The Audio File: Blum

Audio dramas can be found all over the world. I’ve always been particularly interested in what the audio drama community outside the Anglosphere is like. Unfortunately, the only language I speak is English, and this can be a major stumbling block. However, sometimes I get lucky, and the stars align just right. And by that, I mean a non-English audio drama gets re-released in English. Such was the case with the audio drama we’ll be reviewing today. We’re taking a look at Blum. 

Blum follows a university student named Emma Clark. She has traveled to Switzerland to research an artist named Ursula Blum. Ursula Blum was a painter who lived during the early 20th Century. However, she was also a composer, and dedicated her life to researching the possibility of using music for healing. She was involved in a lot of esoteric groups and secret societies. In particular, Blum was intrigued by the concept of the Music of the Spheres. Emma isn’t the first person to research Ursula Blum. Five years ago, another student named Clara Torres disappeared while researching Blum. Emma is determined to find out what happened to Clara. She’ll also do whatever it takes to discover Ursula Blum’s secrets.

I had known about Blum for quite some time. As is often the case, it first got on my radar when I was pursuing the r/audiodrama subreddit. I was intrigued, but then I saw that it was only available in Spanish. Blum is produced by the Spanish audio drama production company El Extraordinario. However, there was a potential silver lining. If it made the weekly roundup list, then maybe, just maybe, an English version might arrive someday. Time passed, but eventually my faith was rewarded. However, I got tied up with requested reviews, so I couldn’t listen right away. But then I finally got a gap in my schedule.

I share what I’ve been listening to every other Sunday on the Twitter feed for my own audio drama, The Books of Thoth. Naturally, one Sunday I mentioned I had listened to Blum. El Extraordinario was happy to hear this, and I promised them I would give a full-length proper review of Blum when I have a chance. And so, here we are now.

I have a degree in history. I spent my freshman year at a liberal arts college. It didn’t work out, but eventually I found myself at LSUS, where things turned out better. I bring this up, because Blum really tapped into that feeling of being a liberal arts major. The liberal arts are fairly interdisciplinary. History, music, art, literature, philosophy; no matter your major, you’ll get a bit of everything eventually. So, like the protagonist of a Marcel Proust novel, I felt enveloped by a strong sense of remembrance for my own days in university.

The scenes at St. Gallen’s Monastery were particularly fun. Learning about the musical notions that medieval monks used took me back to my days in Music Appreciation and Music Theory. Though, I also admit I got excited because one of the segments in Agent of Byzantium took place at St. Gallen.

Blum is quite possibly one of the best tourist ads for Switzerland I have ever encountered. I really wanted to go visit Switzerland after I listened to Blum. This, of course, is very much by design. Blum was commissioned by Switzerland Tourism in hopes of attracting more visitors for Switzerland. However, it never felt like I was listening to an ad, or any sort of product placement. It is very clear to me that series creators Manuel Bartual and Carmen Pacheco have a deep, and genuine, love for Switzerland and Swiss culture. That love is stitched into every aspect of Blum, and the audio drama is all the better for it.

But that’s not the only area where love shines through. This is, ironically, felt the most in scenes where sounds are absent. There was clearly a great amount of care put into the sound design of Blum. Emma often finds herself in various museum galleries. There is a certain ambiance to these scenes in how they are quiet in a specific way. I have spent much of my life exploring museums and art galleries. As such, I’m well acquainted with the sounds of such buildings. These scenes were recorded in actual galleries to properly capture this ambiance.

But, of course, Blum is certainly no slouch on the other end of the spectrum. One of my favorite scenes is in the first episode. Emma talks about how music and religion have been intertwined for centuries. We get a montage of music being using in religious ceremonies from around the world. It was a very well crafted sequence; felt like something out of a non-fiction podcast. On that note, Blum really nailed the true crime investigation vibe. Each episode opens and closes with a bit of classical piano music. There’s also a few more bit of classical music liberally sprinkled through the audio drama.

I must also take a moment to praise the voice acting. Emma’s voice actress did an especially good job. There were a couple time she pounced certain words more along the lines of British English, even though Emma is supposed to be American. Make me wonder if the voice actress might not be American. But if that is the case, she did an absolutely amazing job of maintaining the accent. Come to think of it, Clara was pretty much the only Spanish character in the entire podcast. I wonder if, perhaps, Emma was from Spain in the original Spanish version of Blum. Whatever the case, it never felt like anything had be lost in translation. There was clearly effort put in to ensure the English version of Blum would live up to its Spanish predecessor.

Okay, I want to choose my words carefully for this next part. I want to make sure nobody misconstrues what I’m saying here. Blum reminds me very much of a Dan Brown novel, and I absolutely mean that as a compliment. Look, I’m aware that Dan Brown has a bit of a bad reputation. Yes, he often gets pretty significant facts wrong in his novels, and maybe his novel aren’t exactly high literature. But that man knows how to write a page-turner. If nothing else, he got me interested in the various artists he mentions in his books. Another big appeal of his books is that, for lack of a better way of putting it, they are travel porn. They are often filled with loving descriptions of various European cities. I always wanted to travel and see the world, and Dan Brown’s novel let me indulge those fantasies. Thankfully, I did eventually get to visit Italy, and I even got to see all the places mentioned in Angels & Demons when I was in Rome.

Blum evokes that same sense of wanderlust with its lovingly detailed descriptions of Swiss cities. It also incorporates art and classical music into a plot about solving a mystery. However, unlike Mr. Brown, the writers stayed true to actual facts and history. So, you get all the good parts of a Dan Brown novel, in audio format, but none of the downsides. For example, Ursula Blum is an entirely fictional character. However, she was inspired by several real life artists and musicians.

Speaking of the mystery, just what is the Music of the Spheres? We have known since Ancient Greece that all music can be converted into mathematics. But what about the reverse? Can math be turned into music? There have been attempts to translate the orbits of the planets into music. Under the Ptolemaic Model, the planets were believed to occupy different celestial spheres, hence the name Music of the Spheres. But what if it goes deeper than that. What if there is a music written into reality itself? This appears to have been the opinion of Ursula Blum and the various esoteric groups she belonged to.

Okay, now comes the part where we have to get into spoilers. So, turn back now if you don’t want any of that.

