There are two audiobook versions of Desperation. An abridged version (New York: Penguin Audiobooks, 1996), read by Kathy Bates, comprises six cassettes and runs for nine hours. Bates has shown her sensitivity to King's fictional milieu by her brilliant portrayals of Annie Wilkes in the motion picture version of Misery (motion picture, 1990; novel, 1987; see separate entry) and of the title character in Dolores Claiborne (1992). Bates's rendition of the novel is excellent, and this long work is cut with a minimum of awkwardness.

The unabridged version (Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded Books, 1997) is read by Stephen King. Fifteen sound cassettes run for 21.5 hours. King does an exceptional job of bringing his own work to life. Although Desperation has a great deal of dialogue, one is never at a loss as to which character is speaking.