The Audio File: Observable Radio: Season 1 (Part 2)

I don’t really have an introduction to add. So, I’ll get straight to the point. Welcome back to my review of Observable Radio. We’ll be covering episodes 9-15 in this review. If you’re looking for Part One, which covers episodes 1-8, it can be found over here. With all of that out of the way, let’s checkout some more radio transmissions from alternate universes. 

Episode nine is “Fathom Under.” It is set in a world where there has been wide scale ocean colonization. Millions of men and women live and work under the sea. It has been discovered that there is quite a bit of water located beneath the sea floor. The global water crisis has been solved. However, there is something else lurking beneath the subterranean ocean. Something absolutely massive, and something that isn’t pleased with humanity’s meddling.

Oh, well what do we have here? Ah, this is a kaiju episode. The Showa era Godzilla movies were a big part of my childhood. I didn’t so much walk, as much as ran, when Pacific Rim came out in theaters. I am still pissed about how Pacific Rim: Uprising turned out, however. I was very pleased to see references to both Godzilla and Pacific Rim in this episode. Ah, but do I detect some other kaiju references? I also see hints of The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, and The Kraken Awakes. Yes, this episode is a fine vintage indeed. Not much more to say. Just a good solid fun kaiju episode.

Very much recommended for all you kaiju fans, and lovers of other giant monsters.

Episode ten is “Best Minds.” It takes places in a seemingly idyllic world ruled over by an A.I. known as Salom. Every year, a select group of students are chosen to attend a very special academy. You have to be among the best and brightest in order to be selected. At the end of term, the students will personally get to contribute their knowledge to Salom. Allen will soon be making his contribution to Salom, but he’s beginning to have second thoughts.

This episode is another anti-A.I. parable. Albeit, one that takes a more allegorical approach to the subject than “Large Models” did. One of the arguments against A.I. is that it steals the labor and knowledge of the lower classes for the benefit of the wealthy and powerful. It also see hints of classic science fiction short stories. I get some notes of “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.” Salom is more or less powered by forsaken children; or rather, teenagers, as the case might be. I also see echoes of “Examination Day.” The theme of doing well on a big test actually being to one’s detriment.

Overall, not a bad episode. It didn’t get me excited the way “Fathom Under” did, but still a fairly solid episode.

Episode eleven is “Earworms.” It is set in a world where Earth is experiencing a visit from an alien race. They come in peace, and they really do seem friendly. They are small wormlike beings. Small enough to slip in your ear. But don’t worry, they only want to be your guide, and provide you with some helpful advice and companionship. However, not everyone is convinced of the aliens’ intentions. Some people claim that the aliens are actually an invasion force. One which humanity has welcomed with open arms. But it can’t happen here, can it?

The first thing that came to mind when I listened to this episode was Animorphs. Or rather, the basic set-up of Animorphs, but without superpowered kids swooping in to save the day. Well, save the day, and deal with deep-seated psychological trauma as the result of being child soldiers. Yeah, Animorphs is to kids books what Neon Genesis Evangelion and Attack on Titan are to shonen anime. However, as it was as I was writing this review that I realized there was another influence. This episode clearly draws from the miniseries V. It also deals with aliens who present themselves as friendly, only to later turn out to have not benign intentions for humanity. And yes, it too followed a resistance cell of humans.

Come to think of it, many episode of Observable Radio are tributes to other works of fiction. “Cattle Drive” draws heavily on Soylent Green. “As Below” is a self-admitted prequel to The Time Machine. “Fathom Under” is a kaiju sampler platter. None of this is meant as a criticism, merely an observation.

I can say, completely, of my own volition, that this was another fine episode of Observable Radio.

Episode twelve is “Bloodwork.” It is set in a world where vampires rule over humanity. However, it isn’t as bad as you might imagine. Humanity has experienced an unprecedented era of prosperity and harmony. The only thing the vampire ask in exchange is that humans offer a small blood donation every month. However, not all humans are happy with this state of affairs. There are whispers that humanity are merely slaves to the vampires. Sure, the donation of blood is low now, but what if the vampires decide to raise it? We follow a resistance cell of humans who are plotting to overthrow the vampires.

There are several people who consider vampires something of a cliché. I, however, am not one of those people. I found this episode to be delightful. You don’t typically see too many vampire dystopias. Usually, you get vampires hunting humanity like animals. So, it was a breath of fresh air to see the vampires establishing a Vichy regime. Speaking of dystopia, this episode has even stronger V vibes than “Earworm” did. I guess, in this case, V is for Vampires, rather than Visitors. I also liked seeing cameos from famous vampires such as Dracula and Carmilla. And then there was that ending. Wow, I actually kind of found myself rooting for the vampires. It was just so impressive how they were three steps ahead of the resistance cell.

See, it turns out vampires don’t need to drink blood, and they aren’t immortal. The names are, basically, titles passed from vampire to vampire. Most of the blood they collect is used in agricultural feed, iron and nutrition supplements, or sold back to hospitals. I bring this up because the plan of the resistance was to infect the blood supply with prions. So, they only wound up hurting their fellow humans. George S. Patton famously described Erwin Rommel as a magnificent bastard. I’m tempted to say the same of these vampires.

Now, granted, this does raise some questions. Do vampires have any differences at all from standard humans? Are the vampires really just humans who tricked the other humans into serving them? Pretty impressive if that’s the case, but it’s more fun if the vampires really are vampires. I know this episode had an anti-capitalism slant to it, but it also feels a bit muddled. The monthly blood donations are mandated by the people running the government, and there is no way to opt out of them. So, in other words, taxation. Now, I’m just spitballing here, but I’m pretty sure Cameron Suey is not a Libertarian. However, muddle message or not, this still remains one of my favorite episodes of Observable Radio.

First we got a wonderful kaiju send-up, then we got a vampire dystopia. How is Observable Radio going to top this one?

Episode thirteen is “Palimpsest.” It all began in the 1860s when a comet passed by Earth. Before that, only psychics and mediums had the ability to communicate with ghosts and spirits. After the comet, everyone gained the ability to see and hear the dead. At first, it was a time of great rejoicing and celebration. The living were reunited with their dearly departed loved ones. Slowly, however, things began to change. The psychics and mediums began to get overwhelmed by increasing visions of the dead. Decades past, and with their passing, humanity’s collective clairvoyance grew. Soon, people could see the spirits of animals, but then the spirits of plants began to manifest. What if the visions never stopped? What if humanity gained the ability to see the spirits of every living organism all at once?

How would Observable Radio top “Bloodwork?” Quite well. Quite well indeed. If I absolutely had to pick a favorite episode of Observable Radio, it would have to be “Palimpsest.” I looked it up, and a palimpsest is a manuscript that has evidence of previous writing still on it. You know how when you erase something and you can still sometimes see the outline of what you wrote? That’s an example of a palimpsest. So, I suppose you could say that ghosts are a form of spiritual palimpsest.

I have never encountered a ghost apocalypse story before. Certainly not one anything like this. So, this episode was even more of a breath of fresh air than “Bloodwork” was. I also liked the alternate history aspects of this one. Queen Victoria is far less dour now that her beloved Prince Albert has been returned to her. In our world, she spent the remainder of her life in mourning after Albert died. Meanwhile, the American Civil War ended earlier due to ghosts from both sides pleading for the war to end. Though, I do wonder if anyone listened to what the Black ghosts had to say.

In a way, we are living on top of a graveyard. Ninety-nine percent of all species that have ever existed have gone extinct. It might be cool to get to see spectral dinosaurs, and other extinct creatures. And it would be nice to know that death is not the end, and that there is something on the other side. It would also be nice to see my dog Wolfie and my cat Tiger again. Of course, not being able to see anything due to all of the ghost bacteria would definitely take a lot of the shine off of all that.

There really is not enough I can say about what an absolutely fantastic episode this was. I recommend it in the strongest possible terms.

Episode fourteen is “High Strange.” This episode follows a group of meddling kids who find themselves in a strange town. The town is in the middle of the desert. It is a place where the rules of reality seem to be out to lunch. So, yeah, this episode is basically a crossover between Scooby-Doo and Welcome to Night Vale.

This episode wasn’t bad per se. The idea of a Scooby-Doo/Welcome to Night Vale crossover was a fun concept. However, given the incredibly strong string of preceding episodes, it is hard not to see this episode as a bit of a let down. It doesn’t help that the plot is interspersed with the plot of the finale. The final two episodes deal with Observer and Trapper. As previously mentioned, Observable Radio failed to make me care about the Observer segments. So, it was kind of hard to get invested in the finale.

