What do you think?
Rate this book
Arabian Nights: Volume 1
This multicast dramatisation of Arabian Nights: Volume 1 is an Audible Original reenvisioning of three iconic tales - with a twist.
Adapted by the great Marty Ross, whose previous audio dramas include Romeo and Jude, Dark Shadows, Doctor Who and Treasure Island, listeners can expect to hear Scheherazade, Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves and Julnar of the Sea as they've never done before.
Step out of your comfort zone and indulge in the dark and fantastical world we've created. Travel with Mermen across the White City, go in search of treasures in hidden caves with Ali and Kasim and let yourself be guided by Scheherazade’s vision as she gives in to a deadly romance with Sultan Shahriya.
About the stories
In Scheherezade, a woman finds herself the object of desire of a powerful Sultan with murderous desires. Her only chance at saving her life is by using the one power she herself possesses: her gift for telling enchanting stories, the very stories that follow in this drama....
Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves tells the tale of an impoverished husband and wife whose lives change drastically when husband Ali discovers the cave where a local gang of bandits are hiding their treasure. A happy ending? Not quite, as the money brings dangerous complications in the form of the greed of Ali's brother and sister-in-law and the determination of the bandits not to be stolen from. Can Ali save himself - or will his wife, Marjana, have to do all the work - in this taut romantic thriller?
In Julnar of the Sea, a merwoman finds the love of a mortal King and they produce a son, Prince Badr Basim. Julnar will have to look out for her son, Badr, as, true to his undersea birthright, he seeks out the love of Princess Jawhera of the Merfolk. She is haughty and her father King Es Semendel positively hostile, casting Badr into a dramatic odyssey which will take him to the island of a beautiful sorceress who makes literal pets of her lovers. Can Julnar and her brother, Salim, find and save Badr in time?
The cast:
This drama features Omid Djalili (The Mummy, Gladiator, The Omid Djalili Show), Abraham Popoola, Adam Sina, Alyssa Kyria, Anoushka Rava, Atilla Akinci, Bamshad Abedi-Amin, Betsabeh Emran, Daniel Naddafy, David Ahmad, Gisele Payvandi, Ian Abeysekera, Jonathan Morrison, Mandana Jones, Michael Franklin, Mitra Djalili, Nezar Alderazi, Philip Arditti, Raghad Chaar, Richard Reed, Pezh Maan, Tara Jaffar, Walles Hamonde, Zahra Ahmadi and Hemi Yeroham.
Adapted by the great Marty Ross, whose previous audio dramas include Romeo and Jude, Dark Shadows, Doctor Who and Treasure Island, listeners can expect to hear Scheherazade, Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves and Julnar of the Sea as they've never done before.
Step out of your comfort zone and indulge in the dark and fantastical world we've created. Travel with Mermen across the White City, go in search of treasures in hidden caves with Ali and Kasim and let yourself be guided by Scheherazade’s vision as she gives in to a deadly romance with Sultan Shahriya.
About the stories
In Scheherezade, a woman finds herself the object of desire of a powerful Sultan with murderous desires. Her only chance at saving her life is by using the one power she herself possesses: her gift for telling enchanting stories, the very stories that follow in this drama....
Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves tells the tale of an impoverished husband and wife whose lives change drastically when husband Ali discovers the cave where a local gang of bandits are hiding their treasure. A happy ending? Not quite, as the money brings dangerous complications in the form of the greed of Ali's brother and sister-in-law and the determination of the bandits not to be stolen from. Can Ali save himself - or will his wife, Marjana, have to do all the work - in this taut romantic thriller?
In Julnar of the Sea, a merwoman finds the love of a mortal King and they produce a son, Prince Badr Basim. Julnar will have to look out for her son, Badr, as, true to his undersea birthright, he seeks out the love of Princess Jawhera of the Merfolk. She is haughty and her father King Es Semendel positively hostile, casting Badr into a dramatic odyssey which will take him to the island of a beautiful sorceress who makes literal pets of her lovers. Can Julnar and her brother, Salim, find and save Badr in time?