Last chance, you sure you want to continue?

If everyone who wants out is gone, let’s get into it.

So, as Blum progressed there were hints dropped that Emma was poking into things better left alone. I got some cosmic horror vibes. Perhaps there was something Lovecraftian afoot? Would it turn out to be something that mortal minds weren’t meant to comprehend? Something that would drive Emma into madness?

Well, I suppose that it is a matter of perspective.

You see, Emma does uncover the music Ursula Blum had been researching. It turns out to be incredibly beautiful. So beautiful that it makes Emma feel as though she is flying. So beautiful she can see the connection that binds everything together. So beautiful that she completely fails to notice that she jumped out a window.

I was reminded of my own short story “Chain Reaction.” It is about a man who goes crazy and starts a religion based around rollercoasters. He has a very similar experience where the rollercoaster god shows him the connections that bind all things together. The rollercoaster explains that it can’t show him this too long, or he might forget to eat and drink.

Well, as they say, great minds think alike. I thought the big reveal was very well executed. I liked the way it explored that concept of pantheism. It is the idea that everything within the universe contains a spark of divinity. Or, to put it another way, that the universe itself is God.

Blum was an absolute joy to listen to from start to finish. It appealed to my inner liberal arts major. It was like taking an auditory vacation to Switzerland. It was a great introduction to the world of Spanish audio drama. I cannot recommend it enough. You should listen to it as soon as possible.

I certainly hope this means we might see more El Extraordinario audio dramas getting translated into English. I also hope we might see audio dramas from other parts of the world getting translated. Perhaps, even some English audio dramas getting translated into foreign languages. But whatever the future holds, I’m glad that the world of audio drama is ever expanding. It is great to see more countries joining the party.

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

The Audio File: Superheroes

Superheroes have certainly become big in recent years. Every year seems to bring even more movies, and television shows, featuring character once found only in the pages of comic books. However, one medium where superheroes are still somewhat underrepresented is prose fiction. That is where this latest edition of The Audio File comes in. We're taking a look at short stories that feature superheroes and supervillains. These stories are brought to us by the folks at Escape Pod, PodCastle, Drabblecast, Lightspeed Magazine, Clarkesworld Magazine, Cast of Wonders, Tales to Terrify, The Overcast, The Truth, and Earbud Theater.

With all of that out of the way, grab your capes and suit up, because it's story time..

Escape Pod

"Nemesis" by Nathaniel Lee
Narrated by Mat Weller
An Escape Pod Original

This story follows high school student Quentin, whose best friend Adam is the superhero Atom Boy. He does he best to help out Adam and be supportive, but secretly he’s always been a little jealous of Adam’s powers. One day Quentin discovers a ring that transforms into a suit of power armor. This could be the chance he’s been waiting for, but what path will he choose?

I liked how this story showed the world of superheroes from a non-superhero perspective; in this case, from the best friend/sidekick’s point of view. I enjoyed Adam’s happy-go-lucky personality and how that contrasted with Quentin’s more down to Earth and conflicted view of things. I shouldn’t give the ending away, but I can say it’s very heartwarming. Nathaniel is one of my favorite writers from Escape Pod, and this story was no exception.

I thought that Mat did a great job with the narration. All in all a great story about superheroes from an average person’s point of view. Very much recommended.

"Origin" by Ari Goelman
Narrated by Veronica Giguere
Originally published in Strange Horizons

Being a expectant parent is always a stressful time, but especially so when you’re a superhero. This story follows Margret aka Ice and Fire, a superhero who has unexpectedly become pregnant, as she and her alien partner Carter do their best to prepare for the baby. Margret finds unexpected help in the form of one of her villains, Dr. Ambrosius Urbinski. However, Dr. U’s assistance might not be an innocent as it seems.

As someone with various potentially genetic issues this story really spoke to me and my fears of what might happen if I ever have kids. It was also interesting how this story examined the potential problems pregnant superhero might encounters; as well as the whole getting pregnant in the first place issue. I also liked how it knowingly winked at some of the more absurd elements, like how Carter, whose eyes lack irises and pupils, can somehow still see even though logically he shouldn’t be able to.

As for the narration, I thought Veronica did an excellent job. It’s another great story I happily recommend.

"Observer Effects" by Tim Pratt
Narrated by A Kovacs
Originally Published in Diet Soup

This story follows a former supervillain who has joined a team of heroes. The team’s leader, Liberator, thinks he can bring world peace by creating machines to allow everyone on Earth to view any one they want any time they want. However, our protagonist isn’t so sure, and before long things go to hell in a hand basket. The protagonist soon finds herself wondering if maybe she should have stayed a villain.

This story is a really great example of capepunk. What is capepunk? Capepunk is a somewhat new punk that explore how superheroes might play out in the real world. It’s unofficially been around since works like Spider-Man and Watchmen, but it’s become something of a trend in prose superhero fiction in recent times.

Anyway, Tim Pratt is the undisputed king of the Escape Artists podcasts, and this was yet another great story of his. He always does a really good job writing strong female characters. Just generally Tim does a really great job. You probably suspect that I’m going to say I liked the narration…and you’d be right.

All in all a great capepunk story from a great writer. Very much recommended.

"Astromonkeys" by Tony Frazier
Narrated by Norm Sherman
Originally Published in Jim Baen’s Universe

This story follows a superhero named Digger bringing his friend Dave to a bar for Dave’s first beer. Digger also recounts how he and Dave first met. A tale that includes chili burgers, green space monkeys, superheroes and much more.

Okay, maybe that sounds a little crazy, but I promise this is a good story. Maybe it is a little crazy, but that’s half the fun. I enjoyed how Digger was something of a working class superhero. I also enjoyed the green space monkeys in this story; because how many other times am I going to be able to write a sentence like that? Norm’s the host of The Drabblecast, more on them momentarily, and obviously he did a top notch job.

A fun little story. Give it a try.

"Origin Story" by Tim Pratt
Narrated by Serah Eley
An Escape Pod Original

This story is told as a one-sided conversation between the narrator and another person. The narrator is the brother of the superhero The Aerialist, and at one time was a big supporter of his brother’s crime fighting. Now, however, he’s out for revenge against The Aerialist.

