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