The Satanic Verses Audiobook By Salman Rushdie cover art

The Satanic Verses

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The Satanic Verses

By: Salman Rushdie
Narrated by: Sam Dastor
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Inextricably linked with the fatwa called against its author in the wake of the novel’s publication, The Satanic Verses is, beyond that, a rich showcase for Salman Rushdie’s comic sensibilities, cultural observations, and unparalleled mastery of language. The tale of an Indian film star and a Bombay expatriate, Rushdie’s masterpiece was deservedly honored with the Whitbread Prize.

The story begins with a bang: the terrorist bombing of a London-bound jet in midflight. Two Indian actors of opposing sensibilities fall to earth, transformed into living symbols of what is angelic and evil. This is just the initial act in a magnificent odyssey that seamlessly merges the actual with the imagined. A book whose importance is eclipsed only by its quality, The Satanic Verses is a key work of our times.

©1988 Salman Rushdie (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC Literary Fiction Thought-Provoking Fiction Genre Fiction Fantasy Paranormal Witty Paranormal & Urban Psychological Funny Scary
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Critic reviews

"No book in modern times has matched the uproar sparked by Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, which earned its author a death sentence. Furor aside, it is a marvelously erudite study of good and evil, a feast of language served up by a writer at the height of his powers, and a rollicking comic fable." (Amazon.com review)
"A rollercoaster ride over a vast landscape of the imagination." ( The Guardian)
"A masterpiece." ( The Sunday Times, London)

Featured Article: The Best Indian Authors to Listen to Right Now


"India," to quote actress and human rights activist Shabana Azmi, "is a country that lives in several centuries simultaneously." Just as those different time periods seem to coexist in one place, so do the voices of brilliant literary talents. Each of these writers and their works have contributed to help the world better understand this expansive country and its beautiful, multifaceted culture, whether it be from within India’s own borders or through the memory of its customs and traditions from distant continents.

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Would you listen to The Satanic Verses again? Why?

There is no other way I'd read a densely written piece of world fiction with my time constraints. Listening to "Satanic Verses" helped me understand why the Ayatollah was so peeved. When you listen to it, it becomes a performance play and I feel I now understand a great deal more about why Salman Rushdie is so revered. I use Audible only for Pulitzer Prize or Nobel prize winning fiction I wouldn't read in book form, nor on a Kindle.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I think the narrator gets that award.

Have you listened to any of Sam Dastor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have also read Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" narrated by Dastor. In that case it was by Audiobook CD from the library with late fees... that was when I started Audible.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The return of Khomeini to Iran was extraordinarily conceived.

Any additional comments?

I used to think Audible was just low brow novels... but anything the library has on its lists of award winning books Audible has, and I now depend on it for books I can read while I am doing tasks like driving... or in my case, painting. Audible gets them all, and more and more quality books are now narrated as well. A true performance... as the narrator makes the text come alive. I've read "Crime and Punishment", but will enjoy 24 hours of quality narration from the version where the narrator is highly recommended.... on Audible.

This is your chance to read the unreadable

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The premise of the plot is promising, but he spends way too much time in the weeds.

Not being an expert on the Koran, I'm not sure why Iraq sentenced Rusdie to death for the publication of this book. There are a lot of clues along the way, but the way is too long and convoluted. It starts off very promising, but ends with a whimper. If I were not driving Bus in Alaska and have a lot of downtime for listening I never would have listened to the whole thing.

Save your credit.

Great premise, way too long.

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It takes persistence, but it’s entirely worth the wait. Rushdie takes us on an epic exploration of the human psyche, encompassing ideas of religion, sectarianism, skepticism, belief, compromise, victory, defeat, death, love, and sorrow. It’s magic realism with a British-Indian twist, and it’s a damn fine book.

Long and Rambling, but Extraordinary

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It was all I could do to get through this audio book. The character voices used were like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. Maybe the story is good but the person reading it did a horrible job convincing me.

Unbearable to listen to

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Story: Very odd story. The mixing of a current day South Asian actor and the Prophet in his times. I see why Iranian leaders placed a price on his head for irreverent humor. I think the strongest element in the book is the imagery and imagination. I do not know the source of his inspiration and I never knew where he was going. I glad I read it finally and it was exploration of his South Asian - British world. I am not sure I would read it again and I doubt they will make it into a movie ... for a while.

Reader: Very good.

Production: Very good.

The Satanic Verses

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