It’s easy to this story as a meta commentary on the history and movements of the comic book industry. The Aerialist’s adventures start out idealistic and lighthearted, much like comics’ Golden and Silver ages, before getting progressively darker and more cynical. I really enjoy these sort of one-sided conversation stories, and Serah did a great job with the narration. As a bonus, you get to hear the song Skullcrusher Mountain in its entirety after the story.

Another great capepunk story from Tim Pratt. Very much recommended.

PodCastle

"Stranger vs. The Malevolent Malignancy" by Jim C. Hines
A Full Cast Production
Originally Published in Unidentified Funny Objects 2

In this story we follow a superhero named Stranger as he comes to terms with his terminal cancer. Stranger recounts these events to his fellow hero Jarhead. Due to Stranger’s ability to communicate with inanimate objects, his own tumor often cuts in with snarky comments.

Okay, this is another story who’s summary doesn’t do it nearly enough justice. When I listened to this story I was very much reminded of All-Star Superman, both due to the theme of a superhero confronting his own mortality and Stranger being something of a Superman analog. It might seem like some pretty heavy stuff, and the story doesn’t shy away from those themes, but there’s still plenty of humor and lighthearted bits. Hey, it was published in Unidentified Funny Objects 2 after all. One of the things I liked was how Stranger stuck to his morals even we he could have taken the easy way out. True heroes do what’s right even when there’s little to no reward after all.

A full cast production always has an advantage over a single narrator, and that was certainly the case here. It’s a humorous and touching story that I couldn’t recommend more.

"Super-Baby-Moms Group Saves The Day" by Tina Connolly
A Full Cast Production
Originally Published in Unidentified Funny Objects 3

This story is told as a series of emails from an online group for moms, and a few dads, with superpowered kids. At first it’s just typical advice and apologizes, but then things start to get serious when the number of superpowered kids dramatically spikes at the local pre-school. The kids throw a collective temper tantrum and the moms have to intervene to save the day.

Again, the summary doesn’t make it sound like much, but I swear it’s a good story. I liked how this story was presented as a series of emails; it was a nice twist on the short story format. I also enjoyed how this story examined how unpowered parents might deal with their superpowered kids. It’s another one of those funny with a touch of heartwarming stories. As for the narration, the full cast, this one slightly different than the last time, has done it again.

It’s another story I happily recommend.

"Doctor Diablo Goes Through the Motions" by Saladin Ahmed
Narrated by Roberto Suarez
Originally Published in Strange Horizons

This story follows a supervillain named Doctor Diablo as he goes through the motions of a supervillain meeting, and his internal monologue snarks all the way.

Sometimes time is not kind to a story. Case in point, this story. When I first read it I liked it. Upon revisiting it, however, I've noticed several flaws. The main character is pretty much just a mouthpiece for Saladin Ahmed's views. The whole story basically boils down to Dr. Diablos whining about how he became a supervillain because society is racist against minorities, and thus society is to blame. I will concede that certain aspects of America society, such as the War on Drugs, do often unfairly target minorities. I would add the caveat that is an unintentional consequence and not by design.

However, it is also true that many minority communities all too often point the finger at society, rather than accept responsibly and accountability for their own well-being. I've known blacks who grew up in absolute poverty, busted their asses, and made better lives for themselves. Now, I will concede that poverty often does force people into breaking the law. It would have been nice to see this reflected in the story. It would be nice, but that requires nuance and tact; two things Saladin Ahmed lacks in his stories set in the present day. There's also a swipe at superheroes like Iron Fist being "cultural appropriation." That's fairly judgmental coming from a mixed race man, just saying.

What's sad is that I usually enjoy Saladin's work, but tins really is best when he keeps is political opinions to himself. Thumbs down, don't waste your time with this one.

"How to Survive in Room 105" by T. Jane Berry

Narrated by Jen R. Albert

A PodCastle Original

This story follows a superhero who has been sentenced to community service for damaging historical landmarks. She is serving as a substitute teacher for a kindergarten class. Ah, but this isn't an ordinary kindergarten. This is a school for young superheroes. The story is told as a series of directions about how to handle the different students.

This story pairs quite well with "Super-Baby-Moms Group." It was a fun twist to present the story as a series of directions. If you're a teacher, and you feel your students are getting to be a bit much, just listen to this story. You'll feel much better about yourself. Jen's narration also pairs quite well with this story.

Another superhero school story that you won't want to miss. I recommend it.  

The Drabblecast

"Captain Confederation" by Jim Robb
Narrated by Rich Fish
Originally Published in AEscifi.ca

Captain Confederation is one of the top superheroes in Canada. He’s faced many enemies in the path, but now he’s about to take on his great foe yet: government bureaucracy! Various government agency have been putting increasingly stricter regulation on him, and Captain Confederation finds himself considering a move to America.

Superheroes are often thought of as a quintessentially American concept, and it was nice to get a non-American perspective on them. Okay, so maybe Canada isn’t that different, but still. You could easily see this story as an metaphor for all those Canadians who chose to move to America for various reasons. As a bonus you get to hear the song "Magneto and Titanium Man" in its entirety after the story is over.

Rich Fish (yes, his real name) did a spot on job with the narration. A Canadian take on superheroes that I happily recommend.

"The Heroics of Interior Design" by Elise R. Hopkins
Narrated by Veronica Giguere
Originally Published in The Colored Lens #1

This story follows a woman who’s superpower is…the ability to turn anything blue into yellow. She lives in a world filled with heroes possessing more impressive abilities. A protagonist must come to terms with who she is and find her place in this world.

This story is very much about finding your place in the world and coming to terms with who you are. Maybe the protagonist doesn’t have the most impressive powers, but she does her best to make her life meaningful in little ways. That doesn’t mean there isn’t doubts along the way, and by the end she’s done some boarder line illegal things. Still over all it was a pretty good story.

A story about finding meaning in mundane life. I recommend it.

"A Matter of Size" by Robert Jeschonek
Narrated by Norm Sherman
A Drabblecast Original

This story follows Manchild, a member of the Small Wonders superhero team. Someone has been kidnapping members of the team and using them to make snuff film porn. Everyone of them could be marked men, but Manchild, who has the power to turn into a seven year old, has personal interest in this case.