Now, let me elaborate a bit. Out of Place was an audio drama that took a similar approach; an anthology with a recurring meta plot. The difference, however, is that it made me care about Andrew the Archivist and his personal life. The Observer segments sound like the ravings of a madman, and I couldn't make any sense out of them. As such, I just couldn’t get too invested in the Observer. So, maybe listen to “High Strange”, but skip the two-part season finale.

I don’t want to end this review on a sour note. So, I’ll briefly talk about some of the other offerings from Observable Radio. Cameron Suey has been sharing some bits of his other fiction during the wait for season two. He has published these stories across the internet under different pseudonyms. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I’d listened to one of them before.

“Thaw” follows an astronaut who has been put into cryogenic preservation for a space mission. However, he wakes up to find that something has gone terribly wrong. I had listened to this story on the creepypasta channel CreepyPastaJr. I was pleasantly surprised when the story started playing. It was like meeting an old friend that I hadn’t seen for years. Though, in hindsight, it is unfortunate that CreepyPastaJr is how I know of “Thaw.” He and CreepsMcPasta both got busted for attempting to solicit underaged fans of theirs. But, at least we now have another audio recording of “Thaw.”

I was also quite fond of the story “Sick, Or, The Algorithm.” It follows a man who is being poisoned by a powerful man. The power man has an equally powerful algorithm, and hordes of loyal followers, he can use to help eliminate our protagonist. But the protagonist isn’t going down without a fight. He’s going to get an untainted meal; even if he has to resort to…unconventional methods to do so. This story was almost like a bizarre superhero origin story. Something more along the lines of V for Vendetta. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how the protagonist would outwit the powerful man.

Season two of Observable Radio is going to take a different approach. It will be a single self-contained story told across the season. It is set in the near future, after everyone on Earth has had a vision of an apocalypse involving a solar flare. It seems we will follow a different person each episode, and how the vision has impacted their lives. So, something along the lines of The Phone Booth or The Program Audio Series. Whatever the future holds, I’m excited to see what Observable Radio will do next.

So, there you have it. Observable Radio is an anthology of radio transmissions from parallel universes. It is a fine mix of horror, science fiction, and a bit of alternate history. Tune in if you dare, and I certainly hope that you do dare.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: Observable Radio: Season 1 (Part 1)

As many of you know, I got my start on my audio drama listening journey with anthology shows. There’s something magical about having each episode be a new present to unwrap. Each story a new adventure to begin. I suppose it was fitting that I also began my audio drama production journey with an anthology. And as I’m sure you have gathered by now, we shall be reviewing an anthology today. We’re taking a look at season one of Observable Radio. 

Observable Radio is presented as a series of radio transmissions from parallel universes. Each episode covers a different universe experiencing, if not an apocalypse, then something rather unpleasant. We have a universe dealing with a kaiju invasion. There’s a universe undergoing a ghost apocalypse. There is one where AI has gotten out of control. There’s even one were The War on Christmas has a far more literal meaning. At the beginning and ending of each episode we get some commentary from Trapper or the Observer. They are…well, actually, let’s put a pin in that for now.

As with many things, I first became aware of Observable Radio thanks to the r/audiodrama subreddit. However, they significantly boosted themselves on my radar by listening to my own audio drama The Books of Thoth. Observable Radio recommended The Books of Thoth alongside several other audio dramas they’d been listening to. So, I decided to return the favor by listening to Observable Radio. I’m happy to report that I give them a recommendation as well. Observable Radio is created by Cameron Suey, and performed by an ensemble of actors and actresses.

Observable Radio reminds me a lot of another audio drama I enjoyed: Out of Place. Particularly the second seasons of Out of Place; which also dealt with apocalypses from across the multiverse. Though, Observable Radio is more conventional style audio drama; in the sense it doesn’t rely as much on narration and after action reports to set the scene. Not that there's anything wrong with the latter approach, mind you. Merely an observation on my part.

Now, on that note, there’s something Observable Radio and Out of Place have in common. I couldn’t review Out of Place without getting into serious spoilers. And the same is very much true here. So, if you don’t like spoilers, consider this your first and only warning.

With that out of the way, let us begin.

We’ll start with a brief word about Trapper and the Observer. I have no clue what was going on there. I could never make heads or tails of what they were saying. It was cryptic to the point of being incomprehensible. Also, I felt the show failed to make me care about those bits. I found myself drumming my fingers during those parts and thinking “Get to the good stuff already!” Let’s be real, the transmissions from the parallel universes are the true stars of the show; as they rightly should be. Thankfully, you can ignore the Trapper and Observer segments and you won’t miss out on anything. Well, the season finale will make no sense, but we’ll get into that.

We shall start with “A Night Indoors.” This episode that place in a world that seems to be presently stuck in the 1940s. We start off with a typical American wartime broadcast, big band orchestra and all. However, there is something sinister lurking in the background. And something is about to go very wrong.

There was technical proficiency here. Observable Radio did an excellent job of mimicking the style of a 1940s radio broadcast. However, the writing left something to be desired. What was the message here? Don’t idealize the past? Nostalgia is evil? Was there even a message, or are we trying to subvert expectations. This was, I think, not the best foot Observable Radio could have put forward. But I felt perhaps there was potential for this audio drama. So, I decided to give the next episode a go.

The second episode is “Cattle Drive.” It takes place in a world that is has been experiencing a food shortage. The Barnyard Flu decimated the poultry and pork supply, but cattle industry has never been better. It isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, however. Joseph Clay is a whistleblower who has uncovered a major scandal within the cattle industry. He is currently on trial, and the outcome will have major ramifications for the cattle industry.

I admit, I really wasn’t sure about this episode at first. Initially, I assumed it was going to have an annoyingly preachy pro-veganism message. I’d already been burned by an episode of Wrong Station that suffered from that problem. The technical aspects of “Cattle Drive” were as good as ever, but I was prepared for my eyes to flying out of their sockets from all the rolling.

Then the ending came, and it changed everything. You see, there are two types of twist endings in fiction. The first is the big mystery everything has been building towards. This is sometimes referred to as the J.J. Abrams Mystery Box School of Writing. Such endings can certainly be fun, but they kind of diminish the re-reading/re-listneing value of the works that use them. The second type, however, is one that recontextualizes everything that came before it. These sort of endings increase the re-read/re-listen value of a work. The most famous example of this is Tyler Durden and the narrator of Fight Club being the same person.

The ending of “Cattle Drive” is the second variety. I thought back to how the episode mentions cattle, but never uses the words beef or cow. You see, Soylent Green is people, and so are cattle. Observable Radio had been on the ropes up until this point. I was seriously considering dropping the show. That ending, and how it completely recontextualized everything that came before it, is what convinced me to stick with the show. This was the point the writers officially had my attention, and I had a better idea of what they were capable of.

Sure, there are some nitpicky things I could say. For example, humans would make a pretty horrible food source due to our high caloric requirements. But you know what, I’m willing to overlook it. If the story is good and holds my attention, I can forgive less than plausible plot points.

All this to say, “Cattle Drive” get two huge thumbs up from me. This is the episode you really want to start with for Observable Radio.

Episode three is “Large Models.” It takes place in a world where everything is run by A.I. They deliver food, they run the power grid, they handle emergency services, and of course they produce entertainment. Everything was working perfectly, up until it didn’t. The AIs began to malfunction. Food stopped being delivered, blackouts went unfixed, and society came apart at the seams. We follow a man named Mitch. He is desperate to find other survivors in the desolated wasteland that used to be Los Angles. He has been communicating with a woman named Hope. She claims to know where other survivors are. But hope can be a dangerous thing when you live in desperate times.

Okay, admittedly, I figured out the twists about halfway through the episode. I’m sure you probably have as well. It is often said it is the journey, not the destination, that counts. I don’t completely agree with that. The Mystery Box, as previously mentioned, is an example where not even the journey can salivate the ending. However, it do agree with the sentiment overall. And the journey with “Large Models” was certainly worth it.

Earlier this year, Spotify put out their usual Wrapped recap. They also included an A.I. summary. It summarized my year of listening in the style of a chat podcast with two hosts. It was almost scary how natural and lifelike it sounded. “Large Models” definitely did a good job of replicating the feel of those sorts of AIs. So, major points to everyone in the voice cast.

