“A bit of a triumph, to be honest. 5/5” – Starburst

“An epic that’s like a crash between two steam-driven trains bearing the collected essences of The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen and The Fortean Times. Bonkers. 5/5” – Deathray

“An amazing audio adventure…David Warner is a terrific Rune…the thing’s so flipping entertaining, you’d be perfectly happy to sit through another six-and-a-half hours. 5/5” – SFX

This is the tale of two incredible people – one who knows he is incredible and the other who learns to be incredible.  Set in 1960 in the UK south-coast resort of Brighton, self-styled guru and magusHugo Rune rescues a young man from drowning and persuades him to become his assistant and partner in solving 12 mysteries.  Rizla (for such is the young man’s assumed name) agrees to help as he has lost his memory and has nowhere else to go.  There then follows 12 of the most baffling, surreal, exciting, head-scratching and downright far-fetched mysteries ever written…all based in and around the suburbs of Brighton.

In between the adventures our heroes are able to enjoy the bizarre surroundings of Fangio’s pub, where the bar lord is always happy to talk some old toot and occasionally some exposition as well.  Across the mysteries Rizla and the audience learn about the Brighton zodiac, the chronovision, time travel, centaurs, a dastardly plot where the NHS kidnap vagrants for body parts, space pirates, the real history of Victorian Britain, Brighton pirates and the fate that awaits mankind should Hugo Rune fail in his task.  And of course, there’s a very bad man involved indeed – Hugo Rune’s arch-nemesis of the ages, Count Otto Black – who wants to rule the world (what else!)  You will never hear anything else quite like this in your lifetime.


About The Production

13 x 30’ Episodes
Full Cast Drama/Comedy  –  Commissioned by BBC Audiobooks
Adapted from “The Brightonomicon” by Robert Rankin, published by Gollancz/Orion
Written by Elliott Stein & Neil Gardner
Music by Jeremy Paul Carroll (& Hugh Edwards – theme music)
Executive Produced by Elliott Stein, David Warner, Rupert Degas & Robert Rankin
Produced, Edited & Directed by Neil Gardner


Episodes

 

  1. The Incredible Encounter With Hugo Rune: Our heroes meet with Hugo saving Rizla from drowning.  Rizla has lost his memory and agrees to help Rune in his twelve tasks.  In return Rune shares the secrets of the Chronovision, the Brighton Zodiac and the Chevalier Effect!
  2. The Hound of the Hangletons: The amnesic Rizla and Hugo Rune are hired to investigate a strange lost dog.  Rizla discovers the local pub, and the myopic keeper of the optics Fangio.  He also discovers that the thief may actually be Rune!
  3. The Curious Case of the Centenary Centaur: While attending Danbury Collins’ lecture with Hugo Rune, Rizla is captured by a demented doctor and a centaur is unleashed on Brighton.
  4. The Monstrous Mystery of the Moulescomb Crab: A conversation with a bog troll leads to Rizla and Rune learning of a terrible plot to bring down the Royal Family with the aid of a group of overly horny space crabs!
  5. The Lark of the Lansdowne Lioness: When a statue of Queen Victoria begins to cry tears of real Earl Grey tea, Rune alone knows that a nightmare from the past is about to be unleashed…Brighton seafront is devastated by a Victorian killer robot piloted by Count Otto Black!
  6. The Curious Case of the Woodingdean Chameleon: With Rune away, Rizla is given a case to solve by himself.  Posing as fictional detective Lazlo Woodbine and working only in the first person and in four locations (sort of), Rizla attempts to avert an assassination attempt at a game of international croquet.
  7. The Scintillating Story of the Sackville Scavenger: Attending the opening of a nudist theme restaurant with Rune, Rizla is shocked to witness a group of dead rock stars dining with them, and Rune shows him just why all rock stars must die at the age of 27!
  8. The Fantastic Adventure of the Foredown Man: While attending a garden party, Rizla witnesses the apparent murder of Lord Jeffrey Primark. Various relatives subsequently begin to die in various horrible ways until Rune, with the help of the beautiful Kelly-Anne Sirjan and barman-for-hire Fangio save the day…sort of!
  9. The Baffling Business of the Bevendean Bat: Reports of lost cats in the Bevendean area lead to a confrontation between Rune and the evil Count Otto Black in the wheelhouse of a mammoth underground-tunnelling Ark.  Oh, and there are pirates as well!
  10. The Sensational Saga of the Saltdean Stallion: While attending a bonfire night celebration in Lewes, Rune is apparently killed, leaving Rizla to escape Count Otto Black’s followers with the aid of a less-than-happy (read as psychotic) urban legend, a Morris Minor and two back-seat ‘guests’.
  11. The Bizarre Brouhaha of the Birdman of Whitehawk: The Chronovision now recovered, Rune and Rizla must tackle the mysterious apparitions that plague their current host in his tepee.  And Rune is faced with a possible…and disturbing…alternative future self.
  12. The Wondrous One-Off Wiseman of Withdean: Rizla is forced to disguise himself as a woman as he and Rune search for the last descendent of Jesus Christ…at a heavy metal night in Hove, of course!
  13. The Concluding Chaotic Conundrum of the Coldean Cat: Their forces gathered, Rune and Rizla prepare for the final confrontation with Count Otto Black in his secret lair in Atlantis, hidden beneath the streets of Brighton. And then there’s the business of their final parting after a long year of adventures…will Rizla discover his true identity?

