SFFaudio – Page 837 – News, Reviews, and Commentary on all forms of science fiction, fantasy, and horror audio. Audiobooks, audio drama, podcasts; we discuss all of it here. Mystery, crime, and noir audio are also fair game.

BBC7 goes apocalyptic with 3 John Wyndham readings

Online Audio

Three John Wyndham readings start on BBC Radio 7 over the next few days.

Survival
By John Wyndham; Read by Nicholas Boulton
2 parts – [ABRIDGED?]
Broadcaster: BBC7 / The 7th Dimension
Broadcast: Saturdays at 6pm and 12am
“The instinct for survival is explored in all its complexities when a group of space travellers are trapped on board a shuttle to Mars.
Produced by Gemma Jenkins.

Trouble With Lichen
By John Wyndham; Read by Joanna Tope
5 Parts – [ABRIDGED?]
Broadcaster: BBC7 / The 7th Dimension
Broadcast: Sundays at 6pm and 12am
“Biochemist Diana Brackley and her boss Francis Saxover have discovered that a rare strain of lichen can slow the ageing process. Idealistic Diana embarks on a lifelong mission to ensure that their discovery will benefit man-, and more particularly, woman-kind. But the trouble with lichen is that there’s not enough for everyone…”
Directed by Eilidh McCreadie.

The Day Of The Triffids
By John Wyndham; Read by Roger May
17 Half-hour RADIO BROADCASTS – Approx. 8 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC7 / The 7th Dimension
Broadcast: Weekdays from June 5th to July 2nd at 6:30pm and 12:30am UK TIME.
The consequences when the vast majority of humanity is suddenly rendered blind, in a world that is then quickly overrun with poisonous ambulatory plants (the titular Triffids).
Produced in Belfast by Susan Carson

NOTE: Those outside the UK can snag each installment using the BBC7 Listen Again for up to 6 days following the broadcasts.

posted by Jesse Willis

New Arrivals – The Dresden Files & Buzzy Multimedia Audiobooks

Science Fiction Audiobook Recent Arrivals

A new publisher to SFFaudio sent us these interesting titles. Buzzy Multimedia likes to use actors from SFF fandom’s beloved TV shows as their narrators.

Storm Front: Book 1 of the Dresden Files,
By Jim Butcher;
Read by James Marsters (Spike from Buffy & Angel)
MP3 Disc or CDs, Approx. 10.5 hrs – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Buzzy Multimedia
Published: 2004
ISBN: 0965725561(MP3 disc); 0965725502(CDs)

From the back cover:
My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk. I’m a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago. As far as I know, I’m the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards. Believe it or not, I’m the only one there.

Fool Moon: Book 2 of the Dresden Files,
By Jim Butcher;
Read by James Marsters
MP3 Disc or CDs, Approx. 10hrs – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Buzzy Multimedia
Published: 2004
ISBN: 0965725588 (MP3 disc); 0965725553 (CDs)

From the back cover:
With little more than his integrity left, Harry Dresden accepts an offer of work from Lt. Karin Murphy of Chicago’s Special Investigations Unit. He wants to redeem himself in Murphy’s eyes and make enough money to quiet his rumbling stomach.

Soon he finds himself pinned between trigger-happy FBI agents, shape-shifiting motorcycle gang members, a threatened mobster boss, and an heir to an ancient curse along with his primal fiance. Thrown in environmental activists and a pair of young werewolves in love and you have something of Fool Moon.

Grave Peril: Book 3 of the Dresden Files,
By Jim Butcher;
Read by James Marsters
MP3 Disc or 10 CDs, Approx. 12 hrs – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Buzzy Multimedia
Published: 2004
ISBN: 0965725596(MP3 disc); 0965725553(CDs)

From the back cover:
Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden has had a rough couple of weeks. As the only openly practicing professional wizard in the Chicago area, he has squared off against a multitude of supernatural bad guys. Harry has won the day against demons, poltergeists, sorcerers, trolls, vampires, werewolves, and even an evil faerie godmother. You might think nothing could spook him. You would be wrong.

