The science-fiction LitRPG book series Dungeon Crawler Carl is one of the most popular on Audible, and the audience behind the story has exploded over the past few years. Logging over 140 million listening hours on Audible, the Dungeon Crawler world created by Matt Dinniman had a much larger presence at San Diego Comic-Con this year, where it was impossible to ignore all of the con-goers dressed in heart-printed boxer shorts with toy cats on their shoulders lining up for the panel.
The Dungeon Crawler Carl novels on Audible are narrated by fan-favorite voice artist Jeff Hays, who joined author Matt Dinniman on a panel to discuss all things DCC and share teasers for fans about what they can expect as the series continues to expand and gain popularity. We sat with Hays following the panel to learn more about the process behind voicing the narration and characters to help bring the stories to life for listeners.
What's the magic behind Jeff Hays' audiobook narration?
When speaking with Hays at San Diego Comic-Con this summer, he explained how his performance as a narrator goes far beyond the job of just reading, but instead aims to create an entire world for the audience. "I prefer to become the book rather than to be a person reading it," Hays shared. "That means, you know, becoming the characters and making the conversations happen in front of the listener, instead of telling you what the people are saying. That means that I'm trying to channel the actual emotional impact that the author is intending from the narration."
Hays also opened up about the acting and performance skill needed to take on this series and create an immersive world through the audio. "I'm trying to channel what the characters must be feeling," he said. Even though it's a more obvious task when it comes to first-person narration with the main character Carl, Hays prioritizes the storytelling every step of the way. "I think it's important to make it feel like storytelling rather than reading... people are able to more easily immerse themselves and take in the story when they feel like someone's telling them something that they know happened, rather than it sounding like I'm reading."
Who will Jeff Hays play in the Dungeon Crawler Carl tv series?
When it was announced earlier this year that Peacock ordered a television show based on the Dungeon Crawler Carl books, fans were hopeful that Jeff Hays would somehow stay connected to Dinniman's story. And it was revealed during the convention that the show has leveled-up by casting Hays in the show. Keep your ears open when Peacock and Fuzzy Door’s live-action television adaptation comes to the streaming platform, because you'll hear a familiar voice in Hays for the beloved character Princess Donut.
All audiobooks in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series are currently available on Audible.
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