Thanks to SFFAudio reader Esther for a couple of a…

SFFaudio News

Thanks to SFFAudio reader Esther for a couple of additions to the Hugo Award Winners on Audio page:

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le GuinFor 1970 Best Novel Winner The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin we added this audio version:
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, abridged and read by the author, Waldentapes (Warner Audio), Abridged, 1985, ISBN: 068132774X

A Boy and His Dog by Harlan EllisonAnd for 1966 Short Fiction Winner “‘Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman” we added this audio version:
“A Boy & His Dog” & “‘Repent, Harlequin!’ said the Ticktockman” by Harlan Ellison, read by the author, Unabridged, ISBN: 0681327774, Waldentapes (Warner Audio), 1985

Thanks very much, Esther!

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Review of Most of My Friends Are Two-Thirds Water by Kelly Link

Science Fiction Audiobook - Most of My Friends Are Two-Thirds Water by Kelly LinkMost of My Friends Are Two-Thirds Water
By Kelly Link; Read by Alex Wilson
FREE MP3 Download – Click here for link to file at www.spokenalex.org
– 27 minutes, 20 seconds [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: http://www.spokenalex.org/
Published: 2005
Themes: / Science Fiction / Alien Invasion / New York / Metafiction / Writing /

Jak calls me with the first line of a story. Most of my friends are two-thirds water, he says, and I say that this doesn’t surprise me. He says, no, that this is the first line. There’s a Philip K. Dick novel, I tell him, that has a first line like that, but not exactly and I can’t remember the name of the novel. I am listening to him while I clean out my father’s refrigerator. The name of the Philip K. Dick novel is Confessions of a Crap Artist, I tell Jak. What novel, he says.

Another FREE tale from author Kelly Link’s short story collection Stranger Things Happen. Link is a Nebula, World Fantasy, and James Tiptree Jr. Award-winning author. Her urbane speculative fiction always compares well to Nalo Hopkinson and Walter Mosley – but Link takes that post-modern mentality, rotates it 90 degrees, and adds more of a sense of play. I’m ambivalent about metafiction, which this most certainly is. Sometimes it works wonderfully, but it’s harder with short stories, as they tend to be fairly crowded with concepts already. Most of My Friends Are Two-Thirds Water comes away decently. Narrator Alexander Wilson reads well, but since the narrative voice is that of a female this is not the
perfect match of voice to story. Still, how can I complain when the reading is letter perfect and the price is 100% FREE! Downloadable here.

Posted by Jesse Willis

The Diane Rehm Show is one of my favorite radio sh…

SFFaudio Online Audio

NPR LogoThe Diane Rehm Show is one of my favorite radio shows. On Wednesday, July 20, Diane featured a one-hour Readers Review of A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. It’s archived, and you can listen online at your leisure – click here to get to the page you need.

SFFAudio’s review of the audio version of A Wizard of Earthsea can be found here.

A couple of other items of genre interest on the Diane Rehm Show:

For an interview of Elizabeth Kostova about her novel The Historian – click here.

From 2004, an interview of Susanna Clarke, the author of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, which is a Hugo Nominee and a World Fantasy Award nominee. Find it here.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Review of The Helmsman by Bill Baldwin

Science Fiction Audiobooks - The Helmsman by Bill BaldwinThe Helmsman
By Bill Baldwin, Narrated by Justin Brooks, C.J. Critt, Patrick Seaman, Roger Jones, & Steve Botha
MP3 Download, 576Mb – 10 hours [UNABRIDGED]
ISBN: 1587521539
Pub Date: 2005
Publisher: Timberwolf Press
Themes: / Science Fiction / Military Science Fiction / Space Travel / Aliens / Battles /

One of the few survivors of a League sneak attack on his poor and miserable homeworld of Careseria, Wilf Brim sets out to settle the score. Were it not for the attrition from the war that followed, Wilf would never have escaped his lower-class status and been accepted into the Academy. Now, freshly graduated, young Sublieutenant Wilf Ansor Brim, Imperial Fleet, begins his first assignment, Helmsman of the I.F.S. Trucluent.

I’m honestly not certain how to categorize this book audio-wise. Though it is listed as “unabridged”, the recording itself says “Based on The Helmsman by Bill Baldwin”, and is very near a 10 hour audio drama. There is a narrator (a very good one), but all of the dialogue is read by other actors, and there are sound effects throughout. The important question is “did it work”, and the answer is Yes, though the occasional unbelievable actor really pulls the listener out of the action.

The novel is pure military pulp science fiction. There is a ton of technical jargon as characters tune disruptors and such. Vehicles are often called “field pieces”, time is measured in “metacycles”, and everyone says “Aye, sir!” quite a bit. The action moves quickly as battles lead to more battles. The title is listed as “mature” for some sexual scenes.

In a nutshell, The Helmsman should please fans of military SF. The sound quality is very good, and the main narrator excellent. This is the first of several volumes – the Timberwolf Press website promises Galactic Convoy (currently available), The Trophy, The Mercenaries, The Defenders, and The Siege.

This title is available at Paperback Digital.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Here’s a really cool 29 minute radio documentary o…

SFFaudio Online Audio

Here’s a really cool 29 minute radio documentary originally produced for WZBC Boston radio by Benjamen Walker entitled “Saint Phil.” Host Benjamen Walker argues for the canonization of PKD. He talks with authors Jonathan Lethem and Josh Glenn about the Science Fiction genius Philip K Dick. He also gets “UBIK” tattooed on his body. You can listen to the MP3 at the WTRO Radio site by clicking HERE!.

Posted by Jesse Willis