The cast:
This drama features Omid Djalili (The Mummy, Gladiator, The Omid Djalili Show), Abraham Popoola, Adam Sina, Alyssa Kyria, Anoushka Rava, Atilla Akinci, Bamshad Abedi-Amin, Betsabeh Emran, Daniel Naddafy, David Ahmad, Gisele Payvandi, Ian Abeysekera, Jonathan Morrison, Mandana Jones, Michael Franklin, Mitra Djalili, Nezar Alderazi, Philip Arditti, Raghad Chaar, Richard Reed, Pezh Maan, Tara Jaffar, Walles Hamonde, Zahra Ahmadi and Hemi Yeroham.
1 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 15, 2018
25 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
September 24, 2018
I loved this. A great cast who made it a real pleasure to listen to these stories. Review to follow.
April 3, 2022
I've always wanted to read Arabian Nights in its entirety, but it's a WHOPPER of a book.
Audible used a full cast to retell select stories from the classic and broke it down into several volumes.
While I greatly enjoyed this, I do not recommend to younger listeners as some of the stories contain very adult scenes between lovers that actually surprised me a bit.
My only other complaint is the sound balance. Audible has historically struggled to maintain good sound balance with multi-cast member originals and this is no exception. In order to hear, I had to often turn up the speakers and then one cast member would blast my eardrums out so I'd lower the volume only to struggle hearing again.
But if you are curious about the Arabian Nights but hesitate to fully commit diving into the tome, this is a great option.
I'd rate this a PG-13 for the sexual scenes, blood and gore, and other intense scenes that might be bothersome to young viewers.
Audible used a full cast to retell select stories from the classic and broke it down into several volumes.
While I greatly enjoyed this, I do not recommend to younger listeners as some of the stories contain very adult scenes between lovers that actually surprised me a bit.
My only other complaint is the sound balance. Audible has historically struggled to maintain good sound balance with multi-cast member originals and this is no exception. In order to hear, I had to often turn up the speakers and then one cast member would blast my eardrums out so I'd lower the volume only to struggle hearing again.
But if you are curious about the Arabian Nights but hesitate to fully commit diving into the tome, this is a great option.
I'd rate this a PG-13 for the sexual scenes, blood and gore, and other intense scenes that might be bothersome to young viewers.
February 15, 2020
I have to really applaud the cast and producers of this volume. This was my first time listening to an audiobook with such an extensive cast; it was more of a radio play if anything.
I've also only encountered retellings of 1001 Nights and its stories within, so it was about time and I took in a more direct (if dramatised) account.
That being said, wow, there was a lot of sex in this. I'm not complaining; I just wasn't expecting it. Also, the men in this story got old pretty quick. While the women were portrayed as having desires and ambitions, the men were all either bloodthirsty, paranoid, pathetic, or a combination of these. I got a bit bored with how dumb they were being after a while.
I'm glad I listened to this though, and I might try Volume 2 in a while.
I've also only encountered retellings of 1001 Nights and its stories within, so it was about time and I took in a more direct (if dramatised) account.
That being said, wow, there was a lot of sex in this. I'm not complaining; I just wasn't expecting it. Also, the men in this story got old pretty quick. While the women were portrayed as having desires and ambitions, the men were all either bloodthirsty, paranoid, pathetic, or a combination of these. I got a bit bored with how dumb they were being after a while.
I'm glad I listened to this though, and I might try Volume 2 in a while.
May 25, 2020
How was I ever allowed to read this as a child.
February 14, 2020
Somewhat entertaining, but completely failing to capture the magic of the Scheherazade mythos. Also, it basically stops in the middle of the overarching story; when I see "Volume 1" in the title I expect half a collection of short stories, not half a book. And I am certainly not paying 20 euros for the second part; if it goes on sale for 2, like this one was, maybe.
March 19, 2023
I can’t give this a rating as I can’t get through it. DNF
April 10, 2021
Entertaining. But some of the accents are way off. May sound like nitpicking but it is distracting. Parisa for example is more Emerald Isle than enchanted Island of Queen Lab.