Local Custom
By Sharon Lee & Steve Miller;
Read by Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson From Stargate SG1)
MP3 Disc or 8 CDs, Approx. 10.5 hrs – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Buzzy Multimedia
Published: 2004
ISBN: 0965725596 (MP3 disc); 096572557x (CDs)
READ OUR REVIEW

From the back cover:
The first of the seven books set in the Liaden Universe tells a rich and sweeping story of warring families and star-crossed lovers in a fantastic, other-world galaxy. Master trader Er Thom knows the local custom of Liaden is to be matched with a proper bride, and provide his prominent clan Korval with an heir. Yet his heart is immersed in another universe, influenced by another culture, and lost to a woman not of his world. And to take a Terran wife such as scholar Anne Davis is to risk his honor and reputation. But when he discovers that their brief encounter years before has resulted in the birth of a child, even more is at stake than anyone imagined. Now, an interstellar scandal has erupted, a bitter war between two families-galaxies apart-has begun, and the only hope for Er Thom and Anne is a sacrifice neither is prepared to make…

Interlopers
By Alan Dean Foster;
Read by Ben Browder
(John Crichton from Farscape & Cameron Mitchell from SG1)
MP3 Disc or 8 CDs, Approx. 9 hrs – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Buzzy Multimedia
Published: 200?
ISBN: 09790749078 (MP3 disc); 0965725545(CDs)

From the back cover:
Cody Westcott, a young archeologist, returned from a dig at Apachetarimac with more than he bargained for. Seems the Chachapoyans that he had been studying had a lot to teach us all. Soon he steps through the looking glass but unlike Alice its no fairytale world that he finds. Instead it is our own world teeming with Interlopers-Those Who Abide. Unseen by the mass of humanity they are aware that Cody can now see them. They dont like it. Thrust into a fight which finds him allied with highly unlikely characters he travels around the world to ancient centers of power. He calls on strength he never knew he possessed to save his wife and the future of humanity.

posted by The Time Traveler of the Time Traveler Show

Full Cast Audio’s Coming Attractions

Full Cast Audio, has some truly amazing sounding projects in production. There’s lots of Tamora Pierce, of course – including an AUDIO EXCLUSIVE release that’s still being written – some truly stellar Heinlein “juveniles” and much more have a look (or visit the Full Cast Audio “Coming Attractions” page and see them all):

Princess Academy
By Shannon Hale; Read by Laura Credidio and a FULL CAST
6 CDs – [UNABRIDGED]
“From the author of The Goose Girl comes this fabulous tale of a group of mountain girls who find themselves in training as possible royal brides. Talk about a clash of cultures!”

Fairest
By Gail Carson Levine; Read by a FULL CAST
? CDs – [UNABRIDGED]
“By the beloved author of Ella Enchanted! Not only does it have great characters and lots of dialogue, it’s set in a world where everyone sings to each other! Our composer Todd Hobin will be setting the numerous lyrics included in the story to music, creating an audiobook that has as much original music as a Broadway show. This recording will be an audiobook like no other!”

The Star Beast
By Robert A. Heinlein; Read by David Baker and a FULL CASTt
8 CDs – [UNABRIDGED]
“Another beloved novel from the same period as Have Space Suit, Will Travel and The Rolling Stones. This one pits bureaucrats against John Thomas and his beloved alien pet, Lummox—a conflict that brings Earth to the edge of an interplanetary catastrophe. Filled with Heinlein’s trademark crackling dialogue, which is just made to be read by a full cast.”

Wolf-Speaker
By Tamora Pierce; Read by Tamora Pierce and a FULL CAST
? CDs – [UNABRIDGED]
“The second novel in Tammy’s beloved Immortals Quartet pulls Daine into new adventures, and reveals more about the special nature of her magic. Great characters, piles of magic, and breath-taking adventure. You’re gonna love it!”

The Red Planet
By Robert A. Heinlein; Read by a FULL CAST
8 CDs – [UNABRIDGED]
“One of the master’s most beloved titles, filled with politics, adventure, and the fabulous Heinlein dialogue. The little Martian, Willis, is one of the master’s most delightful creations.”

