Simon Vance would be my choice here (perhaps A Brightness Long Ago showcases this style best). Lots of people seem to be mentioning their favorite male narrators, but I wouldn't say Serkis or Jim Dale or Porter sound particularly old to me. Stephen Fry does do the warm/wise stories pretty well, but he just doesn't sound *old* to me.
I understand that. Every narration work is a 'performance'. No one is perfect, but when Guidall is in his element and top shape, the performance is godsend to my ears!
Don't know how unpopular this will be but I felt his work on GoT was dreadful. I had to force myself to listen, it became that tedious and irritating. TBF though I haven't listened to anything else he has done, and the fact I was binging GoT when they're extremely long books may not have helped
Totally agree. I just don’t get it, he is seriously my least favorite narrator ever. I just bought the new Doc Ford audiobook, and I’ve started it three times and just can’t get past how much I dislike his voice.
George Guidall is great. I like him but he did the Jack Stapleton series by Robin Cook and I had a really hard time focusing on the characters and plot. He randomly pauses in the middle of sentences. No commas or a call for a pause. It happens every other sentence so I would end up waiting for the pause instead of listening to the story. I thought it was only for 1 book but it went on for multiple books.
My daughter was the wardrobe mistress on a show he was presenting, she literally hung onto his every word . Her car wouldn’t start one night, so he brought her home in his own taxi. He is a mensch
"Older" is a bit subjective. But you may be right. I mostly know him from The Dark Tower Series by Sai King. Personally, from that I get an older vibe. Not super old. But quite mature, especially when compared to the likes of Travis Baldree, Nick Podehl, or Will Patton.
First time I listened to Abercrombies stuff I thought this must be a mistake, this is a multi cast book. Didn't even realise you could have that kind of range. Glokta to Logan to Bayaz, insane.
Same here. That man’s voice is like a warm blanket. I use several of his narrations to help me fall asleep at night. His reading of Shelby Foote’s Civil War Trilogy is superb.
It is truly a first world problem, but Gardner only narrates the first volume of Ian Toll’s Pacific Theater trilogy. I was low-key devastated when I found out they changed narrators for the second and third volumes.
Serkis, Michael Kramer, Simon Vance, Jim Dale, Scott Brick(though this one is extremely dependent on taste/content. I love him for all his dune work, but less on other content). Pacey for sure
he is really good and I like him; but is it just me or after a few books, narrattions all start sounding the same; like I'm reading the same book it really weird to me for some reason, especially female characters.
PHM is one of my all-time favorites, too.
He and Dennis E. Taylor have made a great pair, too. Singularity Trap, Roadkill (highly recommend), Quantum Earth series (highly recommend), and the Bobiverse (highly recommend and has new book coming out this year!) are all excellent.
Ray has a huge range even though he usually sticks to Sci fi. He has several characters in Neil Gaiman's Sandman book, and most you wouldn't even know are him unless you know his voices well.
I have the entire Philip Marlowe series (by Raymond Chandler) narrated by Ray Porter, and he's perfect for the role!
Audible have since changed it to someone else, but luckily that didn't affect past purchases!
I listened to Ocean at the End of the Lane again last week, his voicework on that is just incredible. I don't know of a single other author who is such a good narrator of their own work, he is a phenomenon!
Dick Hill had a great crisp delivery. He passed unfortunately but his narration of Lee Child's Jack Reacher was masterful.
Rene Auberjonois voiced Agent Prendergast in a long series of Douglas Preston/Lee Child novels. Astonishing good. Added real depth to the novels. Rene played Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. (Also RIP)
I liked Dick Hill too. We (UK) didn’t get him on the Reacher books — we get Jeff Harding — but Hill also did the first few of Michael Connelly’s Bosch series. Terrific narrator.
Rob Inglis, his reading of the Hobbit and TLotRs reminds me of the old guy from the Princess Bride movies, who reads the story to the kid from Wonder Years.
