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"The Time Machine" by H.G.Wells

Order the CD or the Cassette from Amazon.com!

Starring Leonard Nimoy, John de Lancie, Roxann Dawson, Andrew Robinson, Armin Shimerman.  Simon & Schuster Audio.  Double CD/Double Cassette.
"The Time Machine" is one of the classics of Science Fiction, and it has been made into a number of films, plays and radio shows since it's first publication.  The latest, by a group of actors connected with Star Trek and other SF TV series called Alien Voices, is a two hour audio production released by Simon & Schuster.  It's an American recording, and may not be easily available, but it you do find it, it's well worth the effort!  The plot stick closely to the original book, and starts off in the dining room of 'The Time Traveller', played by Leonard Nimoy.  Basically, Nimoy's character related his adventures in the future, with the characters he encounters being voiced by others, most notably Roxann Dawson, who is perhaps better knows as B'lanna Torres in VGR.
Nimoy really throws himself into the role, and you are aware that this is not just a 'talking book', but a proper, acted, production.  There are sound effects, and background music which, at times, is a little distracting.
some of the voices are recognisable, others not, and the lack of a 'who played what' guide in the CD case meant that a guessing game is involved if you want to work this out.  Andrew Robinson, Nimoy and John de Lancie are instantly recognisable, as is the previously mentioned Roxann Dawson; however, I will need a few more listens before I can work out who Armin 'Quark' Shimerman is playing!
This little niggle aside, the recording quality is excellent, and the story, which has obviously been abridged, is well presented.
Alien Voices has already made a recording of another classic, "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" for Simon & Schuster, and there is also a production of "The First Men in the Moon" to look forward to.
(This is an edited version of a review that first appeared in issue 21 of the USS Beagle newsletter.)

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