The Thousand Orcs

Legend of Drizzt: Hunter's Blade Trilogy, Book 1

By: R. A. Salvatore

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

One dark elf. Two enchanted blades. One unknown enemy. And a horde of invaders.

When a blood-thirsty banc of orcs, led by an as-yet-unseen enemy, comes rampaging out of the Spine of the World, it lays waste to everything in its path. Dark elf ranger Drizzt Do'Urden and his most trusted friends find themselves in the path of destruction. As blades slash and feet trample, even the heroes may not survive a desperate stand.

©2003 Wizards of the Coast, Inc. (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Unlistenable Audiobook. 5-Star Book.

Everyone here knows Salvatore is a fantastic writer & Bevine is a superb narrator, so no need to review the content of this book. OPEN YOUR EARS, AUDIBLE!

I've been a professional audio engineer for 35yrs — Carnegie Hall systems design & installation, recorded Niel Young, Paul Simon, Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), etc., & front of house (FOH) sound for U2, John Mayer, Dave Mathews, & others (FOH engineer mixes the sound at concerts for the audience) — so, one might say I have an ear for sound. Whaaa whaa wha

I can't understand why Audible still doesn't have a 'sound quality control' department? Would a major record label release music directly from a band's laptop? Nope. Every successful musician spends as much time in the recording studio as they do writing their music. That same standard should be applied to writers and the recording of their audiobooks too. It's important.

The sound quality of this audiobook is a disaster. No compressor? No EQ? No mic/dynamic control? No mastering studio? Unacceptable. Be careful, especially if you listen with headphones, or in your car. The volume changes DRAMATICALLY every few seconds; from 30 dB (very quiet conversation in a very quiet room) to 90+ dB (someone screaming directly into your earbrain).

Recordings like this are unacceptable. Get your act together already, Audible.

Wonderfully written and performed.

What did you love best about The Thousand Orcs?

Quickly paced and moves right along, pulling the listener by the ear. I'd never read nor listened to RA Savatore's works before but now I have a pile of stories to get acquainted with all these wonderful characters. References to past events do not muddle the story line and are used to flesh out the intertwined development of the characters and plot. I do recommend this series. I'm getting the rest of this trilogy today!

The second book I've read by this author and I love it he's a damn good author.

Love the orcs wizards elf's and all races a magnificent tale of war and loss.

could not stop listening

when will they make this series into a holly wood blockbuster? it is way past due.

Engineering Please

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

The story is interesting as are all of the Drizzt stories but whoever engineered/produced/edited it never listened to it in a car. The narrator talks too quietly in between voicing a characters. I find myself constantly playing with the volume to hear the narration then turning it down when the character's voice blares out their lines. This is not to bad mouth the performance. I'm sure it was worthwhile, what I could hear of it.

Was The Thousand Orcs worth the listening time?

Yes

Writing this right after hearing Bevine’s voice for Dagnabbit.

Aw man, I think you should listen to these books because they are amazing and exciting, but I’m so sorry to say that Victor Bevine struggles to give the character’s any depth beyond the words Salvatore wrote for them. His voice is melodic, deep and pleasant, but his acting of the characters is robotic and monotonous. His voicing of the characters is the same whether they are furiously fighting orcs or justtalking calmly, and it sucks me out of the moment! I have to actively re-inflect the words he says, in my head, in an attempt to add the appropriate drama.

I had these thoughts while listening to this series entirely so far, but would have never written a review... but I just heard the voice Bevibe chose to play Dagnabbit.... and I almost cried and had to write this. Dagnabbit is a badass general dwarf, smart, cunning, capable.... he’s not only a dwarf. But one of the best... and Victor Bevine chose to give this legend of a dwarf a soft and nasal voice, no voice suited to play any dwarf, but one better suited for a halfling. Terrible. Really good books though. I recommend spending your credit on them, all of that aside. P.s. that’s a generous 3 stars for Bevine despite what I just said in my disappointment because I just love these books

Good to have Bevine back!

Thank you for bringing back the original narrator. The last book was unbearable due to the reader. This felt like the good old days with our friends Drizzt and company.

Fantastic series!!

My favorite fantasy series by far! Salvatore does an excellent job of staying true to form with each character and weaving a truly enjoyable story!

A great epic trilogy!

This trilogy is the one that reminds me the more of Tolkien`s The hobbit ,i really like the great battles and fortresses.There are a lot of new interesting characters and brave dwarves,the narrator did a great job.My favorite trilogy after Homeland,exile and sojourn! (montolio was a great character). At last in audiobook,thanks audible.

Narrated badly

It's a good book. I've read it years ago and like to listen to old reads while driving to work. This narrator missed the target on this book. Speak up for crying out loud. He goes between almost whispering to talking at a normal volume. Real hard to consistently hear. Not to mention his version of people talking , more often than not is in a very soft voice. When something exciting is going on, he kills it be having characters talk like their sedated. Ruined the damn book.

Once again thrilling adventure of Drizzt

I came back to this saga of lawful good drow after a long pause. Had a break of many years and I am glad I came back to listen this book