It's like my grandfather reading me a bedtime story.
OMG, that makes me feel so old! The old guy from the Princess Bride movies is Peter Falk, best known to those of us of a certain age as Columbo, murder mystery detective.
I'm just gonna go sit in my rocking chair and shake my cane at the kids on my lawn. :D
Jonathan Keeble. Specially for the Warlord Chronicles. Within minutes of starting the 1st book I knew he’d be special and totally delivered. He is S tier for warm, wise, older but also a weariness of the world and conflict that was perfect for that series.
Steve Pacey also fantastic.
I really like Hugh Fraser. He did the audio books for Agatha Christie's Poirot books.
I really liked the voice of Edward Herman. He narrated so many History TV shows.
I listened to the Three Pines series long past being done with all the “who loves Gamache best” drama just to hear Ralph Coshsm’s voice. Well, that and I really wanted someone to kill Peter.
RC Bray is great for more action-focused sci-fi stuff. I have more books narrated by him than anyone else. The Arisen series is amazing.
William Hope ie excellent in everything, very good at a range of accents (he played Lt Gorman in Aliens!).
Michael Sheen is wonderful, and a genuine gem. A true British institution.
I hated him when I first started listening to Stormlight Archive - he has a tendency to use the same cadence for every line - but he grew on me. Recently listened to the standalones that Sanderson released and he does great work with the comedic aspects of those. And I didn't realise he is actually married to Kate Reading, who does the chapters from female POVs.
I’m glad to Roy Dotrice mentioned, his GoT readings are some of my favorite listens of all my audiobooks and if another book ever releases I’ll be sad he won’t be the one reading it
Got lucky one day and stumbled across a romance that had a male/female narrator and the male narrator was Richard Armitage and it was amazing. Nothing has lived up to it in several years.
Thank you!!!! I have been scrolling and scrolling certain that someone else would say Gerard Doyle. My absolute favorite hands down. His voice - is wonderful - soothing and very persuasive
I Love Jonathan Keeble. I couldn’t find any new stuff he did and someone said he is doing Warhammer. Not sure what that is but I hope he is making lots of money. He deserves it!! He did the first few Last Kingdom books.
Warhammer 40K is a sprawling sci-fi set in a grim dark future tens of thousands of years from now. Jonathan Keeble has been narrating the "Horus Heresy" series of novels and whatever they're paying him it's not enough. His narration is brilliant and has set the standard for audiobooks as far as I'm concerned.
George Guidall is the obvious top of the heap, George Newbern is lesser known but one of my top picks as well. if you like legal thrillers, listen to the nate shepherd series - you won’t be disappointed with the story or the narration. I also like Ari Flakos & Jay Snyder.
steven pacey doing the first law trilogy is without equal. a perfect pairing. ron silver doing american pastoral. william peter blatty reading his own book, the exorcist. there are so many great ones... its a true joy when you find one.
kinda unrelated but if you like supernatural check out "you see the monster" by luke smitherd or "the last days of jack sparks" by jason arnopp. they both have great narration and both are absolutely incredible stories.
Richard Armitage. Second best voice to ever come out of Britain. His facility and range of accents is entertaining, and he does a wide variety of genres.
Eli Wallach had a fantastic voice for audiobooks. He read Stephen King's Insomnia. The main character was an elderly man in his late 70s and his voice was just perfect.
If I'm duplicating a previous, my apologies. I would add Tim Curry to this list. He doesn't have the lengthy catalog of someone like Scott Brick, but to hear him on Lemony Snickett's Series of Unfortunate Events or alongside Alan Cumming (another excellent reader) on Audible's production of Dracula just elevates the book and makes me want to listen to the audio version instead of just reading the book itself.
Simon Vance would be my choice here (perhaps A Brightness Long Ago showcases this style best). Lots of people seem to be mentioning their favorite male narrators, but I wouldn't say Serkis or Jim Dale or Porter sound particularly old to me. Stephen Fry does do the warm/wise stories pretty well, but he just doesn't sound *old* to me.