I am officially agonistic when it comes to A.I. and the future. I do understand the anxiety everyone feels about how arts and entertainment might become automated. Thing is, this isn’t the first time we’ve had this conversation. There was quite an uproar among artists when photography started to take off. The writings and correspondence of those artists sounds very similar to modern artists talking about A.I. There’s this fear that photography would put traditional artists into the poor house. But drawings and paintings didn’t disappear.

The genie isn’t going back in the bottle. We don’t have to like it, or be happy about it, but that’s the hand we’ve been dealt. Personally, the biggest argument in favor of human artists is how annoying AIs can be. I’m sure you’ve all had to deal with the automated phone service. I’d rather talk to an actual human, and describe my vision to them. Same with voice actors. I’ll happily wait for a human voice actor to give me a performance. They are infinitely more likely to know what I mean when I request a specific performance. I don’t use AIs to write my reviews, and I do not intend to change that.

On the other hand, I’m not naive about potential abuse. Imagine how worse scam calls would be if A.I. could perfectly replicate a loved one’s voice. Too much automation would lead to mass unemployment. This is one of the reasons I support some form of Universal Basic Income. There’s also, as the episode demonstrates, the issue of redundancy. Basically, you need to make sure you have enough humans in case the AIs go haywire. So, you don’t want to go all in on automation. At the same time, the AIs won’t always be broken. Which leads back to the mass unemployment issue.

This was certainly a very timely and topical episode. As you’ve noticed by how many tangents I went on. “Large Models” is very much worth listening to.

Our forth episode is “Signs & Signifiers.” The comet Hasegawa is going to be making a rendezvous with Earth. Ah, but don’t worry, this isn’t Armageddon. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean this world will get off so easily. Strange reports have been coming in across the world. It seems that the comet has brought an infection, but not an organic one. This alien invasion is one of sonic origin.

This was certainly not a bad episode by any stretch of the imagination. I enjoyed it overall. However, it did have the misfortune of being sandwiched between two particularly excellent episodes. So, it wound up getting outshone by its siblings. So, it was an enjoyable episode, but just not quite as memorable as some of the other episodes this season. So, let’s move on.

The fifth episode is “The Holiday.” It is set in a world where The War on Christmas has a much more literal meaning. Well, the people of this world simply refer to it as The Holiday. Every year, hordes of children armed with guns, axes, and other weapons duke it out with Santa’s elves on the field of battle. This year, there’s even rumor that the big man himself is going to get involved in the battle.

This was a much more humorous offering that Observable Radio is typically known for. However, it was certainly not unwelcome. There is still some social commentary amidst the humor. You can definitely see a satirization of American gun culture in all of the scenes where parents cheerily talk about weapons shopping with their kids. Come to think of it, there’s a lot of satirizing of suburban America in general. There are scenes of parents who are proud of their kids for enlisting, or being selected, for the big fight. It brings to mind those parents who get way too competitive about school sports. And, of course, nobody thinks to question the annual tradition. After all, that’s not very patriotic. But beyond all the commentary on American life, the idea of a literal War on Christmas got a considerable chuckle out of me.

My present for this episode is two thumbs up.

The sixth episode is “Sweet Hereafter.” The afterlife is real. Or rather, humanity has made it real. AfterCare specializes in creating digital afterlives for all their clients. You don’t have to worry about not having enough time with grandma. Thanks to AfterCare, you can visit her anytime you want. And you can spend as much time…as your subscription plan allows! Isn’t that dandy? But hey, there’s more! AfterCare doesn’t just make digital heaven, it also makes digital hell. That way, criminals and wrong doers will truly have to pay for their crimes. But uh oh, what’s this? It seems there’s been a bit of an issue with the backup files. What will happen to everyone who has been uploaded.

It is a common trope in science fiction to cheat death by uploading your consciousness into a computer. Personally, I’m a little skeptical of how well this would work. The mind is a byproduct of the brain. You can’t just download it like a computer program. All you’d be doing is creating a digital replica of yourself. That’s all well and dandy, but it doesn’t change that fact that I, as an individual, am still doomed to die. AfterCare claims they keep their clients souls on the tapes. But I can’t help but wonder if that’s merely poetic wording. If so, well, then I suppose that’s the point. AfterCare is depicted as a shady corporation.

There’s also, I sense, a commentary on the private prison system with the digital hell. There’s also potential commentary on the death penalty. I see certain parallels. Use the digital hell as a deterrent for crime, but would it really work? Is it needlessly cruel? Should there be a statute of limits for souls in the digital hell? And most pressing of all, what if an innocent soul unjustly gets sent to the digital hell? I can only answer the last question, and I suspect you might know the answer as well.

Well, actually, I do know the answer to one other question? Should you give this episode a listen? The answer is yes, yes you should.

Our seventh episode is “Hollow Ring.” This episode seems to take place in a world where democracy was never invented. Countless dynasties and noble families carve the globe amongst themselves. But this isn’t just lines on a map. There are several megacorporations controlled by noble families. Lord Osmand, the head of House Hanover-Gore has been murdered. It has been quite a while since an assassination has occurred, and this has sent shockwaves across the dynasties. Who is the murderer, and what is their motivation?

There was potential here, but the episode failed to achieve that potential. We get some tantalizing glimpses of this world. We know that Egypt is still ruled by Pharaohs. There’s brief mention of a House of Argos. Perhaps related to Jason of the Argonauts? There’s also mention of a place called Ondonga. Perhaps the Iroquois managed to maintain their independence? Which is odd, given that they didn’t have nobility, and practiced a form of democracy. In fact, the Iroquois Confederacy is the longest continuous democracy in history. Only the Icelandic Althing has been around for longer. There’s also mention of luxury airships. I know some people consider airships a cliche, but I like them.

The further back the point of divergence, the more alien of a world you get. This world was certainly alien, but I felt I never got a feel for how it functioned. I felt like I was being thrown in the deep end without an explanation. I certainly wished we would have gotten to know more about the history of this world.

There was so much potential, but this episode failed to make the most of it. Thumbs down, unfortunately.

Episode eight is “As Below.” We follow a community of folks living deep underground. They tend to their crops and keep the great machine running. It’s just as their sacred forefathers commanded them to do. It isn’t much, but it’s honest work. They hold the great machine in an almost religious revere. But some folks are beginning to question that devotion. Perhaps all is not as it seems.

This was another episode that had potential, but didn’t quite hit the mark. Apparently, according to Observable Radio’s social media accounts, this episode is meant to be a prequel to H.G. Well’s classic novel The Time Machine. A way to explain how the Morlocks and Eloi came to be. I guess I can kind of see that. Wells was making a point about class conflict with the Morlocks and Eloi. Though, Wells also seemed to assume that the middle class would never become a thing. The reveal was certainly fun, but I don’t feel the journey was quite worth it. This episode also had the misfortune of being followed by one of my favorite episodes of Observable Radio, but we’ll get into that next time.

For now, however, I unfortunately have to point in the direction of this episode. Thumbs down.

And this is where I’m going to stop for now. I will split the review into two parts to make for easier reading. We’ll cover episodes nine though fourteen next time. I don’t want to end this half on a sour note. Overall, I very much enjoyed Observable Radio. To whet your appetite, I will add that some of the best episodes are yet to be discussed on this blog. I loved getting to hear all these broadcasts from other universes.

Observable Radio is a fine blend of horror, science fiction, and just a hint of alternate history. Always excellent to find another fellow anthology show. If you think the half was great, wait until you see what the back half has to offer. Speaking of which, I should get to work on part two of this review.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: Silvertongues

The new year has arrived, but there is still a lot of old business to attend to. Chief among them is that my requested reviews queue has got quite the backlog. So, I’m going to try to put a dent in that. To the best of my ability. Anyway, enough with the rambling, let’s get on to the main event. We’re taking a look at Silvertongues. 

Roscoe Talbot and Tavi Jones are almost literally in paradise. They run a juice bar in beautiful Hawaii. It’s a simple life, but they don’t have any complaints. Until now that is. Roscoe and Tavi have discovered that there are absolutely no records of their existence. No driver’s license, no social security number, no records of housing or employment. Absolutely nothing. In fact, they can’t even recall anything about their lives from before they started working at the juice bar. Well, there is one exception. They find a news article about Roscoe competing in a limbo contest on the island of Kalalani. Roscoe and Tavi must travel to this mysterious island to uncover the truth about their past. But danger lurks around every corner. Kalalani is ruled by a mysterious figure named Kai. To call him a cult leader is a major oversimplification. Kai has a way with words to a supernatural degree. When he says jump, his followers don’t even have to ask how high, or when to stop. You could say Kai is a real Silvertongue.

