The Audio File: Chain of Being

As is often the case, there are times when I’m aware of an audio drama for a while. However, sometimes it takes me a bit to get around to them. It helps when I get a nudge in that direction. But it almost always proves to be worth the wait. So, without further ado, let’s get into the audio drama we’ll be reviewing today. We’re taking a look at Chain of Being. 

Chain of Being is set far into the future. Humanity has spread to the stars, encountered numerous alien races, and made major advances in science and technology. And yet this world of tomorrow is very much connected to the mythical past. Magic exists alongside science and technology, leviathans and angels attack unsuspecting spaceships, and gods constantly meddle in the affairs of humanity and the other sentient races. The series follows Adam Delta 5. He is the biblical Adam, the very first human ever created. Adam has been wandering the universe for thousands of years, and has grown a bit distant from the rest of humanity. Lately, however, Adam is taking more interest in humanity. A strange force is mutating beings across the universe, and twisting them into strange and unnatural forms. A force that may have a connection to Adam’s past.

I had been aware of Chain of Being for a while. I had been giving some thought to checking it out. Then I got followed by Chain of Being on Twitter. That certainly bumped Chain of Being up in my listening schedule. I have had many audio dramas follow me on Twitter, and I have speculated that they might be fishing for a review. I am always happy to review any audio drama that asks me. However, if you really want to make sure your show gets reviewed, the best way is to ask me directly. My Twitter DMs are open, if you don’t want to ask me in public. You can also message me on Reddit. You can also message this blog’s fan page on Facebook, or you can message my personal Facebook account. Point is, there’s a lot of ways to get in touch with me.

Chain of Being is a member of the Faustian Nonsense podcast network. They are a network of several quality fiction podcasts, such as The Lavender Tavern. One episode of Chain of Being features Kieran Walsh, who plays Gino Whelan on fellow Faustian Nonsense show The Green Horizon.

The first few episodes of Chain of Being are a bit shorter, and are primarily there to ease the viewer into the setting. The show truly starts around episodes six and seven, Epistasis parts 1 and 2. That’s the point where Adam officially appears. I do understand why series creator Cai Gwilym Pritchard started with these prequel episodes. The setting of Chain of Being is a very unusual one. I can best describe Chain of Being as what would happen if China Miéville decided to make an audio drama. The key word here is weird, as in Weird Fiction. Think things along the lines of the stories from The Drabblecast. I would also classify Chain of Being as mythpunk. We’ve got an advanced futuristic setting, but we also have mythological gods and magic existing side-by-side with science and technology. 

You do get some hints of familiarity here and there. There’s certainly plenty of biblical allusions, and nods to various mythologies. However, they’re often presented in an unusual context. For example, our protagonist is the biblical Adam, but he’s an immortal, and he has glass horns and completely black eyes. I thought the horns might have been an obscure mythological reference. However, Cai Gwilym Pritchard says that they’re meant to be a reference to the Mark of Cain.

The politics of the various human and alien races are reasonably easy to follow along with. There’s an alliance of planets that is trying to create unity among the various races of the galaxy. However, they frequently do this by forcibly relocating people to frontier planets, even if it means breaking up families, in hopes of speeding-up integration. And there’s this group of human supremacists who are all descended from colonists from Mars, Venus, and various other parts of our Solar System. Earth is considered semi-mythical, and nobody really knows what became of it. Obviously, the human supremacists are pretty fascist. 

All easy enough to follow, but I also feel I don’t have the complete picture of Chain of Being’s universe. But this is very much by design. Cai Gwilym Pritchard has stated that they deliberately withheld certain bits of worldbuilding. They reason that works set on Earth don’t go into detail about Earth’s entire history. As such, the Chain of Being universe would be no different in that regard.

As previously mentioned, there are numerous references to mythology and religion from Earth. For example, we first encounter Adam aboard an ark ship that is carrying some of the last surviving specimens of birds from East Africa. This is clearly a nod to the story of Noah and the Ark. Interesting that the birds were from East Africa, as that is where humans first evolved. I’m tempted to think that was deliberate. One of the prequel episodes features a character named Tubal Cain. He’s a minor character mentioned in the Book of Genesis, and is claimed to be the world’s first blacksmith.

