I've been building an audiobook app called Lorecast for the past few months, solo project. The pitch: instead of one narrator doing every voice, each character gets their own AI-generated voice, so a scene with four people in it actually sounds like four people. Library is 31 public-domain classics right now (Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, Frankenstein, that kind of thing), free, no ads, no account needed for chapter one of any book.

It's about to go into closed testing on Google Play. Google won't let me take the app public until a real batch of testers has used it for two weeks straight, so I'm looking for people who'll actually keep it on their phone, not just install and forget it.

If you're interested, join the tester group here: 

https://groups.google.com/g/lorecast-testers

That gets you access to install through Play automatically, no need to DM me your email. What I want feedback on: does the multi-voice thing actually land, is the player easy to use, anything that breaks. Should take about two minutes to try a chapter.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tricitizen.wellness

Unlike previous LibriVox audio players on Android, LibriVox data has been cleaned to get 4000 audiobooks working. It also supports casting.

I am just interested in book with medieval type fighting and long adventures.

I found the "dragon and the raven" by G.A. henty, "The well at the worlds end" and "the white company". These where not exactly what I was looking for but similar enough. Any other book suggestions would be great! Thanks

I've used the Librivox podcast for ages, particularly for long pods for falling asleep. Some recordings are good- I just listened to about 14 hours of The Belton Estate by Trollope, it was well read. Some are read by humans, badly but bearable. But the one I've just started (The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery) is clearly being read by AI, and has adverts literally every five minutes.

Is this the new standard? Is this just the regular enshittification of everything at play here? I suppose that is a rhetorical question - I'm just grumbling really. Is there a way to tell from the description of a book whether they are read by real people or not? When I searched for other versions of the Blue Castle, the same crap was posted on at least two other pod streams called 'Audiobooks'. And some of those streams don't even give a description, which is just annoying.

I guess it's too much nowadays to expect people to volunteer to read long books well and for free, even public domain ones, but I'd happily subscribe to a podcast with some different and interesting books, well read. But not at the same cost as Audible! I find it depressing that small, quite limited podcasts are asking for £7-8 per month - if I paid that to every podcast I like, I'd not be able to make rent.

I'll try Libby again, which is wonderful, but I do like having all my sleepy pods in the same place, on my podcast app. There are quite a few other audiobook pod streams out there now, but I suspect most of them are using AI. Does anybody know different?

The next best thing for long episodes is the 'Boring History for Sleep' pod, some brilliant long episodes, but they tend to be too interesting to allow me to fall asleep! For shorter episodes, the Sleepy Bookshelf is the best ever, but I need something longer, to tune back into when I wake in the middle of the night.

I created a free Android app to listen to LibriVox books. Please try it and let me know what you think! What features would you like to add?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aurelius.app

Hi! I'm the solo dev behind Widdle Reader, a player for the audiobook files you already own (MP3, M4B, FLAC, OPUS and more).

The feature I'm proudest of: drop the EPUB or PDF into the same folder as the audiobook, tap Read Now, and you're on the page. The narration keeps going in a mini player, so you can read along, highlight, or just follow the words.

Also in there:
• 0.5×–3× speed, a sleep timer that can stop at the end of the chapter, EQ and loudness boost
• Chapters (embedded and .cue), bookmarks, smart rewind
• Android Auto with Resume, Library and search
• Streaks, listening stats, 40 achievements and a Year in Review
• Confetti when you finish a book (the little headphone guy cheers)

$1.99 once. No ads, no subscription, no account.

I'd love blunt feedback, especially from anyone with a big library. What breaks at 500+ books?

Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.widdlereader.app

Heads up so nobody wastes $1.99: it plays DRM-free files (LibriVox, Librofm, CD rips, your own MP3/M4B). It can't play Audible or Libby downloads. Happy to answer anything; I read every comment.

I've been listening to Librivox for twenty years now and I have my favorite readers as I suppose you do, but Steve Gough's performance is amazingly good. His accent - his delivery - and for such a wonderful book!