September 4, 2020
If you ignore the religious stuff and just accept it as a fantasy world with its own amazing worldbuilding with a fantasy religion in its backdrop, this book is amazing.
I know some of the concepts surrounding women are grounded in real world truths due to some old values for the religion. If you are able to forget that it's a real life religion and just take this as a purely fantasy story i think anyone would enjoy this.
It aged beautifully and the writing absolutely had be captivated the entire time. I loved all the characters and how eventful every moment this book was. It felt so action packed, full of drama and characters that felt alive.
The dramatization was handled perfectly. Seriously brought this very old story and made it feel modern and easier to consume to the general public. I don't think i would have enjoyed this book if i read it, but as a audio drama, it was amazing.
Totally caught me off guard with how much I loved this book.
Give it a chance =D
I know some of the concepts surrounding women are grounded in real world truths due to some old values for the religion. If you are able to forget that it's a real life religion and just take this as a purely fantasy story i think anyone would enjoy this.
It aged beautifully and the writing absolutely had be captivated the entire time. I loved all the characters and how eventful every moment this book was. It felt so action packed, full of drama and characters that felt alive.
The dramatization was handled perfectly. Seriously brought this very old story and made it feel modern and easier to consume to the general public. I don't think i would have enjoyed this book if i read it, but as a audio drama, it was amazing.
Totally caught me off guard with how much I loved this book.
Give it a chance =D
January 12, 2022
This version of Arabian Nights doesn't so much as pull back the bed curtains as it kicks open the door, rips the curtains off the bedposts, throw them out the window, toss the covers on the floor, and dumps a bucket of blood on the mattress.
It doesn't have the Inception type approach I've seen done in other versions, but it does show how the well known stories can be padded out and expanded.
The little sister Dunyazad gets more lines than usual and shows how much it was a truly team effort to keep the story going.
The tension remains high throughout if Scheherazade will keep her head, and ends at a halfway point with not much resolved with the sultan's madness...
October 19, 2022
An awful adaptation of the much-loved stories.
October 23, 2024
A whole lotta morally unsound characters, dubious consent and bumbling idiots. Only enjoyable part was the fact that the audiobook was performed by a full cast with sound effects.
January 12, 2019
This is a full cast audiobook that is worth listening to with top notch voice acting and special effects. This audiobook starts with the prince murdering his cheating wife. Then as Sultan, he sleeps with every virgin woman in the land before killing them after dawn.
He finally discovers the two female children of his vizier, Scheherazade and Dunyazad. Sheherazade ages to sleep with the Sultan but before he could kill her, she tells him a story. These stories captivate him and she continues telling them for 1,001 nights.
In this audiobook, she tells two takes, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves and Jullanar of the Sea.
The telling are poetic, humorous at times and definitely adult in nature. I wouldn't recommend this for children as it deals with concepts such as adultery, betrayal, and murder as well as other elements such as love, honour, heroism, and family.
I definitely recommend this audiobook and can't wait to listen to the second one.
He finally discovers the two female children of his vizier, Scheherazade and Dunyazad. Sheherazade ages to sleep with the Sultan but before he could kill her, she tells him a story. These stories captivate him and she continues telling them for 1,001 nights.
In this audiobook, she tells two takes, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves and Jullanar of the Sea.
The telling are poetic, humorous at times and definitely adult in nature. I wouldn't recommend this for children as it deals with concepts such as adultery, betrayal, and murder as well as other elements such as love, honour, heroism, and family.
I definitely recommend this audiobook and can't wait to listen to the second one.
May 31, 2018
Absolutely amazing narration.
July 9, 2019
Very entertaining!
August 14, 2024
Book 292 - Marty Ross - Arabian Nights Vol. 1
A retelling of the classic tales that many of us were probably told at school through reading books and cartoons.
It is very dense and very very old fashioned but then the tales are from several hundred years ago. Some well known…others…not too much.
The framing sequence is very clever but very much of its time…misogynistic…chauvinistic…and sometimes really cringeworthy.
The Sultan has been cheated on and so to ensure this doesn’t happen again…he sleeps with a new woman every night before having her head cut off so she can’t cheat on him with someone else. Eughhh…I mean…what ?