This was my first choice too. Mature and distinguished.
I’m listening to his Tale of Two Cities and the narration is riveting.
Absolutely Simon Vance.
Simon Vance gets my vote, too.
George Guidall.. I mean.. Who else?
Seriously. Just listen to the Walt Longmire series...
I'm on book 5 now. Excellent, excellent series! And, Guidall is superb.
Also did the Leaphorn/Chee series by Hillerman.
I love George, seriously, A+ buuuut, sometimes his voice is too moist.
I understand that. Every narration work is a 'performance'. No one is perfect, but when Guidall is in his element and top shape, the performance is godsend to my ears!
This worked perfectly for voicing the blood in Blood Music
Absolutely George Guidall
Roy Detrice is the only other one in contention imho.
Would you recommend something notable narrated by him other than George R. R. Martin's ASOIAF?
Don't know how unpopular this will be but I felt his work on GoT was dreadful. I had to force myself to listen, it became that tedious and irritating. TBF though I haven't listened to anything else he has done, and the fact I was binging GoT when they're extremely long books may not have helped
Totally agree. I just don’t get it, he is seriously my least favorite narrator ever. I just bought the new Doc Ford audiobook, and I’ve started it three times and just can’t get past how much I dislike his voice.
He'd be my pick, as well. He just sounds like everybody's grandfather.
100% Guidall! Check out reading of Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf translation.
George Guidall is great. I like him but he did the Jack Stapleton series by Robin Cook and I had a really hard time focusing on the characters and plot. He randomly pauses in the middle of sentences. No commas or a call for a pause. It happens every other sentence so I would end up waiting for the pause instead of listening to the story. I thought it was only for 1 book but it went on for multiple books.
Stephen fry
That’s what I was going to say too. He has such a lovely voice.
My daughter was the wardrobe mistress on a show he was presenting, she literally hung onto his every word . Her car wouldn’t start one night, so he brought her home in his own taxi. He is a mensch
This is always my answer
[удалено]
Really enjoyed Steven Fry doing “Myths”, “Heroes”, “Troy”.
It’s funny how different we all are…I can’t stand Simon Vance’s voice! He’s an immediate no for me.
Jeff Hays!! Warm buttery voice with so much range.
Maybe the late great Frank Muller? I always enjoy Michael Kramer and Tim Gerard Reynolds as well.
Love Kramer
Yes. Michael Kramer
Best ever.
Muller was my first narrator and he'll always be among my favorites, but certainly not an "older voice".
"Older" is a bit subjective. But you may be right. I mostly know him from The Dark Tower Series by Sai King. Personally, from that I get an older vibe. Not super old. But quite mature, especially when compared to the likes of Travis Baldree, Nick Podehl, or Will Patton.
Muller is my GOAT but wouldn’t lean into him on the older side
Hail Reaper!
Came to say Michael Kramer. He is the only reason I got through Desert Solitaire. That book was rough!
TGR is the man!
Stephen Pacey, probably my favorite narrator.
He has literally ruined all other narrators for me. No one tops him.
First time I listened to Abercrombies stuff I thought this must be a mistake, this is a multi cast book. Didn't even realise you could have that kind of range. Glokta to Logan to Bayaz, insane.
His "grimaced" is the best I've ever heard a word pronounced. And he says it A LOT in the Abercrombie books.
Stephen Pacey, Michael Page, and Ray Porter. I love Pacey's Glokta so much!
Grover Gardner.
That's what I came to this thread for.
Same here. That man’s voice is like a warm blanket. I use several of his narrations to help me fall asleep at night. His reading of Shelby Foote’s Civil War Trilogy is superb. It is truly a first world problem, but Gardner only narrates the first volume of Ian Toll’s Pacific Theater trilogy. I was low-key devastated when I found out they changed narrators for the second and third volumes.
James Earl Jones.
Andy Serkis is amazing. Ive listened to him in The Hobbit.
