by Ian McDonald
Published 2018
Another day, another tram bomb. It seems everyone is after a piece of Turkey. But the shock waves from this random act of twenty-first-century terrorism will ripple far beyond Necatibey Cadessi. Welcome to the world of The Dervish House—the great, ancient, paradoxical city of Istanbul, divided like a human brain, in the great, ancient, equally paradoxical nation of Turkey. With a population pushing one hundred million, and Istanbul alone swollen to fifteen million, Turkey is the largest, most populous, and most diverse nation in the new Europe, but also one of the poorest and most socially divided. It's a boom economy, the sweatshop of Europe, the bazaar of central Asia, the key to the immense gas wealth of Russia and central Asia. The Dervish House is seven days, six characters, and three interconnected story strands all woven around the common core of the old dervish house of Aden Dede. A terror attack, a vision of djinn, a commodities scam, a hunt for half a miniature Koran that holds the key to new technology, and a quest for a creature from Arabic legend—that may not be so legendary after all. Praise for The Dervish House "To read McDonald is to fall in love with a place and to become drunk with it....If you've never read him, you're in for a treat. If you're a fan like me, you'll be delighted anew. What a wonderful, wonderful book."— Boing Boing "The Dervish House is an audacious look at the shift in the power centers of the world and an intense vision of one possible future." — New York Times "Hugely adventurous and entertaining, sumptuously inventive and full of heart... it is likely to rank as Ian McDonald's finest creative achievement." — Locus
These are AI narrators you can listen to with your own EPUB on ElevenLabs or Fish Audio. How does it work?
Top voices for narrating this book
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Modulated
“This voice's deep, steady, and intriguing quality perfectly captures the mysterious and ancient-yet-futuristic atmosphere of Istanbul, delivering gravitas with a modulated tone.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Professional
“Jim's professional British baritone offers a calm, executive presence, ideal for an immersive narrative voice that balances historical weight with modern urgency.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Calm
“Nathaniel's engaging, calm, and subtly mysterious tone is well-suited for a narrator who needs to convey depth and intrigue throughout a complex science fiction story.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Meditative
“Cedric's smooth and grounded delivery provides a meditative presence, excellent for a narrator guiding listeners through a rich, detailed world with a measured pace.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Deep
“Zane's calm yet powerful delivery, with its deep resonance, offers a suspenseful storytelling style that would enhance the complex, cyberpunk setting.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
A sharp, observant individual, possibly involved in the aftermath of the tram bomb or other investigations. Speaks with a focused, analytical tone.
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Professional
“Will's grounded, professional American narration with steady pacing and clear articulation perfectly embodies the sharp, observant, and analytical tone required for an investigator.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Low · Calm · Measured · +11 more
“This voice delivers compelling narratives with a serious and authoritative tone, making it perfect for an investigator delving into mysteries with a crisp, clear presence.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Serious
“Vincent's pausing, direct, and neutral tone provides a no-nonsense, serious approach, ideal for a focused individual involved in investigations.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Documentary · Authoritative · Serious · +3 more
“A professional middle-aged male voice with an authoritative and serious tone, featuring a clear and crisp delivery, fits the investigator's analytical nature.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Deep
“Atlas Pro's deep, rich, and authoritative presence commands attention, suiting an investigator who needs to project a serious and impactful demeanor.”
A character connected to the 'vision of djinn' and ancient legends. Their voice should convey a sense of wonder, wisdom, and perhaps a touch of otherworldliness.
British · Old · Female · Narrative Story · Mature
“Beatrice's mature British voice with a warm, rich tone and calm, steady pace perfectly conveys the wonder, wisdom, and otherworldly touch of a Mystic Seer.”
British · Old · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Eleanor's refined, seasoned voice offers a gracious and authoritative presence, ideal for a wise seer connected to ancient legends, with clear and articulate delivery.”
Female · Middle-Aged · Conversational · Entertainment · Low · Educational · +56 more
“This voice, described as a low, conversational female, could bring a gentle yet mysterious quality to the Mystic Seer, suitable for conveying ancient knowledge.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Conversational · Narration · Character-Voice · Social-Media · +57 more
“A neutral female voice with a calm and measured delivery could provide a subtle, mysterious presence for the seer, emphasizing wisdom through its controlled pacing.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Allison's warm and natural tone, while younger than ideal, could be adapted to convey a gentle, mysterious presence for the seer, focusing on the wonder aspect.”
Also recommended for: Tech Entrepreneur
Involved in the hunt for new technology, possibly related to the miniature Koran. A driven, intelligent voice, perhaps a bit ambitious or intense.
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Confident
“Blair's warm, clear, and emotionally grounded voice with a persuasive edge is perfect for a driven Tech Entrepreneur, conveying intensity and ambition with a confident tone.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Confident
“Julie's warm, confident American female voice feels natural and polished, fitting a tech entrepreneur who needs to sound intelligent and trustworthy yet energetic.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Gigi Noir's warm, confident, and natural American voice offers a grounded delivery, suitable for a tech entrepreneur who is intelligent and focused, with a calm energy.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Cute
“Danica Drake's straightforward, informative voice with a dash of grit provides a credible and energetic presence for a young, ambitious tech entrepreneur.”
American · Young · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“Allison's warm, natural, and articulate voice with a modern tone can portray the driven and intelligent aspects of a young tech entrepreneur, emphasizing clarity.”
Also recommended for: Mystic Seer
A character entangled in the commodities scam, likely shrewd and pragmatic. Their voice should reflect cunning and a worldly perspective.
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Serious
“Dave Edge's professional and rich British voice, with an educated and serious tone, perfectly suits a shrewd and pragmatic commodities trader entangled in scams.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Professional
“Jim's deep British baritone with calm authority is ideal for a commodities trader, conveying a trustworthy yet cunning worldly perspective with a persuasive presence.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story
“David Bent's strong, smooth, and British voice offers a suitable narrative quality for a character who is shrewd and pragmatic, with a measured delivery.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Confident
“Arthur's engaging and strong British voice, described as a professional and clear narrator, can deliver the shrewd and pragmatic dialogue of a commodities trader with conviction.”
British · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Confident
“Henry's clear British male voice with a cool, assured tone makes people listen, fitting a commodities trader who needs to project a worldly and serious demeanor with clarity and presence.”