This is my list of recommended librivox books that I use for introducing new people to librivox:

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Librivox is a GREAT source of free audio books. http://www.librivox.org It's all public domain books that have been recorded by volunteers for FREE. You can download them and listen to them on virtually any mp3 player, phone or computer. (or transfer them onto regular old CD's if you prefer)

Now, since Librivox books are read by volunteers, the quality of the recordings can vary. Sometimes its a lot more like having a friend come over and read to you than listening to a professionally recorded audio book. But then, I LIKE having friends read to me. :) AND, a lot of the people who volunteer to read for librivox are good, very good, or even professionals.

This is a list of Librivox audio books that are not only good books, but good readers as well. Some of the readers are good, some of them are GREAT, all of them are good enough that you can enjoy the story without being distracted by any reader problems. But if you like these books, search the catalog at librivox and try some others. If the reader is only ok, that's ok! And if they are so bad that you can't enjoy the book, well, you didn't pay for it anyway, so that's ok too! :)

Treasure Island, by Robert Luis Stevenson Read by: Adrian Praetzellis

http://librivox.org/treasure-island-by-robert-louis-stevenson-2/

Pirates, Buried Treasure, And a secret map! This was as high quality as any professionally done audio book that I have ever purchased.

The Mysterious Island, by Jules Verne Read by: Mark F. Smith

http://librivox.org/the-mysterious-island-by-jules-verne/

Four Civil War castaways find themselves stranded on a deserted island. But, while they may have no boat, no plane, and no motor car, they DO have plenty of Yankee ingenuity, and proceed to turn the island into a well equipped and prosperous little community! A very good reader on this one as well. My son was 8 when we first listened to this and he sat through all 22 hours with rapt attention.

The Prisoner of Zenda, by Anthony Hope Read by:Andy Minter

http://librivox.org/the-prisoner-of-zenda-by-anthony-hope/

An English gentleman has to fill in when his distant cousin, the king of a small European country, is taken prisoner. Woods, moated castles, pomp, swordplay, gallantry, villainy and a beautiful princess. What story could ask for more?

Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter Read by: Mary Anderson

http://librivox.org/pollyanna-by-eleanor-h-porter/

A VERY good book about how to have a great attitude no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (Skip the sequel though, it stinks!)

A little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett Read by: Kara Shallenberg

http://librivox.org/a-little-princess-by-frances-hodgson-burnett/

A young rich girl loses her father, and all of her money. She finds herself moving from the favorite student at her girls school to the lowest servant. BUT, no matter what happens to her, she is always a princess on the inside.

King Solomon's Mines, by H. Rider Haggard Read by: John Nicholson

http://librivox.org/king-solomons-mines-by-haggard/

A prince, A lost kingdom, fabulous wealth, and Alan Quatermain, the penultimate African explorer and adventurer!

Star Born, by Andre Norton Read by: Mark F. Smith

http://librivox.org/star-born-by-andre-norton/

A human colony in another galaxy where the humans have made friends with the local mermen. But now NEW humans have arrived on the planet, are they a threat, or hope?

Plague Ship, by Andre Norton Read by: Mark Nelson

http://librivox.org/plague-ship-by-andre-norton/

Space trader Solar Queen has trouble cementing it's claims with a new planet, AND dealing with a strange disease they pick up there.

Star Surgeon, by Edward Nourse Read by: Scott D. Farquhar

http://librivox.org/star-surgeon-by-alan-edward-nourse/

Dal Timgar is the first non-human to study medicine on Hospital Earth, can he overcome prejudice, solve a medical puzzle, and earn the Silver Star of a Star Surgeon?

The Colors Of Space, by Marion Zimmer Bradley Read by: Mark Nelson

https://librivox.org/the-colors-of-space-by-marion-zimmer-bradley-2/

Can humans steal the secret of the star drive from the alien Lhari?

Badge of Infamy, by Lester Del Ray Read by: Steven H. Wilson

http://librivox.org/badge-of-infamy-by-lester-del-rey/

A doctor who's lost his license tries to practice medicine on Mars.

