Listen free for 30 days

  • The Tommyknockers

  • Written by: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
  • Length: 27 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (281 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Tommyknockers cover art

The Tommyknockers

Written by: Stephen King
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $47.36

Buy Now for $47.36

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

"Stephen King never stops giving us his all" (Chicago Tribune) in this number-one national best seller about the idyllic small town of Haven, Maine, and its encounter with a deadly evil out for a diabolical invasion of body, soul - and mind.

Writer Bobbi Anderson becomes obsessed with digging up something she's found buried in the woods near her home. With the help of her friend, Jim Gardener, she uncovers an alien spaceship. Though exposure to the Tommyknockers, who piloted the alien ship, has harmful effects on residents' health, the people of Haven develop a talent for creating innovative devices under their increasingly malignant influence.

In this riveting, nightmarish story, Stephen King has given us a "brilliant, riveting, marvelous" (The Boston Globe) novel. "You will not be able to put this down" (Los Angeles Times Book Review). And the next time someone raps at your door, you may want to keep the chain on. It just might be the Tommyknocker Man.

©1987 Stephen King, Tabitha King, and Arthur B. Greene (P)2010 Penguin Audio

More from the same

What listeners say about The Tommyknockers

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    157
  • 4 Stars
    86
  • 3 Stars
    30
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    201
  • 4 Stars
    44
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    130
  • 4 Stars
    77
  • 3 Stars
    36
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narrator elevates a so-so book

Tommyknockers is one of King’s book I got more appreciation for as the years went by & I revisited it. Edward Herrmann is a big part of that. Great voice & the right cadence. The book takes a while to get going but it picks up. A good one to listen to in the summer.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Highly underrated eighties horror

This is actually an extremely engaging novel by Stephen King. It is often overlooked because it was the follow up to IT which was a publishing phenomena. The narration is superb - just superb - and the audiobook is a wonderful way to experience this great story written at the height of King’s great era when he was burning up the bestsellers list and establishing the stuff of legend. Give it a try!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

One of my SK favourite books! Would definitely recommend it. It’s terrifying, captivating and leaves you wanting to know more. The book may be a little verbose, but definitely worth the read. Highly recommend it!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Definitely King..but among his weakest works

This book incorporates all of the elements that make Stephen King novels uniquely King: a relatable protagonist entangled in an inconceivable (often paranormal) situation; a gritty suburban modern American setting populated with both admirable & flawed/unlikable denizens; pull-no-punches true-to-life dialogue; uncomfortably vivid nightmarish descriptions; and relentless pacing. This one, unfortunately, also aspires to hard Science Fiction (alien technology/cultures/colonization) - which he is not very good at - and expounds on themes like hubris, intuition, aggression, and altruism - the philosophizing is uncharacteristic. The author further includes prolonged stretches of self-indulgent explorations of addictions.

Unlike most King novels, there is a *lot* of extraneous material in 'The Tommyknockers'.. this 28 hour book could probably have been delivered in 20. The book is still recognizably King, but just doesn't meet his usual standards.

On the good side of the ledger, Edward Hermann was hired as the reader. Hermann reads in an interested manner (he clearly enjoys the book), and delivers in his typical smooth baritone (he is easy to listen to for hours - this book would be great on a looong drive). Hermann's timbre, tone, and cadence are unparalleled.

The subpar writing and "adequate" production standards are almost made-up for by the exemplary narration.
Taken altogether, this audiobook rates a mere 7 stars out of 10, but it's worth the Credit. Those who are unfamiliar might do better trying something else in the King bibliography first, but his fans won't be disappointed (in fact, there are a couple of 'It' and 'Dead Zone' Easter Eggs in this one).

[*Note: Don't be put off by fears that the sound editing is so bad that it cuts off words. King is merely guilty of overusing the contrivance of cutting off his characters in the middle of a tho-]

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great listen, overall great first experience with audible!

I liked the soothing voice of Edward Herrmann. The story itself was a little bit complicated for me, despite my love for any piece of literature written by King.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wow

What an unexpected surprise! This book is fantastic and very well narrated. Very enjoyable experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great narrator

Great book, have liked it for years. The narration is excellent. I always like hearing Edward’s voice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Worst Stephen King book ever

Not sure why the food reviews as the story is boring and drags on. I love Stephen King and I agree with him that this is his worst book period

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narration is perfect!

I enjoyed this listen , mostly because the narrator did an amazing job. Story was alright too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great narration - Great story

This was a fun read/listen. I hoped for some more creepiness and horror from the ‘aliens’ in this novel, as the setting left plenty of opportunity for some great scares, but there was very little of that. However, the lack of horror aside, this was a very good sci-fi novel. Listening along definitely helped to get through the second half of the book as it became overdrawn in some parts.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!