The X-Files: Cold Cases

By: Joe Harris, Chris Carter, Dirk Maggs - adaptation

Narrated by: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, Willliam B. Davis, Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund, Bruce Harwood

Length: 4 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

The truth is still out there. The iconic hit that had millions searching for UFOs back in the 90s is now an exhilarating audio event, only from Audible. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reunite as FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, joining an ensemble of original cast members in an out-of-this-world production.

When a security breach allows a mysterious, sinister group to access details from the uncrackable X-Files cold cases, Mulder and Scully—alongside favorite characters such as Assistant Director Skinner, the cryptic and elusive Cigarette Smoking Man, and the comically conspiratorial Lone Gunmen trio—uncover an extraterrestrial conspiracy dwelling beneath the surface.

Featuring creative guidance from series creator Chris Carter, writing from graphic novelist Joe Harris, and a dynamic soundscape (think the opening pop of a hypodermic needle or the hiss of a sewer-dwelling alien) brought to life by aural auteur Dirk Maggs, Cold Cases is both an electrifying addition to the science fiction pantheon and a cautionary tale of what lurks beyond the stars. 

©2016 The X-Files ™ & © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.  All Rights Reserved. (P)2017 Audible Originals, LLC. THE X-FILES THEME Written by MARK SNOW, Published by T C F MUSIC PUBLISHING, INC. (ASCAP), Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

Xfiles makes an amazing audiobook!

I’ve been huge Xfiles fan since day one and have also always loved audiobooks. So this turned out to be the perfect combo. This is definitely now one of my favorites. I listened to it from beginning to end and the time flew by. The sound effects and full cast was brilliant and reminded me a lot of J. Costa’s style for his audiobook Purgatory—another favorite of mine. I’ll definitely be listening to the other Xfiles audiobooks that are available ASAP. I highly recommend this one.

X-celebrate!

I have always love the X-Files ever since I was little! I was impressed at the descriptions and sound effects! Great job! I loved it!

More!!! We need more in this line of X-Files.

Keep 'em coming! Two is definitely not enough. Really enjoying the sound effects and feeling of being more involved in the story. Good job guys. Just keep making more!!!!!

The X-Files are back!

This production is well-done, like an entire season of X-Files episodes done as radio theater. Original cast, sound production, music... It's a total package! The stories revisit some of the classic TV plots, and if you've been away for awhile, you are quickly and deftly brought back up to speed. Great job!

The X-Files: Cold Cases

Milder and Scully are back at it again. This is way after the X-Files. The FBI close down the department years ago. Yet the events of the story is unravelling before your listening ears. I love it, just wish it was longer in length.

very enjoyable

enjoyed the listen, brought back memories of watching them on tv... look forward to more

As good as the show

It was great to be able to listen to more x files stories. Well done!

New Fan

I haven't really seen the tv show and only watched the film with the bees (and never saw the reboot) so my exposure to X-Files is really limited. Overall, while I felt the audio production was above average and the voice acting pretty great, I didn't really understand the stories and kept wondering how everything was connected. I was expecting a regular novel but this was mostly just vignettes. I also found it hard to keep up with all the different characters; this is my first time listening to an audio book that sounded more like a podcast than a regular book. I think this is something mostly for fans of the series who follow the franchise more closely. But I think my interest has peaked so I might check out the original series and reboot!

Amazing!!

More please. This audio show was just as entertaining as the show. Each actor does a good job making the listener visualize what’s going on well done!

An enjoyable book for X File fans!

This book does give a little more to the basic story of the X File. Was great to have the actors involved in this audio book. Found it to be well worth the time!

oh, how I missed it.

absolutely loved every second of it. everything I cherished about X-Files and more. My Mulder and my Scully how I remember them from 25 years ago. thank you so much!

Already listened to this twice - doesn't improve

Hmm, thought it was only fair if I listened to this twice before typing my review.

This is the third audio-drama I’ve listened to this year that has involved Dirk Maggs and sadly like Alien: River of Pain, it just isn’t very good.

Stepping away from his usual Directors chair, Dirk adapted the X-files graphic novels by Joe Harris into audio. Though I found these stories stale. With audio the story can take you anywhere, without the budget constraints that affect TV/film production, so I was hoping this would be big, bold and move the story along with energy. Oh and that’s something that was missing in the recording booths.

