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edanm comments on February 2015 Media Thread - Less Wrong Discussion

3 Post author: ArisKatsaris 01 February 2015 11:03AM

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Comment author: edanm 04 February 2015 04:57:27PM 1 point [-]

Do you listen to Audiobooks at all? Are you only specifically against SF as an Audiobook?

I ask because I'm a huge fan of Audiobooks, but I've long believed that SF (and fantasy) are both particularly hard to like in Audiobook format. Non-fiction is by far better.

(I do still listen to some SF/Fantasy on Audiobooks, but it's usually authors I already know, or in worlds I already know).

Comment author: gwern 04 February 2015 10:43:40PM *  2 points [-]

Do you listen to Audiobooks at all? Are you only specifically against SF as an Audiobook?

I am against audiobooks in general for myself due to my particular circumstances so my direct experience is limited, but it seems to me that SF/fantasy may not work for most people as audiobooks since they trade so heavily on immersive flavor and world-building (particularly The Quantum Thief, which is in the 'explain nothing and make readers figure everything out from context' school of hard SF), which would be impeded by the slowness of audio and the intrusion of someone's voice.

Comment author: edanm 14 February 2015 05:57:08PM 0 points [-]

FYI, you're mostly right, at least based on my experience. I tend to have a much harder time listening to Audiobooks of SF/fantasy, and a harder time listening to any fiction vs. non-fiction.

I also have a much easier time listening to SF/Fantasy when it's in a setting I already know (e.g. sequels, books I've read before, etc). Also easier to listen to books from authors I read a lot (but that may be true in general, come to think of it).

I still highly recommend anyone who can to listen to Audiobooks, at least of non-fiction, as one of the best and easiest hacks around.