Odysseus
By Geraldine McCaughrean; Read by a FULL CAST
? CDs – [UNABRIDGED]
“A superb retelling of this great epic by Geraldine McCaughrean, England’s most honored author of books for young readers. Note: We will eventually be recording all four books in Geraldine’s Heroes series. The other three titles are Perseus, Theseus, and Hercules. Every one of these brilliant novels tells a familiar story in a way that is true to the myths, yet utterly fresh and new.”

Between Planets
By Robert A. Heinlein<; Read by A FULL CAST ? CDs - [UNABRIDGED] "A planet-spanning adventure that moves between Earth, Venus, and Mars. Featuring the great lizard 'Sir Isaac Newton'" Skybreaker
By Kenneth Oppel; Read by David Kelly and A FULL CAST
? CDs – [UNABRIDGED]
“This sequel to the multiple award-winning Airborn follows the further adventures of Matt Cruse as he and girlfriend Kate de Vries head for a fabulous encounter with the ghost ship Hyperion in the frigid wastes of Skyberia.”

posted by Jesse Willis

RevolutionSF Radio

Online Audio

RevolutionSF Radio is the podcasting arm of the Revolution SF site. It offers Science Fiction news, commentary and short stories. The podcast feed looks old, but the content is still good. Very interesting is an excerpt |MP3| from author Mark Finn’s biography of Robert E. Howard, entitled Blood And Thunder. In celebration of the 2006 World Fantasy Conference in Austin, TX and all hooplah surrounding Robert E. Howard, RevolutionSF presented a series of related readings recorded during Austin’s Armadillocon 2006.

“Penny A Word”
By Rick Klaw and Paul O. Miles; Read by Rick Klaw and Paul O. Miles
1 MP3 – [UNABRIDGED]
Originally appeared in the Cross Plains Universe anthology.

“The Bunker Of The Tikriti”
By Chris Nakashima-Brown; Read by Chris Nakashima-Brown
1 MP3 – [UNABRIDGED]

“Primary Pollinator”
By Nicole Kimberling; Read by Nicole Kimberling
1 MP3 – [UNABRIDGED]
There are worse jobs than food service.

“Into the Dark”
By Patrice Sarath; Read by Patrice Sarath
1 MP3 – [UNABRIDGED]
It’s been 11 years. Do you know where your child is? “Into the Dark” was first published in “Realms of Fantasy 2002. Original podcast produced for Space Squid zine. (c) 2002 Patrice Sarath.

Here’s the podcast feed:

http://revolutionsf.libsyn.com/rss

posted by Jesse Willis

Decoder Ring Theatre’s Summer Season

SFFaudio News

Decoder Ring Theatre‘s master of pen and microphone, Gregg Taylor, has let slip a little information about their SUMMER SEASON!

During summer 2007 a new series of shows will be podcast on the Decoder Ring podcast feed. It will be called the “Summer Showcase” and will feature a number of different kinds of shows. One of which we got a sneak preview of on the recent Hypaspace podcast. It’ll be called Deck Gibson Far Reach Commander and it has been written by Matt Wallace (the Parsec award winning author of The Failed City Monologues).

posted by Jesse Willis

Planisphere Productions presents Transit

SFFaudio Online Audio

Planisphere Productions, a new player in audio drama, is trying something very different. They’ve released the first three episodes of Transit, a new Science Fiction series, in the AC3 format. This means that the show is in SURROUND SOUND format. Transit is “a multi-format multimedia-spanning project that consists of a series of Science Fiction themed audio dramas recorded in and optimized for listening to in 5.1 Surround Sound.” The project includes a “wiki”-style website called The Node that features show information as well as side-story content. I had a devil of a time finding an AC3 player but I finally found some freeware called “Media Player Classic version 6.4.9.0” which plays .AC3 files just fine (do a google search).

|Episode 1 AC3| Episode 2 AC3| Episode 3 AC3|

Another problem, this format means you can’t take this show with you in your portable media player. But don’t dismiss Transit as not worth bothering with just yet. In order to interest you they’ve also made the some “webisodes” available in the MP3 format. They’ll give you an idea of the production values, acting and the writing are like. \

|Webisode 1 MP3| Webisode 2 MP3| Webisode 3 MP3|

I’ve listened a few of the shows and webisodes and Transit is sounding pretty damn sweet!

posted by Jesse Willis