Michael Shanks becomes the voice of “Local Custom”
An excerpt from the article by Marla R. Reed, syndicated to Stargate SG-1 Solutions, 14 Feb 05
Actor Michael Shanks recently embarked on a new project in his career, a career that includes successful forays into classical theater, television and film work. His latest project is as narrator of the soon to be released Audio Novel version of the SF/Romance novel “Local Custom.”
“Local Custom,” which is the first of the seven books set in the Liaden Universe® written by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, tells a tale of Master trader Er Thom who knows the local custom of his people is to take a bride from a high Liaden family and provide his most revered clan Korval with a worthy heir. Yet a woman not of his culture or even of his world has captured his heart, a woman whom he discovers has borne his child and for which Er Thom is willing to risk his honor and reputation to be with.
As a narrator of “Local Custom,” Michael Shanks joins the ranks of other fellow “Stargate SG-1” cast members who have done audio novels before him. Ben Browder, who is joining the regular cast in season 9 as Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell, narrated “Interlopers” written by Alan Dean Foster, and veteran “Stargate SG-1” actor Tony Amendola, who plays recurring character Master Bra’tac, co-narrated “An Unfinished Life” written by Mark Spragg.
Did they have any advice for Shanks going into this project?
“Tony Amendola, who I respect tremendously as an actor, was telling me ‘don’t do that, I’m telling you don’t do it’,” Shanks says with a gentle laugh.
However Michael Shanks is also quick to inform you that he is a man who knows and accepts about himself that telling him NOT to do something is the quickest way to get him to do it or make him want to try it.
“And I said ‘Wow – Tony saying that…’ That’s something. I better go do that cause I wanna see what he’s talking about and I certainly found out the hard way.”
Read the complete “Local Custom” article by Marla Reed in our Interviews section
I can’t imagine tackeling a Liaden book..all those apostrophes !! But I must admit that those books fall under my ‘guilty pleasures’ category. Michael as the voice of Er Thom ? Cool.
I’ve never been one to read Sci Fi books because of all the “unusual” names and usually get lost by the second page!!
It will be great to listen to someone read it, especially if it is Michael.
The books are stories about people and relationships. That just happen to be set in a sf universe. They are character driven and totally accessible. Don’t let the apostrophe’s scare you off. Your missing a treat. 😉
Having listened to the sound clips at the Buzzy Multimedia site, I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this. MS has such an expressive voice.
http://buzzymultimedia.com/product.cfm?sid=84754484Y93452180114002T2006870062I24C45C255C12G84016723U8461430&p=19572&c=167&cs=products%2Ecfm%3Fsid%3D84754484Y93452180114002T2006870062I24C45C255C12G84016723U8461430%26c%3D167%26kys%3D%26pg%3D1%26m%3D0