The Time Traveler Show podcasts two Mike Resnick tales

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The Time Traveler Show podcastThe latest Time Traveler Show podcast features two short stories written and read by Mike Resnick! Here’s the scoop on em…

“…the first has yet to be printed but will appear in the anthology Urban Werewolves. It’s called A Most Unusual Greyhound. The other story is nominated for a 2008 Hugo Award for best short story. It is called Distant Replay.”

These were recorded on Jan. 19th, 2008 at the ConFusion 2008 SF convention in Troy, Michigan. Listen |MP3| direct, or subscribe to the podcast via this feed:

http://www.timetravelershow.com/shows/feed.xml

Posted by Jesse Willis

Recent Arrivals – Jay Lake, John Scalzi, Isaac Asimov

SFFaudio Recent Arrivals

Ya, it is strange to call them it with digital copies, but here’s a batch of “recent arrivals” from Audible.com (all are Audible exclusive titles)…

Mainspring by Jay LakeMainspring
By Jay Lake; Read by William Dufris
Audible Download – Approx. 13.5 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: macmillan audio / audible.com
Published: December 2007
The mainspring of the Earth is running down, and disaster to the planet will ensue if it’s not rewound. To do the job the Archangel Gabriel approaches a young clockmaker’s apprentice and explains the problem. He can’t be that surprised, in a clockwork solar system, where the planets move in a vast system of gears around the lamp of the Sun – how could he be. This is a universe where the hand of the Creator is visible to anyone who simply looks up into the sky and sees the track of the heavens, the wheels of the Moon, and the great Equitorial gears of the Earth itself.

Science Fiction Audiobook - The Ghost Brigades by John ScalziThe Ghost Brigades
By John Scalzi; Read by William Dufris
Audible Download – 10 Hours 28 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Macmillan Audio / Audible.com
Published: March 2008
The Ghost Brigades are the Special Forces of the Colonial Defense Forces, elite troops created from the DNA of the dead and turned into the perfect soldiers for the CDF’s toughest operations. They’re young, they’re fast and strong, and they’re totally without normal human qualms. For the universe is a dangerous place for humanity – and it’s about to become far more dangerous. Three races that humans have clashed with before have allied to halt our expansion into space. Their linchpin: the turncoat military scientist Charles Boutin, who knows the CDF’s biggest military secrets. To prevail, the CDF most find out why Boutin did what he did.

ESL AUDIOBOOK - I, Robot for Learners of English by Isaac Asimov‘I, Robot’ for Learners of English
By Isaac Asimov; Read by Tricia Reilly
Audible Format -2 Hours 31 Minutes [ABRIDGED]
Publisher: Audible.com / Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
Published: March 2008
Isaac Asimov’s classic collection of stories about a society where humans and robots live and work together on Earth and in outer space is both disturbing and prophetic. –The Macmillan Readers series is one of the most popular and respected series of readers for learners of English. Macmillan Readers are simplified retellings of an original work. They are created by highly experienced ELT writers.

Posted by Jesse Willis

Review of Blake’s 7 – Audio Adventures

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Science Fiction Audio Drama - Blake's 7Blake’s 7 – Audio Adventures (Trilogy Box Set)
By Ben Aaronovitch, Marc Platt and James Swallow; Performed by FULL-CAST
3 Audio CDs & 1 CD-ROM – Approx. 225 Minutes [AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: B7 Media
Published: 2007
Themes: / Science Fiction / Space Opera / Galactic Civilization / Politics / War / Terrorism / Spaceships /

In the third century of the second calendar, the galactic Federation, once a beacon of democracy and peace, has become a corrupt tyranny. Roj Blake stood up for the ordinary people. The establishment framed him for crimes he didn’t commit and sentenced him to permanent exile on the notorious prison planet of Cygnus Alpha. The Federation thinks it has seen the last of Roj Blake. The Federation will wish it had.

The producers of this stunning re-imagining Terry Nation’s late 1970s television series have improved upon the original Blake’s 7 in the same way as Battlestar Galactica was improved upon in its new TV series. This set, contains the three re-cut episodes Rebel, Traitor, and Liberator (and 40 minutes of bonus features). It is absolute audio drama perfection. The show is fast, surprising, darkly thrilling and utterly unflinching. Roj Blake is a folk hero, like Robin Hood or Pancho Villa. His struggle to free the deluded citizens of the galactic federation is full of ambiguities not found in the simplistic Star Wars films. If you like audio drama, you’ll love Blake’s 7 – Audio Adventures!

Alistair Lock, responsible for sound effects, fills the soundscape with original and re-worked B7 sounds. The music is orchestral, and reminiscent of the original show. The acting in all three stories is absolutely top-shelf, Derek Riddell (Doctor Who) is the hardened, yet compassionate, Roj Blake. The treacherously reliable Kerr Avon is played by Colin Salmon (Tomorrow Never Dies). Michael Praed (of Robin Of Sherwod fame) guest stars, it’s a real who’s who of British Actors! Even Carrie Dobro (last seen in Babylon 5’s Crusade), playing Jenna, gets a meaty role she can really sink her teeth into.
I first listened to the Blake’s 7 – Audio Adventures on the Sci Fi channel UK’s website as the five minute episodes were released. They sounded great! But, because they were released three times a week, and because each episode began and ended with lengthy intros and outros (lasting a minute or so) it was nigh impossible to follow the story. NOT SO with this re-cut version!

Here’s a breakdown of what’s in the set…

Disc 1: Rebel by Ben AaronovitchRebel is not only easy to follow, it is impossible not to follow! The show is super-compelling – like a tractor beam sucking you in. The adventure starts on Earth with a government special-ops team trying to capture the elusive Roj Blake. Blake was an opposition leader, now he’s an accused pedophile and terrorist. He’s soon caught, but not cowed. At his sham trial he acquits himself well, but still gets convicted after the fair judge (played by Frances Barber) gets re-programed. Blake is sentenced to exile on a prison planet, but instead of being neutralized he and some fellow prisoners manage to find what may turn out to be a real source for change in the Federation – an alien ship of immense power!

Disc 2: Traitor by Mark Platt
Blake and company, now in possession of a starship with tech beyond that of the Federation, must master the artificially intelligent and suicidal computer. Traitor is action packed, scene transitions take micro-seconds, point of view shifts by sound (you can tell where you are by what the voice of the speaker sounds like). As in Rebel the physics and science are done in a deliberate “hard SF” style. Unbeatable audio action.

Disc 3: Liberator by James Swallow
In part three, the Scottish accented Supreme Commander Servalan (Daniela Nardini) and her lackey Space Commander Travis (Craig Kelly) hatch a plan to eliminate Blake and steal his new ship. Meanwhile, with their ship now in fully working order Blake’s seven argue as to the best course of action. Should they, as Avon suggests,turn pirate? Or should they, as Blake wants, turn “Liberator” into a flagship of resistance? A few light-years away something is waiting…

Special Features [CD-ROM]:

Blake’s 7: A Rebellion Reborn – [VIDEO]
A terrific 17 minute video documentary offering behind the scenes studio footage, on camera interviews and commentary on what made the old television series so great. Watching this will sell any old Blake’s 7 fan on this new series!

Sci Fi 360 – [VIDEO]
A short (4 Minutes 16 Seconds) video about Blake’s 7 – Audio Adventures that aired on the Sci-Fi Channel UK, shot at the Sci-Fi-London 6 Festival.

Sci Files – [VIDEO]
Another short video (2 Minutes 1 Second) promoting the show. It too aired on the Sci-Fi Channel UK.

Blakes 7 Theme – [MUSIC]
An MP3 featuring an extended (2 Minutes 10 Seconds) version of the new B7 theme!

Blooper Reel -[AUDIO BLOOPERS]
An MP3 (5 Minutes 43 Seconds) of outtakes from the recording of the three episodes.

“He’s The One” – [MUSIC]
An MP3 rock ballad about Roj Blake performed by Slashed Seat Affair.

Wallpaper
Various sizes of desktop wallpaper featuring B7 art.

The producers tell me we haven’t heard the last of the Blake’s 7 Audio Adventures! So, get on board citizens, the rebels need your strength.

Posted by Jesse Willis

More John Kessell short fiction audio’d

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We told you about a couple of John Kessel stories on his website a while ago, then StarShip Sofa recorded one, now there are a few more on the website! So, we are adding an AUTHOR PAGE for Kessel and here is what will be on it…

Buffalo by John KesselBuffalo
By John Kessel; Read by James Campanella
1 |MP3| – Approx. 56 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Podcaster: StarShip Sofa
Podcast: March 2008
In April of 1934 H.G. Wells traveled to the United States, where he visited Washington, D.C. and met with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Wells, 68 years old, hoped the New Deal might herald a revolutionary change in the U.S. economy, a step forward in an “Open Conspiracy” of rational thinkers that would culminate in a world socialist state. For forty years he’d subordinated every scrap of his artistic ambition to promoting this vision. But by 1934 Wells’s optimism, along with his energy for saving the world, was waning. A Hugo and Nebula nominee 1992 Winner of the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award and the Locus poll in 1992.

