Which Silmarillion recording should you buy?
Two complete readings from the same publisher, 4 hrs 35 mins apart in length. Both are marked unabridged, the listings carry the same description, and neither says why the running times differ.
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J.R.R. Tolkien · 2 Audible UK recordings compared
Short answer
Andy Serkis if you are collecting his Middle-earth recordings: he also reads The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, so the set matches. Martin Shaw's older reading is complete too, and it is the one to choose if you would rather have this book read steadily than performed — it is closer to a history than a novel, and a plain voice suits it. The running times are 4 hrs 35 mins apart. Audible marks both unabridged and prints the same description on both, so the store does not explain the gap, and we have not established whether it is pace or additional material.
The recordings, compared
| Narrator | Length | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Serkis Our pick | 19 hrs 24 mins | Unabridged | Complete and solo. Serkis also reads The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. |
| Martin Shaw | 14 hrs 49 mins | Unabridged | Complete and solo; the older reading. Marked unabridged, with the same description as the Serkis listing. |
