The Sound Of Smeggers

Rejoice - the Red Dwarf novels are coming to CD and download!

22 February, 2008

Laughing Stock have revealed to reddwarf.co.uk that after years of fan demand they're prepping a release of the talking books - both on CD and download via iTunes.

The first two novels - Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life - were recorded by Chris Barrie. And if you were lucky enough to hear them, even just from the sample chapters on the DVDs, well, you know how great they were.

But it's been a long time since those cassettes - yes, cassettes; younger readers may want to ask their parents what those are - were released, and fans have been clamouring in recent years for a proper CD release.

Well, it turns out that Laughing Stock will be granting your wish. There are no definite details quite yet, but things are moving ahead fast - we fully expect to have news of a release in the immediate coming months.

The Red Dwarf novels have long been a big (and bestselling) part of the show's enduring legacy. Taking Lister and the gang on new, parallel adventures, these were more than just your traditional spin-offs - Rob Grant and Doug Naylor fashioned an alternate Dwarf universe and filled it with bigger ideas than the show could ever afford, while remaining gut-bustingly funny.

There have been three audio versions to date - both Infinity and Better Than Life were released initially as two-tape abridged versions and six-tape unabridged sets. In 1996 the abridgements were serialised in 15-minute episodes on the BBC World Service - with terrific sound effects (Petersen vomiting!) and music - which were later released as the Red Dwarf Radio Shows.

Keep watching the all-new reddwarf.co.uk for more updates.

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