This story is something of a superhero noir, and it was nice to see the mixing of the styles. Though, word of advice, this story contain some potentially heavy subject matter so you might want to listen with the headphones on. The Drabblecast always does such a great job incorporating sound effects and music into their stories, and this one was no exception.

A hard boiled superhero noir that I very much recommend.

"Morton" by Adam Carvin

Narrated by Norm Sherman

A Drabblecast Original

This story follows a man who is picking up his wife's cousin Morton. Morton is a fat, lazy slob with an addiction to anime porn. He's the last person you'd want to receive superpowers, but fate has other ideas.

This story is pretty much an extended joke of sorts. The idea being, what if a complete loser, someone totally unworthy, got superpowers? It certainly makes Morton sound unpleasant. He's basically a walking stereotype of the worst aspects of weeaboos. That is, those who glorify Japan to the detriment of their own nations, and base all their knowledge of Japanese culture on anime and manga. Still, for what this story is, it isn't too bad.

This was one of the earliest Drabblecast episodes, so Norm's narration isn't quite up to the usual standards. Still, all things considered, not too bad. Not the best story, but also far from the worst. It is worth checking out.

Lightspeed Magazine

"Tonight We Fly" by Ian McDonald
Narrated by Paul Boehmer
Originally Published in Masked

This story follows an older former superhero named Chester Banres, formerly Captain Miracle. He longs for the days before he spent most of his time yelling at kids on his lawn. Fortunately, he receives a letter from an old villain of his, Dr. Nightshade, asking to meeting him in the park and fly one last time.

First of all, I have no relations to this Mr. McDonald. Anyway, Ian is from Northern Ireland, and that means more of than non-American perspective on superheroes. It was an interesting choice to make the protagonist an older superhero. It thought that Paul did a great job narrating, as he usually does.

Another non-American take on superheroes that I recommend.

"Origin Story" by Carrie Vaughn

Narrated by Gabrielle De Cuir

This story is set in the same world as Carrie Vaughn's After the Golden Age duology. It follows a woman named Mary who finds herself in the middle of a supervillain bank robbery. She's incredibly shocked to discover that her old boyfriend Jason is now the supervillain Techunter. The story follows them as they reconnect with each other.

Okay, first of all, you don't have to know anything about After the Golden Age in order to enjoy this story. Now then, as I've said before, I always enjoy these stories that examine what it's like to be an average person in a world of superheroes. It had the feel of an Astro City story. That's good, as Astro City is one of my favorite comics. I also liked some of the more mundane details. For example, Mary always dreamed of being an edgy fashion designer and bucking the system. Yet she wound up working for the system instead. Sadly, that's how it goes sometimes. At least she finds new opportunities with Jason.

Once again, Gabrielle does an excellent job with the narration. A story about what it's like to be an average person in a superhero world. I happily recommend it. 

Cast of Wonders

"Random Play All and League to Awesome" by Shane Halbach

Narrated by Justin Thomas James

Originally Published in Oomph: A Little Super Goes aLong Way, and collected in Year's Best YA Speculative Fiction 2013

This story follows a boy named Cyrus and his friends Milo and Rudy. They all have low level superpowers; Cyrus receives premonitions from his MP3 playlist, Milo is good at finding information, and Rudy has the power to never be bored. They're teaming up to investigate Cyrus' mom's business partner, and the strange activity he's been getting up to.

This story was fun from start to finish. It had the feel of those kid hero stories, like the Hardy Boys, but with slightly older protagonists. Admittedly, you could write off our hero's powers as being merely coincidence. Then against, some of Cyrus' playlists certainly seem a little too convenient. Still, not all heroes need powers. Batman for example...was trained in martial arts, has a bunch of gadgets and money. Okay, Batman's not the best example, but the point still stands. Like I said, this story was a joy to listen to from start to finish.

Justin Thomas James' narration was also a joy to listen to. Do I really need to say that I recommend this one?

Clarkesworld Magazine

"Cassandra" by Ken Liu
Narrated by Kate Baker

This story follows a reluctant supervillain with the ability to predict the future. She’s tried to get others to understand her, especially the local superhero Sup…er, I mean, Showboat. At the same times she wonders if she’s actually making a difference or if the future is set in stone.

Ken Liu is one of my absolute favorite writers, and it is always a joy to find a new story of his. So, he’s written a story featuring a superhero with blue tights, a red cape, has the letter S on his chest but the word Superman never appears anywhere in the story. Nice legal gymnastics there Ken. There’s been a few Ken Liu stories questioning if we truly have free will, and I liked that this one didn’t give any solid answers to that tricky question. Also, love the mythology reference in the title; never a bad time for a mythology reference. This story is another great example of the capepunk sub genre.

Now, Clarkesworld is one of those podcasts that only has one narrator, and so things are always a bit hit and miss. Fortunately, thought, Kate did a pretty good job narrating this story. It’s a Ken Liu story, so I kind of new this was going to be great, and it goes without saying that I give this a hearty recommendation.

Tales to Terrify

"Letter to the Editor" by David D. Levine

Narrated by David D. Levine

Originally Published in The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination

This story is told in the form of a letter to a newspaper. It is written by a mad scientist named Dr. Talon. He is convinced that the superhero Ultimate Man isn't all that he seems. In fact, he argues that Ultimate Man is putting the world in serious danger simply by his mere existence.

So we've got a story with thinly-veiled versions of Lex Luthor and Superman. Not a complaint, just an observation. It is certainly an interesting twist to see a superhero horror story. I will say that Talon certainly does make a pretty convincing case that Ultimate Man really is an inhuman monstrosity. Still, I wonder if it is a sign of how cynical society has grown that we can't assume someone like Superman really would be all he appears to be, and with no hidden agendas.

David also does an absolutely fantastic job with the narration. A deconstructive superhero horror story that I happily recommend.  

The Overcast

"Stand Up" by Josh Roseman

Narrated by J.S. Arquin

This story follows an autistic boy who has decided to be a superhero. He doesn't have any superpowers, but he has decided to stand up for those in need. The story follows him through his day, and helps a fellow autistic student in need.

