Tag: William Tenn

Review of On Venus, Have We Got A Rabbi! by William Tenn

On Venus, Have We Got A Rabbi!
By William Tenn; read by William Tenn
56 minutes – [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: WNYC Radio [“Spinning On Air” with host David Garland].
Published: Nov. 22nd 2002 [LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVED SHOW IN REALAUDIO at WNYC]
Themes: / Science Fiction / Satire / Humor / Jews / Religion / Venus /

“Milchik, the TV repairman, speaks for all Jews on Venus and in the Universe.”

William Tenn (aka Philip Klass), gets the royal treatment he so well deserves on David Garland’s WNYC radio show. Remarkably well prepared, Garland teases out some delightful and informative anecdotes and stories from Tenn, it makes for a riveting interview. Garland has also seen fit to gift us with a delectable reading of one of Tenn’s stories read by the author himself!

William Tenn’s stories always have the same effect on me, as the story progresses a smile grows wider and wider across my face. On Venus, We Have A Rabbi! is laugh out loud funny. Perhaps knowledge of Jewish history would be helpful, I don’t know, but I enjoyed the heck out of it. And thankfully unlike another WNYC reading, this novelette is free of music, Tenn’s hilarious reading of his own story is almost perfect. He stumbles only once over one word, but otherwise he reads his tale like a professional narrator.

I sure hope Garland keeps up the great programming. Radio like this makes me wish I lived in New York.

Posted by Jesse Willis

One of the nice things about public radio is often…

One of the nice things about public radio is often their hosts are able to persue their own interests. David Garland, the host of the WNYC (New York City’s National Public Radio affiliate) program SPINNING ON AIR populates his weekly two hour broadcasts with music, interviews and readings. Garland has worked in comics, is a successful musician and lyricist, and has read science fiction and fantasy extensively. When he interviews his guests, his abundant familiarity with their work makes the interviewees comfortable and able to talk in depth – something typically absent from commercial radio. Subjects covered on SPINNING ON AIR have included filk music, science fiction in music, science fiction satire, science fiction movie music, and readings of both science fiction and fantasy fiction. New shows air Fridays from 9PM-11PM EST on 93.9 FM in New York City. You can also listen online, or listen to archived shows.

Here are some of the most interesting shows of the last three years:

Music and Science Fiction – Jul. 12, 2002

LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVED SHOW:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/spinning/episodes/07122002

Science Fiction Author William Tenn – Nov. 22nd 2002

LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVED SHOW:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/spinning/episodes/11222002

Catskin (a fantasy story by Kelly Link) – Oct. 31, 2004

LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVED SHOW:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/spinning/episodes/10312003

Philip K. Dick Loved Music, and Music Loves Him – Jan. 02, 2004

LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVED SHOW:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/spinning/episodes/01022004