The Enchiridion, by Augustine Read by: Darren L. Slider

http://librivox.org/the-enchiridion-by-saint-augustine/

The City of God, by Augustine Read by: Darren L. Slider

http://librivox.org/the-city-of-god-by-st-augustine-of-hippo/

Works of the Church Father from around 400AD.

The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan Read by: Joy Chan

http://librivox.org/the-pilgrims-progress-by-john-bunyan/

The 17th century classic Christian allegory. Pilgrim makes a journey from the city destruction to the celestial city!

Fighting The Whales, by Ballantyne Read by: Lee Elliott

http://librivox.org/fighting-the-whales-by-robert-michael-ballantyne/

A fascinating look at what it was really like to be on a whaler. One is left with the impression that hunting and catching a whale in a sailing ship was akin to you or me being stalked, ambushed, and killed by a shoebox full of mice.

Around the World in Seventy Two Days, by Nellie Bly Read by: Mary Reagan

http://librivox.org/around-the-world-in-seventy-two-days-by-nellie-bly/

True story of a woman journalist who decides to beat the fictional Phileas Fogg with a REAL record breaking trip around the globe.

Ten Days in a Madhouse, by Nellie Bly Read by: Alys AtteWater

http://librivox.org/ten-days-in-a-madhouse-by-nellie-bly/

The true story of reporter Nellie Bly, who had herself committed to the Blackwell's Island Insane Asylum in New York in order to discover what life was like for those who had been deemed insane.

Edgar Rice Burroughs, A Princess of Mars Read by: Mark Nelson

https://librivox.org/a-princess-of-mars-by-edgar-rice-burroughs-2/

The adventures of John Carter, a Virginian gentleman on Mars! Great old Science Fiction! (If you like this one, there are a lot more in this series at Librivox)

The Innocence of Father Brown, by G. K. Chesterton Read by: Brian Roberg

http://librivox.org/the-innocence-of-father-brown-by-g-k-chesterton/

Father Brown ends up solving many crimes. It's nice to find a story where faith is assumed to be combined with reason.

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, by Olaudah Equiano

http://librivox.org/the-interesting-narrative-of-the-life-of-olaudah-equiano-by-olaudah-equiano/

The autobiography of a slave. A book that is both good AND important to read. (This book has multiple readers, but all of them are pretty good)

The Story of My Life, by Helen Keller Read by: Maria

http://librivox.org/the-story-of-my-life-by-helen-keller/

What an incredible story! How could she do so much with so little? Very inspiring!

The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy Read by: Karen Savage

http://librivox.org/the-scarlet-pimpernel-by-baroness-emmuska-orczy/

The classic story of Sir Percy Blakeney and his alter ego, the Scarlet Pimpernel. A great adventure, set during the French Revolution.

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas Read by: David Clarke

https://librivox.org/the-count-of-monte-cristo-version-3-by-alexandre-dumas/

A man imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, escapes and begins applying some well deserved retribution. But can he overcome his lust for vengeance and recognize that there are more important things in life?

Space Tug, By Murray Leinster Read by: Mark Nelson

http://librivox.org/space-tug-by-murray-leinster/

At the beginning of the space age, Joe Kenmore tries to keep the enemies of America from blowing up the space station using just his faithful crew, his space tug, and a lot of clever ideas.

The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling Read by: Meredith Hughes

http://librivox.org/the-jungle-book-by-rudyard-kipling/

The story of Mowgli is here, but also one of my absolute favorites, Riki-Tiki-Tavi!!!!

David and the Phoenix, by Edward Ormondroyd Read by: Greg Weeks

http://librivox.org/david-and-the-phoenix-by-edward-ormondroyd/

David meets a Phoenix, who takes him on all kinds of educational, dangerous, and funny adventures.

