What most listeners might not know about Grover is that he has narrated hundreds of audiobooks for a variety of publishers under two additional names: Tom Parker and Alexander Adams. Working alone in the small basement studio of his home in Maryland, delivering stories in a voice of sandpaper and velvet, Gardner narrates mostly for Books on Tape and Blackstone, among other publishers. His most high-profile book to date, a career breakthrough, is the special-effects-spiced, unabridged novelization of STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE, recently recorded in a joint effort by BOT and Random House under the Adams moniker. Here Grover got a rare opportunity to show off his flair for mimicry.

Getting into character is key to Gardner's work. He began using pseudonyms to do just that and found the practice a help in the studio. "When I step into the booth at 10 a.m., I have to step into my narrator persona, which, as neutral as it may be, is still a persona, an attitude, an approach I take to the work. I'm not Grover Gardner, I'm the narrator; this view helps me stay consistent and keeps the work interesting." Gardner still jealously guards his flexibility as a generalist, narrating a remarkable variety of books--"from Elmore Leonard to Will Durant"--while pursuing his love of theater by directing two or three professional stage productions a year in the Washington, D.C., area.--December 1999

December 2007 Update

The year brought a lot of change as Grover assumed the post of studio director for Blackstone Audio and moved to the West Coast, but it didn’t impede a string of fine performances of eclectic nonfiction and philosophy. For suspense, try the recent PLAY DEAD.

December 2006 Update

Grover's command of an author's intent makes his narrations of complex philosophies and cultural histories readily accessible to listeners. Recent public interest in "spiritual theology" gave Grover the opportunity to record some thought-provoking titles, from Stott's BASIC CHRISTIANITY to Peterson's CHRIST PLAYS IN TEN THOUSAND PLACES. And he showed his skill with biographical portraits in the Earphones-winner THE RELUCTANT MR. DARWIN by David Quammen. He added another installment to Lois McMaster Bujold's space opera, THE VOR GAME, and a look at the evolution of football--Michael Lewis's THE BLIND SIDE.

December 2005 Update

It's been a year filled with exciting recordings for Grover. High points include Earphones winners THE STORY OF PHILOSOPHY by Will Durant and Elleston Trevor's THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX, as well as Robert Littell's LEGENDS and CINDERELLA MAN by Jeremy Schaap. Grover tells us he's also delighted to have recorded Lois McMaster Bujold's sci-fi series titles THE VOR GAME and THE WARRIOR'S APPRENTICE.

December 2002 Update
Grover notes some of this year's highlights: MASTER OF THE SENATE by Robert Caro, THE CROSSING by Cormac McCarthy, and ABSALOM, ABSALOM! by William Faulkner. More Shelby Foote titles and Jeff Shaara's THE GLORIOUS CAUSE came his way. Grover also draws our attention to a new release--CLOUD OF SPARROWS--a historical fantasy by Takashi Matsuoka.

December 2001 Update
Grover has had a busy year recording, working with new digital formats and directing the stage production of Clifford Odet's ROCKET TO THE MOON. It's hard for fans to see live performances of favorite narrators, but the beauty of audiobooks in their enduring presence. Grover's recordings this year have encompassed expertly done thrillers by Jeffrey Deaver SPEAKING IN TONGUES and the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman, WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS and OVER THE EDGE; Star Wars territory of the NEW JEDI ORDER; and two outstanding biographies TOUCHING MY FATHER'S SOUL by Jamling Norgay, son of the famous Sherpa guide who accompanied Edmund Hilary to the top of Mt.Everest, and DANTE by R.W.B. Lewis. Our review calls this short biography "A superb audio experience in every way."

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All Golden Voices Narrators