I felt that this story captured the mind of an autistic person especially well. As someone who is on the autism spectrum, I always appreciate when stories do that. The protagonist describes things in a very detailed and matte-of-fact sort of way. I've said before about how not all superhero have powers, and I certainly liked the down to Earth feeling of this story. The slice of life aspects were really nice. Don't get me wrong, I do love speculative fiction short stories, but I do wish we had more diversity of genre in the podcast space. Gets some slice of life and down to Earth type stories in there as well.

J.S. Arquin did an exceptionally good job with the narration. A slice of life superhero story that I happily recommend.

The Truth

"Justice Battalion" by Casper Kelly

A Full Cast Production

This story follows a team of superheroes called the Justice Battalion. They fight for Truth, Justice and the American Way. Recently, America has elected a new, and highly controversial, president. Bright Star, the team leader, believes that the president must be stop by and means necessary. He's evening willing to kill the president and overthrow the government. The other members must stop him before it is too late.

This episode had some strong Silver Age vibes to it. In particular, you can tell that Super Friends was a pretty big influence. The main characters are also thinly-veiled stand-ins for the Justice League. Bright Star is Superman, Night Wolf is Batman, and Captain Kilowatt is Wonder Woman. They even fight a Joker analogue named Crying Clown. The only member without an obvious counterpart is Silicon Savior. Though he is a robot like Red Tornado.

Still, even amidst the silliness, there is a deeper message. The message seems to be, even if you disagree with the current government, that doesn't justify killing or resorting to drastic measures. The humor and parody help the message go down smoother. I also appreciated that the humor never got too self-referential or self-indulgent. It was like Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, but with much better writing.

The voice acting is absolutely phenomenal. Erica Schoeder does a pitch perfect rendition of the Super Friends version of Wonder Woman. Likewise, Marc Thompson gives a great performance as Night Wolf. Kind of a combination of Christian Bale and Diedrich Bader's takes on Batman. Billy Bob Thompson sounds exactly like Mark Hamill's take on Joker. Great performances all around.

A fun and humorous story complete with a deeper message. I can't recommend it enough.

Earbud Theater

"Pete the Creature" by Nicholas Thurkettle

A Full Cast Production

This story follows two girls named Mala and Evel. They are students at a school for supervillains. They're competing in the school's upcoming mad science fair. They're planning on creating a creature, but the strains of competition may also strain their friendship.

This was the first episode of Earbud Theater that I ever listened to, and is still one of my favorites. They're great juxtaposition in this story. One second it sounds like a typical school story, and then you get a reminder that the main characters are at a school for supervillains. There's also a great message about how winning isn't everything, and you shouldn't let competition consume you. This is slightly underminded given the nature of the twist at the end, but I won't spoil that for you.

Great performances all around from the cast. Another fun story that I'll happily recommend to you.

Conclusion

So here we are at the end of the list once again. My schedule has cleared and I should be able to get these to you more often. I know I say that a lot, but still. Like always, I hope you're all enjoying this as much as I am. Without anything else to say, I will see you all next time. 

The Audio File: Christmas Special: Part 1

Christmas, it’s that most wonderful time of the year. As much as I tend to complain about how the buildup takes away from other holidays, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, I still love this time of year nonetheless. Could it be the cool weather, the gift giving, the joyous spirits or perhaps all of the above? I’ve had many fond Christmas memories over the years, and hopefully many more to come. Whatever the reason I’ve got some great stories to get you in that Christmas spirit. I say Christmas and not Holidays because there’s not that many speculative fiction stories based around Hanukkah and Kwanza. Well I found one Hanukkah story, but I’m saving it for the Lovecraft special.

As you may have notice by the timing of this posting, we're having Christmas in July. Well, an early Christmas in July, but it still counts. I was able to find so many stories that I had to split this special into two parts. Don’t worry, part two will be here before you know it.

So hope in my sleight, and grip on the reigns, the time for stories tis only a short bit away…

PodCastle

“Catching the Spirit” by Heather Shaw and Tim Pratt
Narrated by Big Anklevich
A PodCastle Original

It’s often said that Christmas brings out the spirit of generosity in people. In this story it literally does. People are coming down with manic bouts of generosity that cause them to give away everything they own, all while being happier than ever, and nobody knows why. Nobody, that is, save a crabby old man living in rural Minnesota with eight reindeer. In cast it wasn’t obvious, the old man is of course Santa Claus.

Every year around Christmas time PodCastle commissions a story from Tim Pratt and Heather Shaw; so expect to see their names come up a few times. I liked how this story brought a humanizing element to Santa. We get to see Santa make mistakes and double his purpose in life. Yet at the same time we also see Santa pick himself up, dust off his bruises and keep pressing on. It was also nice to see the story talk about how even the smallest act of kindness can have a big impact on someone else’s life.

Big Anklevich is one of the hosts of the Dunesteef Podcast, and he does a great job with the narration for this story. It’s a story that’s sure to lift your spirits, and get you in the spirit and…okay, I’ll stop. Anyway, it’s a story that is well worth your time.

“Seasonal Disorder” by Heather Shaw and Tim Pratt
Narrated by Christiana Ellis
A PodCastle Original

This story follows the Snow Queen, the living personification of winter and the cold. She’s been living a pretty low-key life these last few centuries due to a lack of followers. All of that changes when she received a message from an ice elf. The Sun King is going to ignite the sun to speed up the evolution of life on Europa, but in the process, Earth will be destroyed. Can the Snow Queen stop him in time?

Almost all of the major symbols and traditions associated with our modern Christmas celebrations can trace their roots back to pagan religious practices. As such, it was nice to see a story that harkened back to those pagan roots in its own unique way. Though this story did make me wonder about the other seasonal royalty in its world. The Sun King’s plan for Europa kind of reminded me of a fantasy version of Arthur C. Clarke’s 2010: Odyssey Two. I also really enjoyed the Snow Queen’s irreverent and laid-back attitude; in contrast with the Sun King’s pomp and self-importance.

Christiana really nailed it were her performance of the Snow Queen’s snarky and sarcastic personality. 

It tis the season, and this is a story that I happily recommend.