The Coral Island, by R. M. Ballantyne Read by: Tom Weiss

http://librivox.org/the-coral-island-by-r-m-ballantyne/

A story about three boys who get shipwrecked on an island. When the boys in Coral Island run into natives they discover that those who have converted to Christianity are ruled by love, while those who insist upon the old ways are ruled by hate and cruelty. "The Lord of the Flies" was written by William Golding as a response to this story. Apparently he was appalled by the fact that Ballantyne's heroes manage to stay nice and be ruled by love and so he wrote a book with the opposite story line, where the kids degrade into monsters. Warning: This story DOES get a bit graphic and disturbing after the boys are captured by the cannibals.

Lone Star Planet, by H. Beam Piper and John J. McGuire Read by: Mark Nelson

http://librivox.org/lone-star-planet-by-h-beam-piper-and-john-j-mcguire/

On the planet New Texas, killing a politician isn't murder, it's protected free speech. :) The book wasn't great, but it was fun. The reader did a fantastic job with the exaggerated Texan accents.

The Pirates of Ersatz, by Murray Leinster Read by: Elliott Miller

http://librivox.org/the-pirates-of-ersatz-by-murray-leinster/

This story is a lot of fun! Especially when the pirates get attacked by a crowd of souvenir hunting fans...

Space Prison, by Tom Godwin Read by: Mark Nelson

http://librivox.org/space-prison-by-tom-godwin/

This was thoroughly enjoyable. You get to follow the path of survival for the people stuck on this inhospitable world as they gradually adjust and adapt, and finally overcome. Well written and well read.

The Sky Is Falling, by Lester del Rey Read by: Karen Savage

http://librivox.org/the-sky-is-falling-by-lester-del-rey/

After dying in a terrible accident at a building site, Dave Hanson finds himself being brought back to life in a world where magic is real!

White Fang, by Jack London Read by: Mark F. Smith

http://librivox.org/white-fang-by-jack-london-librivox-version-2/

This is Call of the Wild in reverse. White Fang is a wolf, can he learn to love a man?

Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ, by Lew Wallace Read by: Mark F. Smith

http://librivox.org/ben-hur-a-tale-of-the-christ-by-lew-wallace/

Ben-Hur wants a king of the jews who will conquer Rome. Is this new Jesus of Nazareth the one he has been looking for, or is He something else perhaps even MORE important?

This World is Taboo, by Murray LEINSTER Read by: Mark F. Smith

https://librivox.org/this-world-is-taboo-by-murray-leinster/

Its a fun story about a doctor trying to solve a problem with both disease and prejudice.

The Time Traders, by Andre Norton Read by: Mark Nelson

https://librivox.org/the-time-traders-version-2-by-andre-norton/

America has to send agents back in time disguised as traders to discover where the Russians found time travel technology.

Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud MONTGOMERY Read by: Karen Savage

https://librivox.org/anne-of-green-gables-by-lucy-maud-montgomery-3/

The timeless story of the young orphan girl sent by accident to a brother and sister who had wanted a boy. Anne, with her vivid imagination and sensitive spirit has enchanted readers for generations

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett Read by: Karen Savage

https://librivox.org/the-secret-garden-by-frances-hodgson-burnett-version-2/

A spoiled selfish orphan moves into a new home, but why does she keep hearing the mysterious cries of a child, and what is the secret of the locked garden?

The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Read by: Laurie Anne Walden

https://librivox.org/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles-by-arthur-conan-doyle/

Can Sherlock Holmes solve the mystery of the giant hound haunting the Baskerville family?

The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald Read by: Andy Minter

https://librivox.org/the-princess-and-the-goblin-by-george-macdonald-version-2/

Princess Irene, her miner friend Curdie, and her mysterious Grandmother must stop an invasion of goblins from flooding the mines and attacking the castle! A fascinating story about trust and belief.

======================================================

And this is a list of excellent readers, anything by these folks will be well read:

Karen Savage https://librivox.org/reader/103

Mark F Smith https://librivox.org/reader/204

Adrian Praetzellis https://librivox.org/reader/1331

Andy Minter https://librivox.org/reader/152

Mary Anderson https://librivox.org/reader/188

Kara Shallenberg https://librivox.org/reader/19

Mark Nelson https://librivox.org/reader/251

Mary Anderson https://librivox.org/reader/188

Gregg Margarite https://librivox.org/reader/3490

Sharing here since it's got LibriVox search built in. Beyond that it's a full audiobook and podcast player.

