2023 Der Untergang von Númenor (Heidenreich, Niesner, Steck)

The Fall of Númenor

Release Date: 2022.03.22
Readers: Gert Heidenreich, Timmo Niesner and Johannes Steck
Language: German
Translator: Helmut W. Pesch
Copyright: © 2022 HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9783844549355
Duration: 11 hours 46 minutes
Unabridged: Yes
Country: Germany
Licenced: Yes
Formats: MP3-CD, Digital

While previous “Great Tales” used two narrators, this volume expanded the cast to a trio to handle its unique chronological structure. This was a strategic choice to help listeners navigate the complex “source-hopping” nature of this book. The three narrators allow the listener to immediately identify the source of the text by the voice they hear, useful in a book that switches sources so frequently. The distribution of roles is as follows:

  • Gert Heidenreich (The Historian/Lore): Heidenreich (see profile page) continues his role as the “Anchor.” He reads the formal histories, the Akalabeth, and the heavy narrative passages from The Silmarillion. His voice represents the “Finished History.”
  • Timmo Niesner (The Secondary Narrator): Niesner handles specific narrative arcs and character-focused sections. His youthful energy remains a perfect foil to Heidenreich’s gravity, often used for the more “active” story fragments.
  • Johannes Steck (The Expert/Commentator): Steck is a renowned German actor and audiobook star (famous for The Pillars of the Earth). In this production, he often handles the Introductory material, Preface, and Editorial Commentary by Brian Sibley. This third voice signals to the listener: “We are now stepping outside the myth to explain how it was assembled.”

Under the direction of the publisher’s Tolkien specialists, the trio maintains consistency in the Adûnaic (Númenórean) and Quenya pronunciations, distinguishing clearly between the languages of the Men of the West and the Elves.

Timmo Niesner, born in 1971, had his breakthrough at the age of 12 in the television series “Ich heirate eine Familie” (I’m Marrying a Family). He has also worked extensively as a voice actor most notably as the German dubbing voice of Elijah Wood. Other works include roles in ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, Danish Girl, The Theory of Everything, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond.

Johannes Steck, born in 1966, is a prolific screen actor, voice artist, advertising voice artist and dubbing actor. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his artistic work, winning the “Hörkules”  prize for most popular narrator of the year.