Silvertongues is created by Josie Eli Herman and Michael Alan Herman. They both previously created the audio drama The Call of the Void. As you might recall, I quite enjoyed The Call of the Void. So, as soon as Silvertongues was announced, I was very eager to see what Josie and Michael had cooked up this time. And they certainly did not disappoint with their second audio drama.

I should start by discussing the format of Silvertongues. The episodes alternate between main episodes set during the Present Day, and minisodes set seven years earlier. The minisodes do eventually catch up to the start of the main episodes. They’re also very important for unraveling the secrets of Roscoe and Tavi’s past. So, make sure you don’t skip the minisodes.

Let’s start by talking about the soundtracks. Silvertongues has some absolutely fantastic music. The opening theme starts things off strong with some funky 1970s inspired beats. Then we’ve got the closing theme with some groovy disco-inspired music. Of course, the soundtrack is also capable of getting more sober and introspective during those serious scenes. Honestly, the soundtrack for Silvertongues has easily become one of my favorite audio drama soundtracks. Each episode is introduced by the dulcet sounds of local DJ Seth Budarocci. I liked how the last line of the final episode is him giving a sign-off. It was a nice little touch.

I was very excited for the story to be set in Hawaii. I was going on a bit of a Hawaiian kick around the time I listened to Silvertongues. Also, I really wanted to try an açaí bowl after I heard about them on Silvertongues.

I really want to visit Hawaii, and I’ve already got a list of places I want to see. I want to see the Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. I want to visit a black sand beach and explore the Hawaiian rainforests. I want to see the lava fields, and I want to visit the Valley of the Temples. It might be fun to go snorkeling too, but we’re getting sidetracked here.

Some of you might be wondering if Silvertongues is set in the same world as The Call of the Void. It was established in The Call of the Void that the multiverse does exist, and we even briefly encountered an alternate version of Topher. Well, Silvertongues does feature the unexpected return of a character from The Call of the Void. 

Ladies and gentlemen, listeners of all ages, Fargo Kaminski is back. Ah, but Fargo isn’t alone. We also get to meet her sister Tasch. She is just as crazy as Fargo, but also like Fargo, Tasch is quite good at what she does. Tasch is one of the best, if not the best, pilot in all of Hawaii. Granted, her landings sometimes leave something to be desired. She flies an old Soviet cargo plane, well, that’s where most of it came from. The other bits came from here and there, occasionally being held together with duct tape.

Fargo does briefly mention that she dealt with some crazy stuff in the swamps of Louisiana. This would seem to confirm that Silvertongues is set in the same world as The Call of the Void. However, Tasch is voiced by Josie Eli Herman, who also voiced Etsy in The Call of the Void. You’d think that Fargo would have commented on how similar Tasch and Etsy sound. Then again, this is Fargo we’re talking about. It is entirely possible she did notice, but didn’t consider it worth commenting on.

There is a third character who falls into the crazy, yet awesome, category. Darcy Bennet has a name that is clearly a reference to Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. And let’s see, what else am I forgetting? Oh, right. In terms of personality, he’s basically Crocodile Dundee. Yes, Crocodile Dundee, not Steve Irwin. Steve was an awesome Australian dude, wasn’t afraid to get up close with dangerous animals, but he was not crazy.

And don’t bring up the time with the stingray. I get asked that three times, at minimum, whenever I work in the stingray gallery at the Shreveport Aquarium. That was a freak accident. He didn’t see it, and it didn’t see him. It reacted like a scared animal, not out of malice. Nine times out of ten, stingrays will swim away rather than sting. If they sting, there’s a risk their barb will get stuck in whatever they stung. And if it gets ripped out…well, imagine ripping out a fingernail, but twenty times worse.

Getting back on track, Darcy is the go-to guy for, well, just about anything you need. Need a boat on short notice? He’s got you covered. Need someone who knows a thing or two about snakes, deadly and otherwise? He’s your man. He’s also…well, he’s certainly enthusiastic with explosives, at any rate. Darcy is voiced by Michael Alan Herman. I would not have guessed that had I not listened to the credits. I listened a little more carefully after that, and I kind of picked it up. Still, quite an excellent demonstration of Michael’s range.

Now, you might have noticed I’ve been neglecting Roscoe and Tavi. This isn’t because they are bad characters. They were certainly engaging enough. However, much of Silvertongues revolves around their quest for identity. So, it is kind of hard to discuss them without getting into spoilers. There is one more character that we have to discuss before we get to that.

Kai is the titular silvertongue. Well, one of them anyway, but more on that in the spoilers. Kai has what can best be described as the power of persuasion. Everyone who hears his voice is compelled to obey any command he gives. And I do mean any. For example, if he tells you that you are chained to the floor, you will not be able to get up. Doesn’t matter that there isn’t anything physically holding you down. Kai’s power will make you believe that you are chained to the floor. Kai rules over Kalalani as an iron-fisted dictator and wannabe demigod. Kai claims to have been chosen by the gods of the island to rule Kalalani.

I’m a bit reminded of Amy Carlson. She was the leader of the Love Has Won cult who, among other things, claimed to be the reincarnation of the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele. As you might imagine, Native Hawaiians weren’t too pleased to see a White woman from Colorado claiming to be one of their deities. The cult faced considerable protest when they attempted to move to Kauai.

This does kind of tie into something I’d been thinking about. Now, Hawaii is notable for being the only majority minority state of the United States. Asian are the largest demographic group at about forty percent of the population. Whites, by contrast, are only about twenty-two percent of the population. Hawaii is also the most multiracial state, as mixed race people account for twenty-one percent of the population. Native Hawaiians, of full-blood ancestry, are about seven percent of the population.

I bring all of this up because I kind of felt that Silvertongues was a bit lacking in the diversity department. Now, I have to be fair here. Since this is an audio drama, an inherently non-visual medium, it is hard to tell what race everyone is supposed to be. Also, Kalalani, gives the vibe of one of those exotic resorts attended almost exclusively by rich White people. Still, the lack of Asian people does feel a bit off. Though, granted, this is a common issue with fiction set in Hawaii, but created by mainlanders. The lack of Native Hawaiian characters also creates some slight problems that we’ll get into in the spoilers section.

Speaking of which, the time has come at last. If you don’t want any spoilers, turn back now.

Last chance, are you sure you wish to continue.

Okay, if everyone who wants off the ride is gone, let’s get into it.

When I heard that Michael Alan Herman would be voicing Kai, I joked to myself that Silvertongues might prove to be a gender flipped version of The Call of the Void. As it turns out, this wasn’t entirely off. So, a few years before the events of the story, Kai was exposed to radiation from a meteor. This is how he got his powers. Admittedly, this makes the science fiction in Silvertongues about as soft as it was in The Call of the Void. I’m reminded of those 1950s science fiction stories where radiation was basically magic, and could do whatever that plot required. Of course, it isn’t how hard or soft your science fiction is, but what you do with it that counts. And Silvertongues did tell a very compelling, and thrilling, story.

Ah, but Kai wasn’t the only one exposed to the radiation. A pair of federal investigators were also investigating the meteor. Their names were Roscoe Talbot and Tavi Jones. Roscoe got the same dosage that Kai did, and also has the same ability that he does. Roscoe and Tavi followed Kai to Hawaii. However, it turns out that silvertongues are not immune to each other’s abilities. And thus, the plot was set in motion. I had been suspecting that this might be the case for a while. However, there was an additional twist I didn’t see coming.

Kai has a complete god complex. He believes that the gods of Kalalani have chosen him to rule the island. However, towards the end of the series, it turns out that the gods of Kalalani are real. As you might imagine, they aren’t pleased with what Kai has done to the island. Now, this isn’t bad in and of itself, and there is a lot of potential with the idea. However, I feel it could have come with a bit more foreshadowing. There was nothing to suggest they were anything other than figments of Kai’s megalomania. This is what I meant about the lack of Native Hawaiian characters. Granted, not all Native Hawaiians follow traditional beliefs, but perhaps a character that does could have been used to foreshadow the existence of the gods.

The dynamic between Roscoe and Tavi, when Roscoe is rediscovering his power, reminded me of the dynamic between Etsy and Topher in The Call of the Void. Though, with the genders reversed. Also, I must give praise to Dan Johnson. He made Roscoe sound like the last person who would have anything special about him. Of course, Sabrina Dahlgren, who voices Tavi, is no slouch in the voice acting department either.