“The Christmas Mummy” by Heather Shaw and Tim Pratt
Narrated by Rish Outfield
Originally Published in A Christmas Chapbook

This story follows two kids named Trish and Nate who sure they’re in for a great Christmas. Their supercool adventurer archeologist of an uncle has come to visit, and ninja elves have delivered presents to them. Then their uncle’s old rival, Hitler Moriarty, drops in for a visit. Can the kids save the day and find the true meaning of Christmas?

And with this story we’ve bowled a turkey of great Heather Shaw and Tim Pratt stories. I loved how this story juxtaposes various pulp adventure tropes alongside a typical suburban Christmas. This is a fun little story that is perfect to share with any kids in your life. I had to smile whenever Professor Moriarty referenced the pagan origins of Christmas, it reminded me of Christmas conversations with my own family. It’s got magic, mummies and Christmas mayhem. What more could you ask for?

Rish Outfield, the other half of the Dunesteef Podcast, does a great job with the narration. It’s magical Christmas fun the whole family can enjoy. I couldn’t recommend it more.

"Elf Employment" by Heather Shaw and Tim Pratt

Narrated by Wilson Fowlie

A PodCastle Original

This story follows a young boy named Alex who has decided to runaway to Santa's workshop. He did this to escape his strict and overbearing parents. Working at the North Pole isn't quite all it's cracked up to be, but he makes the best of it. He's making his way through he ranks, but is he truly happy with his new life?

At one point or another every child has thought about running away to somewhere. It could be someplace real like the circus, or someplace made up like Hogwarts of Camp Half-Blood. The point is, sometimes we think we'd be better off without our parents. That's true if your parents are genuinely abusive, but in most cases, you really might want to think twice. Parents make mistakes, and sometimes they're too strict, but it comes from a place of wanting the best for their children. Alex certainly learns this during his stay at the North Pole. At the same time, Santa acknowledges that Alex's parents do need to loosen-up. I liked how they weren't completely off the hook.

Speaking of which, let's talk about the scene during Thanksgiving dinner. Alex has decided to be vegetarian, but his parents make him eat turkey, because his uncle is a turkey farmer. Alex tires to slather it with cranberry sauce, but his dad says "Oh no you don't! You'll eat it with gravy like everyone else." I ask you, what kind of cold, cruel, heartless monster denies an innocent child delicious cranberry sauce?! I know a lot of people put emphasis on gravy, but my family never makes special gravy for Thanksgiving. We use cranberry sauce, and I never understood the emphasis on gravy, but I digress.

As for the narration, Wilson does a spot on job. A story that draws on memories of childhood, and one that I recommend.

"Hosting the Solstice" by Tim Pratt

Narrated by Brie Code

A PodCastle Original

This story follows a woman named Holly who is doing her best to lead a quiet suburban life with her husband Corey and her son Rye. This is complicated when her family decides to drop in for a visit. They're...something supernatural. Gods? Spirits? Fay? Demons? The point is, they're not human. Whatever her family really are, Holly's holiday season just got a lot more stressful.

It was nice to have another story that harkens back to the pagan roots of Christmastime. I always enjoy stories they provide a perspective flip on a familiar concept. With this story when see the familiar narrative of a young boy discovering that his is magical, and about to be whisked away on a magical adventure. However, we see it from the perspective of the parents. Sort of a Percy Jackson and the Olympians from Mrs. Jackson's point-of-view. So just what are Holly's parents? I'm inclined to say Fair Folk, as they can't drink water from metal pipes. On that other hand, that just makes things murkier. Some scholars think that the Fair Folk were originally gods, but devolved into spirits due to the influence of Christian missionaries. Well, in any event, if you're ever feeling stressed during the holidays, just listen to this story and you'll feel better.

I thought that Brie did an excellent job with the narration. A story that shows, no matter how different our families are, at the end of the day we all go through the same stress during the holidays. I happily recommend it.

"The Christmas Abomination from Beyond the Back of the Stars" by Heather Shaw and Tim Pratt

Narrated by Rish Outfield

A PodCastle Original

This story is a sequel to "The Christmas Mummy," but you don't have to have listen to it to understand this one. Trish, Nate and their family are back for a Christmas vacation in Micronesia. Of course, given what story this is a sequel to, it isn't long before vacation time is interrupted by the Lovecraftian deity named Peshtiri Mobdybelig. Hey, with this family the holidays are anything but ordinary.

Just as last time juxtaposed Pulp Adventure with a suburban Christmas, this time we get Cosmic Horror thrown into the mix. It goes without saying that it all works out in the end, but it was a fun journey to get there. It is mentioned that Peshtiri Mobdybelig is placated via a ritual that involves two goats,none red and one white, that have feasted only on mint and sugar. I can't believe I didn't get the solution sooner. I also loved how Peshtiri Mobdybelig came across as rather polite and jovial at times.

I also really loved Rish's narration, as per usual. Another fun Christmas story that you won't want to miss out on.

"River's Giving" by Heather Shaw, Tim Pratt, and River Shaw 

Narrated by Kyle Akers 

A PodCastle Original  

 

This story follows a boy named Alexander. His village looks forward every year to a celebration called River's Giving. After performing a ritual, gifts in contained within capsules float down the river to the village. This year however, the gifts do not come. Alexander must set off into the mountains from which the river flows to find the answer why. It is a quest that will take him into the lair of a great and powerful dragon.  

 

In the last few years, I've noticed that there are inflatable Halloween dragons some people put out. Apparently, these were popular enough to also spawn inflatable Christmas dragons you can put in your front lawn. I've always wanted to get one, but never got around to it. Oh well, maybe next year. Personally, I think it's really great that dragons are becoming more integrated into our holidays.  

 

I bring all of this up because of what Alexander finds. Turns out, it isn't the rituals that bring the gifts. They came from a dragon's hoard, but there's a hole the let's them slip out into the river. However, the dragon plugged the hole, so no more gifts. Thankfully, Alexander convinces the dragon that it is better to give than to receive, and they become a weird fantasy Santa duo, except they're a boy and a dragon. Hey, I love and it works, that's all that matters. This is River Shaw's first published story, and based on this, I think we can expect great things from him in the future.  

 

Kyle did a great job with the narration. It's a Christmas story with a dragon in it? How can I not recommend it?  

