UNDER THE BLACK ENSIGN

This is a gem in American pulp fiction, in all its campy glory. The full-cast performance, complete with sound effects, only enhances its appeal, making weaknesses such as stock characters, a quick-and-dirty pirate plot, and unrealistically swift sea travel simply melt away into insignificance. While the performances of the readers are over-the-top at times, the approach doesn’t seem out of place for such a narrative setting. Moreover, the ever-present soundtrack is never distracting and, if anything, lends a richness to the imagined picture that would, in other titles, be filled by narrative description. Those who listened to “The Shadow” and “Flash Gordon” growing up will love this production. A.H.A. 2009 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2008]