audio drama – Page 19

BSAP’s CONAN audio dramas and audiobooks threatened by a big corporate monster

SFFaudio News

The Queen Of The Black Coast by Robert E. Howard On the 22nd August 2008 Broken Sea Audio Productions, and its chief bottle-washer Paul Mannering, received a cease and desist letter from a law firm representing Conan Properties International LLC (aka Paradox Entertainment).

Sez Paul:

The letter claims that BSAP is selling audio books of Robert E. Howard’s work. BrokenSea have responded by confirming that we do not sell any material, and no income is received by us for making these audio files available to the public. Our production of both audio books and audio drama’s of Robert E. Howard’s work is based entirely on work that is in the public domain (www.gutenberg.org.au)

Out of respect for tangible brands, such as the “Conan” title we are changing the title and logo of our Conan audio drama to “Robert E. Howard’s Hyborian Sagas.” We expect this change to be in place by Thursday 28th August.

Here is the |PDF| of Conan Properties International’s CEASE AND DESIST letter sent to Broken Sea.

Here are my $0.02…

For a man who killed himself 72 years ago, with no children and no spouse to inherit his estate (nearly all of which is in the public domain) it’s amazing how ~~spurious~~ vigorous Robert E. Howard’s defense of his lapsed copyright is.

I chalk it up to either the nefarious forces of Stygian evil, or the Black Seers of Yimsha. Either way, R.E.H. has been zombified, and forced to say things – or rather has had his lawyers say things that aren’t true. Time for some barbarians to overthrow the forces of civilization (by ignoring the intended effects of cease and desist chill).

SFFaudio will still be calling spades shovels and Conan stories Conan stories. Long live Broken Sea Audio Productions, long live BSAP’s CONAN!

UPDATE: The ever vigilant Quasar Dragon has a posted a post on this issue check it out HERE.

Posted by Jesse Willis

BBC7 presents: Down and Safe (Blake’s 7)

SFFaudio Online Audio

Down and Safe: A Celebration of Blake’s 7
Presented by fan Mitch Benn.
Airdate: August 25, 2008 (aired 3 times).

Holy moly, I was busy and away and almost missed this excellent radio retrospective of Blake’s 7. (Fortunately for all of us, it is still available to listen to -see below.) Clocking in at three hours, Down and Safe covers the whole shebang, from the groundbreaking and influential late 70’s television series to the latest version reimagined and presented as audio drama, with clips and snippets and informed commentary and…

…And, speaking of audio drama, well, check out the BBC7 blurb: The BBC 7 bank holiday rebellion starts with the history and rebirth of a sci-fi classic, with episodes including The Syndleton Experiment (1999), Liberator (2007) and When Vila Met Gan (2008).

Yep, you heard right. Three complete full cast audio plays -they form the bulk of the show; three different and very entertaining takes on the Blake’s 7 universe that you shouldn’t miss (unless you have a very good excuse like, say, hives). So, space science fiction luvvers everywhere, be sure to check out Down and Safe here, here, here (RealPlayer required) or here (webpage – RealPlayer required) through Sunday, August 31!

Posted by RC of RTSF

BBC 7: Brightonomicon by Robert Rankin

SFFaudio Online Audio

The Brightonomicon
By Robert Rankin; Performed by a full cast
Broadcast: BBC7 / The 7th Dimension
Dates: August 23 – November 15th, 2008
Production: Hokus Bloke & Ladbroke Radio

The Brightonomicon, the much-acclaimed novel by British fantasy author Robert Rankin, involves the grand high magus Hugo Rune, and Rizla his amnesiac assistant, in a strange quest to solve the mystery of the Brighton zodiac (twelve ancient hidden constellations) and thereby thwart the evil Count Otto Black’s mad scheme to dominate the world.

The book was adapted into a full-cast audio drama and released earlier this year (CD box & downloadable) and features a terrific cast of notables: David Warner (Hugo Rune), Rupert Degas (Rizla), Andy Serkis (Count Otto Black), Jason Isaacs, Martin Jarvis, Mark Wing-Davey, Sarah Douglas, Ben Miller and Michael Fenton-Stevens, among others. In short, the very best of the UK’s acting and comedic talent.

For the broadcast version, 12 adventures are spread across 13 half hour episodes which will be aired on the 7th Dimension program beginning this Saturday, August 23, at 6:30PM GMT (repeated at 12:30AM GMT), and then on consecutive Saturdays for 13 weeks through November 15th. As always, for online listeners, the BBC7 Listen Again service will keep each episode available for 6 days after it airs so you won’t miss a single one.

Note this disclaimer from The Brightonomicon website: The episodes are edited for radio…but no, that doesn’t mean we’ve removed naughty words or some of the more bizarre elements that make Robert’s work so fantastic…it means a few trims here and there to get the length down to 28mins30secs. Can you spot the bits that have gone? Missing the missing bits? Well fear not. You can always buy the full version as a beautiful box-set or as a delightful download…

Hey, that’s not so much a disclaimer as it is a come-on. I think they did it on porpoise! Seriously though, if I like what I hear on the 7th Dimension broadcasts, I may well take them up on it.