Cast List

Actor Character(s) Best Known For
David Warner Hugo Rune
The future ghost of Hugo Rune
Tron, Star Trek (movies & TV series), Titanic, Wing Commander, Time Bandits, League of Gentleman Movie
Rupert Degas Rizla
Pope Pious
Kurt Cobain
Winston Churchill
Angry Chef
Rock Bloke 1
Tim the DJ
The 39 Steps, Heavenly Sword, Nathan Barley, Exorcist: The Beginning, numerous anime series
Andy Serkis Count Otto Black
Neville Orion
Lord of The Rings trilogy, King Kong, Deathwatch, The Prestige, Flushed Away, 24 Hour Party People
Michael Fenton-Stevens The Narrator (older Rizla) KYTV, RadioActive, Alas Smith & Jones, My Dad’s The PM, Doctors
Mark Wing-Davey Fangio Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
Jason Isaacs Tobes de Valois Harry Potter movies, The State Within, West Wing, Peter Pan, Windtalkers, Reign of Fire, Black Hawk Down, Armageddon, Event Horizon
Martin Jarvis O.B.E. Colonel Mortimer
Inspectre Sherringford Hovis
William Tell radio series, Stargate Atlantis, Space: Above & Beyond, Eragon, Titanic, Dr Who
Ben Miller Bartholomew the Bog Troll a.k.a. Captain Bartholomew Moulsecoomb Primeval, Armstrong & Miller, Johnny English, Plunkett & Macleane
Kerry Shale Lazlo Woodbine
The Doomsayer
Clant
1950’s American Voice-Over
The Doomsayer
So many voice-overs for games, animation and movies it is impossible to list them all, Labyrinth,
Patrick Barlow Professor Nessor Jam & Jerusalem, Ab Fab, Is It Legal, French & Saunders, Shakespeare in Love, also a renowned playwright (e.g. The 39 Steps)
Kevin Eldon Norris Styver the Morris Minor Driver
Paul the Student
The Devil
Big Train, Hyperdrive, Saxondale, Hot Fuzz, Popetown, Nathan Barley, Green Wing, Brass Eye, Spaced, Black Books,
Katherine Parkinson Kelly Anne-Sirjan The I.T. Crowd
Rich Fulcher Chief Whitehawk
Leon
Lord Henry Myle-Hie
The Mighty Boosh, Snuffbox
Ricky Grover Sir Burberry Spaniel-Fondler
The Henchmen
The Doorman
The 11 O’Clock Show
Brian Murphy Quentin Vambury-Greystoke, 5th Earl of Hangleton
Inspector Hector
Last of the Summer Wine, George & Mildred
Jonathan Cecil Sir Jeffrey Primark
The Priest
Isambard Kingdom-Come
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Dad’s Army, Are You Being Served, Rising Damp
Sarah Douglas Nurse Hearse
The Lady In The Straw Hat
Old Woman in the street
Superman, Superman II, Stargate, Asylum, Babylon 5, Return of the Living Dead III, Conan the Destroyer
Simon Gregor Hubert the Tramp
Cockney Bloke
Mr Cutler the Butler
Old Man in street
Hotel Manager
Rock Bloke #2
Barman
The 39 Steps, Rome, Men Behaving Badly
Iain Lee Stan Post the Radio Host
Croquet Commentator #2
Lewes Tour Guide
Dave the Medic
The 11 O’Clock Show, Celebrity Soup, LBC 97.3, Virgin Radio
Kate O’Sullivan Maria the Medic
Susan the Student
Lewes PA Announcer
Woman in street
Queen Mother
Spitting Image, anime voice-overs, Time Trumpet
Steve Oram Nigel Fairborough-Countless
Sam the Zombie
Policeman #1
The Maitre’ D
Tittybangbang, Comedy Lab, People Like Us
Tom Meeten Edward Marzipan-Fudge
Bill the Zombie
Policeman #2
Morris the Novice
Saxondale, Magicians, Star Stories, The Mighty Boosh
Colin McFarlane Jimi Hendrix
American Gangster
Batman Begins, Red Dwarf, Hyperdrive, Black Books
Ben Onwukwe Robert Johnson
Croquet Commentator #1
London’s Burning, Doctors, The Bill
Steven Cree Doctor Proctor
Scottish Groundsman
Scotsman in street
Cabaret, Dreamteam, Doctors
Danny Eastman Danbury Collins
Mister Mate
As playwright (e.g. The Serena Syndrome)
Johnny Daukes Father Ernetti
The Waiter
The Tailor
Mario
Croquet Commentator #2
The Message, The Scanner, Radio 9, Eurotrash,
Tamsyn Challenger Janet Orion
Robert Rankin The Cabbies
Himself
Elliott Stein The Monk
Laurie Buckley Young Woman at Pub
Lady at Rock Club Bar
James Francis Hugo Rune’s biggest fan
Richard Bannerman Distinguished doctor in street
Neil Gardner Ministry of Serendipity Voice Over
Ahab the Space Crab
Graham Rogers The Driver
The Announcer