The Baum Plan For Financial Independence by John KesselThe Baum Plan For Financial Independence
By John Kessel; Read by John Kessel
1 |MP3| – 33 Minutes [UNABRIDGED?]
Publisher: John Kessel’s website
Published: 2008
Ex-con Sid and his sometime girlfriend Dot break into a house in the Blue Ridge Mountains and open a door to a world that changes everything.

Pride And Prometheus by John KesselPride And Prometheus
By John Kessel; Read by John Kessel
2 M4As – Approx 1.5 Hours [UNABRIDGED?]
Publisher: John Kessel’s website
Published: 2008
Miss Mary Bennet, the bookish younger sister of Elizabeth Darcy, meets a mysterous and handsome scientist from the continent come to Regency England on a matter of life and death.
Part 1 |M4A| Part 2 |M4A|

Every Angel Is Terrifying by John KesselEvery Angel Is Terrifying
By John Kessel; Read by Gregory Frost
1 |M4A| – [UNABRIDGED?]
Publisher: John Kessel’s website
Published: 2008
Railroad is a murderer and a man haunted by God. What happens in the aftermath of his latest crime, when the pet cat of his last victims offers him a chance to change his life?

A Clean EscapeA Clean Escape
By John Kessel; Read by John Kessel
1 |MP3| – Approx. 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: John Kessel’s website
Published: August 2007
A psychiatrist deals with a patient who seems to have lost his memory of the last twenty-four years. Or has he?

A Clean EscapeSome Like It Cold
By John Kessel; Read by John Kessel
1 |MP3| – Approx. 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: John Kessel’s website
Published: August 2007
A time traveling talent scout from the future visits 1962 in search of his next recruit. But is she ready to come?

Posted by Jesse Willis

Flatland: A Romance Of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott

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Lit2GoLit2Go is a free online collection of stories and poems in MP3 format designed for use in Florida’s public schools (the service is funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Education). We’ve previously linked to their very serviceable reading of Frankenstein (BTW I’ve just now added a link to the NEW podcast feed for it).

Today I thought I’d point you at this classic of Victorian literature…

Flatland: A Romance Of Many DimensionsFlatland: A Romance Of Many Dimensions
By Edwin A. Abbott; Read by Laurey(?) Montgomery
22 MP3 Files – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Lit2Go / iTunes U
Published: 2006?
Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions (1884) is a classic 19th century novella that satirizes the social hierarchy of Victorian society using mathematical figures and ideas.

These recordings are copyrighted by the University of South Florida and are for educational use.

Preface to the second and revised edition |MP3|

Part 1: This World

1: “Of the Nature of Flatland” |MP3|
2: “Of the Climate and Houses in Flatland” |MP3|
3: “Concerning the Inhabitants of Flatland” |MP3|
4: “Concerning the Women” |MP3|
5: “Of Our Methods of Recognizing One Another” |MP3|
6: “Of Recognition by Sight” |MP3|
7: “Concerning Irregular Figures” |MP3|
8: “Of the Ancient Practice of Painting” |MP3|
9: “Of the Universal Colour Bill” |MP3|
10: “Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition”|MP3|
11: “Concerning Our Priests” |MP3|
12: “Of the Doctrine of Our Priests” |MP3|

Part 2: Other Worlds

13: “How I Had a Vision of Lifeland” |MP3|
14: “How I Vainly Tried to Explain the Nature of Flatland” |MP3|
15: “Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland” |MP3|
16: “How the Stranger Vainly Endeavoured to Reveal to Me in Words the Mysteries of Spaceland” |MP3|
17: “How the Sphere, Having in Vain Tried Words, Resorted to Deeds” |MP3|
18: “How I Came to Spaceland, and What I Saw There” |MP3|
19: “How, Though the Sphere Showed Me Other Mysteries of Spaceland, I Still Desire More; and What Came of It”|MP3|
20: “How the Sphere Encouraged Me in a Vision”|MP3|
21: “How I Tried to Teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to My Grandson, and with What Success”|MP3|
22: “How I Then Tried to Diffuse the Theory of Three Demensions by Other Means, and of the Result” |MP3|

No podcast feed is available (yet), but you can find the files in the “iTunes U” section of iTunes by doing a search.

Posted by Jesse Willis

Jack McDevitt on The World Fantasy Convention 2008 Podcast

SFFaudio Online Audio

I’ve been listening to the World Fantasy Convention 2008 Podcast for a while now (in reverse order), and I’ve just come across the special episode for Christmas – which features a special Jack McDevitt panel from a convention held in Calgary, Alberta. WOW! McDevitt reads from two stories, outlines the premises behind others and answers a few questions from the audience. One of the coolest panels I’ve ever heard! Check it out via the |MP3| or by subscribing to the podcast feed:

http://worldfantasy2008.libsyn.com/rss

Posted by Jesse Willis