The Call of the Wild

Great short stories are tailor-made for audiobooks. They transport you to another time and place, and bring you back in a reasonable amount of time. Such is the case with this classic tale of Buck, the indomitable dog, during the Yukon Gold Rush of 1897-98. Narrator Michael Kramer is a perfect match for London's words in both style and intonation His voice is compact, intense, cool, and utterly absorbing, and he sets a comfortable pace. Sometimes his delivery is choppy, almost abrupt, but that's an advantage in a story that takes place in the wilderness because it keeps us slightly off balance and involved. Kramer is also adept at character accents, from a West Indies dialect to a Western snarl. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

The Durkin Hayes rendition of The Call of the Wild is one of no fewer than 18 audio versions of this work listed in Words on Cassette. The producers wisely chose an accomplished actor, Theodore Bikel, to narrate, and the production clearly benefits from his craftsmanship. But Bikel's speech has an overriding Eastern European accent which, while very appealing, is unsuited to the author's narrative voice. Furthermore, Durkin Hayes has abridged London's tightly constructed novella to fit its two-cassette program. S.K. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

In this short and thrilling classic, Patrick Lawlor is called upon to render a dog's point of view in a natural and convincing way. Buck is a 4-year-old shepherd-husky mix who is stolen from his California home and shipped to Alaska during the Gold Rush to join a team of half-frozen sled dogs. Lawlor's matter-of-fact interpretation of Buck's perceptions, experiences, and above all, his helplessness to control his fate successfully stir up as much intimacy and compassion as any human character might. From the first moment, the reader willingly casts disbelief aside and joins hearts with this noble animal. N.G. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Jack London's classic tale of the heroic dog Buck captures a bygone era in American history. Sold as a sled dog during the Alaskan Gold Rush, Buck finds himself in an adventure that reconnects him to nature and his wild roots. Actor Jeff Daniels leads the listener through Buck's journey with a friendly and familiar voice. London's prose is not overly dramatic, and Daniels does not try to make it so. His reading style is somewhat removed, but he engages the listener through his steadiness of tone and pace. While there's little dialogue in the story, when it appears, Daniels captures the essence of the characters. Listeners of all ages will enjoy this cherished story and thoughtful narration. D.M.W. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Narrator Pablo Schreiber's pacing, tone, and timbre are spot-on as he delivers this often brutal story. This classic novella centers on the exploits of the enormous dog Buck, who is taken from his Southern California home and ends up in the wilds of the Yukon. Schreiber narrates with exquisite restraint. The harrowing adventures of this iconic animal in the primitive wilds of the Klondike show the transformation of Buck from trusted pet to a cunning and powerful alpha male. The text possesses all the prejudices of its age and is chockablock with stereotypes, canine and human. The super dog that returns to its primordial self becomes a survival-of-the-fittest hero. The narration is ably done and the adventure well served. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Narrator Rebecca K. Reynolds flawlessly renders this magnificent story, abridged with children in mind. Buck, a mixed St. Bernard and Scottish shepherd, has an enviable life in Southern California until he is stolen and sold to be a Gold Rush sled dog in the Yukon. Listeners will be mesmerized as they share Buck's joys, sorrows, and pain as he adjusts to his new life. Reynolds's delivery of London's ebullient descriptions of nature, good and bad men, and dogs is riveting and often brings a cheer of delight or tears of sympathy. Most thrilling is a bet regarding Buck's ability to run with a 1,000-pound load. After Buck outsmarts nasty dogs and men who treat him badly, listeners will find the conclusion gratifying. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine