horror – Page 72

Author Focus – F. Paul Wilson

SFFaudio Author Focus

F. Paul Wilson is an award-winning author of dozens of novels and more than a hundred short stories. While he considers himself a “Thriller writer” his storytelling spans many genres. Wilson’s books cover everything: Horror, Adventure, medical thrillers, and of course Science Fiction and Fantasy too. He is most famous as the author of the popular “Repairman Jack” series. Wilson has had a fair number of his tales produced to audiobooks, but quite a few of them are out of print. Here’s the complete listing:

The Keep
By F. Paul Wilson; Read by Michael Prichard
10 Cassettes – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Books On Tape
Published: 1983 (OUT OF PRINT)
ISBN: 073660846X
In the spring of 1941, a message is received from a German Army commander stationed in a remote castle high in the Transylvanian Alps: “Something is murdering my men.” An SS extermination squad is sent to destroy the enemy, presumed by the military to be partisans.

The Touch
By F. Paul Wilson; Read by ?????
? Cassettes – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Books On Tape
Published: 1986/1987/1988 ? (OUT OF PRINT)
ISBN: 9998438845 / 5557087567
After twelve years of practicing medicine, Dr. Alan Bulmer develops a supernatural ability to heal, but the miraculous power carries a potentially lethal price.

The Select
By F. Paul Wilson; Read by Elizabeth Shue
2 Cassettes – Approx. 3 Hours [ABRIDGED]
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audioworks
Published: 1994 (OUT OF PRINT)
ISBN: 0671883186
Quinn Cleary is smart, idealistic and poor. She’s been accepted at The Ingraham, a prestigious medical school, where a select few receive the finest education free of charge. But something is terribly wrong at The Ingraham. Quinn notices subtle changes in the bright, hand-picked students. Then she stumbles upon the silent, staring patients in locked Ward C.

Mirage
By F. Paul Wilson and Matthew J. Costello; Read by ????
2 Cassettes – Approx. 3 Hours [ABRIDGED]
Publisher: Soundelux Audio Publishing
Publisher: 1996 (Out of print)
ISBN: 1559352396
A team of doctors creates a virtual reality scanner that allows them to enter a person’s memory and watch it via videocasette recorder. Neuropsychologist Julie Gordon decides to use the device to enter the mind of her twin sister, Samantha, who has lapsed into a coma in Paris. Julie’s looking for the neural pathway that is blocking Samantha’s mind, but in the process of probing Samantha’s memory, Julie makes shocking discoveries about the fire that killed their parents.*INCLUDES: “An exclusive author interview.”

Derelict
By F. Paul Wilson and M.J. Costello; Performed by a full cast
RealAudio – [INTERACTIVE AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: The Sci-Fi Channel / Seeing Ear Theatre
Published: 1997 (NOW TAKEN OFFLINE)
A mining crew found it floating on the outer reaches of the asteroid belt. When they saw what it was, they called the marines. Now an exploration team has entered the floating hulk of a ship… abandoned, lifeless. Or so they think.

Conspiracies
By F. Paul Wilson; Read by F. Paul Wilson
1 CD – [UNABRIDGED SELECTION]
Publisher: WyrdSisterS ProductionS / Gauntlet Press
Published: 1999?
The audio CD of F. Paul Wilson reading a dramatization of a scene from his novel Conspiracies.

Midnight Mass And Other Great Vampire Stories
Edited by Martin H. Greenberg; Read by various narrators
4 Cassettes – 6 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Dove Audio / Phoenix Audio / Audible.com
Published: 1999 / 2002
ISBN: 0787119040, 1590402456
“From the horrifying to the humorous, some of today’s finest authors share stories about one of mankind’s oldest imagined evils, the vampire.”
Includes:
“Bite Me Not, or Fleur de Fur” by Tanith Lee
“Food Chain” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
“Moonlight in Vermont” by Esther Freisner
“Madeleine” by Barbara Hambly
“Victims” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
“Seat Partner” by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
“Midnight Mass” (a novella) by F. Paul Wilson (read by Theodore Bikel)

Masque
By F. Paul Wilson and M.J. Costello; Read by Michael Prichard
9 Cassettes – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Books On Tape
Published: 2000
ISBN: 0736655980
Tristan is the perfect spy. He’s a “mime,” an artificially created and cloned human who’s metamorphic DNA can be programmed to transform him into a “masque” – a perfect genetic copy of anyone. Mimes can be turned into anyone their corporate city-state owners want, until the stress of assuming masques causes a meltdown.

Thriller: Stories To Keep You Up All Night
Edited by James Patterson; Read by various readers
? CDs or ? MP3 CDs – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Published: 2006
ISBN: 1423321758 (CDs) or 1423321774 (MP3-CD)
This hefty collection contains just one short story by F. Paul Wilson

Dark Voices VOL. 6: Sex Slaves Of The Dragon Tong
By F. Paul Wilson; Read by F. Paul Wilson
Chapbook and 1 CD – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Borderlands Press
Published: June 2007
ISBN: 188032590X
A short story paying homage to the pulp era.

Bloodline
By F. Paul Wilson; Read by
? CDs – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publisher: October 2007
ISBN: 1423346041
It starts off simply enough. (Doesn’t it always?) Jack has been on hiatus since the tragic events in Harbingers. With his beloved Gia’s encouragement he dips his toe back into the fix-it pool.

Interviews:

Free Talk Live |MP3|

Book Expo Podcast |MP3|

Without Your Head |WMA|

Pod Of Horror |MP3|

posted by Jesse Willis

Review of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

SFFaudio Audiobook Review

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
By Max Brooks; Read by a full cast
5 CDs – 6 hours – [ABRIDGED]
Publisher: Random House Audio
Published: 2006
ISBN: 0739340131 ;ISBN-13: 9780739340134
Themes: / Horror / Zombies / War / Politics / Apocalypse

For my birthday last year, my wife got me a subscription to The Believer, a magazine for bibliophiles put out by the good people at McSweeney’s Publishing (Dave Eggers, Michael Chabon, Nick Hornby, and Rick Moody have all been involved with McSweeney’s in one way or another; sci-fi fans would do well to check out both McSweeney’s Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales and their Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories I was pleasantly surprised to open up to the 2006 Believer Book Awards in the last issue and find at least two science fiction novels listed in the top 40 (two that I recognized as such, anyway). Cormac McCarthy’s The Road was number one; not too shocking given McCarthy’s extensive, “respectable” (read: non-sci-fi) bibliography. The other was more of a surprise; Max Brooks’ World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. I’d listened to the audio version of the novel months ago, and enjoyed the hell out of it, but it was kind of shocker to see a book about zombies written by Mel Brooks’ kid rubbing elbows with the new ones from Pynchon, Munro, Roth, and Virgil. Chalk some of the success up to Brooks’ connections, chalk some of it up to the inexplicably universal appeal of zombies, but give credit where it’s due and realize that World War Z is a well-written novel, and remarkable, given the crudity of the titular characters, in its subtlety and nuance.

Brooks presents the novel as an actual historical document of the spread of the virus that results in “zombiism,” and the reaction of the various nations to the problem. The book is structured as a series of interviews with representatives from around the world with Brooks himself as interviewer, and the device works well. Brooks has obviously done his homework; it’s not much of a reach to imagine Chinese bureaucrats engaging in an elaborate coverup of the spread of the virus (poisoned dogfood anyone?), South Africa deciding on a cold-hearted but necessary policy of abandoning the portion of the populace exposed to the virus, or the U.S. entertainment industry attempting to make a reality show of the zombie attack. The only part of the political description that felt a little unrealistic was Brook’s characterization of Israel’s generosity in its offer of asylum to Palestinian refugees before completely closing its borders for the duration of the war.

The decision to paint something as visceral as a zombie attack in the broad strokes of policy and strategy is an interesting one. Zombies have heretofore been portrayed mostly in the more action-friendly medium of cinema, and mostly from an up-close, short-term perspective. Brooks avoids the trap of becoming too impersonal and detached from the war by grounding the novel in the first-person reminiscences of the folks who lived through it. It’s impossible not to develop some attachment to the Canadian girl who describes the effects of the northern winter on the ill-prepared refugees looking to escape the warm-weather-dependent zombies, and the blind Japanese gardener’s account of his daily battles with the walking dead is strangely tranquil and moving.

The first thing you’ll notice about the audio version of World War Z are the cast members listed on the cover. Alan Alda, John Tuturro, Henry Rollins and, wait for it, Mark Hamill all contribute their voices to the project. Not quite A-listers, maybe, but definitely in the B or B+ range. Give it a little more time and Hamill might start being known first as a solid voice actor and secondly as that guy from the Star Wars that didn’t suck. He’s particularly effective in this production, as an American soldier reminiscing about the ups and downs of the military’s encounter with the zombies. Turns out the U.S. military was operating on an obsolete wartime paradigm and was ill-equipped to deal with an enemy that doesn’t fit the old model of nation-on-nation warfare. Hm.

The rest of the cast fares as well as Hamill; it’s admirable that the producers of the audiobook went to the trouble of securing actors that actually hail from the area they represent in the book. The genuineness of the accents is apparent and is definitely preferable to having some Rich Little-type give his impersonation of a Cuban.

So, whether you’re a zombie-loving, George Romero-worshiping, Shaun Of The Dead-reciting, walking dead aficionado; a history-channel-watching, political science-junkie; or just an audiobook listener with a taste for the unique, you’ll be welcome among the growing ranks of the scholars of dubya-dubya Z.

posted by Cory Myer

LibriVox: Tales Of Terror And Mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

SFFaudio Online Audio

With Halloween still months away its kind of surprising to see this collection of short stories available now. But just think, with 12 complete short stories you could listen to just one a week and it’d be Halloween soon enough. I’m not a very big fan of multiple readers serially recording a chapter or two at a time, but that isn’t the case here, this is a short story collection, each individual story has just one reader, which is perfect!

LibriVox audiobook - Tales of Terror and Mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Tales Of Terror And Mystery
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Read by various readers
12 zipped MP3 Files or podcast – 7 Hours 40 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: LibriVox.org
Published: July 1, 2007
“Though Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for his detective stories, he also wrote other short stories which are masterpieces of mystery and suspense. In some of the stories in Tales of Terror and Mystery, a suppressed uneasiness gradually builds up and evolves into sheer terror. In others, the story line unexpectedly changes and comes to a horrific conclusion. Sit back in the comfort of your armchair and let yourself be transported to the strange but compelling world created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.”

Podcast feed: http://librivox.org/bookfeeds/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-sir-arthur-conan-doyle.xml

Posted by Jesse Willis

Zombie Astronaut collects BBCR4’s Chillers – Four Tales Of Terror

Online Audio

In early 2002 a limited run series of chilling Science Fiction tales aired on BBC Radio 4. The series was entitled Chillers (or Chillers – Four Tales of Terror). The scripts were by Gold Sony award winning dramatist Mike Walker, the original stories were by top SF authors. Before today I’d recommended to everyone who’d listen, the first of these, Who Goes There?. It is the finest half-hour of Science Fiction Audio Drama I’ve ever experienced. But now the entire four episode series is available in the Zombie Astronaut‘s latest issue. I’m going to be savoring the rest thanks to ZA!

Chillers – Four Tales of Terror
Dramatized by Mike Walker; Performed by full casts
4 x 30 Minute Programs – Approx. 2 Hours [RADIO DRAMA]
Broadcaster: BBC Radio 4
Broadcast: Jan. – Feb. 2002

“Who Goes There?”
Based on story by John W. Campbell; Performed by a full cast
1 |MP3| – Approx. 28 Minutes [RADIO DRAMA]
Penned under the name Don A. Stuart, the novelette that this play was based on was first published in the August 1938 issue of Astounding Stories.
An alien being is found frozen in the ice of Antarctica. When it is thawed, it awakens, to become a threat to the small base camp. In fact, it’s a threat to all life on earth, as it can change shape and absorb the life and bodies of every living thing it comes in contact with.

“I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream”
Based on story by Harlan Ellison; Performed by a full cast
1 |MP3| – Approx. 28 Minutes [RADIO DRAMA]
The Hugo Award winning short story this play was based on first appeared in the March 1968 issue of Worlds Of If.
This is a tale of five people kept alive by AM, a computer that came alive, waged war and won against mankind. It’s hatred of mankind is so profound, that it kept these five alive only to torture them.

“Delta Sly Honey”
Based on story by Lucius Shepard; Performed by a full cast
1 |MP3| – Approx. 28 Minutes [RADIO DRAMA]
First appeared in a 1987 anthology entitled In the Field of Fire, which was a collection of SF and Fantasy stories dealing with Vietnam.
Taking place in the Vietnam War era, this is the story of a Southern country boy who exorcises his demons making late night broadcasts to phantom military units. Then, one answers.

“Corona”
Based on story by Samuel R. Delaney; Performed by a full cast
1 |MP3| – Approx. 28 Minutes [RADIO DRAMA]
First published in Fantasy And Science Fiction Magazine‘s October, 1967 issue.
This is the story of an injured man and a girl who seeks death to free her from the pain that comes from her telepathic ability. Their common bond is a pop musician who offers peace to both.

posted by Jesse Willis

H.P. Lovecraft DOCUMENTARY on BBC Radio 3

SFFaudio Online Audio

BBC Radio 3 has re-aired a fascinating documentary from November of last year…

Weird Tales – The Strange Life Of H.P. Lovecraft
Radio Broadcast – Approx. 45 Minutes [DOCUMENTARY]
BROADCASTER: BBC Radio 3
BROADCAST: Sunday June 10th 2006 @ 20:00 – 20:45 (UK TIME)

“Geoff Ward examines the strange life and terrifying world of the man hailed as America’s greatest horror writer since Poe. During his life Lovecraft’s work was confined to lurid pulp magazines and he died in penury in 1937. Today, however, his writings are considered modern classics and published in prestigious editions. Among the writers considering his legacy are Neil Gaiman, S.T. Joshi, Kelly Link, Peter Straub and China Mieville.”

This is available via the ‘Listen Again‘ right now and the link should be around for the next 5 days or so.

posted by Jesse Willis

Review of Dark Shadows: The House of Despair

SFFaudio Audio Drama Review

Dark Shadows: The House Of Despair
By Stuart Manning, Directed by Gary Russell; Performed by a full cast
1 CD – 72 Minutes [AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: Big Finish
Published: September 2006
ISBN: 1844352439
Themes: / Horror / Birds / Lost Souls / Witchcraft / Ghosts / Immortality /

After years of wandering the world, Quentin Collins is coming home. But the Collinwood that awaits him is no longer the sanctuary he remembers. As the town of Collinsport hides in fear from otherworldly powers, Quentin vows to unite old friends and reclaim his birthright.

Dark Shadows was one of those lightning-in-a-bottle phenomenons. Modern audiences look at it now and don’t get what audiences of the late 1960s saw in it, or why so many of its fans can’t let it go today. Without its Vietnam era frame of reference, the show seems to have little or no appeal. It isn’t scary by today’s standards. It’s not intentionally funny. Buffy it ain’t.

One can’t help but wonder, then, if there’s any point in attempting an original cast resurrection. So many of the mainstays are no longer living, and the show’s biggest star, Jonathan “Barnabas” Frid, is retired at age 82. With four original series stars in the leads, however, Big Finish productions has achieved a nostalgic romp with a modern storytelling style, intelligent and psychological, dripping with atmosphere, which should satisfy fans of the one-of-a-kind soap opera and modern audiophiles both.

David Selby makes a creditable transition from the Sixties anti-hero that was Quentin Collins, recovering lycanthrope, into a strong leading man. He returns to his ancestral home at age 130-something to find it deserted, overtaken by a supernatural presence who just might be the hidden Big Bad from Hitchcock’s The Birds. Enlisting the aid of the witch Angelique, he sets out to re-establish his dynasty as the new Collins family patriarch.

Selby’s eternal tongue in cheek awareness of his character’s failings serves him well. Lara Parker, forty years later, is still enthralling as the beautiful, horrific Angelique. To the writer’s credit, she maintains her darker side, an ally, but still a potential villain. Kathryn Leigh Scott has a voice made for audio drama, and brings dignity to the long-suffering Maggie Evans, who, after all this time, still hasn’t figured out that her friends the Collinses are not quite human. John Karlen returns as servant Willie Loomis, now “Mad Willie.” As always, he brings life and sympathy to a weak and even sleazy role. Newcomer Andrew Collins is well-cast in his part, which shan’t be revealed herein. The original Robert Colbert Dark Shadows score is blended nicely with original music.

During my listening, the background effects balance was sometimes a little off, obscuring the voices. It’s important to remember, though, that it’s nearly impossible to get the balance right for every sound system out there. I listened on a rental-car stereo. As an audio theater producer myself, (who’s also been chastised in a review for effects balance) I’m the first to say that it’s a lot to ask of an editor to create something artful and make it work for the most pedestrian sound system. For an optimal listening experience, grab some headphones. This is the first of four existing titles in a series, with more promised for the future.

posted by Steven H. Wilson of Prometheus Radio Theatre