The Drabblecast

"A Fairy Tale of Oakland" by Tim Pratt

Narrated by Norm Sherman

A Drabblecast Original

This story follows an unnamed narrator who has fallen down on his luck. He’s had a chance encounter with an old homeless man who claims to have met the actual Santa Claus. Our narrator has always hated Christmas, but he’s about to experience the holiday in a way he’s never anticipated before.

Okay, I know that really doesn’t sound like much, but I swear this is a really great story. First off, I loved how this story incorporated various myths about Santa from around the world, with special emphasis on the Krampus. Now, for those who might not know, Krampus is said to be a demon bound to the service on St. Nicholas. One night every year Krampus seeks out naughty children, stuff them into sacks and whips them with switches. His legend hails from Bavaria, Austria and Croatia. Now that we’ve had our folklore lesson for the day, let’s get back to the review.

This story felt kind of heartwarming, though in the Drabblecast’s own weird and unique way. We never find out the name of the protagonist, but I do know Norm Sherman’s name. I also know that he does a great job with the narration.

It’s unusual, weird, heartwarming and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

"On Dasher" by Jonathan C. Gillespie

Narrated by Norm Sherman

A Drabblecast Original

This story followers the reindeer Dasher. He's grown disillusioned with pulling Santa's sleigh, and wishes to do something more with his life. Santa is aware of this, and it just so happens that a qilin from China has volunteered to fill the spot. Dasher and the qilin are to compete in a race around the world, and the winner gets a spot on Santa's sleigh team.

I always love it when stories introduce me to new mythological creatures. I kind of suspected how the story was going to end. All the same, I was still rooting for the qilin to win, because the thought of one of those pulling Santa's sleigh was just too much fun. Still, Dasher does learn that his work does have value to the children of the world. So there's plenty of heartwarming moments to go with the fun and action.

As per usual, Norm's narration is spot-on. A fun and heartwarming story with a dash of mythology. I recommend it.

"Dirty Santa" by Tim Pratt

Narrated by Norm Sherman

A Drabblecast Original

This story follows a man named Kieron at a Christmas party. He receives a present from a mysterious red-haired woman named Elsie. He now has the power to grant wishes as Dirty Santa. Unfortunately, everyone's heart's desire doesn't always work out for the best. Kieran's got to find a way to break free from his curse before it's too late.

I enjoy these stories Tim makes that feature Elsie. While overall this was an enjoyable story, I didn't like that it hinted at her past. I know she's appeared in some of the books Tim has written, so maybe I'm missing something. All the same, characters like Elsie work best when they're given as little backstory as possible. We don't know much about Willy Wonka or Ms. Frizzle, but we don't need to. They're awesome just the way they are. In fact, giving them definitive backstories can often work against them. Now this isn't to say that I didn't enjoy this story. I liked it quite a bit. Kieron hold the distinction of being one of the few people to meet Elsie and live to tell the tale.

Once again, Norm does an excellent job with the narration. Another good, if a bit flawed, Tim Pratt Christmas story. I say give it a try.  

"Midnight Clear, or, How Santa Claus Killed the Sun" by Tim Pratt 

Narrated by Norm Sherman 

A Drabblecast Original 

 

This story follows Santa Claus, but he's a bit different than what you're probably envisioning. He's given up on giving presents and instead focuses on dishing out justice. Specifically, he tracks down particularly powerful wicked individuals and slays them on behalf of all those whose lives they have ruined and/or taken. This time, Santa is on his biggest assignment yet. The fury Tisiphone has asked him to kill the Greek god Apollo.  

 

This is actually a sequel to another story Tim Pratt wrote for The Drabblecast. However, that story wasn't very good, hence it didn't make the list. Don't worry, you don't need to have listened to that story to enjoy this one. Indeed, I greatly enjoyed this story. By now you should probably know that I love pretty much anything that involves Greek Mythology, or mythology in general. It was a bemusing coincidence that this story came out when it did. I had recently finished The Trials of Apollo, the second sequel series to Percy Jackson and the Olympians. A big part of The Trials of Apollo is that the god Apollo learned to be a better person via his (mis)adventures. Whereas in this story...well, it seems that death is the only redemption.  

 
 

It's a fun story, don't get me wrong, but it felt a bit too short. The confrontation with Apollo happens straight away, without much build-up. Santa doesn't really encounter much in the way of challenge. Well, he does attack at night, when Apollo is at his weakest. Still, Apollo doesn't provide any challenge, and generally feels like a god well past his prime. In fact, Santa almost comes across as merciful for seemingly putting Apollo out of his misery. Also, Apollo gets instantly reincarnated, since the sun can't die due to the whole Sol Invictus /eternal sun thing. However, he reincarnates as a new goddess of dawn. Slight problem, given that Greco-Roman Mythology already has one of those. The Greeks knew her as Eos, while the Romans called her Aurora.  

 

Still, it is nice that Santa has someone to keep him company now. Mrs. Claus, the elves, and all the reindeer save Rudolph left him after he got into the assassin business. Norm did an excellent job as always with the narration. 

 

A story of Santa as you've never seen him before, and one I recommend.  

 

Escape Pod

“Hoping for Red” by Adam Knight

Narrated by Tina Connolly

An Escape Pod Original

This story follows the reminder Vixen. She's grown jealous of all the attention Donner had gotten because of her boy Rudolph. Vixen and her husband have turned to genetic engineering in hopes that their daughter will be special. But is that really such a good idea?

You know, I never considered what gender Santa's reindeer are. I always assumed male, but I guess they could be female to. I always did wonder why a boy reindeer would be named Vixen. Female reindeer have antlers too; though theirs’s are smaller than male reindeers'. This is another of those stories that provides another side of a well-known tale. Apparently, Rudolph wasn't bullied for his nose. He's a jerk and a prima donna who gave the other reindeer plenty of legitimate reasons to hate him. So, yeah. Vixen gets her special baby, but the other reindeer also want special kids.

This has the unfortunate side effect of getting all of original reindeer replaced. Now the original eight are reduced to stage moms, living vicariously through their kids. I'd add there might be another issue. Presumably the super reindeer will have kids of their own, and who knows what their powers might be. All I'm say is that a reindeer with atomic powers might be pretty dangerous. Also, what if the reindeer don't want to use their powers for good?