By the end of the series, Roscoe and Tavi don’t have all of their memories back. In fact, they might never recover them at all, and will have to move forward with their lives anyway. I was reminded of the experience of people with amnesia. Contrary to what television and movies would have you believe, getting your memories back isn’t as simple as bonking your head again. Sometimes you slowly recover them, sometimes you get some back, but not all. And there are those who never truly recover their memories. For better or worse, our memories are part of what makes us who we are. It can be hard to maintain a sense of identity when you can’t even remember who you were.

The ending of Silvertongues touches on all of these themes. Still, Roscoe and Tavi have each other, and they are as close as ever. So, personally, I give them strong odds and a healthy prognosis. There are a few other revelations I could mention here, but I’ll leave those for you to discover.

There don’t appear to be any plans for a second season of Silvertongues. The series ends on a fairly definitive note. However, season one of The Call of the Void seemed to be closed and done, yet we got two more seasons. We know that there’s been two silvertongues; who’s to say that there aren’t more lurking out there? Alternatively, perhaps there might be other meteors, with other radiation, and other side-effects. I will also add that the ending of Silvertongues didn’t feel rushed like the ending of The Call of the Void’s first season was. Rather, it was more like the satisfying ending of the third season.

Whatever the future holds, I can say that I had a great time with Silvertongues. It was a thrilling adventure set on the sunny shores of Hawaii. It was an excellent follow-up from the team behind The Call of the Void. Come take a thrilling tropical auditory vacation from the comfort of your own home. 

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: Residents of Proserpina Park: Season 4

It seems like it was only yesterday that I listened to that first episode of Residents of Proserpina Park. And now, here we are. The fourth season is complete, and the fifth season is on the way. Where does the time go? Well, enough rambling, on to the main event. We’re taking a look at season four of Residents of Proserpina Park. 

Last season, Mirai took a trip to Japan in search of answer about her brother Juni. She discovered a hidden village inhabited by yokai. She also discovered Kukunochi Park, which is basically the Japanese version of Proserpina Park. Now, Mirai is going to explore Kukunochi Park in earnest. She’s got her trusty tanuki friend Daichi by her side. Perhaps she’ll even be able to call upon Fox Ears the kitsune…if Fox Ears is in the mood. It’s a new park, a new season, and a whole lot of surprises to be found.

We had an episode last season which featured Mirai in the main role. It showed that she was more than capable of carrying the show purely on her own. I had been hoping we might see more of that come season four. As it turns out, I got my wish and then some. The entire season follows Mirai and the Japanese creatures. Alina and the gang only make a brief appearance in the stinger scene at the end of the season.

Naturally, we get to encounter a lot of cool Japanese creatures. We get an episode dedicated to the Kasa Obake. They’re basically the poster boys for yokai. They’re those umbrellas with one eye, one leg, and really long tongues. From that same episode, we get to learn about the Bakezori. They’re yokai that originate as old abandoned shoes. Yeah, there’s an entire class of yokai called Tsukumogami. They’re objects that come to life after being sufficiently, usually over 100 years, old.

I also really enjoyed the episode about the Ninmenju. It is a tree that grows fruit with human faces. Seems like standard yokai stuff, but here’s the kicker, the story isn’t indigenous to Japan. There is a nearly identical story in Islamic Folklore called the Waq Waq Tree. The story made its way to China via the Silk Road, and from there, it found its way to Japan. Japan has historically gone through several periods of isolation. In many ways, Japan is kind of on the edge of the world. Yet the Ninmenju show that Japan wasn’t quite as disconnected as it tried to be. It really is a small world after all. I love discovering connections like that.

It was also obvious we were going to get an episode about the Gashadokuro. They are giant skeleton yokai that usually appear following a great loss of life. I mean, the Gahadokuro is right there on the season cover art. The art this time is very crisp and well defined. Previous seasons’ cover art was more abstract and mysterious. We’ve learned enough of the secrets of the parks to be familiar with them. The mists are parting, you might say.

Of course, there’s more than just Japanese creatures lurking in Kukunochi Park. This makes sense. Proserpina Park is home to creatures from across the globe. It also tracks that Japanese creatures would dominate in Kukunochi Park. It is their home turf after all. Japanese people aren’t the most religious people in the world, and primarily follow Shinto rituals out of culture, rather than sincere belief. That said, many Japanese people are incredibly superstitious. So, there’s probably enough people around who believe in yokai to give them a bit of a boost.

Interestingly, Japan isn’t the only nation that can be described as superstition, but not exactly religious. People in Iceland have been known to build roadside shrines to elves. Road construction has sometimes been re-routed if it ran through land where elves are believed to live. In fact, the way Icelandic elves are described is quite similar to how Japanese kami are often described. That is, spirits within nature itself.

And speaking of Norse Mythology, the talking squirrel Ratatoskr makes an appearance in this season. The original myths never say how big he is. He does run up and down the world tree Yggdrasil. So, some people have taken to depicting him as a giant squirrel. This is what Residents of Proserpina Park goes with.

And who is it that voices this majestic squirrel? Why, me, of course! Yes, I have made my return to the voice acting side of Residents of Proserpina Park. It was fun getting to play a new character. I enjoyed that Ratatoskr was a very different sort of character than Slenderman was. I tried to imitate Michael Chiklis’ performance as The Thing in the 2005 Fantastic Four movie. The result was a bit more along the lines of “Hey, I’m walkin’ here!” but I think it turned out pretty well. I also have to give major props to Angela for editing those scenes. I didn’t actually record those scenes with Vida Shi and Zerreth, who plays Daichi. I really, really wanted to, but my work schedule conflicted with recording. Though, I later learned I could have asked for the day off to record with everyone. Ah, well, I guess there’s always next time.

Anyway, the scenes are edited so well I had to remind myself that I recorded separately. Admittedly, there was one benefit to recording on my own. There’s a scene in the last episode where Mirai chases in the favor Ratatoskr owes her, and she calls out for him. It was really cute and adorable, and I kept thinking “There’s no way I could pretended to be grumpy if I’d recorded this scene with Vida.”

Okay, so enough about me. There’s something even more important to discuss. After many seasons, he has finally arrived. The man, the myth, the legend appears at long last. Everyone give it up for Junichi! It is rather amusing how well Mirai and her brothers map onto the Freudian trio of Id, Ego, and Superego. We’ve got impulsive, energetic Mirai as the Id, nervous and cautious Junpei as the Superego, and calm collected Junichi as the Ego to balance them out. 

First of all, I must give praise to Spencer Hiroshi Field. He made Junichi sound like someone who’d be a really cool guy to hang out with. Junichi initially comes across as easy going, but he hasn’t fully recovered his memories, and we slowly discover he has some insecurities about that. It will be interesting to see how things go after he’s reunited with Sam, Jessica, Dog, and Junpei.

Now, this next part actually is a slight criticism of this season. I actually want to begin with a compliment. We got some new music this season. It combines traditional Japanese instruments with a kind of 1940s-1950s jazz rhythm. You hear it play over the credits, and in a few scenes within the episode proper. I liked it, one of the best bit of music Residents of Proserpina Park has yet produced. That being said, it didn’t escape my notice that some of the musical cues are getting a bit repetitive. I noticed that the same handful of music being used over and over again. 

Granted, this might have been a result of this season being a bit shorter. I also need to be fair here. Residents of Proserpina Park produces all of its music in-house. I have no background in music, and I don’t have the first clue about producing it. I’m always amazed by whatever music Residents of Proserpina Park comes up with.

By contrast, when I need music for The Books of Thoth, I usually see what Epidemic Sounds and Kevin MacLeod have on tap. Plus, it the Indiegogo campaign had raised more money, we probably would have gotten more music. Why, yes, that was me hinting that you should all donate the next time Residents of Proserpina Park has a crowdfunding campaign.

So, this isn’t really a criticism per se, but something I wanted to comment on. The first episode has Mirai and Daichi encounter a Kapre. It is a creature from Filipino Folklore who looks like a giant man with dark skin. We learn that the legend of the Kapre got popularized when Spain started using the Philippines as a stop for its slave trade. Mirai remarks that she learned none of this in school.

Now, as a history major, I’d like to give my two cents. So, in large part, the way we teach history in grade school is meant to be a survey course. Give you the foundations that you can build upon, if you so choose, in college. Now, granted, the way we teach history is rather flawed. I mean, we really should split it up into multiple parts like in college. You just can’t condense 10,000 years of history into a single year of class. Inevitably, things get skipped, and the emphasis tends to be put on the Western world. So, class basically becomes “World/American History’s Greatest Hits.” Personally, I think that’s a big disservice to students. There’s a great value to learning about non-Western cultures and civilizations. Plus, you know, it is interesting to learn about other parts of the world.