Angels are described as being Lovecraftian monstrosities that look like a collection of wings and eyes. There are many different types of angels, and the description matches that Seraphim. They worship God directly by surrounding the Throne of Heaven and constantly chanting “Holy! Holy! Holy!” Maybe we’ll get some Cherubs in season two of Chain of Being. Pop culture depicts them as winged babies, but the Bible describes them as having four faces; a man’s face, a lion’s face, an ox’s face, and an eagle’s face. Those are also the symbols of the four gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in that order. It is said that a Cherub guards the entrance to the Garden of Eden. In other types of angels, there’s also the Ophanim. They look like several interlocking wheels made out of eyes.

Adam at one point mentions the different gods that created the different sentient races of the galaxy. Interestingly, it wasn’t Yahweh or Elohim who created humanity. Rather, it was a goddess named Epicurosa. She doesn’t appear to have an analog in any actual mythology, and appears to have been made-up for Chain of Being. Cai Gwilym Pritchard has said they feel a bit embarrassed that most of the aliens are humanoid. However, I think Chain of Being has a pretty brilliant explanation for that. Humans were created in the image of the gods, so it would make sense that other sentient races would be humanoid. It is mentioned that humans aren’t the only race that Epicurosa created. We later learn that Eden is located in another dimension, and is basically the test lab of the gods. The garden is but one small section of it.

There’s a couple religious orders dedicated to the Greco-Roman gods Nemesis and Cupid respectively. So, that means the Greek gods are out there somewhere. I guess that works. The Old Testament doesn’t necessarily deny the possibility that other gods exist; just that you shouldn’t worship them. Though, it does make me wonder how many other gods from Earth are running around. The sign of the entity that is mutating everyone kind of sounded similar to the Elder Sign from the Lovecraft Mythos. I’m not sure if that was a coincidence or not. Or here’s a thought, what if it was meant to be the Chain of Being itself?

So, what exactly is this Chain of Being thing? The Chain of Being is a philosophical concept. It was codified during the Middle Ages by thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas, but it has its roots in the teachings of Aristotle and Plato. The Chain of Being organizes all things in the universe into orders of importance and complexity. God is at the top and minerals are at the bottom. There were also subdivisions within the different sections of the chain. For example, monarchs reigned at the top of human society, and men ranked above women. The Chain of Being was used, among other things, to justify the divine right of kings, and to deny women opportunities to advance in society. Yeah, not a particularly nice system. One of the ways Western society managed to advance was by rejecting the rigid hierarchy of the Chain of Being.

Now, let’s talk about the voice acting. Cai Gwilym Pritchard provides the voice of Adam. Adam speaks with a notable echo. It often sounds like multiple voices speaking at once. This gives Adam an eternal and otherworldly quality. As the series progresses, however, this echo becomes increasingly subdued. Perhaps that symbolizes how Adam is regaining his connection with humanity once again. I should also note that Cai Gwilym Pritchard created Chain of Being at the tender age of seventeen. They wanted to see more science fantasy stories, and decided to be the change they wanted to see in the world. Quite the accomplishment that was indeed. All of the other actors also give excellent performances.

The only real point of criticism I have is the transcripts. They aren’t easy to find on Faustian Nonsense’s website, and it will always display the transcript for the first episode, no matter which episode you click. You find them by selecting an episode, and then clicking the three little dots. Now, Chain of Being does have full transcripts on its Tumblr account, but I wouldn’t have known this if I hadn’t come across it by chance. Transepts are important so that listeners with disabilities can enjoy audio dramas. They’re also quite helpful for people who write reviews as well.

Season one of Chain go Being has certainly been intriguing. Personally, I’m hoping we find out what happened to Eve. Adam doesn’t give much info, as it is still a touchy subject for him, but something significant happened with Eve. Did she grow old and die, while he remained immortal? Or is she immortal, but they had a falling out somewhere along the way? Also, the human supremacists are apparently going to be the main antagonists of season two. It will be interesting to see how that plays out.

But whatever the future holds, I do know that season one of Chain of Being was really great. It combines science fiction, mythology, and magic in a far future where gods still meddle in the affairs of humanity, and the other sentient races. A very unusual setting, to be sure, but also a very creative one. Give it a listen today.

