Collected Fictions

By: Jorge Luis Borges, Andrew Hurley - translator

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jorge Luis Borges has been called the greatest Spanish-language writer of our century. A selection of Borges' dazzling fictions are gathered in this audiobook, brilliantly translated by Andrew Hurley. These enigmatic, elaborate, imaginative inventions display Borges' talent for turning fiction on its head by playing with form and genre and toying with language. Together these incomparable works comprise the perfect compendium for all those who have long loved Borges, and a superb introduction to the master's work for those who have yet to discover this singular genius.

Selections include: "Borges and I", "The Garden of Forking Paths", "Man on Pink Corner", "The Library of Babel", "Death and the Compass", "The Lottery in Babylon", "The Maker", "The Zahir", "The Encounter", "The Circular Ruins", "Shakespeare's Memory", "August 25, 1983", "The Immortal", "Parable of Cervantes and the Quixote", "The Story from Rosendo Juarez", "The Aleph", and "Dreamtigers".

Please note: This audio edition includes selections from the paperback edition. The stories included are unabridged.

©1999 Jorge Luis Borges (P)2010 Penguin

Critic Reviews

“The major work of probably the most influential Latin American writer of the century." (The Washington Post Book World)

“An unparalleled treasury of marvels.... Along with a tiny cohort of peers, and seers (Kafka and Joyce come to mind), Borges is more than a stunning storyteller and a brilliant stylist; he’s a mirror who reflects the spirit of his time." (Chicago Tribune)

“Borges is the most important Spanish-language writer since Cervantes.... To have denied him the Nobel Prize is as bad as the case of Joyce, Proust, and Kafka.” (Mario Vargas Llosa)

Severely "ABRIDGED"

Would you try another book from Jorge Luis Borges and Andrew Hurley (translator) and/or George Guidall?

Absolutely, but would never again buy an abridged book

What was one of the most memorable moments of Collected Fictions?

Every inch of this collection is precious.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Guidall provides an excellent and highly enjoyable reading rich with the tone of a gifted storyteller. AS annoyed as I am that this is such a small selection of the stories in the Collected Fictions edition, the readings are very enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

The price is out of line considering how little of the actual book is included in this paired down collection. Audible shouldn't be using the original book cover in the product page as that visual lead me to misunderstand that I'd be getting that exact edition in an audio file.

Good but incomplete

Here is the table of contents I wish were listed in the product description:
Borges and I
Man on Pink Corner
The Library of Babel
Death and the Compass
The Lottery in Babylon
The Maker
The Encounter
The Circular Ruins
Shakespeare’s Memory
August 25 1983
The Immortal
Parable of Cervantes and the Quixote
The Story From Rosendo Juárez
The Aleph
Dream Tigers

You’ll notice that there is no “The Garden of Forking Paths," nor "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius,” nor “Funes the Memorious,” nor “Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote." So, as many others have pointed out, this is not just incomplete; it’s missing many of Borges’s most famous fictions. But what’s here is good and well read.

Loved the Audiobook, But Need More of the Stories!

Borges' work invites/requires multiple readings to capture it all. I could, and have, listened to this audiobook many, many times over. Borges writes for the ear as much as the page, and the translation and narration are top notch. It's a pleasure to listen to, and I absolutely love it.

That said, however, there are only seventeen stories from this collection represented in this audiobook. It's well worth the money, but we need more.

Please, please, please, consider releasing another audio collection so that more of these amazing stories are available in audio format.

Not "Unabridged."

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Labelling this

Any additional comments?

Disappointing short shrift to a great short story collection.

Highlights of Collected Fictions = Uncollected

So frustrated by this purchase. I bought this, thinking I was getting the full AMAZING book, and realized shortly after ... NOPE. Return to Sender.

Surprise: It's Abridged

Like many other reviewers, I didn't realize when purchasing this that it's only a tiny sample of the book, although I guess I should've known from the 5 hour runtime. That being said, I wasn't very into it. And now I'm left to wonder if my lack of enthusiasm is about Borges in general or this particular (skewed?) selection of his work. (The selection is very heavy on stories about explaining "unfathomable" things, like The Aleph, The Zahir, The Library of Babel, etc., which I tended not to be crazy about.)

Need a list of the titles included

What did you love best about Collected Fictions?

I am fine with the audiobook being an abridged version, but would much appreciate a table of content that shows the titles included and help navigate the listening experience.

Great reading of good translation

It captures the feeling I get reading Borges in Spanish as much as I think it is possible.

Same as it ever was

Borges is the sorcerer supremacy of the surreal, a magi of the metaphysical and mystic. His flowing, circuitous prose does to the mind what Rumi does to the soul. The George Guidall channels his spirit altogether.

One of the best

I've listened to this audiobook several times now. I absolutely love everything about it. The stories are classic, the narration is pitch perfect... It's just great.