The United States has been around for less than 300 years, but even splitting up American History class would allow teachers to go deeper with the subjects. I guess what I’m trying to say is, never attribute to malice that which can be explained by incompetence. And no slight to Mirai, but just because schools teach about something, doesn’t mean students will actually be paying attention in class.

There’s also a scene where we get to meet Sezaru, the fourth wise monkey. You might be familiar with the Three Wise Monkey. Perhaps you know that they are Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru. They famously teach us to see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil. Ah, but then there is the fourth monkey Sezaru, who teaches us to do no evil. Mirai comments on how redundant that sounds. To which Sezaru replies “Oh, and the Ten Commandments weren’t obvious enough?”

So, a couple thoughts about that. First off, why would a creature from Japanese Folklore care about the Ten Commandments? Second, there are actually 613 commandments. What are often called the Ten Commandments are merely the first ten on the list. Among other things they say: don’t wear clothing of mixed fiber, don’t plant different crops in the same field, you must stone disobedient children to death, and men must not speak to women who are on their periods. Oh, and lest we forget the most infamous of them all: man shall not lie with man. And that’s not even getting into the first ten. For example, is killing always wrong, or is there an exception for self-defense? Should we honor our parents even when they are abusive? In fact, what does honoring even mean? Granted, Jewish people have been wrestling with these questions for centuries. The Talmud is all about the various interpretations of the Torah.

Getting back on track, looks like we’ll be picking back up with Alina and company in season five. And it looks like we’ll be taking a trip to the Otherworld of Irish Mythology. I look forward to the adventures to be had in the coming year.

So, there you have it. Season four of Residents of Proserpina Park is shorter, but still just as sweet, and just as packed with mythological fun. Having the action set in Japan makes for a fun change of pace. Mirai and company are more than capable of carrying the season all on their own. So, if you haven’t already, be sure to listen to this season of Residents of Proserpina Park.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: Live From Mount Olympus: Season 4

I’ve been on a bit of a review hiatus, but I’m officially back in the saddle. To start, we’re going to revisit an audio drama that has appeared on this blog several times in the past. Without further ado, let’s get right to it. We’re going to be taking a look at season four of Live From Mount Olympus. 

Prometheus, titan of foresight, is chained high in the Caucasus Mountains. He always has an eye towards the future. Yet now he looks back at his past, and what lead him to be chained. We follow him as defies his fellow titans in order to aid the Olympians. We watch as he forms a budding friendship with Zeus, the future king of the gods. We also witness his famous theft of fire for the sake of humanity. Prometheus, titan of foresight, adviser to Zeus, friend to humanity. This is his story.

Live From Mount Olympus is doing something a little different this time. Season four is a mere five episodes long. It seems that season five, which will focus on Pandora, will be about the same length. From what I understand, this was done to get new episodes out faster. And hey, we get two seasons for the price of one.

Season four is easily the best season of Live From Mount Olympus to date. We get a real sense of what a tragic hero Prometheus was. He constantly gets visions of the future. From the start, he knows that his journey will lead him to those chains, and having his liver ripped out each morning. And yet, he doesn’t try to fight it, nor does he protest his fate. For his visions also show him the heights that humanity will achieve once they harness the gift of fire. Knowing this is enough for Prometheus.

We see these even before the big heist. Prometheus begins his journey by openly defying Kronos and the other titans. He and his brother Epimetheus are some of the only titans to do so. This is no small feat, but Prometheus has seen the glories that the Olympians are destined to achieve.

I liked how this season handled Zeus. He and Prometheus start off as the best of friends. This makes it all the more tragic when Prometheus must betray Zeus. It would have been easy to portray Zeus as a tyrant, or a one-note villain. However, Live From Mount Olympus takes a nuanced approach. Zeus is clearly depicted as being in the wrong, but you can understand why he is so hesitant to share fire with humanity. Zeus rightly points out that humans are already fairly destructive and naïve. Giving them a new tool, especially such an inherently destructive one, could potentially make things worse.

I also really like how the actual theft of the fire is portrayed. It plays out almost like a heist movie. I thought that was a very fun touch. I also enjoyed seeing Hestia become a fairly prominent supporting character this season. I always kind of felt bad for her. She was the stalwart and steadfast one. She didn’t get involved in the shenanigans that the other Olympians did. Consequently, she doesn’t really feature in many myths. In fact, some lists of the Twelve Olympians even replace her with Dionysus.

Now, all of that being said, I also feel there were some areas that could have been better. I know that this season is shorter by design, but I felt that worked against it at times. Having more episodes to really develop Prometheus and Zeus’ friendship would make Prometheus’ betrayal carry more weight. We’d also get to see Zeus transition from an idealistic rebel to a flawed, but ultimately good at heart, king of the gods. It was necessary for the Titanomachy to be part of this season. Having the season start after the Titanomachy wouldn’t work. There just wouldn’t be enough material to sustain a full season, even a truncated one. Still, I feel that the Titanomachy could have made for an interesting full season in and of itself.

So, now for a bit of mythological musings. You would think that Prometheus, being a friend to humanity, would be a pretty popular guy in Ancient Greece. However, from what archeology can tell, this doesn’t appear to have been the case. Oh, he had some cults, but they were fairly minor. In fact, the earliest account of Prometheus, written by the poet Hesiod, depict him in an unflattering light. Hesiod portrays Prometheus as a self-righteous trickster who ended the Golden Age of humanity. Though, Hesiod is a bit mum about how not having fire, and having to sacrifice most of our food to the gods, was beneficial to humanity. To be fair, Zeus was considered the god of law and order. The Ancient Greeks viewed the world less as good vs evil, and more order vs chaos. So, Prometheus defying Zeus, and in such a chaotic way, would have potentially rubbed the Ancient Greeks the wrong way.

We do get to see a more sympathetic Prometheus in the play Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus. Here, Prometheus is a tragic hero and friend to humanity. Though, at the same time, the playwright Aristophanes depicts Prometheus as almost comically sneaky and devious. Interestingly, the bit about Prometheus creating humanity doesn’t show up until much later. The story of Prometheus, as we know it, really solidified during the Hellenistic era.

Where am I going with this? Well, the point is, Prometheus has always been more of a literary character than a mythological character. Often, ancient playwright and storytellers weren’t focused on replicating old stories, but rather, on exploring new themes and ideas. There was no strict canon in Greek Mythology. The stories varied from city-state to city-state. Prometheus has inspired artists from the Renascence to the Present Day. Live From Mount Olympus follows in that tradition, while also being faithful to the ancient sources.

Once again, let’s take a moment to thank the cast for the wonderful performances. Ato Blankson-Wood gives a very layered performance as Prometheus. He makes Prometheus sound very world-weary, and perhaps a bit resigned as well. Yet he also carefully drapes a thin layer of hope over everything that Prometheus does. Ian Lassiter, meanwhile, shows as more vulnerable side of Zeus as a younger god trying to make his mark on the world. Andres De Shields recently promoted Live From Mount Olympus when he was interviewed on The Today Show. I also love the title card this season. The orange and black evoke Ancient Greek pottery. Thought, really, all the title cards have been great. 

Season four is dedicated in loving memory of Vinie Burrows. She passed away last year and played many characters on Live From Mount Olympus. She always brought such power and grace to her roles. She will be missed by listeners and cast alike. 

The season ends on a bittersweet note. Prometheus is still chained, but he knows that one day he shall be free. Specifically, he shall be freed by Heracles, a son of Zeus. And though our time with Prometheus has come to an end, our time with Pandora will soon begin.

So, there you have it. Season four of Live From Mount Olympus is easily our best season to date. We explore the tragic story of Prometheus, the fire-bringer and friend to humanity. We’re going to be picking back up with the story of Pandora in season five, and I can’t wait to listen to it.

Well, that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: Project Pulse

Anime and audio dramas have a bit of a history together. Many anime often create audio drama tie-ins. There are several anime fans within the indie audio drama scene. Many audio dramas take influence from anime in on form or another. The audio drama we’re taking a look at today, however, truly captured lightning in a bolt. It managed to perfectly distill the essence of a shonen anime, and put it into audio drama form. Without further ado, onto the main event. We’re taking a look at Project Pulse. 

