BBC Radio 4 Anansi Boys adaptation

January 4, 2018 4:31 AM

"A new, six-part adaptation of Neil Gaiman's mythical fantasy about the trickster god Anansi and his unsuspecting son Charlie." Listen to all six delightful episodes for free via the (also free) iPlayer radio app or the Radio 4 website.

Available for 30 days after transmission (the series started broadcasting Xmas day so until...Jan 25th-ish.)

You can listen to Anansi Boys on the iPlayer Radio app for free from anywhere in the world. Neil Gaiman, author of the original work and patron saint of patience (Twitter links) guarantees it.

Also see: Good Omens adaptation

posted by sacchan (22 comments total)

Alternative title

Fedora : Origins
posted by lalochezia at 5:01 AM on January 4, 2018 [7 favorites]

FEDORAGINS
posted by XtinaS at 5:06 AM on January 4, 2018 [3 favorites]

Why do you say that? I am currently (re)reading it to my daughter, but can't remember how it ends... Does Charlie turn into a sleazy jerk like Spider?
posted by fizban at 5:23 AM on January 4, 2018

Neil Gaiman Patiently Explaining iPlayer has been my favourite thing on twitter for the past several weeks.

I haven't listened to it yet, but it's worth noting that this adaptation is by Dirk Maggs, the guy responsible for excellent radio adaptations of Good Omens, Neverwhere, and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, among other things.
posted by metaBugs at 6:04 AM on January 4, 2018 [3 favorites]

Why do you say that? I am currently (re)reading it to my daughter, but can't remember how it ends... Does Charlie turn into a sleazy jerk like Spider?

"He had tipped his hat to them, for he wore a hat, a spotless white fedora, and lemon-yellow gloves, and then he walked over to their table. They giggled. "Are you enjoyin' yourselves, ladies?" he asked. They continued to giggle and told him they were having a good time, thank you, and that they were here on vacation."

(note: this is spider, but it is what charlie wants to be....)
posted by lalochezia at 6:29 AM on January 4, 2018

No. And Spider acquires some of Charlie's better qualities. I have no idea what the fedora references are about -- it's a charming and very funny book, especially if you're listening to the Lenny Henry audio version.
posted by filthy_prescriptivist at 6:31 AM on January 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Ah. I see. Anansi is what every fedora wants to be but will never manage to pull off.
posted by filthy_prescriptivist at 6:34 AM on January 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

Phew! I remembered that they grew some of each others good qualities, but was suddenly concerned that Charlie would go too far...
posted by fizban at 6:46 AM on January 4, 2018

I loved both American Gods and Anansi Boys.

I've long wanted to visit the House on the Rock (when I was a kid living in Wisconsin).

I haven't reread either book in years, but I keep meaning to.

12 years ago I wrote a series of poems that were influenced by these books: Anansi Poems (self-link obviously) I spent days creating the hardcopies, and I sent Gaiman one of the artist proofs. He never responded, so I don't know if he even got them (I didn't expect a response).

I was aware of the Anansi myths before his books, but I will admit to getting my title from his.

I am looking forward to listening to these. I wish they were just something I could download and listen to in my podcast apps though.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:47 AM on January 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

I've long wanted to visit the House on the Rock (when I was a kid living in Wisconsin).

Doooo eeeet!

Some years back, I went to Chicago to visit friends, and we road tripped to the House on the Rock. It was surreal and fun and mildly overwhelming, like someone's LSD/NyQuil laced fever dream.

I wanted to go to see the carousel described in American Gods. I was not disappointed by it in the slightest.
posted by MissySedai at 7:11 AM on January 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

"He had tipped his hat to them, for he wore a hat, a spotless white fedora, and lemon-yellow gloves, and then he walked over to their table. They giggled. "Are you enjoyin' yourselves, ladies?" he asked. They continued to giggle and told him they were having a good time, thank you, and that they were here on vacation."


That's not Spider, but Anansi! Or Mr. Nancy, if you prefer.
posted by Kitteh at 7:20 AM on January 4, 2018 [4 favorites]

Good Omens is also available on radio iPlayer for the next 20 days: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04knt4h/episodes/player
posted by simonw at 7:30 AM on January 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Tangentially: Lenny Henry has a decent taste in comics.
posted by MartinWisse at 8:28 AM on January 4, 2018

Well, now I know what I'm doing for the next few days.
posted by RhysPenbras at 8:29 AM on January 4, 2018

Look I have a shitty memory but isn't the point of the story Charlie NOT becoming a sleazy jerk like Spider/Mr. Nancy?

Full disclosure I don't remember shit except splintered souls and flamingos in his apartment and a tiger somewhere but I thought that was a thing.
posted by brook horse at 8:45 AM on January 4, 2018

I've always felt a bit weird about liking Anansi Boys so much more than American Gods, but honestly most of it comes down to how much more I like Charlie as a point-of-view character, and how much more engaging he and Daisy and the rest are, for me. It's a smaller story, and I feel like it's not trying as hard, and it just works for me and resonates in a way that its predecessor doesn't.
posted by nonasuch at 9:17 AM on January 4, 2018 [3 favorites]

Thanks for posting, I look forward to listening to this! Also, the audiobook of anansi boys ready by Lenny Henry is hands down the best audiobook I have ever listened to.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:55 PM on January 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

> audiobook

I can still hear Lenny Henry doing hapless Londoner Charlie, sexy throaty Spider, elder Florida lady, Daisy, sleazy nasally Grahame and slinky, deadly, nasty Tiger.

I think the audio production of Dune is as good, but that has a whole cast.
posted by NoiselessPenguin at 2:07 PM on January 4, 2018 [2 favorites]

I can still hear Lenny Henry doing ...

yes! and all the little old ladies!

"He ate my wax froot!"
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 5:51 PM on January 4, 2018

A few years ago, Rookie ran a photo essay about House on the Rock.
posted by pxe2000 at 5:53 PM on January 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

Thanks for the Good Omens link. I'm not a fan of Gaiman but I love Pratchett.

I remember reading Anansi Boys and American Gods thinking that I'd probably love them. I enjoy mythology, and fantasy based on mythology seemed right up my alley. Oh well. He's making a living without me.
posted by irisclara at 6:54 PM on January 4, 2018 [1 favorite]

I can still hear Lenny Henry doing ...

"Are you the man with the lime?"
posted by filthy_prescriptivist at 10:40 AM on January 6, 2018 [1 favorite]