 


Reviews

“The potential twin pitfalls of silly voices and overacting have been neatly sidestepped…the cast easily trumps the recent Dirk Gently adaptations for star quality.”     –  SFX Magazine (5 stars)

“It’s fantastically over-the-top – as Rankin should be…” – Financial Times

“…it is about as perfect an audiobook as you could get.” – Deathray Magazine (recommended buy)

“Admirers of Rankin’s books have a lot to thank Neil Gardner for…in short, buy it, listen to it, love it…you won’t be sorry.” – Pantechnicon

“Has it been worth it? Well yes it has!” – Amazon.co.uk

“From the opening bars of the frankly superb theme tune, to the closing credits, this production screams quality.” – TOTAL Sci-Fi

“This is certainly a production I will enjoy revisiting over the years, and I recommend you  invest in a copy  so that you can do the same.” – Hub Magazine

“…enjoy this lavish and quite brilliant audio adaptation. It’s very highly recommended.” – DenofGeek.com (5 stars)

 


 

DOWNLOADING INFORMATION

Our audiobooks download as zipped files (due to their size and for your convenience). Once unzipped you will find all of the mp3 files for your audiobook named, and in correct file order.  Due to the way Apple has designed iOS, iPhones and iPads don’t recognise these zip files automatically (unlike Android devices).  So, if you buy one of our titles via your iPhone or iPad, there are two ways to find and listen to your files:

[1] Download for FREE iZip for iOS – then download the audiobook using the link provided either on the webpage or the email we sent you. After the file has downloaded click on the Open With option and choose iZip. The app will open and ask if you want it to unzip all the files, say yes. A minute or so later you will have a list of mp3 files in order, and you just need to tap on the one you want to play and it will start playing in the Audioplayer. You can easily play, pause, jump forward or back.

[2] Slightly easier – download the zip file to your PC or MAC, unzip it to a folder you know the location of (such as your Music or Documents folder), then use iTunes to transfer the files in the same way you would a music album.

We hope you enjoy your audiobook and come back for more soon!

Narrator

Various/Full-Cast

Editor/Sound Design

Neil Gardner

Producer/Director

Neil Gardner

Composer

Jeremy Paul Carroll & Hugh Edwards

Released

2008

File Size/Quality

192kbps (better than CD), 256kbps (superb quality), 320kbps (highest quality)

11 reviews for The Brightonomicon

  1. SpokenworldBoss

    “A bit of a triumph, to be honest. 5/5” – Starburst

  2. SpokenworldBoss

    “An epic that’s like a crash between two steam-driven trains bearing the collected essences of The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen and The Fortean Times. Bonkers. 5/5” – Deathray

  3. SpokenworldBoss

    “An amazing audio adventure…David Warner is a terrific Rune…the thing’s so flipping entertaining, you’d be perfectly happy to sit through another six-and-a-half hours. 5/5” – SFX

  4. SpokenworldBoss

    “The potential twin pitfalls of silly voices and overacting have been neatly sidestepped…the cast easily trumps the recent Dirk Gently adaptations for star quality.” – SFX Magazine (5 stars)

  5. SpokenworldBoss

    “It’s fantastically over-the-top – as Rankin should be…” – Financial Times

  6. SpokenworldBoss

    “…it is about as perfect an audiobook as you could get.” – Deathray Magazine (recommended buy)

  7. SpokenworldBoss

    “Admirers of Rankin’s books have a lot to thank Neil Gardner for…in short, buy it, listen to it, love it…you won’t be sorry.” – Pantechnicon

  8. SpokenworldBoss

    “Has it been worth it? Well yes it has!” – Amazon.co.uk

  9. SpokenworldBoss

    “From the opening bars of the frankly superb theme tune, to the closing credits, this production screams quality.” – TOTAL Sci-Fi

  10. SpokenworldBoss

    “This is certainly a production I will enjoy revisiting over the years, and I recommend you invest in a copy so that you can do the same.” – Hub Magazine

  11. SpokenworldBoss

    “…enjoy this lavish and quite brilliant audio adaptation. It’s very highly recommended.” – DenofGeek.com (5 stars)

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.

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