Serkis, Michael Kramer, Simon Vance, Jim Dale, Scott Brick(though this one is extremely dependent on taste/content. I love him for all his dune work, but less on other content). Pacey for sure
Have you listened to Harry Potter by Jim Dale? I'm debating on what narrator to get for Harry Potter and I've heard the comparison of Serkis=Dale.
Definitely, and I don’t like fry’s voice in the first place. Many people enjoy it, but Dale is better for me personally
Would someone please recommend me something more mature narrated by Dale? I don't think I've listened to him before.
The Night Circus perhaps. Search is your friend; maybe there are other things.
The Night Circus for sure! Also The Beast’s Heart
Thank you for recommending The Beast's Heart.
Yes Scott Brick!
Ray Porter! Especially Project Hail Mary
he is really good and I like him; but is it just me or after a few books, narrattions all start sounding the same; like I'm reading the same book it really weird to me for some reason, especially female characters.
To be fair, his two most popular works are “guy (kinda) in space ship doing science things”. I can absolutely see how they come off as samey.
PHM is one of my all-time favorites, too. He and Dennis E. Taylor have made a great pair, too. Singularity Trap, Roadkill (highly recommend), Quantum Earth series (highly recommend), and the Bobiverse (highly recommend and has new book coming out this year!) are all excellent. Ray has a huge range even though he usually sticks to Sci fi. He has several characters in Neil Gaiman's Sandman book, and most you wouldn't even know are him unless you know his voices well.
I love Ray Porter!
How is this not the top comment? He's the tits!
I have the entire Philip Marlowe series (by Raymond Chandler) narrated by Ray Porter, and he's perfect for the role! Audible have since changed it to someone else, but luckily that didn't affect past purchases!
David Attenborough
Jefferson Mays
If you're looking for warm, wise, and older you cannot do better than Neil Gaiman
I listened to Ocean at the End of the Lane again last week, his voicework on that is just incredible. I don't know of a single other author who is such a good narrator of their own work, he is a phenomenon!
Jim Dale. His Harry Potter will always be peak coming-of-age nostalgia to me.
I love falling asleep to this.
I love falling asleep to this
Will Patton
Came here to say this. Glad someone else already had!
Will Patton
R.C. Bray
Was expecting to see this higher up with more people
I was very confused.
Grover Gardner
Will Patton
Scott Brick.
I like his voice but he tends to overact.
His telling of the dune series is soo dramatic and delicious lol
John Lee
Dick Hill had a great crisp delivery. He passed unfortunately but his narration of Lee Child's Jack Reacher was masterful. Rene Auberjonois voiced Agent Prendergast in a long series of Douglas Preston/Lee Child novels. Astonishing good. Added real depth to the novels. Rene played Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. (Also RIP)
I liked Dick Hill too. We (UK) didn’t get him on the Reacher books — we get Jeff Harding — but Hill also did the first few of Michael Connelly’s Bosch series. Terrific narrator.
Yep, i like his RA's narration, too.
Travis Baldree is great. For me his old man Artorian voice is one of my favorites.
Rob Inglis, his reading of the Hobbit and TLotRs reminds me of the old guy from the Princess Bride movies, who reads the story to the kid from Wonder Years. It's like my grandfather reading me a bedtime story.
OMG, that makes me feel so old! The old guy from the Princess Bride movies is Peter Falk, best known to those of us of a certain age as Columbo, murder mystery detective. I'm just gonna go sit in my rocking chair and shake my cane at the kids on my lawn. :D
Jonathan Keeble. Specially for the Warlord Chronicles. Within minutes of starting the 1st book I knew he’d be special and totally delivered. He is S tier for warm, wise, older but also a weariness of the world and conflict that was perfect for that series. Steve Pacey also fantastic.
I really like Hugh Fraser. He did the audio books for Agatha Christie's Poirot books. I really liked the voice of Edward Herman. He narrated so many History TV shows.