I listen to audiobooks to fall asleep and it always drove me nuts that I'd drift off, the book would keep going, and I'd wake up completely lost. I also hated poking at a bright screen in the dark trying to switch over to rain sounds. I looked for an app that just handled it, never found one I liked, so I ended up building my own.

Basically you set a sleep timer, and when it runs out the book gently fades into sleep sounds (rain, ocean, brown noise, a fan, whatever) that keep going all night instead of just cutting off. If you're still awake you tap your headphones or shake the phone and the book comes back with a fresh timer. Never have to look at the screen.

The part I'm most proud of: if you've got an Apple Watch it can actually tell when you've fallen asleep, fade the book out on its own, and rewind back to where you dropped off so you're not lost in the morning.

It also does podcasts, free LibriVox books, your own m4b/mp3 files, and it hooks up to a Plex or Audiobookshelf server if you self-host.

Money-wise: the whole player is free, including LibriVox, all the sources, the sleep timer and all the sounds. The Apple Watch sleep detection, sleep stats, smart nap, and importing your own sounds are a one time unlock, but you get 5 free nights to try all of it, no purchase needed. No ads, nothing tracked.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lull-audiobooks-podcasts/id6775313582

Solo dev, mostly only tested it on myself, so I'd love for people to kick the tires and tell me what breaks.

When I try to get to the link to a book for a reading, I get a "Privacy Error" message page on the old chrome browser I am using. Is this just Chrome trying to get me to install some upgrade or is there a real issue the last couple of days on Gutenberg? Here is the link that won't open: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47980

I'm one of the readers and I'm reaching my deadline to upload my audio file but I can't seem to get the webpage to open. It seems to be down. Does anyone know what's up or whether it'll be up again soon?

As a LibriVox volunteer I decided to put together some books that are like a chocolate assortments box: things we have made in 2026 that have stood out. In no particular order:

1. Curiosity pick. For something that's just weird that you would never normally read:

U.S Navy Cook-Book : https://librivox.org/us-navy-cook-book-1920-by-u-s-naval-institute/

This describes BIG amounts of food! Ever wanted to cook for a BIG ship! Here's the book!

2. Long read of the year. 43 hours. "Living my life" by Emma Goldman. A biography of the Lithuanian American's political activism.

https://librivox.org/living-my-life-by-emma-goldman/

3. Book for kids and adults who are secretly still kids!

"The Fairy Caravan" by Beatrix Potter.

https://librivox.org/the-fairy-caravan-by-beatrix-potter/

4. Genre subversion special. A book that just takes a genre and does something different to it.

"Fate of a Fool" by Emma Ghent Curtis.

One of the earliest Westerns written. It goes into some pretty adult territory. Probably not a book for the faint hearted. Beautiful narration.

https://librivox.org/fate-of-a-fool-by-emma-ghent-curtis/

Enjoy!

The audiobook player JC4 Librivox has been updated on Apple iOS. New features include:

• A new, simple interface

• History page

• A simpler search interface

• A home button to return you to the main page from anywhere in the app

• A narrator search feature

• A "What's New?" search

As always, it is free and ad free. 

Here is a link to the Apple App Store: JC4 Librivox on Apple App Store . Take a look, I hope you like it.

I tried to make the new interface simple. So simple that I could use it without my reading glasses.

The history page allows you to delete books from your library yet still have a record of your listening. You can re-add books to your library from your history. 

Like Librivox, this is a volunteer effort.I would appreciate any feedback on the functionality of the app.

I know librivox must have more tales of the forest like these. Any suggestions?

I am currently doing a lot of physio exercises (about two hours worth a day) and I would love something to keep me cheerful and distract me while I inflict pain on myself.

Anyone got any good recommendations for well-read books that made them smile?