The world was changed forever on April 15th, 2022. That was when a company called Octic burst onto the scene. Brent Nolewood, the CEO of Octic, lead a revolution in the field of augmented reality. Artificial intelligence, robotics, and medical technology saw almost overnight advances. Much of the workforce was rendered obsolete thanks to advances in automation. Though, Universal Basic Income also became a thing, so that helped. Still, the people needed something to keep them occupied. That something was Project Pulse. A unique three-on-three battle of wills and human spirit. Each team uses special augmented abilities to defeat their opponents in combat.

It is into this world that Derrick Walker enters. He is the last blind kid on Earth, but he carries the legacy of his mother. She believed that disabilities aren’t a weakness, but a difference to be accepted and cherished. He’s determined to climb his way to the top of Project Pulse.

I’d discovered Project Pulse thanks to Julie Hoverson of 19 Nocturne Boulevard. She used to run the AD Infinitum account on Twitter. It was decided to promoting indie audio dramas. She had to shut it down due to changes to the way Twitter lets you set up automated tweets. Still, we here at The Audiophile, and by extension The Books of Thoth, thank Julie for her service. It truly was an invaluable resource.

Back on topic, I’m glad I finally got to listen to Project Pulse. There have been many audio dramas that take inspiration from anime. However, Project Pulse is, in my opinion, the one the really managed to distill that essence. Now, I should probably preface this by saying that anime is a medium, not a genre. Nine time out of ten, whenever someone says that something is anime-inspired, they are referring to shonen. That is, anime aimed at boys between the ages of twelve and eighteen. That tends to be stuff like Naruto, One Piece, Fullmetal Alchemist, or JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Though, on occasion, you also get darker stuff that startles the line like Attack on Titan, Death Note, or Neon Genesis Evangelion. When you have an anime that is aimed at adult men, we call that seinen. Shojo and josei are the female counterparts to shonen and seinen respectively.

Derrick starts off as an underdog, but one with great potential. He is taken in by an unlikely ally. Said ally whisks him into a world of adventure. Derrick proves himself to be incredibly talented, despite being a newcomer to the world of Project Pulse. One of his new allies is a guy with glasses who oozes cool. The other is a snippy, sarcastic girl, but she turns out to have hidden depths. Throughout it all, Derrick strives to be the very best, like no one ever was. Oh, and it all takes place in a future with super advanced holograms and AI. Put that all together, and it sure sounds like the start of a science fiction shonen, doesn’t it?

Ah, but it isn’t just the premise that gives that anime feeling. I have to take a moment to praise the fantastic voice acting. I don’t know if Project Pulse was intentionally trying to sound like an anime dub, but they really captured the aesthetic. Now, I know dub vs sub is a very touchy subject in the anime fandom. I admit I tend to consume my anime dubbed. That’s a personal preference on my part. There’s nothing wrong if you prefer subbed anime. I will admit I’ve watched some anime where the subbed version was, overall, a bit better. That having been said, there’s also plenty of quality voice acting on the dubbed side of things. I am pleased to say that the spirit of those quality dubs is alive and well in the voice acting of Project Pulse.

Okay, now it is time to meet the characters. Derrick is blind, so in a way, we are experiencing the story from his point of view. Or lack thereof, as the case might be. He could have had this corrected via surgery, but he chose not to. However, he compensates for this using the same technology that Pulse players use. Octic tech grants Pulse players enhanced physical abilities. In Derrick’s case, he uses an app called Telescopic Hearing, which allows him to focus his hearing, and tune out excessive noise. I wondered if perhaps he was going to be depicted like Daredevil. That is, having his other senses heightened to superhuman levels to compensate for his blindness.

Well, there’s a scene early on where Derrick runs into some thugs…and promptly gets his ass handed to him. Honestly, that was actually a really smart move on the part of the creators. That scene shows that Derrick has a lot to learn before he’s going to make it to the top of Project Pulse. It makes his victors feel more genuine and actually earned.

Kato Atadori fills the role of the smart guy with glasses who absolutely oozes coolness. I mean, the dude is cool as ice, and that extends to his Pulse abilities. You see, there are different classes of Pulse players who each specialize in different abilities. In Kato’s case, he is an Elemental. He is the master of all things ice, and he’s very creative in how he uses it. The way that Project Pulse is described, everything is created using holograms. However, the Elemental powers sound more like magic. Kato’s ice is genuinely cold, and he can use it to make shields and protective domes. He can also use it offensively to create blizzards. Maybe it's like in Star Trek where the holograms are somehow solid. Then again, plenty of anime also feature surprisingly solid holograms. Clarke’s Third Law is clearly at play here.

Kato is the one who takes Derrick under his wing and introduces him to the world of Project Pulse. The Project Pulse website has a section that includes information about the characters that hasn’t been included in the show. At least, not yet anyway. From this, we learn that Kato is third generation Japanese-American, and is quite proud of his heritage.

Mia Clark is the Speedster of the group. As the name suggests, they are Pulse players who specialize in fast attacks. She is also the resident tsundere. For those of you who aren’t otaku, a tsundere is someone who starts off kind of mean and snippy, but then they turn out to have a hidden nice side. Sometimes, though not always, they act mean because they’re hiding a deep sadness or hurt. This is certainly the case with Mia. She comes from a wealthy family, but her parents are dead. So, she lives with her Uncle Heath. He used to be a construction worker, but that was rendered obsolete due to the technological revolution Octic ushered in. Heath didn’t know what to do with himself, and turned to drinking to drown his sorrows. 

Mia gets a monthly stipend, which should be enough to live in a nice loft uptown. Unfortunately, Heath usually spends the money on alcohol and drugs. Quite ironically, Mia’s family got so wealthy because her mother invested stock in Octic during the early days of the company. Heath tries to pull himself together for Mia, but almost always falls back into temptation. Mia could easily abandon him, but Heath’s the only family she has left, and she feels obliged to him. I feel kind of bad for finding Mia’s tsundere tendencies amusing in the first season. Poor girl sounds like she could seriously use a hug.

In other characters, we have Emma. She is Derrick’s AI assistant. She takes the form of a blue-haired anime girl. She likes to tease and sass Derrick, but she’s always there for him. Especially since she doesn’t want to be factory reset. I would remark that this is slavery, and that factory reset amounts to lobotomy, but that’s kind of an omnipresent trope in works featuring artificial intelligences. Well, that, and we increasingly see the world of Project Pulse is not quite as utopian as Octic would have us believe.

Speaking of AI, let’s talk about Mark Bolt. Well, technically the Mark Bolt in the series is an AI replicant of the real Mark Bolt. Mark is a popular Pulse announcer who gives play-by-plays of the action. This is a creative way of letting us, the out-of-universe audience, know what we should be visualizing. It has the bonus of being diegetic, and makes sense in-universe without coming across as unnatural or forced. Although, if AI voices have gotten that advanced, well, that has grim implications for the voice acting industry.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one unexpected ally Derrick finds. Derrick is transported to the underworld during one of his first Pulse matches. He meets the Greek god Hades. Hades offers Derrick the use of his bident as a Pulse ability. The bident is the two-pronged staff Hades is often depicted holding. Okay, so we started off as an anime, and then we turned into Percy Jackson. I remember listening to that scene and thinking “This show just keeps getting better and better!” Hades might have only appeared in that one scene, but it was certainly a memorable one. Though now that I think about it, a mythological god in a futuristic anime setting, is that a Persona reference?

Okay, now we’re going to switch gears and talk about a few of the things I didn’t like. The creators of Project Pulse were clearly trying to give positive representation to people with disabilities. However, I feel that they missed the mark. Derrick’s mother, Catherine, was a big champion for the downtrodden. She was also a big believer that disabled people can do anything. Unfortunately, that attitude also got her killed. When Derrick was little, he and his mom came across a burning apartment building. The automatic firefighting drone malfunctioned, and Catherine decide to rush in and rescue the trapped tenets. Did I mention that she was paraplegic?

I mean, where do I even begin? Catherine’s wheelchair didn’t appear to be anything other that a standard chair. How did she get up the stairs? How did she navigate fallen debris and fires? She didn’t come across as a hero, she came across as an idiot who senselessly threw her life away. Derrick had to grow up with a mother, and Mr. Walker lost his beloved wife. Frankly, I wonder if Catherine really cared about those people in the burning building. Let’s suppose she’d done the sensible thing and hadn’t intervened. In doing so, she’d have to admit that there are legitimately some things disabled people just can’t do. Yes, sometimes in life we have to make hard calls. It might seem cruel, but the cold equations have to be balanced somehow. Sometimes that means not everyone gets to live.