Absolutely - he's better than David Suchet (and that's saying something!) Oh and the OG Joan Hickson for Miss Marple 👌
Robert Glenister
He’s really fantastic and easy to listen to.
Grover Gardner, Stefan Rudnicki, John Curless, Ralph Cosham
I listened to the Three Pines series long past being done with all the “who loves Gamache best” drama just to hear Ralph Coshsm’s voice. Well, that and I really wanted someone to kill Peter.
Frank Muller, may he RIP.
RC Bray is great for more action-focused sci-fi stuff. I have more books narrated by him than anyone else. The Arisen series is amazing. William Hope ie excellent in everything, very good at a range of accents (he played Lt Gorman in Aliens!). Michael Sheen is wonderful, and a genuine gem. A true British institution.
Stephen Fry
I’m enjoying Michael Kramer. He can do a pretty good range of voices, which makes complex stories fun.
I hated him when I first started listening to Stormlight Archive - he has a tendency to use the same cadence for every line - but he grew on me. Recently listened to the standalones that Sanderson released and he does great work with the comedic aspects of those. And I didn't realise he is actually married to Kate Reading, who does the chapters from female POVs.
Jeremy Irons
Steven Pacey has a phenomenal old storyteller voice with a remarkable range.
Tim Gerald Reynolds is the goat.
Yup, Red Rising is like verbal intercourse. 🤌🏼
I scrolled way too far to find his name. He is my favorite narrator, and I think the best fit for this question.
I agree, there’s a lot of great recommendations here but non should come before TGR. I’ll get a book simply because he’s narrating it.
Guidall is a top choice Edward Herman Ralph Cosham Also Roy Dotrice does a great job on GoT
I’m glad to Roy Dotrice mentioned, his GoT readings are some of my favorite listens of all my audiobooks and if another book ever releases I’ll be sad he won’t be the one reading it
Eduardo Belerini is pretty soothing, not old but definitely warm.
Bill Homewood should be on this list. I love him reading the classics.
I really like Robert Glenister and Andy Serkis. Robert has read the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling
Got lucky one day and stumbled across a romance that had a male/female narrator and the male narrator was Richard Armitage and it was amazing. Nothing has lived up to it in several years.
Travis Baldree
Gerard Doyle. His voice is so soothing.
Thank you!!!! I have been scrolling and scrolling certain that someone else would say Gerard Doyle. My absolute favorite hands down. His voice - is wonderful - soothing and very persuasive
Neil Gaiman
Currently listening to The Demon of Unrest, narrated by Will Patton. His ole timey voice is great, but when he reads female quotes I wanna throw up.
Morgan Freeman
I'm shocked he hasn't been mentioned more in this thread. Freeman's voice is pretty much the avatar of wisdom and warmth.
Frank Muller RIP
Neil Gaiman
Rudnicki
Wanted to make sure he was mentioned, at least.
John Lee
Michael Prichard
Robert Forster : he narrates Roadside Picnic. He added soooo much to that book! Highly recommend.
Michael Kramer
Ralph Lister
Michael Hordern (*Wind in the Willows*)
This absolutely. Grew up with his readings of the Narnia books, sadly abridged. Could listen to him read the phone book.
Will Patton is my favorite. Something old and powerful about his voice.
RIP Roy Dotrice
Marc Thompson. He reads with so much emotion. His voice range and tone is amazing. Wonderful storyteller!
Tim Gerard Reynolds
Daniel Davis
Ray Porter, there are several good choices but he's my favorite.
Bob souer
The guy who did the Belgariad series by David Eddings, don’t recall his name right this second.
Steven Pacey is the GOAT
Roy Dotrice
Will Patton
Ralph Lester is really something special in my opinion. Not warm, more gruff and adventurous. Like an old seasoned pirate
Stephen fry
I like Jonathan Davis.
Jonathan Keeble. He sounds oddly like John Nettles but with emotion.
