Once again, the Listener’s List narrator poll was a resounding success! The first five male narrators have been selected, but every narrator on the list received listener love. I lost count of how many new narrators were added to list while it was live. With audiobook narrators, it’s an embarrassment of riches.
The votes are in. When the poll closed at the end of the day Saturday, a total of 1626 votes were cast. I had a great time checking in on the poll as it progressed. When the poll closed, the following gentlemen had the most votes overall:
Peter Berkrot
Phil Gigante
Robin Sachs
Simon Vance
Oliver Wyman
Congratulations to these wonderful narrators and to all of the narrators included in the poll. Your fans love and support you all!
Thanks to each and every one of you for your votes and support. I hope you’ll be just as excited about what I make out of the Listener’s List.
Once again, I spend my whole life listening to audios, and I’ve only heard two of these guys (the best guys, Sachs and Vance). It just goes to show me that I have so much more to explore!
I’ve heard of 3, but I’m pretty sure I’ve only listened to Simon Vance!
Robin Sachs narrates the Jo Nesbø series. He is really good.
We are in the same boat. Looks like I’ll be expanding my audiobook horizons again. You won’t see me crying over having to do that.
Wow, I’m obviously listening to the wrong audios – Simon Vance is the only narrator on the list I’m familiar with.
You’re not listening to the wrong audiobooks. I think genre plays a role. Robin Sachs did a great job narrating 22 Britannia Road. I think you would like that. Someone who loves sci-fi and fantasy can make suggestions for the others. Bob? Where are you?
Dear Literate Housewife and Audiobook Listeners;
This is a HUGE honor. Just being on the list made my week. Actually making the top five is an embarrassment of riches. I’ve been acting for decades but only started narrating audiobooks in the past three years which is why so many of your fans haven’t heard me yet. (I also don’t think I really belong anywhere near the top of this list – I think I just have a lot of people in my life who do. And I’m certainly grateful for that.) Anyway, it’s a great surprise and honor and I look forward to hearing back from new listeners.
xoox
You are so very welcome! I am looking forward to getting to know your work better as I build the Listener’s List blog.
Great list! And also convinces me not enough people have listened to Petkoff’s narration. Next to Vance, he is absolutely my favorite. He totally made these two audiobooks I read recently. He fit the character so darn well, it was amazing. I may or may not have developed a crush on his voice.
I know a lot of people love Petkoff. Never fear! He will be featured on the Listener’s List. I just needed a starting point.
I have no idea what “developed a crush on his voice” could possibly mean.
I also have a bridge to sell you. Give me a call. Seriously, it’s a piece of architectural brilliance. You’ll love it.
I have spent many happy hours listening to Simon Vance and recommend his works all the time. This is a great list and it’s so nice to have someone recommend something new to me. I went right to audiofilemagazine.com to listen to samples of these other talents. I decided that my next listen is The Coming of the Dragon by Rebecca Barnhouse narrated by Robin Sachs
Michele, this comment made my day! That you found your next read and narrator from this list is exactly why I’m doing this. I thank you for sharing and hope that you find Robin Sachs as thrilling a narrator as I do. I can’t thank you enough for stopping by!
I have been lucky enough to listen to all five of these gentleman, and I totally endorse the results of this poll. Not only are they excellent narrators, but they are good people who actively engage and seem really to appreciate their fans. This is why, for me, this is the actually A List of narrators, and the so called celebrities can get in line behind these gentleman when it comes to me selecting my next listen.
Yeah, what Bob said! This is a wonderful group, and I’m thrilled to see all my personal favorites included. Thanks so much for running this, Jennifer!
Thank you for your support! I hope my plans for this list will do all of you justice.
Amen!
Honored to have been included – stoked to have placed!! Many many thanks to Jennifer for organizing this and to all who participated..
You are so welcome. It’s a small thing for the amount of joy (or terror – “snow!”) we get from your work.
Jennifer and Lauded Listeners,
Thank you so much for the notice on the Listeners Poll! It is an honor to be included with such giants of the industry; many personal mentors and folks whose work I respect highly. It was also a great thrill to be included in the top five with some of the guys I met at the Audies last year. I hope the poll inspires your Listeners to check out some voices and work they haven’t heard before. For my part, I think that this proves that we have the best and most dedicated fans and friends in the world! Cogratulations to all!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I know that I will be expanding my audiobook horizons as a result of these recommendations. Nothing makes me feel free to explore uncharted literary territory than a good narrator.
Congrats boys! Wonders, all.
Agreed!
Looks like I will be listening to some new to me narrators, I’ve only listend to Simon Vance & Robin Sachs but have added a few by the other gentleman to my wishlist!
Congrats to the top 5 and thanks for bringing so many narrators to my attention with these great lists!
You’re so welcome. We have some great new leads, don’t we?
Thanks for posting pics of these top male narrators — they deserve a lot of recognition for the way they bring an author’s words to life for us.
They certainly do!
I think this turned out to be a great list!
I just discovered this blog and this post and am so happy to find a new source of audiobook recommendations and discussion. Very cool!
From this list of five favorites, I’m only familiar with Simon Vance. I went to Audible to listen to samples of the other talented guys on this list and now “get it” as to how they ranked at the top. I’ve added at least one title from each of these men to either my cart or my wish list. Woohoo!
Though I wouldn’t want to see any of these fellows bumped, I’m suprised John Lee isn’t included. Any one else a Lee fan?
Happy listening, all!!
John Lee is fantastic! World Without End and Guernsey Literary… stand out for me.
Well, blow me down. I’m very grateful to Jennifer and all the listeners for including me in that list of phenomenally talented narrators to begin with, never mind making the top five. For me, the hardest part of this job is the lack of feedback and contact with our audience, so this truly does mean a lot. For those of you not familiar with my work, there is quite a lot that I’ve done that isn’t science fiction or fantasy; I’ve only been doing titles like that for a few years now. Prior to that I was perhaps best known for my recordings of Lance Armstrong’s autobiography and James Frey’s controversial A Million Little Pieces. I recommend the latter in particular to anyone looking for a good example of my narration.
Many thanks to Jennifer and all who voted, most especially my pal Bob Reiss over at the Golden Earlobe who has been a tremendous fan of my work. Cheers!
This is a great list for me. I’d listened to most of the narrators in the female list, but here I’m only familiar with Simon Vance, so this is a great way to discovery new pleasures!
I’m so glad the nominees are dropping by and leaving comments, well done Jennifer
OMG, the FIX is in!!! no scott brick!??! what the what? i’m so sad over here…
aside from simon, i’m only familiar with phil. i can’t believe my audiobook boyfriend failed to make the cut. i must remedy this by hosting SCOTT BRICK MONTH over on my blog.
I’m with natalie @book, line, and sinker. As far as I can recall, Simon Vance is the only one in the top 5 that I’ve even heard and I can’t believe Scott Brick isn’t among the top 5. I don’t choose my book listening by who reads it, but perhaps I’ll run into some of these guys in the future.
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[...] awards from AudioFile Magazine. He was also named as one of the first five male narrators on the Listener’s List here at Literate Housewife. He is a versatile narrator working with both zombie private [...]
[...] Awards from AudioFile Magazine. He also was voted as one of the first five male narrators on the Listener’s List here at Literate Housewife. I’ve not yet had the pleasure of listening to one of his [...]