We said it was coming, and now it’s here. BBC 4 Radio has already aired their radio drama of Neil Gaiman’s novel Neverwhere. Even better than that, you can listen to the whole thing for free. It’s not going to be up forever, though, and I’m sure it’ll be for purchase and download at some future date. But you can stream it right now!
I read Neverwhere when it first came out back in ’96. No urban fantasy novel has topped it yet, in my book. I even have the BBC miniseries — not bad, but the low budget shows. I’m a fan of this story, so I’m recommending this big-time.
Understand, BBC 4 isn’t just doing a reading of the thing. Think Haunted Honeymoon, if you’re fortunate enough to have seen that film, minus Gene Wilder. This is a radio drama, an art we’ve mostly let slip away from American culture but the U.K. keeps alive and well, because — let’s be honest — the British accent lends itself well to the art.
So this Neverwhere is a spoken dramatization, complete with sound effects and meritorious actors. Like Sherlock‘s Benedict Cumberbatch, the Chronicles of Narnia‘s James McAvoy, Dr. Who‘s Sophie Okonedo, and the eternal Christopher Lee.
Anyway, get over there! Flip through the gallery of images; it sets an appropriately ominous stage. Then find episode 1 and hit play already. The adventures of Richard Mayhew and the Lady Door, the mysteries of the angel Islington, and the dangers of London Below aren’t going to listen to themselves.
(via BBC Radio 4, images courtesy of BBC and Amazon)
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