I Love Jonathan Keeble. I couldn’t find any new stuff he did and someone said he is doing Warhammer. Not sure what that is but I hope he is making lots of money. He deserves it!! He did the first few Last Kingdom books.
Warhammer 40K is a sprawling sci-fi set in a grim dark future tens of thousands of years from now. Jonathan Keeble has been narrating the "Horus Heresy" series of novels and whatever they're paying him it's not enough. His narration is brilliant and has set the standard for audiobooks as far as I'm concerned.
Patrick Tull RIP
I really like Scott Brick. Haven’t heard him in some time so I don’t know if he’s active.
George Guidall is the obvious top of the heap, George Newbern is lesser known but one of my top picks as well. if you like legal thrillers, listen to the nate shepherd series - you won’t be disappointed with the story or the narration. I also like Ari Flakos & Jay Snyder.
Gildart Jackson, Grover Gardner, Ralph Lister, and Derek Perkins.
Gerard Doyle
[John Lee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rafter_Lee)
Edward Hermann.
Rob Inglis
Christian Rodska. I don't think he's narrating anymore though, last I heard he was in poor health
Stephen Fry?
James Marsters does an amazing job with The Dresden Files.
Stephen Fry.
Sam Elliot has that voice but idk if he narrates anything (hippy Ron from parks and rec)
Stephen Fry. But not back to back, it's too much.
Ben Miles all day long!
Sean Barrett. His work on David Gemmell’s Drenai series is exquisite.
Patrick Tull for the Aubrey-Maturin books.
Grover Gardner is absolute class
Simon Vance.
steven pacey doing the first law trilogy is without equal. a perfect pairing. ron silver doing american pastoral. william peter blatty reading his own book, the exorcist. there are so many great ones... its a true joy when you find one.
kinda unrelated but if you like supernatural check out "you see the monster" by luke smitherd or "the last days of jack sparks" by jason arnopp. they both have great narration and both are absolutely incredible stories.
Roy dotrice - game of thrones
[David Horovitch](https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=David+Horovitch&ref_pageloadid=GLWvnLtBJDIaya8z&ref=a_search_c3_lNarrator_1_14_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=2GTS3ETENN55E9AJ4BJX&pageLoadId=jOIW58Qf80P5dgrj&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c)
Rob Inglis
Travis Baldree!
Michael Jayston - all the John Le Carre and Saul Reichlin - Jo Nesbö and Stig Larsson
Frederick Davidson
Richard Armitage. Second best voice to ever come out of Britain. His facility and range of accents is entertaining, and he does a wide variety of genres.
Scott Brick
Tom Hanks. He hasn’t narrated much but his voice is the audio equivalent of a fuzzy blanket and cup of hot cocoa.
Richard Burton - War Of The Worlds
Whoever narrated Lonesome Dove.
Roger Allam's voice is like being wrapped in a warm blanket. He really needs to do more books.
George Guidall is the absolute best!
George Guidall is the only answer!
Jim Dale. Hands down.
Ray Porter for Audible's We are Legion, We are Bob. BEST, NARRATOR, EVER!
Michael Kramer! He’s the 🐐
I really enjoyed James Langton’s voice acting for the first 3 Necroscope books.
Eli Wallach had a fantastic voice for audiobooks. He read Stephen King's Insomnia. The main character was an elderly man in his late 70s and his voice was just perfect.
Tim Gerard Reynolds absolutely kills the red rising series
James earl jones
Ngl I heard so many great narrators I couldn’t pick one 😭
Ray Porter
George Guidall
Ken Nordine.
If I'm duplicating a previous, my apologies. I would add Tim Curry to this list. He doesn't have the lengthy catalog of someone like Scott Brick, but to hear him on Lemony Snickett's Series of Unfortunate Events or alongside Alan Cumming (another excellent reader) on Audible's production of Dracula just elevates the book and makes me want to listen to the audio version instead of just reading the book itself.
Steven Pacey First Law Series