Scheherazade is summoned to the king’s bed chamber but instead of sleeping with him…she begins to tell him a story…which be one a series of stories over many many nights…1001 nights in fact.
The Sultan starts being extremely exasperated as he wants to hear the end of the story and knows that Scheherazade is only extending the stories to save herself and others around her. At dawn each morning she says to the Sultan that the story is nearly finished and that one more night should do it. It is a clever way of saving many of the locals.
As to the tales in this first volume one is very well known and it is brilliantly told…Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves…followed by a tale of a conflict between two kingdoms…one on land and one on sea before a final tale between some of the previous characters and a battle with a witch who changes her suitors into beasts of the earth and sky.
They are enthralling…they are so inventive…they are quite scary but all-in-all they are very entertaining.
Not sure if they would make me lift Vol. 2 but definitely worth dipping in to.
A retelling of the classic tales that many of us were probably told at school through reading books and cartoons.
It is very dense and very very old fashioned but then the tales are from several hundred years ago. Some well known…others…not too much.
The framing sequence is very clever but very much of its time…misogynistic…chauvinistic…and sometimes really cringeworthy.
The Sultan has been cheated on and so to ensure this doesn’t happen again…he sleeps with a new woman every night before having her head cut off so she can’t cheat on him with someone else. Eughhh…I mean…what ?
Scheherazade is summoned to the king’s bed chamber but instead of sleeping with him…she begins to tell him a story…which be one a series of stories over many many nights…1001 nights in fact.
The Sultan starts being extremely exasperated as he wants to hear the end of the story and knows that Scheherazade is only extending the stories to save herself and others around her. At dawn each morning she says to the Sultan that the story is nearly finished and that one more night should do it. It is a clever way of saving many of the locals.
As to the tales in this first volume one is very well known and it is brilliantly told…Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves…followed by a tale of a conflict between two kingdoms…one on land and one on sea before a final tale between some of the previous characters and a battle with a witch who changes her suitors into beasts of the earth and sky.
They are enthralling…they are so inventive…they are quite scary but all-in-all they are very entertaining.
Not sure if they would make me lift Vol. 2 but definitely worth dipping in to.
February 8, 2022
Wouldn't recommend buying this as one of the voice actors has an extremely annoying voice and SHOUTS A LOT and the sound design is quite weird making action scenes incomprehensible. It feels like the audio track of an animation missing visuals rather than an audio drama in its own right. Please don't judge audio dramas by this if this is your first exposure to them. BBC's audio dramas of Agatha Christie's stories are absolutely amazing.
Though, I did love the Arabian Nights stories. They are apparently a way more sexual than the versions I was told as a kid. There is a LOT of sex in this with moaning sounds and the whole deal. Do not gift this to a kid. The misogyny is also more in your face and Sultan is basically the patron saint of incels. I don't mind. It actually explains the framework of Arabian night and helps gain a better perspective on the bravery and brilliance of Scheherazade, who is spinning these tales and keeping the mad king hooked with cliff hangers to literally save not just her life but the lives of many other women, who would follow her to the gallows if she fails. Talk about high stakes.
In every story within the story there's wonderful meta commentary to help get it through the Sultan's thick skull that women are humans and not disposable sex objects. It's kind of heartbreaking. But there are so many interesting female characters in here. I'm going to go look up all the Arabian Nights stories. Highly recommend those. Just not this one.
Though, I did love the Arabian Nights stories. They are apparently a way more sexual than the versions I was told as a kid. There is a LOT of sex in this with moaning sounds and the whole deal. Do not gift this to a kid. The misogyny is also more in your face and Sultan is basically the patron saint of incels. I don't mind. It actually explains the framework of Arabian night and helps gain a better perspective on the bravery and brilliance of Scheherazade, who is spinning these tales and keeping the mad king hooked with cliff hangers to literally save not just her life but the lives of many other women, who would follow her to the gallows if she fails. Talk about high stakes.