The biggest frustration I had is with the cast as there are so many instances when they went out of acting mode and just read the script without emotion. Wham. And that’s you jolting out of the story wondering what just happened. It breaks the illusion, the immersiveness of audio. Not sure why the Director didn’t realise how ‘dry’ their performances were.

And what’s with Dirk’s obsession with CB radio chat, just like ‘River of Pain’ there are a lot people saying “Copy That”. Arghhh.

Lastly it was good to hear Laurel Lefkow again, she played Ripley in Alien: Out of the Shadows - still sounding like Sigourney Weaver. She was the narrator in this.

Just didn’t live up to the hype; overall 2 stars

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What is it with the Audible review system. If a review is negative it is down voted, but Audible asks “Was this review helpful to you?”. Not whether you agree with it. To me it seems that the system is being manipulated. I’d rather read all positive and negative reviews and judge myself whether to purchase it. Just because I don’t agree with something, doesn’t me that it wasn’t helpful. A review with just some random words, now that’s something to click ‘No’.

Good, but not as enjoyable as I expected...

Firstly, this audiobook is broken down into 5 or 6 short stories, of which all are continuations from episodes/plot lines within the TV series.
It was great to hear the original cast again reprising roles, but the storylines were sometimes difficult to follow. That said, I will try the second audiobook in this series.
If you were a big fan of the TV series, then this is a must listen - though as I said, it may leave you slightly underwhelmed, as it did me....

Okay but not brilliant

Would you try another book written by the authors or narrated by the narrators?

Maybe, but this was not the stellar experience I was expecting based on the many effusive five star reviews from other listeners. It fell short in almost every aspect and I was a quite disappointed.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I may be in the minority here but I found all of my favourite XFiles stories in the tv series were the stand alone episodes which had nothing to do with the persistent alien conspiracy arc. I was hoping for a collection of strange tales from the files themselves which we had not encountered before. Unfortunately, this was just the same familiar trope bolstered by the wheeling out of many familiar characters.

Would you listen to another book narrated by the narrators?

The narration was the weakest aspect for me. Both Mulder and Scully (in fact most characters) sounded unnaturally stilted, just like they were reading from a script. Given the pacing, I would hazard a guess that the dialogue for each of the characters was recorded separately and stitched together afterwards. I have listened to podcasts with much more convincing ensemble acting.

Did The X-Files: Cold Cases inspire you to do anything?

Erm, not really.

Any additional comments?

I would be interested in more non conspiracy-centric stories with a strong creep factor. Perhaps try a Reyes and Doggett collection? They were far more out interesting as a couple.

Maybe its me but this was dreadful

What would have made The X-Files: Cold Cases better?

Better script. The actors are, of course, first class but they sounded wooden, like they were turning up just to get paid. Gillian Anderson especially is an astoundingly good actor and she was the best out of a bad bunch. It's not her finest work. David Duchovny was not good. He came across as bored and his jokes were painful. Generally speaking the acting did get a bit better towards the end.

What could the authors have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Better story line. It was trite and cliched. Needed a more genuine and original Sci-fi story.

Would you be willing to try another one of the narrators’s performances?

Of course.

What character would you cut from The X-Files: Cold Cases?

The whole storyline I'm afraid. Its more suited to young adult scifi.

Any additional comments?

Overall a wasted opportunity for what could have been the audiobook of the year.

The Truth Is In Ear...

Really loved this audiobook. I'm a big fan of the series, used to watch it on the BBC when it first aired in the UK. I thought the audiobook was well produced, good to hear all tge original cast, and some nods to the old storyline (Host for example). Great story and sound. Looking forward to the next audiobook in the series...

Decent book, but difficult to follow the story at times

Good acting, and a couple of good stories. Some of the stories were difficult to follow at times as there wasn't enough building of the characters to remember them when they reappeared in the story.

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A little more narration would have been good. It felt a little like a tv episode without the pictures. Otherwise fantasic performances and I enjoyed hearing from old characters!

An okayish audiobook, but worth a listen

If you're a big fan of the series, I guess you'll like it... Doesn't work as a standalone audiobook, though.

The truth was (mostly) in here

Enjoyed it. Some of the exposition made sections of dialogue a bit cheesy; is necessary in an audio drama but jarred against the usual quality of the x-files.

Brilliant stuff, I hope they make another one.