Daemon Voices: On Stories and Storytelling
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Daemon Voices: On Stories and Storytelling Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Philip Pullman (Author, Narrator), Simon Mason (Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 569 ratings
Editors' pick Best Nonfiction
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From the internationally best-selling author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, a spellbinding journey into the secrets of his art - the narratives that have shaped his vision, his experience of writing, and the keys to mastering the art of storytelling.

One of the most highly acclaimed and best-selling authors of our time now gives us a book that charts the history of his own enchantment with story - from his own books to those of Blake, Milton, Dickens, and the Brothers Grimm, among others - and delves into the role of story in education, religion, and science. At once personal and wide-ranging, Daemon Voices is both a revelation of the writing mind and the methods of a great contemporary master and a fascinating exploration of storytelling itself.

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  1. Listening Length
    12 hours and 53 minutes
  2. Author
    Philip Pullman
  3. Narrator
    Philip Pullman, see all
  4. Audible release date
    September 18, 2018
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  7. ASIN
    B07DHRWGQ5
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 12 hours and 53 minutes
Author Philip Pullman
Narrator Philip Pullman, Simon Mason
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date September 18, 2018
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07DHRWGQ5
Best Sellers Rank #91,513 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#26 in LGBTQ+ Literary Criticism (Books)
#174 in Literary Essays
#265 in Literary History & Criticism

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
569 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

siduri
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful essays
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2021
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I highly recommend this collection of essays about writing to anyone who might aspire to write or who is just interested in the process, or is a fan of Pullman's books. They are all intelligent and kind (not such a usual combination) . Each one opened a world of thinking.
I only have one gripe - I share his dislike of stories that are full of trolls and fairies and elves and weird creatures that have no need to be but are a kind of hopping-on-the-bandwagon of fantasy fiction, but I don;t see that applies to Tolkein, who uses them as Pullman does, taking them from traditions of storytelling, like his witches, night ghasts and spectres. But that's just one of the many articles in the collection, and has good points of its own anyway.
7 people found this helpful
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Steven Ramirez
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Writers Wishing to Get Better at Their Craft
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2019
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So, I’ll start by saying that I have not read His Dark Materials, though the trilogy is now sitting on my ever-expanding reading pile. Nor have I read anything else of Philip Pullman’s. I decided to purchase Daemon Voices because, like any good writer, I am trying to get better at my craft. And I thought Mr. Pullman might be able to help. Well, he has—and brilliantly.

This collection of essays is rich with storytelling examples taken from literature, art, and science. A former teacher, the author knows how to engage the reader without talking down. My only criticism is that he tends to go off on a tangent from time to time about his lack of belief in God or Satan, as though that has anything to do with the task at hand.

That said, I consider this book a must-read for any author who wishes to better understand the difference between story and plot, fantasy and reality in fiction, and why anything beginning with “once upon a time” immediately captures our imagination. Well done, Mr. Pullman.
33 people found this helpful
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W. L. Hunt
5.0 out of 5 stars Wide ranging discussion in writing, literature, and the purpose of life.
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2020
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Erudite discussions on writing, literature and how they inform and are in formed by life. Much to take for the writer (especially the difference between the path and the forest), the reader (especially the defense of pictures in books), wrapping up with excellent observations on how art affects life and gives it meaning. I have taken much away from it.
3 people found this helpful
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K. Spangler
4.0 out of 5 stars I loved it, but...
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2019
This book is a collection of essays written by Phillip Pullman. He is a very clever man, and I really enjoyed reading most of the essays. It was interesting to look at the writing process, and I always love to read other people's thoughts on classic literature. I would have given the book 5 stars, but there were two problems:

1. Pullman likes to take a lot of pot shots at Christians and Christianity. This isn't really a problem for me, but it just seems like he spends an awful lot of time trying to convince everyone how silly they are for believing in a God. I think he might need to take a look at why he spends so much time trying to convince us that religion is for the weak minded.

2. Pullman also is very critical of all other fantasy authors. According to Pullman, his fantasy novels are the only ones on the market that are worthwhile. Even Tolkien isn't worth reading; if you listen to Mr. Pullman.

