Chasing the Bard

It is with much anticipation (and lateness on my part) that we proudly present Philippa Ballantine’s second serialized free audiobook, Chasing the Bard:

Born into the human world with a gift; a gift that brings him to the attention of powers both dark and light from the World of the Fey, it is his burden to defend all the world.

Sive, the goddess of battle, hopes that he may be able to change the fate of her people.The Fey are dying, killed by something beyond the boundaries of worlds, and Sive will do anything to save them. So she enlists the help of her trickster cousin Puck to guard the child, and watch him grow into his gift. But a dark power imprisoned by human and Fey, plots to destroy both worlds, and unmake all that they have created.

Can one boy stop the destruction, even if he is William Shakespeare?





This entry was posted by Evo on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 at 8:06 am and is filed under New Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

35 Responses to “Chasing the Bard”

  1. Duane Says:
    May 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 am

    Boooo for making me wait so long to find this title! I’ve listened to as many podiobooks as I can get my hands on, and I can say this one easily lands a spot in the top 3. It is the right combination of everything – well written, good story, well produced, excellent voice talent. I actually found the show just last week while hunting for Shakespeare stuff, and was all “What the heck? How have I missed this for so long?” Now I know. Evo’s fault.
    :)

    http://www.shakespearegeek.com

  2. Barry Bounous Says:
    May 22nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    Been listening from her web site. Very very fine work on all parts!

  3. Nate Lowell Says:
    May 24th, 2008 at 5:35 am

    Chasing the Bard is a great story! I’ve been subscribed over at her site, too, and Pip has an amazing production going on here. Podiobook fans of fantasy will be delighted.

  4. whiskyman Says:
    June 6th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    This podcast is great. I found this last week and listened to the first 6 episodes in one day! This is great. Thanks for the great podcast.

  5. Gail Says:
    June 21st, 2008 at 9:24 am

    Thank you, Philippa, for this great story. You make it sound easy!

  6. Jodi Says:
    June 22nd, 2008 at 3:04 am

    I ABSOLUTELY love this story! As soon as one episode is finished I’m ready for the next one. Thank you Philippa!

  7. Philippa Ballantine Says:
    June 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 am

    Thanks everyone. I am so glad you are enjoying the story. I plan to have it all out there, barring problems by the beginning of August.

  8. Chris Says:
    June 29th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

    Hey Philippa, Just seen this one and looking forward to it. Loved your other work :)

  9. Valerie Says:
    June 29th, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    Hi there, Philippa! Thank you so much for sharing Chasing the Bard with the world! AMAZING!!! I do hope all ends well, though. I would love for you leave the door open for more stories of the lovely Fey. You couldn’t have done any better with the voice talent. Everyone has been spot on! (Although, you, Miss Pip, could probably read the phone book and still have a huge fan base!) I am looking forward to the conclusion of Chasing the Bard and all your future works.

  10. Sophia Says:
    June 29th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    Love this story, and the narration is fantastic. Very good work Philippa and thanks for putting it out there for us.

  11. Philippa Ballantine Says:
    June 30th, 2008 at 12:51 am

    Thanks for the feedback- podcasters and authors live on such things. The good news is that the sequel to Chasing the Bard will be coming out on 08.08.08. http://www.chasingthebard.com/?p=117 Puck gets in on the promotion.

  12. madjo Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 11:49 am

    Chasing the Bard. Follow the worlds most famous bard in his midsummer nightmare.

    This is a story set in Victorian England, but with a twist. There are Fey, manipulative faeries, who are trying to get William to help them save their world from destruction.
    It’s a very moving tale, filled with excitement and adventure.

    It does have strong language (especially chapter 13, which I have to admit not having listened to, for personal reasons), so it’s not really suited for younger listeners.

    But I will guarantee you. You will absolutely like this story.
    Go, and listen to Dark Goddess Pip. You will not regret it. :)

  13. Jessica Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    Absolutely addictive! Thank you!

  14. Megan Pawlak Says:
    August 15th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    Wow. I listen to my podiobooks at work. There were a NUMBER of scenes where I had to choke back tears. I get comments from my co-workers cause I constantly laugh, snort, or make commetns under my breath when I listen to my stories.

    This book was wonderful. I bought both of them on August 8, 2008. I’m reading Congo right now by Micheal Crichton but I can’t decide if I’m going to read Billi or Bard! >.< both so good.

    One thing that really hooked me on the reading of the podcast was the terrific voice production. Tee Morris knows how to work his characters. Casting him as Will was perfect. They have such great chemistry together.

