NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Audible Studios, a production arm of Audible.com, today announced the release of Hugo, Locus and Audie Award-winning author John Scalzi’s new audio-exclusive novella, The Dispatcher, performed by Zachary Quinto. This gripping thriller, about a complex future in which professional “dispatchers” intervene to bring murder victims back to life, is now available for free download at audible.com/Dispatcher. The audiobook remains free until November 3rd.
“What struck me most about The Dispatcher was that even though it has this creepy science fiction premise, it’s so heavily rooted in human relationships,” said Quinto, whose television and film credits include Heroes, Star Trek Beyond, Snowden and American Horror Story. “Performing this vivid story and bringing John’s characters to life with my voice alone was a challenge and a pleasure.”
“The idea for The Dispatcher had been rolling around in my head for a while, so I was delighted that Audible gave me an excuse to write it,” said Scalzi. “I was also excited for the challenge of writing a story that would exist in audio first – writing with the narrator and listener in mind. The medium of audio turned out to be perfect for the story, and having Zachary Quinto bring it to life was the perfect finishing touch. I can’t wait for people to hear it.”
“Scalzi is known as a master storyteller, and we are thrilled to introduce his latest creation to the world on Audible,” said Audible EVP and Publisher Beth Anderson. “Quinto’s simmering intensity pairs brilliantly with the story’s fast-paced and engaging plot—this multi-dimensional listening experience is the ideal way to appreciate Scalzi’s storytelling genius.”
In addition to Quinto, among the acclaimed performers who have narrated works of literature for Audible are Maggie Gyllenhaal, Lily Collins, Emma Thompson, James Franco, and Jesse Eisenberg. In 2013, Audible Studios won its first Grammy Award, for its production of Janis Ian’s memoir Society’s Child, and also won the Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year, for Colin Firth’s performance of Graham Greene’s The End of the Affair.
Audible, the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word content, invented and commercialized the first digital audio player in 1997, and has since been at the forefront of the explosively growing audiobook download segment. In 2016, Audible members will download an average of more than 17 books over the course of the year. Two thirds of new Audible members are first-time audiobook buyers.
ABOUT AUDIBLE, INC.
Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the leading provider of premium digital spoken audio information and entertainment, offering customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible was created to unleash the emotive music in language and the habituating power and utility of verbal expression. Audible content includes more than 300,000 audio programs from leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers. Audible is also the preeminent provider of spoken-word audio products for Apple’s iTunes Store.