In every story within the story there's wonderful meta commentary to help get it through the Sultan's thick skull that women are humans and not disposable sex objects. It's kind of heartbreaking. But there are so many interesting female characters in here. I'm going to go look up all the Arabian Nights stories. Highly recommend those. Just not this one.
April 4, 2022
Sexism, racism, terrible accents, terrible acting. At least I got it for free.
I have to assume that the jist of the story was true to the original text. Though I really have my doubts, as I would have expected women to be portrayed in a more generous light in the original. In this they are all only duplicitous, deceitful and depraved. Perhaps Munar, in the Ali Baba story and perhaps Julnar in the 2nd story are exceptions, but they are the only ones who are not treated with complete disdain. Though, thinking more about it, this is because they each adopt roles of aggression to save the men who are important to them. So... hey...
But there were other aspects of how the story was written that made me feel we were looking through the prism of a white male, not the original storyteller.
The acting was terribly overblown by many of the actors to the extent that you'd cringe at some of the scenes. Especially the sex scenes and reading steamy, on-page sex scenes is a favourite of mine. This was steam for the male gaze only, I felt.
I couldn't *not* finish it but I did start to listen to it at 1.3x speed towards the end just to get it over with.
I have to assume that the jist of the story was true to the original text. Though I really have my doubts, as I would have expected women to be portrayed in a more generous light in the original. In this they are all only duplicitous, deceitful and depraved. Perhaps Munar, in the Ali Baba story and perhaps Julnar in the 2nd story are exceptions, but they are the only ones who are not treated with complete disdain. Though, thinking more about it, this is because they each adopt roles of aggression to save the men who are important to them. So... hey...
But there were other aspects of how the story was written that made me feel we were looking through the prism of a white male, not the original storyteller.
The acting was terribly overblown by many of the actors to the extent that you'd cringe at some of the scenes. Especially the sex scenes and reading steamy, on-page sex scenes is a favourite of mine. This was steam for the male gaze only, I felt.
I couldn't *not* finish it but I did start to listen to it at 1.3x speed towards the end just to get it over with.
January 10, 2023
The sexy and bloody tales of A Thousand Nights and a Night had been sanitized into family-friendly stories in Victorian England, a thousand years after they were first collected in the Arab world.
I absolutely love how the earthiness and the flowery language has been restored.
Great script, dramatization, and sound effects. Most of the actors have beautiful accents that lend a wonderful authentic Arabic and Persian sound. Their acting is wonderfully dramatic and humorous. Especially perfect are the voices of Sheherezade and Sharyar.
Unfortunately, there is one actress Mandana Jones whose sound sullies the overall quality the production. Her over-exaggerated Farci accent is so abrasive that it's almost intolerable to listen to (tabell for table, travelle, swifterre, belood for blood).
Overall, it's so enjoyable and I greatly appreciate all concerned for making this. I'm going to listen to part 2 next.
I absolutely love how the earthiness and the flowery language has been restored.
Great script, dramatization, and sound effects. Most of the actors have beautiful accents that lend a wonderful authentic Arabic and Persian sound. Their acting is wonderfully dramatic and humorous. Especially perfect are the voices of Sheherezade and Sharyar.
Unfortunately, there is one actress Mandana Jones whose sound sullies the overall quality the production. Her over-exaggerated Farci accent is so abrasive that it's almost intolerable to listen to (tabell for table, travelle, swifterre, belood for blood).
Overall, it's so enjoyable and I greatly appreciate all concerned for making this. I'm going to listen to part 2 next.
May 2, 2025
3 stars
The audio version was extremely well produced and the full cast, music, and sound effects really heightened the immersiveness of the stories. The actual tales themselves are more salacious that I expected, and a mix of interesting and trite.
Just about every man is either violent or stupid or greedy or a combination thereof. Every woman is either clever and modest or slutty and selfish. It reads better if you interpret the characters as a bit tongue in cheek, as a very jaded commentary on human nature, or as a historical snapshot of some old cultural ideas around womanhood and manhood.
What I actually enjoyed the most about this was genuinely just the sense of history and what constituted fantasy hundreds of years ago. It is a classic, and it is fun to recognize in reverse inspiration other stories may have taken from these.
