Podcast Story Review: “Boojum”, by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette

May 10, 2011 in General Topics

Remember, if you’re ever at the dockyard of some used spaceship emporium, and you’re given the choice between a massive battlecruiser, a polyalloy explorer shuttle, or a living spacecraft that tries to get your attention with glowing tentacles, I hope you’ll give the third option serious consideration. Because it’s probably given you serious consideration. This review covers Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette’s “Boojum”, as heard on the Drabblecast. It’s a story of a pirate gal and her buddy, a living spaceship with a heart of gold. Spoilers, spoilers, spoilers.
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Merry Christmas! Listen to “On Dasher”, live on the Drabblecast now

December 28, 2008 in General Topics

And a happy new year. Remember when I said fantasy and I were getting along better these days?

Trot on over at a merry gait to The Drabblecast and listen to “On Dasher”, which I tried my level best to make the strangest Christmas tale you’ve ever heard.

I want to thank the guys at Drabblecast, especially Norm Sherman, who pushed through a dead computer and clean reload on new hardware to get this piece live.

Merry Christmas everyone, and a Happy New Year. I’ll be back here for the 2008 wrap-up in a few days.

Stay tuned.

Dragon*Con Wrap-Up

September 4, 2008 in General Topics

So I did have a great time at this year’s DC, even if I only got to go for a single day. There were some great moments from the ‘Con. For one, I got to spend some time with Anne and Rick Stringer, who were still in glow from their Parsec win for Best Magazine or Anthology, for Variant Frequencies. This means VF has won a Parsec three years in a row.

I think the VF crew are a great example that humility and decency can accomplish amazing things. Anne and Rick, and Matt Wallace, are some of the nicest, most laid-back people you can ever hope to meet. This is doubly impressive given their accomplishments. I also found out Anne has a hard time listening to her own work. Say what? But again, that does reflect that humility.

I also got the chance to hang out with Norm Sherman and Kendall Marchman (hope I got that last name right), 66.6% of the creative team behind my favorite paying Podcast market, The Drabblecast. Norm put up with my ridiculous schedule that week, and in the end I am very grateful he did. Once again, another laid-back, humble group of guys. Did I mention they ran a story of mine earlier this year?

I also grabbed a hand-shake from Steve Eley, whom I’ve never met in person, and whose trifecta of podcasts was somehow passed over for the Parsecs. I truly don’t understand that. I had thought some of their work was outstanding this year. Ah, well. Steve’s a very welcoming guy and a natural host, with a very friendly wife. And his kid is friggin’ adorable.

Interspersed amongst this all I got to shake hands with Edward James Olmos, Michael Hogan (who seemed tickled-pink that Michelle and I love his performances), a host of other fine folks, and generally wander around in and amongst a cavalcade of art, culture, and costumed hilarity.

All told, a fine day, and very energizing for my writing. Take care, all of you out there!

“Old Clara’s Favorites”, now live on The Drabblecast

May 21, 2008 in General Topics

Right now, head on over to The Drabblecast and check out Norm Sherman and co’s fine treatment of “Old Clara’s Favorites”, a horror piece originally featured here in my “free fiction” section.

I think you’ll enjoy the extended edition I put together just for the folks over at the Drabblecast, but beyond that, I encourage you to subscribe, if you haven’t already.

This has been a good year for me in audio: four stories have made the jump, and counting.

I’m in good company, too. D.K. Thompson’s excellent “Saint Darwin’s Spirituals” recently ran over on Variant Frequencies, and after a listen, I can give it my official endorsement. This is an eerie tale with an interesting take on the supernatural.

Much love to D.K., and all of you listeners at either podcast whom might have wondered in this direction.

“Old Clara’s Favorites” will appear in “The Drabblecast”

May 10, 2008 in General Topics

I’ve sold the non-exclusive audio rights to “Old Clara’s Favorites”, a little horror piece of mine, to “The Drabblecast”. Although this is the same tale that you can find under my free fiction section, the version they’ll be running is expanded to add a few more bits of detail. Oh, and it’s edited better. Keep in mind, I wrote the original version of this tale completely stream-of-conscious last Halloween, so I cleaned it up a bit for these guys.

I’m thrilled to know I’ll have work go live on Norm Sherman’s neck of the woods. I’ve been listening to this podcast for a while now, and I personally think his episodes are consistently top-notch; the style and length thereof more to my liking than some of the other big players in this segment of the speculative fiction universe.

I highly suggest you drop by and subscribe, if you haven’t already.

I’ll be posting an announcement here, as always, when the tale goes live.


In other news, I see D.K.Thompson has a new tale up with my friends over at Variant Frequencies. Kick ass. Although I haven’t had the chance to listen to it yet, the premise sounds wonderful, and I’ll post my honest thoughts and feedback once I’ve given it the once over.

Congrats, DKT.

Stay tuned.