Elvenquest (BBC Audio) [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 29th April 2009 - 3 June 2009, the first series of the comedy fantasy radio sitcom entitled Elvenquest was broadcast in six thirty-minute episodes. Early on in 2010, this first series was released as a three CD audiobook by BBC Audio. The series included a cast of well known, well respected and undeniably talented comedians such as the likes of Stephen Mangan, Alistair McGowan and Sophie Winkleman.

Set in the mythical dimension of Lower Earth, the tale follows a trio of noble warriors - Vidar the Elf Lord, Penthiselea the Warrior Princess and Dean the Dwarf, along with a writer from our Earth named Sam and his dog named Amis (who turns out to be 'The Chosen One'). However, when they travel through a portal to Lower Earth, Amis takes on a human form, but remains with many of his original canine characteristics.

Together the fearless band plan to save Lower Earth from the evil rule of Lord Darkness by searching for the Sword of Asnagar which holds the power to take back control of the land. However, the Sword of Asnagar can only be wielded by 'The Chosen One'. They are not alone in seeking out this all-powerful sword. Great dangers await the band as they journey across the land of Lower Earth. And so begins the quest...

Written as an obvious comical take on JRR Tolkien's epic saga 'The Lord Of The Rings', Elvenquest delivers a veritable tsunami of fantasy clichés, bursting at the seams throughout with a purposefully comical downsizing of an otherwise epic saga.

Although the production is principally that of a comedy show, the storyline quickly takes precedence over the actual comedy input; with more time spent on orchestrating an intricately elaborate fantasy story than on cramming in the jokes. This however, is no great loss, as the sheer over-the-top and tongue-firmly-in-cheek take on the storyline creates an overall air of mischievous comedy that suits the production and cast well.

The strength of the show is in the storytelling rather than the sometimes time-worn and predictable jokes that seem to slip into the script from time to time. This doesn't mean that there aren't some absolute comedy treasures dotted around the picturesque landscape. Indeed, moments of comical genius regularly spring up, constantly refreshing the smirk that lies firmly across the listeners face.

You don't need to be a fan of fantasy or have any particular knowledge of past work in the field to appreciate and thoroughly enjoy this harmless and witty play on the entire genre. The performance from the cast alone carries the storyline along, with some truly ingenious characterizations played out by these well revered comedians.

Elvenquest isn't a laugh a minute production, or indeed anything anywhere near that. However, it is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining broadcast that keeps the reader chuckling along throughout.

It is a huge temptation to attempt to write an appraisal of this audiobook
in the style of a sword and sorcery epic but author Anil Gupta's 'Elvenquest'
is a very hard act to follow so I won't even begin to go down that road!

'Elvenquest' is funny. Very funny indeed in fact. I laughed out loud so many
times over it's six-episode, three-hour running time that I lost count!

Mr Gupta's greatest achievement is to have poked the fantasy genre lovingly
in the ribs and to have come up with something which succeeds as much by
its close approximation to the real thing as by the quality of his writing.

Sam Porter (a marvelously discombobulated character played by Stephen Mangan)
and his dog Amis, who turns into a man (don't ask...just listen!!) are bundled off
to save their world by a gang of motley archetypal beings including Vidar the Elf Lord,
Dean the Dwarf and Penthiselea (loving that name!) the Warrior Princess.

Lord Darkness, the villain of the piece, brought to life with sniveling nasal
splendour by Alistair McGowan and his hillariously inept servant Kreech
(Kevin Eldon, who also - economically - plays Dean the Dwarf) are bent on
"Lower Earth" domination by hook or by crook.

The quest to secure the magic sword which will save life and the universe takes our
unlikely hero's through some deliciously drawn landscapes (you know the kind of thing
- The Mountains of Megwrath/Forest of Ravenwrack - sorry I just couldn't help myself
for a moment there!) and wonderfully daft adventures on route to finding their grail.
The episode detailing the male cast members' seduction by Sirens is a particular highlight!

Of the characters, Amis the Dog (and Chosen One!) played by Dave Lamb and James Bachman,
is a hilariously fickle creation (he will do almost anything for a stick or a biscuit !) and the
jauntily pragmatic Penthisilea (brought into vivid being by Sophie Winkleman) are particularly
enjoyable performances.

As the narrative draws closer to its potentially cataclysmic confrontation with Lord Darkness
and his massed hoards of chattering and cackling Goblins and Behemoths, Sam Porter is faced
with a moral dilemma : should he opt for an easy life without danger or stay and do the
right thing for his friends and for prosperity? Series one leaves us with some unanswered questions!

Production by Mr Gupta and Paul Schlesinger is consummately conceived. The sound design
and incidental music add convincing depth and atmosphere to the unfolding drama.

'Elvenquest' is a winner in every possible way. I loved it!

Highly Recommended.

Sword and sorcery fantasy is often such an inherently absurd genre that it's hard to parody successfully - it can be hard to top the silliness of some genre efforts, and earlier radio spoofs like Hordes of the Things had difficulty finding a tone that worked consistently over four episodes, so spread over six episodes ElvenQuest has an even bigger mountain to climb. Surprisingly it manages to pull it off rather beautifully, helped immensely by its premise - a cynical fantasy writer is transported to a generic cliché-filled fantasy world in need of a saviour - which allows it to have a jaded voice if not quite outside the plot at least slightly to the side pointing out the predictability and absurdity of the plot. Not that Stephen Mangan's just-in-it-for-the-money writer with a healthy contempt for both the genre and its fans is the chosen one - that's his dog, transformed into a human but retaining his canine characteristics and perspective (at one point he's inconsolable over the death of a friend until someone throws him a stick to chase and he's immediately overjoyed again!). The questers are a typical band of irony-free stereotypes (heroic princess, brave-but-idiotic noble elf, obnoxious Scottish dwarf) going through the usual hoops that every other fantasy quest insists on, but the character interplay is fun and Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto's script consistently funny. But best of all are the double-act of Alistair McGowan's Dark Lord looking to reinvent the whole evil overlord thing in a more user-friendly fashion (something Kevin Eldon's sadistic underling never quite gets to grips with), with less than desired results that play on how reality and common sense really don't belong in this kind of genre. The presence of a studio audience is initially a bit of a problem, but most of the laughs seem well earned rather than canned and it does genuinely seem t inspire the performers to get the most out of the material. The show ends with a cliffhanger, but it's more than funny enough for you to want to follow it through another series.