This also leads me to another point. I feel that having Derrick willing abstain from corrective surgery might not have been the best move. One of the arguments disability advocates give against such procedures is that there will always be those who can’t get them. The thinking is, this will lead to a shrinking of the disabled community. Those who get left behind will find themselves increasingly isolated from society. However, this is not the case with Derrick. His refusal frankly comes across more as him wanting to feel special and unique. Personally, I feel it would have been better if Derrick had a one in a billion genetic fluke that not even Optic could fix. He’d still get to be the last blind kid, he’d still be disability representation, but he wouldn’t come across as trying to be special for the heck of it. Plus, it would tie into the previously mentioned real world issues.

Now, I want to emphasize I don’t think any of this is inherently unfixable. One of the key points of Pulse is the case system. Each special ability takes up a certain number of slots in a player’s case. There are ten slots total, so players have to pick and choose carefully. Telescopic Hearing takes up three slots already. Kato emphasizes that Derrick might have to consider switching it out some day. Perhaps, when that day comes, Derrick will seriously have to consider getting corrective surgery. Now, I’m not saying he’s got to go through with it, but I do see that as a potential source of internal conflict for him.

Perhaps, we could also have him question his mother’s choices. He could acknowledge that she was a good woman at heart, but had her share of flaws. He can decide to honor her legacy, but avoid repeating the same mistakes she did. Unrelated, but at one point Derrick realizes he’s been holding a corndog upside-down, and Kato didn’t tell him. Uh, do what now? You don’t need eyes to figure that one out.

On an unrelated note, I also felt the depiction of Universal Basic Income was a bit inconsistent. Derrick hypes it up as being this wonderful thing that finally ensured equality for everyone. Yet we see that there’s still a fair degree of wealth inequality. Mia and her uncle aren’t the only people we see living below the poverty line. Granted, it would make sense that there would still be rich and middle class people. Presumably, wealth from the old world carried over to the new. However, the way things are presented, it gives the impression that the only reason poor people still exist is that they’re irresponsible with their money. Granted, we do get hints that there’s a sinister undercurrent lurking just beneath the surface of this world. So, perhaps this is by design.

I don’t want to end this review on a negative note. Taken as a whole, I was very pleased by Project Pulse. Season one was absolutely fantastic. Season two only has a couple episodes out so far, and production seems to have stalled. I certainly hope it gets moving again, because I’m dying to know what happens next. Season one was centered on Derrick, but it seems that Mia will be taking center stage in season two.

So, there you have it. Project Pulse is an absolutely fantastic anime-inspired science fiction audio drama. I have seen few other audio dramas that capture the spirit of anime so perfectly. You definitely do not want to miss this one if you are an anime fan. Don’t sit on this one like I did. 

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

The Audio File: Sorry About the Murder

What comes to mind when you think of Canada? Is it a moose munching on maple leaves? Is it a hearty plate of poutine at a cafe in Montreal? Is it a rowdy night at the local hockey arena? Perhaps is it the dark killing instinct that lurks within the hearts of all humans, no matter how polite? In case it wasn’t obvious already, we’re going with that last one for this audio drama. We’re taking a look at Sorry About the Murder. 

The sleepy little town of Beavermount, Ontario is one of those picturesque little slices of heaven. The sort of place where the women are strong, the men are good looking, and the children are above average. It is the last place you’d expect a murder to occur, but that’s precisely what has happened. Scott, Scotty, McDonald was the owner of the local hockey rink. He has been found murdered. Specifically, run-over by the Zamboni. Frenchie, the sole Quebecois in town, is the Zamboni driver. He’s just become the prime suspect in the investigation. Frenchie has to clear his Quebecois name, and get the ice ready in time for the night’s hockey game. It’s a story of small towns, hockey, Stubbies, smelts, and a very Canadian murder mystery.

Sorry About the Murder is created by Drew Frohmann. He is also the creator of Human B-Gon. Naturally, this means that Sorry About the Murder is a member of the Fable & Folly podcast network. As such, it is time for another podcast roll call. Other members of the Fable & Folly family include show such as Hannahpocalypse, Harlem Queen, We Fix Space Junk, Alba Salix, The Carlötta Beautox Chronicles, Spaceships, Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature, and Who is Cam Candor?

Sorry About the Murder is a loving spoof of True Crime podcasts. I also detect hints of Lake Wobegon from A Prairie Home Companion. Though, perhaps this could be incidental. Minnesota has always had a bit of a Canadian character to it. And this audio drama proudly wears its Canadian influences on its sleeve. It lovingly pokes fun at numerous Canadian stereotypes. Fear not, you don’t have to be Canadian to enjoy this audio drama. Sorry About the Murder does a good job of letting the listener in on all of the jokes in a way that feels organic. In fact, you might learn a thing or two about Canada. Or rather, how Canada makes fun of itself.

We learn that Scotty was holding his Stubby upright when he died. You know, just as any good Canadian would. Also, Stubby is slang for beer, because several Canadian beers come in stout bottles. Beavermount is also home to an annual smelt festival. Fried smelts are a popular dish in Atlantic Canada. Well, for the most part. I remember watching MasterChef Canada, and one of the contestants was excited to cook with smelts. Unfortunately, he made what amounted to smelt chicken nuggets. Alvin Leung really did not hold back with how disappointed he was.

In other references, McDonald and MacDonald are both considered stereotypically Canadian last names. Sir John Alexander MacDonald was Canada’s first prime minister. I do on occasion get mistaken for Canadian due to having some many friends in the Canadian audio drama scene. Though, my last name certainly doesn’t help dissuade that notion. Also, I won’t give it away, but the importance of politeness plays a major role in the plot. Specially, the importance of always saying sorry. And not just in the title of the audio drama.

However, I do have to ding Sorry About the Murder for some rather glaring omissions. Where were the ketchup chips? Why did nobody eat Kraft Dinner? And come to think of it, there wasn’t a single reference to Tim Horton’s. I mean, it seriously strains credibility that Beavermount would have at least one Tim Horton’s. This paragraph was a joke, in case it wasn’t obvious.

So, let's now talk aboot the colorful cast of characters. Frenchie is our main character, and is notable for being the only character not voiced by the narrator. Frenchie is voiced by Jeff Tremblay, who really is from Quebec. The narrator is voiced by Tom Goudie. I suppose they had the narrator voice everyone to really give it that Prairie Home Companion feel. I don’t know enough about True Crime to tell if that’s a trope.

Frenchie is quite possibly the most intelligent person in all of Beavermount. And by that, I mean that he actually has common sense. He often muses about the wise words of his grandfather from rural Quebec. It helps that Chieficer Dougie, the closest thing Beavermount has to law enforcement, is easily distracted by sweets. Dougie is cut from the same cloth as lawmen such as Barney Fife and Chief Wiggum. But hey, he’s still a pretty swell guy. In fact, he’s such a polite Canadian, he even takes Frenchie out for bear claws on the way to the station. And he’s more than willing to go on as many detours as Frenchie requests. At times it almost feels like a buddy cop show.

There’s plenty of quirky townsfolk. For example, there’s a group of sextuplets who are produce farms running a protection racket. Nobody sells produce in Beavermount without their approval. Oh, and they all have male names, despite all being women. Then there’s the members of the local Ojibwe tribe. They recently scored a major land settlement with the government. Thanks to reparations, each member of the tribe is a millionaire with plenty of dough to spend. And then there’s the annual smelt festival were…well, let’s just say that shooting fish in a barrel has some slightly different connotations in Beavermount

Honestly, with all of the quirky townsfolk, Sorry About the Murder feels kind of like a slice of life audio drama at times. It does have a cozy feeling, and the murder mystery doesn’t detract from that. It almost feels like a parody of one of those mystery movies from The Hallmark Channel. Well, maybe not quite like that. There’s not enough handsome salt-of-the-earth widower Christmas tree farmers.

It appears we will be getting a season two, and Frenchie will have another murder on his hands. I always wonder, in show like Grantchester and Murder, She Wrote, how the small towns maintain a stable population despite all the murders. To be fair, it does tend to be the come from aways who tend to get murdered in those shows. I suppose Sorry About the Murder will wrestle with this issue as well.

So, there you have it. Sorry About the Murder is farcical, cozy, and true crime inspired. But above all else, it is very Canadian. It is another great audio drama from the creator of Human B-Gon. You don’t have to be Canadian to enjoy it, but that certainly doesn’t hurt either.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.