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Once
- Narrated by: Damian Lynch
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
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Once
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Editor reviews
A thrilling combination of the romance and fantasy genres, Once tells the story of a man named Thom who discovers a world of fairies and elves he's long considered children's stuff. This is dark fantasy, written with ornate descriptive detail. James Herbert describes each scene minutely, as if his tool was not the pen but a magnifying glass. The book's plot is less important than its supernatural characters and their various interactions. The world Herbert creates in always sensual and often blatantly sexual. Listeners should turn on this audiobook prepared to indulge their fantasies of all kinds. An epic 15 hours and 28 minutes of fantastic adventures are waiting to be had.
Summary
Upon a time. Remember the faery stories you were told as a child? Tales of tiny, magical, winged beings and elves, wicked witches and goblins. Demons... What if one day you found they were true? What if, when you became an adult, you discovered they were all based on fact? What if you met the fantasy and it was all so very real? That's what happened to Thom Kindred.
The wonders were revealed to him - but so were the horrors; for not far behind the Good, there always lurks the Bad. And the Bad had designs on Thom. The Bad would show him real evil. He would see the 'hellhagges' and the demons. He would be touched by perverted passion. And corruption. And he would encounter his own worst nightmare. The Bad would seek to destroy him. And only the magic of the little beings would be able to help him.
James Herbert was one of Britain’s greatest popular novelists and our #1 best-selling writer of chiller fiction. Widely imitated and hugely influential, he wrote 23 novels which have collectively sold over 54 million copies worldwide and been translated into 34 languages.
Born in London in the forties, James Herbert was art director of an advertising agency before turning to writing fiction in 1975. His first novel, The Rats, was an instant bestseller and is now recognised as a classic of popular contemporary fiction. Herbert went on to publish a new top ten best-seller every year until 1988. He wrote six more bestselling novels in the 1990s and three more since: Once, Nobody True and The Secret of Crickley Hall. Herbert died in March 2013 at the age of 69.
Critic reviews
"There are few things I would like to do less than lie under a cloudy night sky while someone read aloud the more vivid passages of Moon. In the thriller genre, do recommendations come any higher?" (Andrew Postman, The New York Times Book Review)
"Herbert goes out in a blaze of glory" ( Daily Mail)
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What listeners say about Once
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Carol Wells
- 26-05-20
Really enjoyable.
This is probably one of the most descriptive stories I’ve ever read. Thoroughly enjoyed the book, quite erotic in parts and very well narrated by Damian Lynch. I couldn’t listen fast enough!
Would recommend.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Kristine
- 18-10-20
a shock...
of sexuality, bright nature, dark personalities & imagination. I found the story overall pleasing, but hard to not squirm at times. I've always loved the idea of small winged beings (NOT mosquitoes!) at the bottom of my garden, but hate the idea of the hag-witch spoiling the pleasantries. Glad she - and the spiders - are no longer able to make me shudder.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jay
- 13-08-22
4th Read still love it
I have read this myself 3 other times.
Great to be able to do other things or listen on a long drive to this great book.
ONCE was the book that got me hooked on James Herbert.
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- Fran Sandling
- 07-03-17
Once
Another brilliant story written by James Herbert. I found this one very spiritual and loved the way it was so full of fairies,, elves and even an evil witch. His books were always interesting. He is truly missed, gone from this planet, fat too soon.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Scott
- 13-02-15
fairies elds following mutant sheep
Too much sexual content unnecessary dolphins can hear me think I'm a unicorn oo
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- Amazon Customer
- 26-02-20
Great book
Loved it! Shame there won't be any more written by James Herbert, truly great author!
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- Rocksalt13
- 14-12-19
Fantasy
I really enjoyed this book as I did not know what to expect.
It is unusual and very entertaining
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- Raine
- 22-05-20
Intrigue, murder, greed and magic
The old drives never fade, lust, envy and murderous intent. Overlaid with pagan mysticism. vibrantly depicted, alluringly portrayed. Captivating, the Audible version of unputdownable.
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- lisa hird
- 27-02-22
Another classic Herbert story
I had read this years ago when it first came out but had forgotten so much of the storyline.
A good tale and in true Herbert style.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- NJ
- 03-03-22
A grown up Fairy Story
The appearance of Rumbo made this for me. He plays no significant role, I suspect that will come in a later book but I've grown fond of him.
James Herbert at his best, all about the characters, full of the fantastic and just a little twist or two of horror.
Damian Lynch is enjoyable to listen to.
A word of warning... if you listen whilst doing the housework and cooking or at work in your lunch break, wear ear buds. The sexual content is a little too explicit for little ears and could cause offence in the canteen!
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