    The blending of history and fiction was astonishing. I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of Shakespeare. The only productions of his plays I enjoy are ones that have been updated for language or otherwise taken out of their original time setting. But taking Will and putting him in a position with mystical/mythical (not sure which word is better here) powers is fantastic. It’s a whole new spin on a literary master.

  15. madjo Says:
    August 30th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    btw, I of course meant “Elizabethan” not “Victorian”. :)

  16. Hannelore Says:
    September 27th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

    I do like this book, despite the liberties Mr Ballantine is taking with history. But of course, one can only quote Dumas the Elder. When he was accused of “raping history”, he agreed and added that he did make “some fine bastards” nonetheless.

    What does annoy is the warning of strong language in front of every chapter. I despise being patronised. I haven’t found anything unfit for children, either. A metaphor is something a child should understand before reading anything beyond “run, Spot, run”, so the single(!) sex scene doesn’t warrant a warning. And the rest is about as violent as any Disney film – and less explicit.

    The audio itself is a veritable HowTo. The narration is easy to understand (even for a German like me), the music doesn’t overwhelm the listener and the voice talents add the certain something.

    Thank you, Ms Ballantine :-)

  17. Philippa Ballantine Says:
    September 27th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    Thanks for Hannelore- I did try to be gentle with history, so hopefully with was more a gentle kiss than a full on rape. =)
    As for the warning, I find it better to err on the side of caution especially with people from different countries listening. Certainly if this was just a New Zealand audience I wouldn’t have bothered with the warning except on the sex scene. I do try not to fall into the cultural gap- though recently I have unexpectedly plunged into it. Glad you enjoyed the podiobook and thanks for the feedback.

  18. Shannon Says:
    November 8th, 2008 at 5:04 am

    I enjoy reading Shakespeare and fantasy. Chasing the Bard perfectly combines the two into a wild adventure spanning the life and times of one of the most, if not the most, famous authors in history. Ballantine has a wonderful take on magic – Art as she calls it – and its relation to humans and the mythical Fey. The two races have a long history, expertly hinted at throughout Chasing the Bard. I found this was expertly woven together a tale of battle, heroism, love, honor, magic, and humanity for a wonderful story that pulls the listener into the world and keeps them begging for more.

  19. Emilyfromohio Says:
    December 28th, 2008 at 10:37 am

    Although it took me a few chaptors to get into Chasing the Bard, it was worth it.

    Chasing the Bard will take you on a adventure in the world of the Fay, and Shakespeare. With Tee Morris as Shakespeare, and Philippa Ballantine’s well crafted and very welll spoken narration, this is surely one of my favorite podiobooks.

    The tale that Philippa crafts is a story that everybody will enjoy. Her ability to describe the most stunning of imagery makes everything so vivid in the minds eye. I also love the way that Philipa gets into the character’s heads. She tells the reader what each character is thinking, in a smooth, realistic way. The way she can jump from time period to time period and still keep the characters in check is awesome.

    So, the one thing to describe this book is that it is extremely well written.

    Stop reading me and go check out Chasing the Barrrd! Right now! Go!

  20. craigr1971 Says:
    April 3rd, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    Pip, I’m a late comer to Chasing The Bard, but what a wonderful work of art (pun intended). One small correction is probably needed. When Sive and Will meet the Queen, she uses the first person single in her lines. She would certainly always speak with the imperial pleural. You probably hear this already, but I thought I’d throw it in, just in case, for a future re-write/edit. Can’t wait for more from you, you have the gift.

  21. Philippa Ballantine Says:
    April 7th, 2009 at 11:46 pm

    Thanks for listening Craig. Actually no one has mentioned that. As a Renaissance Queen I am not sure I would agree that Elizabeth I would do that. I would have thought the use of the royal ‘we’ was a Victorian affectation- especially when just in private conversation and not speaking to representatives of foreign powers. With evidence I’d be prepared to change my mind.

  22. Philippa Ballantine Says:
    April 8th, 2009 at 12:20 am

    Should say that I am aware that the royal plural was used in treaties of the time, however when talking to her friends and family (in the case of the scene with Elizabeth) when she was not speaking in role as representative of the realm no one knows how she spoke. That is the beauty of historical fiction, and us writers wriggle into those gaps. ;)

  23. rabarts Says:
    June 28th, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    Read my review of Chasing the Bard here:

    http://podagogue.blogspot.com/2009/06/podcast-novel-review-chasing-bard-by.html

    “Ballantine writes fantasy that is enchanting and compelling, weaving the multiple worlds of the fey and human together with grace and skill. The fantastic realm that lies but a breath beyond our own is composed with delicate crafting, Ballantine’s worldbuilding carefully disguised as setting and character. And when the need arises, Ballantine can turn to the dark and brutal with as much skill as she writes of charm and love.”