If you can get past the author's ego, you will really enjoy reading these essays.
22 people found this helpful
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Judith Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Qwest
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2020
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The pleasure of Philip Pullman's company is irresistible. I am a theist and active in a Christian church, but that is completely compatible with Pullman's atheism. He makes goodness real, attractive, and achievable in both his fiction and these essays and addresses. If you love both nature and art, dive into his work and find your love shared and enhanced.
7 people found this helpful
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Paul F. Mcdonald
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have ....
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2021
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If you love Philip Pullman or storytelling or reading or writing or all four. These essays are priceless. One could basically take them as a guide for life.
3 people found this helpful
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suzb
5.0 out of 5 stars great book on writing
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2019
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Phillip Pullman is a genius. I bought books he recommended and so appreciated his love of writing and that of the insights of children. Oh to attend one of his lectures one day . . .
8 people found this helpful
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Wiliam H. Peace
3.0 out of 5 stars A disappointment
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2018
Daemon Voices contains 32 essays covering a wide range of topics: childrens’ literature, education, religion, science, folk tales, fairy tales, Pullman’s books, other writers, culture, the writer, and on the practice of writing. Since most of the essays are oral presentations, they come across as informal, but learned and interesting.
There are many detailed references to particular stories, some of which is valuable and unique, but much I found myself skimming as it did not assuage my interest in technique. What was of particular value to me were his remarks about stories in the present vs, the past. (He prefers the past as it is less limiting, while I prefer the present as conveying a sense of immediacy). He reveals specific instances of stories in a mix of past and present tense. Also valuable were his thoughts on the use of various narrators, including devices where a character becomes a narrator. Much of this is contained in his essay The Writing of Stories.
I took particular exception to his drum beating for atheism, particularly his essay, The Republic of Heaven: God is Dead, Long Live the Republic. As I understand it, his atheism is based on there being no proof of God’s existence, and scorn for the evil deeds committed in the name of religion. What this fails to recognize is that God can exist for a host of reasons without any proof of his existence, and that evil deeds committed in the name of religion (of which there are many, many) are actually committed by human beings, there being no necessary relationship between the evil acts and the existence, or not, of God. It also fails to consider the enormous number of human beings (two of three billion?) who believe in God, and each of whom has a personal experience which accounts for their belief.
Daemon Voices is of particular interest to those who are fans of Philip Pullman.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jband
5.0 out of 5 stars Daemon Voices
Reviewed in Brazil on November 21, 2022
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Cool !
😉
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Bwana Kobe
5.0 out of 5 stars A collection of practical wisdom
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2023
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This is a superb collection of speeches and miscellaneous writing, all covering Pullman's reflections on stories and storytelling. As you may expect it is readable and engaging and for the most part...utterly compelling. There are one or two pieces that didn't really engage me, but others were provocation and inspiring. I am a psychologist working with people and groups, as well as a writer, and this collection has given me a well of ideas and to draw from. If you have any interest in the way in which stories are told, then this is the book for you.
One person found this helpful
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Lea S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Interessant und Lehrreich
Reviewed in Germany on October 17, 2021
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Dieses Buch enthält interessante Aspekte des "Storytelling" und geht dabei auch auf klassische Werke und Autoren, wie beispielsweise Heinrich von Kleist ein. Für mich als angehender Deutschlehrer, war dieses Buch eine gute Bereicherung auf dem Gebiet des Geschichten erzählen und der Entstehung von Geschichten. Ich würde dieses Buch jedem empfehlen der sich für Literatur, das Schreiben von Geschichten und dem Entstehungsprozess von Geschichten allgemein interessiert. Jedoch sollte man als Rezipient des Buches über gute Englischkenntnisse verfügen.
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Clarissa
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, well written!
Reviewed in Germany on June 13, 2020
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I very much enjoyed reading this book and got many good pieces of advice out of it! Very pleasurable!
One person found this helpful
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Carmilla
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book about writing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2018
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The hardback version has colour plates at the centre and is beautifully bound. It contains lectures and articles by Pullman about books and writing. There’s considerable repetition because these talks and essays were intended for different audiences, but rather than becoming boring, the repeated points help to reinforce important and recurring themes. Taken as a whole it is a feel good read for aspiring and accomplished authors. It talks of the importance of literature in people’s lives and the challenges many authors face, then dips into work by giants like Milton, Blake, George Elliot and Lewis Carroll to illustrate salient points. It discusses philosophy, religion, science, paintings, poetry and prose with an intelligent honesty that draws the reader in.

The book concludes with the hopeful chapter “The Republic of Heaven” and a plea to all those of a humanist persuasion to keep pushing towards a secular paradise on Earth with acts of kindness, by finding our own connection with the world we are all a part of, and by creating and sharing our own myths and stories to bring truths and facts into alignment.
36 people found this helpful
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