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The Sanguo Yanyi
  • Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. 1
    Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Vol. 1
    by Lo Kuan-Chung, Robert E. Hegel, C. H. Brewitt-Taylor

    I am currently producing an audiobook adaptation of the Sanguo Yanyi (The Romance of the Three Kingdoms), one of the Four Classics of Chinese Literature.  

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About the Sanguo Yanyi Audiobook

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By the Romance of the Three Kingdoms on Amazon

I have long been fascinated with the almost two millenia-old Chinese epic, the Sanguo Yanyi, or "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" as it has been called here in the west. The book, written by various authors contributing to it throughout the centuries, is truly one of the finest examples of epic storytelling in the history of the world. I tend to refer to it, sometimes, when I'm describing the story to people, as "The Chinese Illiad". The term might be a tad bit imprecise, since the Illiad only covers, what, ten years or so? Whereas, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms covers 90+ years of Chinese history. Some time back, I got a bug up my ass or something, and decided to go out and find audiobook versions of all my favorite books. I have been very successful for the most part, but there were some glaring omissions that I could not countenance. For one thing, I've not yet been able to score an audio copy of "The Aeneid" by Virgil. And from all the information I've thus far been able to gather, there is no audiobook adaptation of the Three Kingdoms saga. (Perhaps this might have something to do with the fact that the story is 120 chapters long!) To say that I was a bit indignant to discover that no one had ever made an audiobook version of one of the best-selling books of all time, one of the greatest STORIES of all time would be a bit of an understatement. I looked and looked and looked for months to see if I could track down an audio copy, and found none. So I decided that I would make one myself.

By the way, I just want to say right here and now: I do not speak any of the Chinese dialects, so if I happen to mispronounce anything, my apologies, but I do the best I can. :p I realize that this is a project which will probably consume my entire lifetime. The book is, as I have said before, quite a long one. But I am resolved to finish this project, if it takes me forever, and when I'm done, the world will have this fine, fine story of loyalty, brotherhood, ambition, and betrayal in audiobook form! This version is adapted from the online version published by the good folks at Threekingdoms.com, featuring a musical score taken from the many Romance of the Three Kingdoms video games put out by Koei over the years. The music is courtesy of Kongming.net. If you're as much of a fan of the Three Kingdoms as I am, you'll have to check that one out! I have put a lot of work into this so far, and it's not going to stop, so I hope that each and every one of you enjoy this.

Entries in Chapters (60)

Sunday
Jan032010

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 39

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 39:

At Jingzhou, The Son Of Liu Biao Thrice Begs Advice;

At Bowang Slope, The Directing Instructor Plans His First Battle.



Listen:

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WARNING! TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS REALLY ANNOYING. I should stop it. Maybe............NAH!!!!

Chapter 39 opens, as most chapters tend to, where the last one left off. The navy of the Southland, led by Gan Ning, has taken the battle to Huang Zu, who naturally is no fitting match for Gan Ning. So it is that Huang Zu, who slew Mi Heng in a drunken rage, himself meets his demise, at the hands of a disgruntled ex-subordinate. I don't know, maybe Gan Ning was the first postal employee...

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Thursday
Dec312009

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 38

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 38:

Zhuge Liang Plans For The Three Kingdoms;

Sun Quan Attacks Xiakou To Take Revenge.



Listen:

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WARNING! THE SANGUO YANYI AUDIOBOOK IS BACK IN PRODUCTION, BITCHES! (Oh yeah, and something about spoilers, too.)

So it's been pretty much a whole month since I last posted one of these (or, for that matter, anything). I know, right? I'm a lazy one, I am. Wanna see if I've still got it? Download and/or listen to the episode live, and read the commentary to figure that one out, I guess.

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Tuesday
Nov242009

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 37

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 37:

Sima Hui Recommends A Scholar To Liu Bei;

Liu Bei Pays Three Visits To The Sleeping Dragon Ridge.



Listen:

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WARNING! HOLY CRAP! THERE'S A VERITABLE BUTTLOAD OF POETRY IN THIS CHAPTER!

Yes, indeed, Chapter 37 is an important chapter in the story, in terms of plot development. I get that. Yes, Liu Bei's running out of options, and needs someone truly qualified to advise him in domestics and especially in war. I get that. But did they absolutely have to cram a shit-ton of poetry into this chapter? I mean, have mercy on the poor bastard that has to produce the audiobook. Of course, audiobooks, and indeed, recorded audio itself, was unknown to the people of the Han, and to their descendants who no doubt wrote this story, so I guess I can't really bitch too much. After all, I DID get through it.........eventually.

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Friday
Nov202009

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 36

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 36:

Shan Fu's Strategy: Fankou Is Captured;

Xu Shu's Affection: Zhuge Liang Is Recommended.



Listen:

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WARNING! ZHUGE LIANG IS A BAAAAAD MUTHA.... (SHUT YO MOUTH!) but I'm just talking about Zhuge Liang...(we can dig it!)

Yes, and so is Xu Shu. At the end of the last chapter, Xu Shu was handing Liu Bei a victory against Lu Xiang and Lu Kuang, the recently surrendered former generals of Yuan Shao who had been sent south with Cao Ren and Li Dian. Because Xu Shu is also a badass.

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Monday
Nov162009

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 35

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 35:

Liu Bei Meets A Recluse At Nanzhang;

Shan Fu Sees A Noble Lord At Xinye.



Listen:

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WARNING: THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY MAY, AND PROBABLY WILL, INVOLVE SOME SPOILERS.

At the end of the last chapter, Cai Mao, that disgusting excuse for a human being, laid a trap to kill Liu Bei. Liu Bei, due to an almost miraculous leap over the River Tan, managed to escape the fate Cai Mao had planned for him, and now finds himself face to face with Zhao Yun, he called Zilong, who, if he knew what Cai Mao had tried to do, would quite literally rip the man apart piece by piece.

And how, oh, HOW the course of history would have changed had he done so...

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Wednesday
Nov112009

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 34

The Sanguo Yanyi - Chapter 34:

Behind The Screen, Lady Cai Overhears A Secret;

Across The Tan Torrent, The Dilu Horse Carries Its Master.



Listen:

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WARNING! THE POPCORN YOU ARE EATING HAS BEEN PISSED IN. FILM AT ELEVEN. :p

Just checking to make sure you're paying attention.

Okay, now that I got the joking around out of the way, it's time for the commentary for Chapter 34. Cao Cao's subdued the north, and now he sets his eyes towards the south, the lands below the Great River, where dwell Liu Biao and Sun Quan. And, did I mention, Liu Bei? Yes, indeed, Liu Bei fled a few chapters ago to Liu Biao during the debacle at Guan Du. Now Liu Bei and his underlings might possibly be the finest officers Liu Biao's got, excepting, of course, Wei Yan and Huang Zhong, who have yet to be introduced into the story.

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