Showing results by narrator "Malk Williams" in All Categories

Written during the English Civil War, of which Hobbes had first-hand experience, Leviathan argues for political rule by an absolute authority. Hobbes claimed that human nature was, at its core, ruthless and brutal: people were selfish, self-interested and likely to cause conflict for one another. In order to combat this chaos, individuals ought to submit to a sovereign – a ‘Leviathan’ – in exchange for order, security and peace.

The theme of this volume is Bio Sci-Fi. As machines and computers grow ever more sophisticated, how might technology change our bodies and our attitudes towards them? Let's find out together.

Accused of political subversion as a young man, Dostoyevsky was sentenced to four years of hard labor at a Siberian prison camp — a horrifying experience from which he developed this astounding semi-autobiographical memoir of a man condemned to ten years of servitude for murdering his wife. A haunting and remarkable work filled with wonder and resignation, The House of the Dead ranks among the Russian novelist's greatest masterpieces. Of this powerful autobiographical novel, Tolstoy wrote, "I know no better book in all modern literature.

The Eternal Husband opens with a man who answers a late-night knock on the door to find himself in a tense and puzzling confrontation with the husband of a former lover—but it isn’t clear if the husband knows about the affair. What follows is one of the most beautiful and piercing considerations ever written about the dualities of love: a dazzling psychological duel between the two men over knowledge they may or may not share, bringing them both to a shattering conclusion.

Welcome to the Fiction on the Web audiobook series, featuring a collection of short stories with a different theme for each volume. Lovingly curated by the owner of Fiction On The Web, Charlie Fish. Come and share in the joy and power of short stories. The theme of this volume is Kafkaesque. You've probably heard of Franz Kafka even if you haven't read his books. You might even recognize his nightmarishly absurdist style. This volume explores a Kafkaesque world that's full of surprises.

The Charles Dickens Non-Fiction Collection contains all of Charles Dickens' major published works of non-fiction. Although lesser known than the novels for which he is remembered, Dickens' eye for detail and character observation is seen just as clearly in his travelogues, essays, and letters, giving us an insight into Dickens and 1800s London, America, and Europe.

Welcome to the Fiction on the Web audiobook series, featuring a collection of short stories with a different theme for each volume. Lovingly curated by the owner of Fiction on the Web, Charlie Fish. Come and share in the joy and power of short stories.

A peaceful night in Surrey is shattered when what is thought to be a meteor crashes into Horsell Common. Curious villagers approach the strange cylindrical object, only to be incinerated by a Martian heat-ray. Soon the invaders are sending out their terrible ’tripods’, causing devastation throughout England as ‘intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic’ gradually seek to eradicate the human race.

It’s been 10 years since Dr. Dario Ferdousi’s body died. His mind lives on in the digital utopia of CerebrX, which claims to solve all humanity’s problems. He and other digital pioneers have been promised a dream reality: no illness, no boredom, no scarcity, no death. So, why are the immortals disappearing? Records claim they are dying by suicide, initiating their own deletions. But Dario knows that’s not the full story. Something is wrong with CerebrX, and someone is trying to cover it up.

Billy Budd, a handsome sailor working on a British naval ship in the eighteenth century, is falsely accused of mutiny against the ship’s captain by the master-at-arms, John Claggart. Billy, who unfortunately obtains a speech impediment, is overcome by the accusation and unable to verbally defend himself against Claggart’s unfounded hate for him. Instead, he lashes out at Claggart, much to his own demise. An instant classic once published, Billy Budd is a tragic tale that has been adapted into film, plays and even an opera. This audiobook edition is narrated by the talented Christopher Ragland.

When Common Sense hit the streets in 1776, it ignited the American colonies like never before. With bold, plain-spoken language, Thomas Paine challenged the authority of the British monarchy and made the urgent case for American independence. More than just a political argument, this short but powerful work gave everyday people the words to demand freedom—and the courage to fight for it.

Dr. Arman Pirouzi left Iran behind for a better life in the United States until he is reluctantly recruited by the CIA and returns to Tehran, where the ruthless IRGC hunts, tortures, and routinely kills spies and traitors with brutal efficiency. His mission: locate a critical asset, extract classified intelligence, and stop a war before it starts. His challenge: survive the most dangerous city in the world, where old friends become enemies, past loves are rekindled, and death waits around any corner. Capture means torture.

From Tolstoy's introspective reflections on the passage of time in Boyhood, Childhood, Youth to Dostoevsky’s exploration of ideological turmoil in Demons, these stories present the raw complexities of personal and societal transformation. Dombey and Son captures Dickens' powerful critique of Victorian society, while Shirley examines the life of a strong, independent woman challenging the conventions of her era.

The Jerome K. Jerome Collection brings together 10 of Jerome's most celebrated works - including fiction, essays, and travelogues. From his much-beloved comedic travelogue, Three Men in a Boat (and the follow-up, Three Men on the Bummel), to a hilarious collection of essays, Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow, as-well as his memoir, My Life and Times, this collection spans Jerome's diverse catalogue of writing in all it's joyous forms.

In Master Humphrey’s Clock, Dickens invites us into the world of an eccentric, warm-hearted bachelor, Master Humphrey, who spends his days in his cozy London study, spinning tales to entertain himself and others. The clock on his mantlepiece marks the passage of time, but it’s the stories shared around it that truly capture the essence of life—stories of love, betrayal, mystery, and the complexities of human nature.

The Mudfog Papers is a delightfully absurd collection of essays and sketches that captures the wit, satire, and sharp social commentary that made Dickens one of the greatest writers of his time. Set in the fictional town of Mudfog, the series of quirky and eccentric characters come to life in this hilarious exploration of small-town politics, public life, and human nature.

A study into the customs and practices of indigenous peoples in the Americas, Montaigne delves into the concept of ‘civilisation’, contrasting the behaviour of so-called ‘barbarians’ with Western society. He challenges the idea that European values are superior, understanding the practices of the Tupinambá people and arguing that the horrors inflicted by the soldiers of Portugal on their enemies at the time are – in many ways – far worse. It remains a persuasive and compelling argument for cultural relativism. This audiobook edition is expertly narrated by Malk Williams.

Initially born into slavery, Epictetus knew first-hand the true meaning of suffering. He argued that it is impossible to control external events, and therefore we should work to accept what the future holds calmly and dispassionately. Some say his work is comparable to Socratic literature, particularly in his approach to self-examination and self-discipline: ultimately, he believed individuals were responsible for their own actions, which can be controlled though hard work and willpower.

One of the most-studied pieces of satire in history, ‘A Modest Proposal’ is a darkly funny yet scathing critique of British colonialism from an Irish lens. First published in 1729 to much backlash, Swift goes to great lengths to illustrate a potential solution to poverty and overpopulation in Ireland: parents undergoing economic hardship ought to sell their children as food for the upper classes. A masterclass in irony, Swift delves into the financial benefits of his suggestion, even offering numerous ways to prepare babies for consumption.

Krill charts the journey of disgraced businessman, John Tucker from ignomany to the pinnacle of power. Enlisted by the enigmatic Kristy McGill, known as Krill, to run a secretive political organisation, The New Praetorians in alliance with the anarchist Invisibles, he helps to organise a democratic coup that results in a repressive dictatorship. When he realises that the ultimate goal of The New Praetorians is to launch a devastating Cyberwar on the developed world, he joins the resistance in the hope of avoiding a third world war.