Posted by RC of RTSF

Broken Sea: The Queen Of The Black Coast episode 3

SFFaudio Online Audio

By Ishtar’s eyes! It’s the third episode of The Queen Of The Black Coast audio drama! And in this one we finally meet Belit!

Queen Of The Black Coast by Robert E. Howard AUDIO DRAMA Queen Of The Black Coast
Adapted from the story by Robert E. Howard
Performed by a full cast
Podcast – [AUDIO DRAMA]
Podcaster: Broken Sea Audio Productions
Podcast: June 2008 – ????

Part 1 |MP3| Part 2 |MP3| Part 3 |MP3|

Having survived the Sirens of Set in the dark waters of Stygia, CONAN, TITO and the crew of the ARGUS head still farther south into the waters of KUSH… And finally come into bloody conflict with the Queen of the Black Coast and her savage crew of corsairs.

Subscribe to the feed you dogs!

http://brokensea.com/conan/?feed=podcast

And, be sure to listen to the end, there’s a little preview of an upcoming BSAP audio drama based on the Mad Max and The Road Warrior series!

Posted by Jesse Willis

Recent Arrivals from Graphic Audio

SFFaudio Recent Arrivals

If you are a fan of adventure stories and you haven’t heard of Graphic Audio, then you are in for a real treat. They just sent us these utility-belt toting titles! Find a whole catalog full of high adventure at graphicaudio.net.

52: Part 2
By Greg Cox; Performed by a full cast
6 hours – [AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: Graphic Audio
Published: February 2008
ISBN: 9781599503691

This one will go nicely with our 52: Part 1, which is in the process of being reviewed!

A year without Superman. A year without Batman. A year without Wonder Woman. But not a year without heroes… Earth’s most revered heroes have vanished. In their absence, the cities of Metropolis and Gotham have fallen prey to the machinations of super-villains and the criminal activities of Intergang. Booster Gold, a hero from the future, has stepped into Superman’s boots only to find them too big to fill, especially when rival hero Supernova arrives on the scene. Recruited by the mysterious crime fighter known as the Question, detective Renee Montoya investigates an even more mysterious vigilante prowling the streets: Batwoman. These and other veteran and rookie heroes around the world must unite against a vast conspiracy of evil about to usurp control of the Earth once and for all…

Batman: The Stone King
By Alan Grant; Performed by a full cast
6 hours – [AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: Graphic Audio
Published: July 2008
ISBN: 9781599504582

Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. The Flash. Green Lantern.

They are the world’s greatest super heroes, fighting endlessly against corruption and injustice. Each of them is a formidable opponent of evil, but banded together their powers are unmatched. Ever ready, they stand united as the —

JUSTICE LEAGUE of AMERICA

Something has been unearthed in Gotham City, something that should not have been disturbed. An ancient pyramid has unleashed supernatural energies throughout the world. Drawn to the eye of this arcane storm, the heroes of the JLA become caught in the grip of a force far beyond their extraordinary powers. Only Gotham’s protector, Batman, manages to escape—but to free his allies and stop the chaos that is fast engulfing the world, the Dark Knight must somehow unlock the pyramid’s secret curse.

Justice League of America: Exterminators
By Christopher Golden; Performed by a full cast
5 hours – [AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: Graphic Audio
Published: May 2008
ISBN: 9781599504445

When a mass outbreak of super-powered individuals threatens the world, the JLA determines that latent metahuman abilities are being triggered by an alien contagion, one that’s spreading throughout Earth as it transforms its hosts into monstrous engines of destruction. Racing to contain the infection, the world’s greatest super heroes link the parasitic plague to an alien invasion from the team’s earliest days and make a horrifying discovery: the JLA itself is responsible for the imminent disaster they now face.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Beware the Moon Wraith: The Orb of Phoebe

SFFaudio Online Audio

An outfit called “Curious Echo Radio Theater” has begun the podcasting of Beware the Moon Wraith: The Orb of Phoebe. Here’s the skinny on it:

The Moon Wraith, a vengeful ghost for justice, has stolen the mysterious Orb of Phoebe. But Virgil Caine, the real identity of the Moon Wraith, has no memory of committing this crime. So Caine, with wealthy socialite Sandra Ashton and plucky newsboy Crabby Jones, struggle to clear the Moon Wraith’s name, find the Orb of Phoebe, and deal with the naked woman in Caine’s bedroom.

Hmmm…. personally, I’d deal with the last part first, it’s liable to be the most sticky.

Check it out via their podcast feed:

http://www.curiousecho.org/wordpress/?feed=podcast

Posted by Jesse Willis