    Follow the link to read the full review.

  24. Jedanatc Says:
    September 1st, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    WOW!!! What an excellent story! Very creative!

  25. Brian Rathbone Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    Beautifully written and wonderfully narrated. 5 star, highly recommended.

  26. Martin Says:
    December 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 am

    I am not a big fantasy genre guy, but this story quickly had me sucked in!!! Great story, great reading, great audio quality – truly awesome :-)

  27. Romi Says:
    March 7th, 2010 at 3:11 am

    I loved this book and the voice talents were exceptional (except for Queen Lizzie who was somewhat stilted).
    The story captured me and the writing was wonderful.
    My only slight quibble is with some of the words, which were read incorrectly. I found this disconcerting.
    For example: taut, is not read as if there is an ‘n’ in it. That would be taunt, which has a totally different meaning.
    Ditto: triumvirate is not read try-um-vr-ee-ate but try-um-vee-rate!
    Great job though.

  28. Chas Blanchard Says:
    March 30th, 2010 at 8:23 pm

    One of the first podcast novels that I listened to & still one of the very best out there. Pip has crafted a wonderful story and made an amazing production from it. Go and listen to this enthralling story. You will not regret it. =)

  29. Wednesday Says:
    January 3rd, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    I just loved this book! The story was amazing and I was completely absorbed. I am an avid fantasy reader, a Shakespeare fan and a bit of a mythology buff. Chasing the Bard was a treat for me on each of those levels. Even the voice and audio aspects are downright enjoyable. I found myself often waiting for certain characters laughter. This is one of the books I make sure to recommend.

  30. John Smith Says:
    March 14th, 2011 at 3:53 am

    well written, good story, well produced, excellent voice talent.

    More Please

  31. Barbara Says:
    May 18th, 2011 at 8:16 pm

    I could not finish this book. The author’s narration was rushed and the obviously altered voices of Puck and the other small characters was extremely annoying to listen to. Also, Oberon has an American accent while his sister does not. I found it just too jarring and the story was not compelling enough to overcome these audio annoyances.

  32. Patrick Scaffido Says:
    August 14th, 2011 at 11:54 am

    I really wanted to read Geist but it’s not a podiobook so subscribed to this. I’m very nervous about any story featuring either Puck or Shakespeare and this has both. I’m now excited every time I see that I’m getting a new episode.
    There was a specific point in the story when I went from “this is nice” to “holy crap this is awesome” and that was around the time Puck gets super powers and we find out really surprising and awesome background stuff about Sive.
    I hadn’t realized I’d gotten so attached to the characters till I cried at the end of that chapter. I don’t want to give away too many spoilers to people aren’t spoiler friendly, but let me say this:
    Stick with this book till Puck’s big fight at the villain’s castle. There’ll be an apple figuring prominently in a scene slightly prior. You’ll be hooked.

  33. Tam Says:
    September 2nd, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    I am so glad I found this after it was complete to download! I could not stop listening! The voices and effects were a wonderful addition (and must admit the male voices were delish!)
    I loved the twist (perhaps?) of Shakespeare’s history and thought the story from one world to the other flowed quite well.
    Couldn’t she step back in time and alter things so that we get another delightful romp with the characters? :)
    Off to cyber stalk the author and cast in the hopes of finding more adventure! LOL!

  34. Paul Says:
    October 27th, 2011 at 3:53 pm

    Without doubt the best audio book I’ve listened to, it had me hooked from chapter one. The story is incredibly compelling, an excellent fantasy that is truly imaginative but not at all hard work to buy into like so many in this genre can be. The authors voice is delightful to listen to and I’m very much looking forward to starting Digital Magic next!

  35. Smite Says:
    May 11th, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Philippa’s creation is at once clever, original, as well as faithful to the source inspiration. Chasing the bard starts out somewhat languidly; not because it it slow–it is not–but rather due to the setting of “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” being so firmly set into the collective literary consciousness. William Shakespeare is a creative but common young man with aspirations of something greater than a glover’s son. The Fae are judgmental, haughty, and ancient, and the world is simple and straightforward.
    As the story grows Ms. Ballantine kneads a flavorful and filling background, intrigue, and a pinch of mystery into the raw dough starter we all know from High School English classes. Bake on preheated Podiobooks.com. Serves all comers.
    Once the story at large rises to the forefront it first whets then utterly satisfies cravings you didn’t know you had.
    In fact, I had only a single complaint through the whole of this highly professionally produced and edited audio book. A nervous man’s muscles grow “taut”, not “taunt”, as spoken in chapter 13.
    tldr; I enjoyed “Chasing The Bard” unreservedly and tremendously. I expect everyone else will as well.

Leave a Reply