The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

By: Michael Chabon

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 26 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 2001

It's 1939, in New York City. Joe Kavalier, a young artist who has also been trained in the art of Houdiniesque escape, has just pulled off his greatest feat: smuggling himself out of Hitler's Prague. He's looking to make big money, fast, so that he can bring his family to freedom. His cousin, Brooklyn's own Sammy Clay, is looking for a partner in creating the heroes, stories, and art for the latest novelty to hit the American dreamscape: the comic book.

Inspired by their own fantasies, fears, and dreams, Kavalier and Clay create the Escapist, the Monitor, and the otherworldly Mistress of the Night, Luna Moth, inspired by the beautiful Rosa Saks, who will become linked by powerful ties to both men. The golden age of comic books has begun, even as the shadow of Hitler falls across Europe.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is a stunning novel of endless comic invention and unforgettable characters, written in the exhilarating prose that has led critics to compare Michael Chabon to Cheever and Nabokov. In Joe Kavalier, Chabon has created a hero for the century.

©2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc. (P)2000 Michael Chabon

Critic reviews

"Michael Chabon can write like a magical spider, effortlessly spinning out elaborate webs of words that ensnare the reader with their beauty and their style." (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

Colacci’s SO Much Better in Abridged Version!

For years I listened to the Abridged version, blissfully unaware that it was abridged. It has been so much my favorite that I have listened to it easily hundreds of times, delighting in David Colacci’s masterful pacing, accents, and just overall verve—a perfect match for the story and characters.

Then, the other day, I heard a reading on Selected Shorts from the book that I could not place. THIS is from my favorite book? I thought. I went to look it up and, sure enough, I was listening to the abridged version! How thrilled I was to realize there were 16 more hours of magnificent story out there! So excited!

Well, color me bummed out. All of my favorite things about Colacci’s performance the first time around are just ruined. He’s slow, disconnected from the story, and all the accents are really off. The bottom line is, the humor is missing. Scenes that used to be hilarious between Sammy and Joe are now labored. Joe’s accent has gone from eastern European to straight-up Transylvanian and it’s genuinely annoying.

So disappointed… heartbroken, really. I’ll continuing slogging through the book, but… I mean, I wonder if the publisher would consider a do-over? This recording sounds like they clonked Colacci over the head and dragged him into the recording booth to make the unabridged version with a gun to his head. I love Colacci and on the strength of the Abridged recording have listened to several other books just because he’s the reader. I know he can do better this and a book as wonderful as this one deserves the best!

Not Super but still Amazing

As a Superman fan, I had very high expectations for this novel, and, while it didn't meet them, I enjoyed this novel on its own terms. The characters of Kavalier and Clay are compelling, and the fantasy world of the Golden Era of comics is a good framework for drama. The only drawback is Colacci's "voices" which distract from the story - Clay's New York accent, and Kavalier's Czech accent are ridiculous and laughable.

Deeply human story - rich and literary, never dull

This is a genuine artistic accomplishment. First and most important, the author captures and brings to life many different characters that are interesting, multidimensional and above all, human.

Second, his langauge is highly constructed and yet you will rarely notice it, and when you do it will still punch you. Its precise, and acutely illuminates the humorous flaws in our natures; those that linger in the shadows of our perception, and can only be fully illustrated by master authors.

This book deserves the highest praise from those who appreciate art that interprets reality, without making it ragged and grotesque, like a battered corpse. You're allowed to taste, smell, and feel, but not forced to choke on it.

Its a story that will help you find a part of your soul that is at once young and old, happy and profoundly sad, bound and free, and once introduced, will leave you to enjoy more of yourself. In short, it evokes a broad emotional range.


I find the narration to be enjoyable and undistracting, the voices well matched to the characters, and the reader's rhythm helps to bring out many of the deminsions of the language that I might miss if I experienced the story in print.

Well done.

Fold after fold after fold

This novel takes every scrap of information, every kernel of plot, and folds it back into itself. Nothing is wasted, and every thematic element has a prismatic effect on the narrative, letting you see these characters from every angle.

Opinion waffled at times but landed on loving it.

What did you love best about The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay?

The part I loved the best is also the part I loved the least. That is, the writing style is full of parenthetical, multi-phrased sentences bulging with allusions that, had David Colacci not been the excellent narrator he is, would have left me confused. At times, I marveled at the unique metaphorical descriptions that so vividly drew a picture. At other times, I either didn't get the reference or it was mentally taxing to listen to. If the listener doesn't have a solid broad grasp of culture, history, and literature, the writing is wasted. Overall, I ended up loving this book but there were times I wasn't sure.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes but it's too long to even attempt!

Any additional comments?

It is hard to categorize this book and is not something I normally would have purchased. I listened to everything else in my library before this one but the intelligent writing, characters and ultimately the story won me over.

almost like Leo Tolstoy :)

great narrator but there are a couple of mistakes

the book should have ended earlier

not one mention of the state of israel... which is just bizzare

Well written, but...

I felt like this story trod water a lot. In my opinion, this book was less than the sum of it's parts. There were definitely engaging moments, thoughtful characters, and I can understand why it's been so well received, but Ultimately it fell a little flat for me.

Michael Chabon is a master

and this is his masterpiece. The reader is not great and mispronounces simple words.

Long, detailed and one helluva tale!

at times it was a bit long in the tooth and hard to follow where the plot was going. at other times I was zoned in and couldn't believe what was happening. by the end everything seemed over wrapped up but I still want to know what's going to happen to these characters and the future!!!!

excellent performance.

fantastically executed story that actually had me googling to find out if any of it was real.
👏👏👏

Fantastic

Had it all, a must read or listen! Romance, historical fiction, longing, connection to family and career mobility.