The Werewolf Principle

By: Clifford D. Simak

Narrated by: Geoff Williams

Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Instead of changing the planet to fit the man, we change the man to fit the planet..."

In the middle-distant future, Andrew Blake, discovered huddled inside a capsule orbiting a remote star, is brought back to Earth suffering from total amnesia. Over 200 years old, he thinks and acts like a man, but becomes frighteningly aware of two alien beings that lurk within his body - a strange biological computer, and a wolf-like creature. Dangerously possessed, Blake breaks out of the hospital to look for his past. What he discovers is a world that has no place for him, filled with telepathic brownies, talking houses, and a government that wants to get rid of him. Permanently. One of Simak's most provocative novels brings to life exciting ideas and themes just as philosopically and scientifically relevant today as the day he wrote it.

©1967 David W. Wixon for the Clifford D. Simak Estate (P)2014 Wild Voices

its okay

interesting story but doesnt really go anywhere, author uses the emding to kinda stat where they wanted to go.

What does it mean to be human?

What made the experience of listening to The Werewolf Principle the most enjoyable?

Enjoyable multi-voice production. Plus, Simak's vision of the future of bio-engineering was remarkable. Including the fact that there would be many people rabidly against tinkering with the basics of human. And the question: What does it mean to be human? is explored in meaningful ways.

What other book might you compare The Werewolf Principle to and why?

Theodore Sturgeon's "More Than Human."

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

Good vocal performance. Good choice of character actors. The subtle music and sound effects added to the enjoyment.

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

No extreme reaction. Just thoughtful musings about the various themes Simak explored.

Any additional comments?

Listen! I love good multi-voice productions. And this is one of the best.

Futuristic shapeshifting world

Clifford D Simak's The Werewolf Principle is 1960's sci-fi tale that has the feel of a made for TV quality. The plot concerns an apparent recovered space traveler that neither he, nor the government knows exactly who he is. The supposition is that many early deep space explorers went missing. At the same time, a two centuries old 'secret' government program seems to be connected. The program sought to develop humans with the ability to take on characteristics of other species. The main character incorporates two other alien species and in a werewolf fashion transitions periodically. Eventually he escapes Earth along with the only other successful subject from that program.

Simak's future world is a bizarre hodge-podge of 'Jetson' type features, including smart houses and a world-leve government, but most people still act like 1960's individuals. Overall, this makes for an unconvincing environment. The lawyer fulfilling the two-hundred-year-old contract without batting an eye was unrealistic.

The narration is acceptable, although the modulation of voices for the alien presences was frustrating. This was also recorded as a performance with extensive background sounds that are just annoying.

One of the greatest Science Fiction in history

The Werewolf Principal is one of the greatest science fiction books ever written. Certainly one of the 4 masterpieces written by Clifford Simak. This book has a simple but profound story, an artificial human-alien fusion learns they are an eternal emissary of Mankind.

The voice acting falls flat in some areas.

A good overall story, but the voicing of the main character is almost too robotic. Almost lacking proper emotion to convey feelings.

Enjoyable story

I enjoyed this one, as with all Clifford D Simak stories. However, I wasn’t keen on the narration as I found it to be unconvincing. I would have preferred it just be read out rather than trying to act. Some of the voices were hard to hear clearly too.