The audio version was extremely well produced and the full cast, music, and sound effects really heightened the immersiveness of the stories. The actual tales themselves are more salacious that I expected, and a mix of interesting and trite.
Just about every man is either violent or stupid or greedy or a combination thereof. Every woman is either clever and modest or slutty and selfish. It reads better if you interpret the characters as a bit tongue in cheek, as a very jaded commentary on human nature, or as a historical snapshot of some old cultural ideas around womanhood and manhood.
What I actually enjoyed the most about this was genuinely just the sense of history and what constituted fantasy hundreds of years ago. It is a classic, and it is fun to recognize in reverse inspiration other stories may have taken from these.
December 16, 2020
Very engaging story
I really enjoyed this dramatization. The truly diverse cast of voice actors do a great job of making the story come to life, assignments by great music and sound effects. I had some concerns about Orientalism going in, and these are still there. Although, the stories themselves are originally from a Persion author and the cast is diverse as I mentioned. The creator, however, is western I think. Anyway, I did not notice caricatures in the narratives, although I could be wrong since Orientalism is so naturalized. Despite all of my concerns I think the work is excellent. And there was nothing cringeworthy that I noticed. I’m looking forward to listening to volume 2. That is why I’m giving it 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this dramatization. The truly diverse cast of voice actors do a great job of making the story come to life, assignments by great music and sound effects. I had some concerns about Orientalism going in, and these are still there. Although, the stories themselves are originally from a Persion author and the cast is diverse as I mentioned. The creator, however, is western I think. Anyway, I did not notice caricatures in the narratives, although I could be wrong since Orientalism is so naturalized. Despite all of my concerns I think the work is excellent. And there was nothing cringeworthy that I noticed. I’m looking forward to listening to volume 2. That is why I’m giving it 5 stars.
January 14, 2023
My intent was to listen to an unabridged version of 1001 Arabian Nights in the famous translation/re-telling by Burton but somehow I ended up ordering this dramatization of the first few stories. As far as dramatizations go, it is really good. The accents are perfect, the acting is good (a little over the top, but I think that is what is expected of an audio recording of a story). The stories are riveting and intricate. As an aside: not for children, lots of sex and gory violence. If you want Disney's Aladdin, this is not the place to get it. Liked this one enough to listen to Volume 2 next. One small problem with the narration is sound balance. They do a lot of yelling in the story and it is hard to listen to with headphones when suddenly your eardrums are being shattered.
May 12, 2022
The stories are, of course, wonderful and Marty Ross’s dramatisation is very well done. Similarly, the largely British-Iranian cast is great. So one hesitates to criticise at all because it is admirable to see these ancient stories receiving another life. But, all the same, the action feels a little Disney in parts, not a boon in my book, and Omid Djalili brings a subtlety and actorly quality to his parts that some of the women actors fall short of. That may be the narrowness of the roles, although Scheherazade was excellent. The deep sexism and misogynistic demonising of womens’ sexuality was strongly delineated, for which much praise.
January 14, 2024
Love the performances.
Tad bit too realistic and uncomfortable if you do not like PG 13 content.
Loved the story of Ali Baba, Morgiana being the favourite in that.
Liked the Julnar the Sea-Born, Badr Basim story too. However, I liked King Shahriman and Julnar's story much better than Badr Basim and Jaurahah's (daughter of King Al-Samandal)
The problem with the audible performance was (as many reviews mention) is the audio going wild and down on its own without any base.
Do I recommend the book?
Yes, lovely performance and captivating stories.
Here is a question for you, Can Shahrazad save herself from an evil Sultan by telling stories?
Tad bit too realistic and uncomfortable if you do not like PG 13 content.
Loved the story of Ali Baba, Morgiana being the favourite in that.
Liked the Julnar the Sea-Born, Badr Basim story too. However, I liked King Shahriman and Julnar's story much better than Badr Basim and Jaurahah's (daughter of King Al-Samandal)
The problem with the audible performance was (as many reviews mention) is the audio going wild and down on its own without any base.
Do I recommend the book?
Yes, lovely performance and captivating stories.