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

The Audio File: The Call of the Void

I have my tastes and preferences when it comes to audio dramas. Having said that, at lot of times, I won’t know if I’ll like something until I give it a try. As with many things, finding a great audio drama often comes down to pure chance and luck, more than anything else. Though, I certainly hope my reviews help you to find great audio dramas. There’s no much more to add, so let’s get right into it. We’re taking a look at The Call of the Void. 

Topher Sommers is a tour guide who works at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. He’s got a fairly good life, and is reasonably happy. Then his father, a prominent physics professor, disappears. Topher and his sister Simone try to retrace their father’s steps. This leads Topher to a palm reader named Etsy Delmen. She went to school with Topher, but he kind of forgot about her over the years. Etsy is hide a few secrets of her own. Topher and Etsy hit the road to retrace Mr. Sommers tracks, while Simone stay behind in New Orleans. Topher and Etsy are about to find more than they bargained for. They will discover arcane symbols, deranged cultists, morally questionable experiments, and eldritch horrors from beyond this universe. This is The Call of the Void. Stay tuned, stay sane.

I had known about The Call of the Void for a while. I’d seen it get recommended alongside shows such as Spaceships, The Strata, and Residents of Proserpina Park. The Twitter account for The Call of the Void even followed and unfollowed me a couple times. I did follow them back eventually, but I think I ought to explain my process. I don’t follow shows on Twitter until I have caught up with all available episodes that they have. It’s nothing personal, it’s just how I conduct myself. But it was also clear that The Call of the Void was trying to get my attention. Okay, it worked. You guys twisted my arm enough, and I gave the show a listen.

I sometimes get the feeling that shows follow me on Twitter in order to fish for a review. As such, I must repeat what I said during my review of We Fix Space Junk. If any of you who create audio drama would like a review, just be direct. You can message me on Reddit, or send me a direct message on Twitter. You can also comment on one of my many posts on r/audiodrama, or the other subreddits I post in. Or you can message me on Facebook; I'm active in the Audio Drama Lovers group and the Audio Drama Hub group. You can also message my Facebook fan page for this blog, Sam McDonald's The Audiophile. Point is, there's a lot of way to get in touch with me. The best way to guarantee that I'll review your show is to directly contact me. As you might have noticed, I'm more than happy to give any show a shot.

I’ll admit that horror investigation audio dramas aren’t really my go-to genre. Despite this, The Call of the Void managed to hold my interest for all three seasons. I was worried that things would move too slow, and both the mystery and plot would drag on. Thankfully, this was not the case. The plot moved at a decent speed. In fact, there were times when season one felt like it was moving a bit too fast. Fortunately, these pacing issues were smoothed out in seasons two and three. I was also intrigued by the references and connections to the Lovecraft Mythos. I am a fan of the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Let’s see: incomprehensible eldritch horrors from beyond this universe, deranged cultists who worship said eldritch horrors, mysterious archaic symbols, academics driven mad by the eldritch horrors. I don’t know about you, but that all sounds pretty Lovecraftian to me.

Also, as someone from Louisiana, I’d be lying if I said that The Calling of the Void being set in Louisiana didn’t intrigue me. My dad’s side of the family is from throughout the greater New Orleans area. So, I’ve visited New Orleans on quite a few occasions over the years. While we’re on the subject, points for getting the pronunciation correct. Those of us from Louisiana pronounce it New Or-Lens, not New Or-leans. I realize this makes no sense to non-Louisianans, but that’s how we pronounce it. Saying it as Or-leans is a good way to get yourself marked as a tourist. Also, points for remembering that Louisiana is divided into parishes, not counties. It is a legacy from our days as a colony of France and Spain, who were both Catholic nations. Louisiana is one of only two states that don’t use counties. The other one is Alaska, which uses boroughs.

Let’s talk about the characters, starting with Topher. As previously stated, Topher has a degree in history, and works at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. It is a real museum that is located in the French Quarter. I’ve been going to New Orleans for many years, but I haven’t been to the Pharmacy Museum yet. I’ll have to correct that next time I’m down there. It certainly looks like and interesting place, and I’ll be able to mark it on my Atlas Obscura list, which is a nice bonus. I’m kind of tempted to ask if Topher Sommers is in just to see how the tour guides will react. As someone with a bachelor’s degree in history, I can confirm that Topher working as a tour guide checks out. A lot of history majors hope to work in museums someday. Though only a lucky few actually manage to achieve that dream. It helps if you can find work at a smaller museum, but even then it can be a bit dicey.

