Unseen Academicals cover art

Unseen Academicals

Discworld Book, 37

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Unseen Academicals

By: Terry Pratchett
Narrated by: Colin Morgan, Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Over 1 million Discworld audiobooks sold – discover the extraordinary universe of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld like never before.

The audiobook of Unseen Academicals is read by Colin Morgan (Merlin; Testament of Youth; Belfast). BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning actor Bill Nighy (Love Actually; Pirates of the Caribbean; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) reads the footnotes, and Peter Serafinowicz (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace; Shaun of the Dead) stars as the voice of Death. Featuring a new theme tune composed by James Hannigan.

'We play and are played and the best we can hope for is to do it with style.'

Football has come to the ancient city of Ankh-Morpork. And now the wizards of Unseen University must win a football match without using magic . . . so they're in the mood for trying everything else.

To do so, they recruit an unlikely group of players: Trev, a street urchin with a talent for kicking a tin can; Glenda, the night chef who makes a mean pie; Juliet, the kitchen hand turned world's greatest fashion model; and the mysterious Mr Nutt, who has something powerful, and dark, locked away inside him . . .

And the thing about football - the important thing about football - is that it is not just about football. Here we go, here we go, here we go!

Unseen Academicals is the seventh book in the Wizards series, but you can listen to the Discworld novels in any order.

The first book in the Discworld series - The Colour of Magic - was published in 1983. Some elements of the Discworld universe may reflect this.

'This isn't just football, it's Discworld football. Or, to borrow another phrase, it's about life, the Universe and everything' The Times

'No one mixes the fantastical and mundane to better comic effect' Daily Mail

©2009 Terry Pratchet and Lyn Pratchet (P)2022 Penguin Audio Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Humorous Fiction Magic Comedy Magic Users Wizardry Sports
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Unseen Academicals is not one of the Terry Pratchett's finest books, But Pratchett even on a bad day is still very good.

There are two problems with this audiobook.

First, bits of Unseen Academicals works well on the page but not as an audiobook. An ongoing gag is a football commentator uses the (very long) qualifications of a Wizard when they use their name. Your eyes can skim over this wall of text on the written page. But hearing it read out in full gets annoying.

Second, some of the narrator's characters are voiced like a bad amateur suburban panto play. The Trev Likely voice is just dreadful. I get the feeling the narrator does not really understand Pratchett - perhaps thinking it needs "funny" voices to help the comedy. It does not.

Growing up listening to the Tony Robinson and Nigel Planer audiobooks of Pratchett's work has spoiled me - remaster those back and bin this one.

Terry Pratchett, as ruined by Colin Morgan

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Theses bigger production audio books are fantastic to listen to, the biggest fault they have is the jarring switch between narrators to read what sounds like foot notes. I felt pulled put of the story when the chimes go off and a different voice steps in to rattles off a short sentance, that could have just as easily and quite effectively been done by the current narrator at the time.

Great over all, but there were too many narrators

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Another wonderful tale from the pen of Pratchett, presented well in audio. Overall an enjoyable listen.
The only inconsistency for me was the character Trev Likely’s voice. I’ve never heard a person with a voice like that but if they exist, they have my heartfelt sympathies. At times when Trev spoke I found myself imagining a Jim Henson creation delivering the lines. Apologies to the narrator - they did a great job otherwise.

Thoroughly amusing

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Fantastic narration compliments and elevates an already well written story.
Characters that I love from previous stories continue to develop while remaining true to their core traits, and new characters are introduced that have just as much individuality and personality as the old favourites.
The story line has the same light hearted humour with in underlining depth that tackles societal issues in a cheeky yet heart felt way that all disc world novels tend too.

Excellent all round

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I got into it after not being too sure. Everyone has an idea of what the characters sounds like in their heads and many listeners have been unappreciative of Colin Morgan’s rendition of the books from Rincewind character arc. His scope of voices and accents is brilliant. Give it a chance and see if the story comes alive for you through his interpretation.

Warmed to the narration

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This Narrator has clearly never read a Discworld book, or just is a bad voice actor. He doesn't have any understanding of the Characters, or he wouldn't have Angua sounding like an uptight yet stupid copper. Trevor should not sound like a Muppet, and what was Nobby Nobs?! the only voices kind of on par were the wizards, but even then.... He makes almost every character painful to listen to, and in doing so changes what the characters are actually like.

worst narrator ever

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While I absolutely love the Discworld novels, I found this a chore to complete. The voicing, while at times well done, doesn’t compare to Stephen Briggs. Overall it was a bland fill in the blanks novel, I understand why. Unless a Pratchett fan, I’d not recommend this as a first introduction to the Discworld series.

A Spirited Attempt

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Unfortunately, higher production value doesn’t necessarily equate a better listening experience.

I would be surprised to find out the narrator had ever read a Discworld book - previous narrators such as Stephen Briggs seemed to have a vision for how characters would sound based on their reading experience, whereas the new narrators simply shoot for distinct voices.

Ridcully wouldn’t have such a high nasal voice and you’d know that if you read any of the books before. The sound effects before footnotes are read break immersion.

I wish Audible hadn’t removed the previous versions.

Not as good as you’d hope

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I was hoping for a great new audiobook experience, but found myself wishing for less overacting. I didn’t think the voices portrayed many of the characters well. I much prefer the earlier narrator of this story, hope I can purchase that version.

Sadly, not as good

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I was excited to listen to this audio book after I finished the book. I was willing to forgive some of the narrator's voices and general storytelling...up until he voiced Trevor like a Muppet. Had to stop listening right there and then. I'm really disappointed in this adaptation.

Disappointing Narrator

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