Here is a question for you, Can Shahrazad save herself from an evil Sultan by telling stories?
February 12, 2024
First of all, this is not exactly family-friendly. However, it does have strong female characters who mostly outwit the male characters.
It’s more like a radio play than a book that is read aloud. And in this radio play, there is a good bit of moaning and gasping when characters have sex. Just warning you to avoid any inter-generational awkward car moments.
And while it is lush and the accents lend authenticity, the quality is uneven. Sometimes, it feels very silly.
It features mostly Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, which isn’t really part of the original 1001 Nights stories. Vol.2 will apparently feature Sinbad, also not part of the original stories. I plan to skip Vol. 2.
It’s more like a radio play than a book that is read aloud. And in this radio play, there is a good bit of moaning and gasping when characters have sex. Just warning you to avoid any inter-generational awkward car moments.
And while it is lush and the accents lend authenticity, the quality is uneven. Sometimes, it feels very silly.
It features mostly Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, which isn’t really part of the original 1001 Nights stories. Vol.2 will apparently feature Sinbad, also not part of the original stories. I plan to skip Vol. 2.
February 26, 2025
Interesting & well-performed, but probably not the best compilation of these stories.
Also, the individual stories, despite being classics aren't that great.
They do reveal a lot about the origins of a lot of modern mythology, but I wouldn't consider them incredible stories.
Also, arguably the first feminist work? With the amount of misogyny the book calls out (you know, like valuing women based on their virginity), the fact that the main protagonist is a woman who out-smarts a sultan gives some degree of comfort.
To be clear, I do recommend reading Arabian Nights, for historical context if nothing else, but I'd look for a more complete compilation.
Also, the individual stories, despite being classics aren't that great.
They do reveal a lot about the origins of a lot of modern mythology, but I wouldn't consider them incredible stories.
Also, arguably the first feminist work? With the amount of misogyny the book calls out (you know, like valuing women based on their virginity), the fact that the main protagonist is a woman who out-smarts a sultan gives some degree of comfort.
To be clear, I do recommend reading Arabian Nights, for historical context if nothing else, but I'd look for a more complete compilation.
Read
October 21, 2020don't know how to rate this. production quality excellent, pace, plot, storytelling is right up there with sandman. same this is the story which doesn't care if you agree or not fairytale, yet I would never recommend it to anyone less then 35. that persistent message that males can get away with anything and females need only be beautiful and loyal. but these are classic stories of amazingly resourceful females and wonderful fantasy adventures, stories that do much to shed light on a completely different culture and history. and yes life is hard and love is worth more than gold and there is beauty in all things but damn, why are all creatures not human and Male lesser?!
May 17, 2021
DNF. I thought the voice actors were wonderful. That's where my liking of it stops. The story is about a bunch of infidelity and killing virgins. I wanted to see what happens at the end, but I can't stand all the infidelity that's happening so casually. I can't finish a book where morally the characters are terrible.
March 7, 2022
This was amazing! I have always been a fan of Arabian Nights and this audio drama definitely delivered. I loved the twist on the Ali Baba story. The second story of Julnar of the sea was completely new to me and I enjoyed it immensely. The narrators did an excellent job. The sound effects, the dialogue, really everything about it was highly entertaining.
January 17, 2024
A very immersive audiobook, the clashing of swords, emotional display through the actors and actresses' tones made the book so much easier to pay attention to and remember the flow of the different stories on each night.
Still, a bit too much explication of sexual acts, needless sounding of fornicating noises that did not add anything to the story.
Still, a bit too much explication of sexual acts, needless sounding of fornicating noises that did not add anything to the story.
August 4, 2024
Interesting to hear a modern twist on these classic tales.
Ali Baba was a story about the pitfalls of greed. From Julnar of the Seas, I took a lesson about naivety in blind love - although the story felt a little muddled at times and rushed towards the end.
Great voice acting. Will be listening to part two.
Ali Baba was a story about the pitfalls of greed. From Julnar of the Seas, I took a lesson about naivety in blind love - although the story felt a little muddled at times and rushed towards the end.
Great voice acting. Will be listening to part two.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews