in trouble. Not only is his eyesight so poor that he mistakenly asks out a letter box on a date, but an angry demon is seeking revenge for Samuel’s part in foiling the invasion of Earth by the forces of evil. It wants to get its claws on Samuel, and when Samuel and his faithful dachshund, Boswell, are pulled through a portal into the dark realm, the home of the Infernals, it gets its chance.

But catching Samuel is not going to be easy, for the Infernals have not reckoned on the bravery and cleverness of a boy and his dog, or the loyalty of Samuel’s friend, the hapless demon Nurd, or the presence of two clueless policemen and the unlucky, if cheerfully optimistic, driver of an ice-cream van.

Most of all, no one has planned on the intervention of an unexpected band of little men, for Samuel and Boswell are not the only inhabitants of Earth who have found themselves in the underworld. If you thought demons were frightening, just wait until you meet Mr. Merryweather’s Elves.

©2011 John Connolly (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

“Connolly’s graceful prose, laced with acerbically witty footnotes, is a joy to read, and he easily alternates among slapstick comedy, powerful drama, and skin-crawling horror.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Brilliantly funny, often touching, with enough action to keep adventure fans on the edges of their chairs, this novel combines top-notch writing with cutting wit.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

Humorous and Dark

Would you consider the audio edition of The Infernals to be better than the print version?

Definitely.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Infernals?

The footnotes are definitely the best part of the book.

Which scene was your favorite?

None in particular

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Lots of laughing.

Any additional comments?

Listen to it!

Delightful!

Any additional comments?

The story of a young boy and his faithful little dog battling the minions of hell continues. The writing is superb -- this work of John Connolly's can be compared to P.G. Wodehouse in providing a belly laugh or two on nearly every page. Tim Gerard Reynolds provides masterful narration, and the entire effect is just terrific. Highly Recommended.

Very funny

A fun listen full of funny jokes delivered with the usual skill of narrator TGR.

still great!

If you could sum up The Infernals in three words, what would they be?

Love the storyline

What did you like best about this story?

The cast of characters is great. These books are like a mix of Neil Gaiman and Douglas Adams. The characters are so funny. I love all the symbolism and references.

Have you listened to any of Tim Gerard Reynolds’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Him narrating the second book was sort of jarring. The first narrator wad wonderful.But tim is one of my favorite narrators so I settled in to his characters. He is great!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed all the way through

Part Two Of A Fun and Scarey Story

Would you consider the audio edition of The Infernals to be better than the print version?

I never got to write the in print version of this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Infernals?

When Samuel and Nerd were re-united in their friendship it was such a wonderful moment.

Which character – as performed by Tim Gerard Reynolds – was your favorite?

Samuel and Mrs Abernathy/Bal were the two best voices by this work.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Again the moment when Nerd and Samuel were re-united the moment of friendship was very powerful.

Any additional comments?

Though Gerard Reynolds is not quite as fun to listen to as the previous reader I still enjoyed the book.

A Goofy, Inventive Romp Through Hell

This sequel to The Gates is a blast. Connolly's sense of humor is fine form, right down to the hilarious footnotes, and the story is well-paced and immensely entertaining. The first book was perfectly narrated by Jonathan Cake, a tough act to follow, but Tim Gerard Reynolds does an excellent job. Highly recommended.

Wonderful for Children and Adults

This sequel to Connolly’s The Gates is another wonderful, clever and laugh out loud hilarious adventure. The style of the book with its humorous asides and clever footnotes is perfect for translation to audiobook, and Tim Gerard Reynold’s narration only makes it better.

OK

Any additional comments?

Not bad, but frankly disappointing after the excellent 'the gates'. The narrator did a fine job.

Delightful

Would you listen to The Infernals again? Why?

I relish the opportunity to listen to The Infernals again. The narrator was able to capture the entirely English sensibility of this book. The characters are quirky and easy to love. While probably written for a younger audience, say fourteen year olds, it is even better to listen to as an adult. It is multi-layered, like a Bugs Bunny cartoon. There's something for everyone. The explanation of quantum physics and multi-dimensionality is brilliant. Not that it matters much to our day to day lives, it is interesting nonetheless. The narrator was blasé without being patronizing. It's difficult to narrate a humorous story without sounding like a clown. Good show!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Infernals?

I don't want to give away anything, but Mrs. Abernathy is fabulous.

Have you listened to any of Tim Gerard Reynolds’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I've not had the pleasure.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh out loud. A welcome release of emotion.

Any additional comments?

None.

Should have kept original narrator

They didn't even try to have the new narrator do the same voices as the previous one. This narrator was also a bit boring to listen to and didn't have as good of comedic timing.