Among Others

By: Jo Walton

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Startling, unusual, and yet irresistably readable, Among Others is at once the compelling story of a young woman struggling to escape a troubled childhood, a brilliant diary of first encounters with the great novels of modern fantasy and SF, and a spellbinding tale of escape from ancient enchantment.

Raised by a half-mad mother who dabbled in magic, Morwenna Phelps found refuge in two worlds. As a child growing up in Wales, she played among the spirits who made their homes in industrial ruins. But her mind found freedom and promise in the science-fiction novels that were her closest companions. Then her mother tried to bend the spirits to dark ends, and Mori was forced to confront her in a magical battle that left her crippled - and her twin sister dead.

Fleeing to her father, whom she barely knew, Mori was sent to boarding school in England - a place all but devoid of true magic. There, outcast and alone, she tempted fate by doing magic herself, in an attempt to find a circle of like-minded friends. But her magic also drew the attention of her mother, bringing about a reckoning that could no longer be put off.

Combining elements of autobiography with flights of imagination in the manner of novels like Jonathan Lethem's The Fortress of Solitude, this is potentially a breakout book for an author whose genius has already been hailed by peers like Kelly Link, Sarah Weinman, and Ursula K. Le Guin.

©2010 Jo Walton (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award, Best Novel, 2012
• Nebula Award, Best Novel, 2011

“Walton succeeds admirably. Her novel is a wonder and a joy.” (The New York Times)

"Katherine Kellgren’s Welsh accent, with its lyrical cadences, suggests that audio may be the most authentic way to experience this 2011 winner of the Nebula Award." ( Audiofile)

Pre-1980 SF fan field day

Slow but sweet plot about an academic semi-outcast, fairy-seeing, SF obsessed heroine coming of age. I knew enough of the litany of books and authors the main character mentions to enjoy it. I need to look for the print edition of this to see if it has a bibliography. I downloaded this years ago because I love(d) Katherine Kellgren, but I only just listened to the end recently upon finding out about her passing. She is fabulous here as always. I don’t know what a Welsh accent sounds like so I’m good with hers. What a treasure to have so much of her work available through Audible.

An ode to the 70s SF books

if you believe in the transformatory magic of books, enjoy a coming of age story and if you spefically are into 70s era of SF this is an endearing nostalgic read but if you actually are looking for a great scifi/fantasy story with the plot and the characters and won a Hugo because of that, I am not sure this is it..

Magical & entertaining

What made the experience of listening to Among Others the most enjoyable?

Katherine Kellgren, the reader of this audiobook, was so delightful to listen to. Her voices, her pace, her animation was absolutely delightful and drew me in, really coloring the story for me.

What other book might you compare Among Others to and why?

There is no comparison. A book full of magic and, well, other books!

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

She read it perfectly. Her tone, her different accents - she was very good at switching between characters during their dialogue. Absolutely magnificent job.

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

Of course, but my life/job makes that impossible unfortunately.

Any additional comments?

The best audio book I've ever listened to. I give as much praise to the writer as to the reader on this one. A brilliant story line that was brought even more to life by the narration. Bravo!

I Really Do Not Understand The Critical Acclaim

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, the pacing is too slow.

Has Among Others turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

What three words best describe Katherine Kellgren’s performance?

Authentic, tedious, sing-song

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Any additional comments?

I fail to understand the critical acclaim that has been given to this work. While it IS my first listen with this author and narrator, I found the work to be concerned with daily minutiae
that was of little interest to me. A tedious listen.

Simply Bril

Was impressed by the actress. Especially When the English influenced the Welsh a little as Mor stayed in school

Wonderful book if you're okay with a relaxed pace.

This is the kind of book that slowly unfolds itself. Audio blip in part 4 at 1.16.40.

Enjoyable

What did you like best about Among Others? What did you like least?

I liked the conflict the narrator feels with her coming adulthood best. I liked the neat and tidy ending least.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jo Walton? Why or why not?

Yes. I do think she is a fair writer with a talent for writing novels literature fans can latch onto.

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

I loved the Welsh accent. She makes the narrator come alive and injects personality and character. She made the people in the book real.

Was Among Others worth the listening time?

Yes.

Simply fantastic

What more can be said about this audio book than, "simply fantastic"? The narrator is in perfect tune with the story. The story itself is a fantastic coming of age tale celebrating the discovery of life and magic through a passion for sci-fi novels. This was one of the best audiobooks I have had the pleasure to listen to ever.

Not SF and not deserving of the 2012 HUGO

Coming of age story with an excellent reader. A reflective walk though of the SF genre pre-1980 by way of the characters reading habits and book club. In no way SF and only a marginal fantasy.

Diary of nerdy girl is charming trip down sci-fi m

What did you love best about Among Others?

I was completely charmed by this novel of a young girl growing up "nerdy" in the late 1970's and early 1980's. The teenaged protagonist, much like myself, loves to read and loves science fiction books most of all. She describes her life in diary form in a brisk, no-nonsense style that is never treacly yet always very teenager-y. Every entry contains tidbits about her life along with short descriptions of her reactions to the latest science fiction book she has been reading. To hear her talk about discovering Roger Zelazny, Ursula LeGuin, Kurt Vonnegut, Poul Anderson and dozens of others was for me to relive my first discovery of them, too. It was magical. I sympathized when she described reading some of Anne McCaffrey's "Pern" novels out of order, because I did the same thing. When she waxes poetic about Lord of the Rings and equates her situation to the scouring of the Shire, I knew exactly what she meant. When she matter-of-factly tells her diary that getting her first period didn't stop her from seeing faeries "despite what C.S. Lewis thought about puberty" I laughed out loud.

Any additional comments?

I worried others from other generations (or even other genders) might not enjoy the book as much as I had, but in my science fiction book club, people who were a generation older than me loved it as did the generation younger than me, men and women alike. We did generally agree that we thought Embassytown was better in terms of the complexity of the ideas contained in the book, but we could understand why "Among Others" beat it out for the Hugo.

I would highly recommend readers do an internet search using "among others books mentioned" and you will find great lists -- no need to write them all down yourself. And you will have a list of scifi to read for years to come.