I'd been listening to the podcast Toasted Cake a lot when I listened to this story. As Aristotle observed, any virtue taken to an extreme becomes a vice. I did groan just a tad when I heard Tina would be narrating. Like I said, too much of a good thing and all that. However, all things considered, she did a good job.

A satirical take on Christmas icons. This story gets presents for Christmas.

"As Solitary As an Oyster" by Mur Lafferty

Narrated by Alasdair Stuart

Collected in Merry Christmas From the Heartbreakers and Others Stories

This story follows a trio of ghost hunters on Christmas Eve. They've been hired by a Mr. Ebenezer Scrounge to deal with some spirits that have come to visit him.

This story fails to deliver despite a potentially fun premise. The characters were bland and forgettable. I had little to no idea about any of their motivations or personalities. In fact, it invoked the eight worst words you can say to an author: I don't care what happens to these characters. Alasdair's narration only served to compound the problems. It felt like his heart just wasn't in the narration, and like he was phoning it in. He made no effort to differentiate the characters. He gave them all the same emotionless monotone voice, and it was hard to keep track of who was who. That's an issue I've had with his narrations. Even when they're good they are...well, good, but not great. He might be an excellent orator, but as a narrator, Alasdair leaves something to be desired. Still, he did improve his hosting skills with time. Perhaps he will eventually improve his narration skills as well.

This story gets coal for Christmas. Don't waste your time with this one. 

Aural Traditions

"Christmas in Crisis" by Blair Cadden 

A Full Cast Production 

 

This story begins not too long before Christmas. Shawn is a young boy who has recently moved to Florida, from New York City, with his mom. He is not happy about this one bit. Ella, a girl from his neighborhood, is determined to cheer him up. Before long, however, the two kids make a startling discovery. Santa Claus himself has moved to Florida. He's become disillusioned after the Nice List dropped to zero. With Christmas fast on the way Shawn and Ella, with some help from one of Santa's elves, are going to have to rekindle Santa's Christmas spirit.  

 
 

I really enjoyed this one. It's aimed towards kids, but it can be enjoyed by listeners of all ages. One aspect that I particularly want to praise is that the kids are voiced by actual kids. Gavin Lahmon and Ambria Rodgers voice Shawn and Ella respectively. They both gave especially praiseworthy performances. I see bright futures in the world of audio fiction and voice acting for both of them. In fact, the whole cast gave excellent performances. I also liked that Shawn was written as a bit of a jerk, but still somewhat sympathetic even before we find out just why he is so bitter. It is a delicate balancing act to write character like that, and Blair pulled it off well.  

 
 

There were some aspects of the story that reminded me a bit of Arthur Christmas, but nothing wrong with that. Arthur Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas movies. What else can I say? It's a really fun Christmas story, and I happily recommend it.  

 

"Frosted" by Steven Cardinal 

A Full Cast Production 

 

This story follows a bumbling magician named Henry Hinkle. He used to be a major star of the stage, but these days he struggles to find even the most meager of gigs. He desperately wishes to prove to his daughter Karen that he isn't a failure. His only solace is his performing partner, a talking rabbit named Hocus Pocus. Then, Henry gets his chance when he finds an old silk hat with more than a bit of magic in it. It's a dream come true, but Henry will soon find that the hat has a mind of its own.  

 

As I've said in the past, I enjoy stories that flip the perspective on familiar tales we've all heard before. This was no exception. This episode depicts Hocus Pocus as being a woman. I always assumed the rabbit was male, but I guess technically its gender was never specified. I did like her characterization as a sleazy scheming sidekick. Also, Karen and the magician are father and daughter here, despite not being related in the special. But hey, that change worked out perfectly. I think doing the perspective flip would have been harder if they hadn't been related. And I liked how their relationship developed. 

 

Frosty himself acts pretty much as he did in the special, but with twist. He doesn't wear the hat, the hat wears him. That is, he's a construct created by the hat, so it's questionable if he is truly sentient or not. The story definitely went in some directions I wasn't excepting, but I'll leave that for you to discover one your own. Great performances all around from the whole cast. 

 

A fun twist on a holiday classic, and one that I happily recommend.  

Far-Fetched Fables

"In the Late December" by Greg Van Eekhout

Narrated by Eric Luke

Originally Published in Strange Horizons

This story takes place far into the future. So far that it is almost at the end of the universe itself. It is a strange and unfathomable place, but Santa still delivers presents to children, such that they are. This Christmas, however, the number of children is at an all-time low. Santa is about to do battle with the forces of entropy itself.

Certainly one of the more unusual entries to the list, but that just makes it more enjoyable. It is comforting to think that, even as the universe grows dark and cold, some things will remain constant. In this story we see Santa not just as someone who brings joy to children, but also as a defender of children. Greg certainly has a very active imagination to come up with a story like this. Likewise, Eric certainly has great narrating skills.

A science fantasy Christmas experience bursting with imagination and heart. Of course I recommend it.

“The Magikkers” by Terry Dowling

Narrated by Graeme Dunlop

Originally Published in Amberjack: Tales of Fear and Wonder

This story follows a boy named Sam who is attending a school to learn how to use magic. Sam and his classmates are magikkers, meaning they have only enough magic within them to each perform one great act of magic, and after that their magic will be all used up. Once they’ve run out of magic they’ll have to get by with slight-of-hand and optical illusions. Sam is facing a dilemma about if he ought to save his magic or use it for the sake of the school’s headmaster.

We’ll end part one of the Christmas Special with a story about the magic of giving to others. Here we have a young boy who is swept up into a tantalizingly magical world, but he only gets to have the briefest of tastes. Sam’s choice ultimately comes down to how he wants the legacy of his magic to be remembered. It’s pretty obvious that he goes on to use his one act of magic as a selfless act, but it didn’t take away from how touching this story was. Graeme’s gentle and kind voice was the perfect fit for this story.

I think that’s enough from me, go ahead and give this wonderful little story a listen.

Conclusion

Well we've had our fun, but now I must run. In this summer heat I'll surely melt away. But though I wave goodbye, you must not cry, I'll be back with part two of this Christmas Special before you know it. I will see you all for part two next time. Speaking of which, part two is now available.