I also liked how Topher has a habit of cheerily rattling off disturbing medical history facts. That’s something else that is common to history majors. Depending on what your focus is, you can get desensitize to some pretty grizzly stuff fairly quickly. I helps if you’re a fan of Horrible Histories, both the books and the television series. I did my senior paper on the history of Mesoamerican civilizations. Human sacrifice was an unavoidable topic, as were religious rituals involving flaying and blood letting. Unavoidable, but I was never really phased by it all. In fact, I took a more nuanced view. At least the Aztecs and Mayans killed people because they thought it was required to keep the world running. The Romans, by contrast, killed people just for entertainment. Yet we don’t discount all the achievements the Romans made because of that.

Time to move on to Etsy before this turns into a Mesoamerican History lecture. Etsy works as a palm reader at a voodoo shop, and she actually has psychic powers. When I first start listening, I was worried that The Call of the Void would fall into the stereotypical depiction of Voodoo. In real life, Voodoo, known in Haiti as Vodou, is a syncretic religion that combines traditional West African religions with Roman Catholicism. It believes that there is a creator god, but he’s preoccupied with keeping the universe running. So, the day-to-day affairs are relegated to lesser spirits known as loa. Practitioners of Voodoo don’t worship the loa, but they do serve them, and give them offerings. Voodoo is a religion like any other. All of that folk magic stuff is known a Hoodoo, also known as root working. Besides the similar names, both Voodoo and Hoodoo are practiced in New Orleans, and there’s been some cross-pollination over the years.

But “voodoo dolls” are totally fake. West African religion often uses dolls known a Fetishes for rituals. Europeans mistook these for Popits, which are a form of folk magic from Europe, and ironically closer to the traditional view of voodoo dolls. The confusion persisted and the myth of the voodoo doll was born. Having said all of that, Louisianans will happily sell “voodoo dolls” to gullible tours, often for a very high price. Hey, don’t give me that look. Louisiana’s economy has been in the toilet for decades. We get excited every time a new Popeyes opens because it means seven or eight new jobs. Swindling drunk gullible tourists helps keep our economy floating.

Thankfully, Etsy’s job was a red herring. Tourist Voodoo is just a bogus in The Call of the Void as it is in our world. Etsy get her powers as a result of experiments she was subjected to as a child. Her mother believed that subjecting Etsy to sensory deprivation experiments would lead to her being able to reach into other universes. And it did, sort of. Etsy can experience another person’s memories by touching them. So, I guess she’s kind of like Rouge from X-Men. Of course, the experiments also lead to her making contact with an entity known as The Void. It is entropy and nothingness incarnate, and it is trying to enter our world. I would argue that, in many ways, Etsy is the true protagonist and driving force of the series. Her connection to The Void drives much of the action across all three seasons.

That said, we do experience Etsy’s story, for the most part, from Topher’s point of view, for the most part. It kind of like those anime where the girl character appears on the cover, and is the one who gets the attention from the fandom, but the boy is the viewpoint character. This is especially amusing, as I believe that’s suppose to be Etsy on the series title card.

There’s also a colorful cast of side characters. Etsy has gotten into numerous run-ins with the law over the years. As such, she’s well aquatinted with Officer Mason. He kind of sounded like Rabbi Bengelsdorf from the HBO miniseries adaption of The Plot Against America. Though, it was just coincidence, as they’re played by separate actors. Officer Mason starts off as a grumpy middle-aged man, but he warms up to Topher and the gang with time.

Topher’s sister Simone is also an enjoyable character. My only complaint with her is that she works at a bakery in season one, but then she’s studying theoretical physics in season two. It felt like there was no set-up for that, and it felt like it came out of left-field. Also, she used to work at a bakery, and she has a boyfriend named…Baker? I mean, its not really anything major, but it a little on the nose.

In season two we get to meet Fargo Kaminski. Under normal circumstances, she’d be like one of those crazy conspiracy loonies you see on The History Channel. However, though more than a tad eccentric, she prove to be a valuable ally to Topher and Etsy. Fargo lives out in the swamp, and has a pet alligator. She just does. And yeah, maybe she’s a little crazy, but hey, its a Lovecraft-inspired story. Pretty much everyone is going to be a little crazy.

