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Skios
- Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
- Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins
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Skios
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Summary
On the sunlit Greek island of Skios, the Fred Toppler Foundation's annual lecture is to be given by Dr Norman Wilfred, the world-famous authority on the scientific organisation of science. He turns out to be young and charming - not at all the intimidating figure they had been expecting. The Foundation's guests are soon eating out of his hand. So is Nikki, the attractive and efficient organiser.
Meanwhile, in a remote villa at the other end of the island, Nikki's old school-friend Georgie waits for the notorious chancer she has rashly agreed to go on holiday with, who has characteristically failed to turn up. Trapped in the villa with her, by an unfortunate chain of misadventure, is a balding old gent called Dr Norman Wilfred, who has lost his whereabouts, his luggage, his temper, and his sense of reality - everything he possesses apart from the flyblown text of a well-travelled lecture on the scientific organisation of science...
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What listeners say about Skios
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- TPB
- 17-12-12
A complex mixture
As I listened to this I found myself drawn into what, at first sight, was a fairly superficial farce. However, I was reacting to what was happening to the characters; it had an unexpected depth that I cannot explain except that it is very well written and narrated, Martin Jarvis's style being an ideal match. The author switches scenes at the approach of every climactic moment and although rather predictable, by the end, I was able to sit back mentally and enjoy it It was not laugh-out-loud but was fun to listen to and, although at times I was impatient to hear what happened next, I would not want it abbreviated. .
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Barbara
- 30-12-13
Disappointing
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
I had read a few reviews with regards to this book. Martin Jarvis is an excellent narrator and one I like to follow. Alas this book does not do his talents any good. The story about a professor had arrived in Skios to make a speech. It was this man who's luggage went missing. The events that followed where to say the least bizarre. Anyone with half a wit would have it sorted in minutes.
The person who had his luggage got away with imitating him. This really does not look good on any P.A.
This book was very disappointing.
What will your next listen be?
The second book that Elizabeth Chadwick has written in the Greatest Knight series; The Red Lion?
Did the narration match the pace of the story?
Yes
If this book were a film would you go see it?
No
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Philip
- 07-04-13
Very funny book!
I picked book because of the title as it is set on a Greek island but didn't really know what to expect. The reader Martin Jarvis is excellent and the scene was set perfectly. Whilst travelling to work by bus I often had to stop myself laughing out loud when reading this book. It cerainly brought Greek sunshine as well as laughter ito a miserable winter.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- chris
- 31-07-12
Very enjoyable
Just finished listening to this very funny book brilliantly read by Martin Jarvis. A real laugh out loud experience
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Franny
- 12-07-23
Funny
Really good, Rompaey, kind of story, but beautifully written.
Martin Jarvis delivered a perfectly wonderful performance
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- susan
- 08-04-13
Sunny funny warm waspish treat.
In less skilled hands this might be dismissed as chicklit escapism, but Michael Frayn's superbly clever plotting and Martin Jarvis's pitch-perfect delivery offer delights throughout.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Harry Jones
- 29-04-23
It’s an OK book
A fairly easy listen and the plot is pretty predictable. The narrator certainly makes this book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Grete Buck
- 05-05-13
A clever farce written by a master of the genre.
Despite convolutions of mistaken identities on Skios it is an easy to follow plot brilliantly written and really well read. Laughed out loud many times so watch where you listen!
A perfect audible book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
- Maddy
- 10-12-12
Depends on your mood?
I like Michael Frayn and loved Spies but maybe I wasn't in the mood for the this. Humour is a strange and personal thing. It's a well written farce but it only made me smile a couple of times and sometimes, especially at the beginning, I found it irritating and over long. Martin Jarvis, though, can always be relied on as a great reader and is as good as usual here.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- E
- 13-04-13
Rather a let down!
From the synopsis I thought this sounded an interesting listen so thought it was worth a try. I felt rather let down, the narration in itself was fine, Martin Jarvis has a good storytelling style. The trouble was the story, the charaters was irritating and unbelieveable, at one point I thought it was a spoof and it may very well of turned out to be as I never bothered to listen to the end. I just got fed up with trying to believe these people would really behave that way!
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