I’d now like to take a moment to talk about the voice acting. Etsy and Topher are voiced by series creators Josie Eli Herman and Michael Alan Herman. They both look fairly spot-on for how I envision Etsy and Topher looking. In fact, that’s Josie cosplaying as Etsy on the series title card. Needless to say, they portray their characters quite well. Michael nails Topher’s dorky, but endearing, personality. Likewise, Josie really captures Etsy’s conflicted nature. She gives an understated and somewhat emotional detracted performance, but also give subtle hints at the sadness and trauma Etsy carries within her. I must also give praise to Amanda Buchalter’s performance as Simone. She and Michael sounded like that could pass as actual siblings. Really, the entire cast gives very strong performances. I have not complaints there.

As I noted at the beginning, The Call of the Void draws heavily upon the works of H.P. Lovecraft for inspiration. The Void itself wouldn’t be too out of place in a Lovecraft story. Even the way it factors into the plot of The Call of the Void evokes Lovecraft. H.P. Lovecraft came up with a pantheon of Great Old Ones with a very detailed mythology. However, the Great Old Ones usually don’t directly appear in Lovecraft’s short stories. They’re usually lurking just off-screen, for lack of a better way of putting it, and manipulating things from the shadows. The Void only directly appears a few times, but its presence is very much felt. 

The main antagonist of season two is known as The Yellow King. This is an obvious reference to The King in Yellow. The King in Yellow was created by Robert W. Chamber. However, Lovecraft was a big fan of Chamber’s work, and incorporated The King in Yellow into the Cthulhu Mythos. Speaking of Cthulhu, I get the impression that the title of the series might be a reference to “The Call of Cthulhu.” Topher, Etsy, and the gang are also menaced by Night Gaunts at the end of season two, and the start of season three. Points for picking one of the more obscure Lovecraft monsters.

Topher is a big fan of Lovecraft’s work as well. However, we only find this out towards the end of season two. Considering all of the Lovecraftian motifs, starting all the way back in season one, Topher really should have spoken up sooner. Also, when faced with a dark cyclopean city in season two, Topher likens it to R’lyeh, the resting place of Cthulhu. Uh, given that the Yellow King is the antagonist of season two, wouldn’t Carcosa be a more fitting comparison? A supposed Lovecraft fanatic like Topher really should have picked up on that.

Also, The Call of the Void bills itself as science fiction, but it’s really science fiction to the same extent that Stranger Things is. Though, this isn’t too surprising, given that the creators are big fans of Stranger Things. They’re also big fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Parts of the finale for The Call of the Void remind me of what the lion-turtle said to Aang in the Avatar finale.

Okay, so now we’re going to have to get into some major spoilers. If you don’t want any of that, turn back now.

Last chance, you sure you want to continue?

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

Now, I stated that season one felt like it was moving too fast. That also extends to the ending. Etsy gives into despair decides to help the cult summon The Void…and then, in the very next episode, changes her mind, decides she does have something to live for, and seemingly banishes The Void. It was such a jarring whiplash of an experience it almost bordered on comical. It felt like the production team wasn’t sure if they’d get more than one season, and were trying to hastily wrap things up. Nothing about the season one ending feels earned or satisfying.

However, the team seems to have realized this, and seasons two and three have much better pacing. It is also clear that they were playing the long game this time. In fact, season two and three feel like they are two halves of a single continuous story arc. They take time to properly develop Etsy and Topher’s characters and motivations. We get proper build-up for Etsy’s growing feeling of despair, but also how Topher acts as her rock in troubled waters. The ending of season three has a similar set-up to the ending of season one, but the execution is much better. In fact, the series ending almost feels like an apology for the way season one ended.

And this is actually in keeping with the series’ Lovecraftian roots. Lovecraft was famous for being a pessimist and a nihilist, but a surprising number of his stores had happy endings. Or at the very least, ended in ways that weren’t completely horrible. The Dunwich Horror, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, and The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath all qualify. A case could be made that even The Shadow Over Innsmouth counts, given that the protagonist comes to terms with what happens to him.

The fact that Topher and Etsy finally become a couple is even sweeter when you remember that Josie and Michael are married in real life.

I also loved the episode of season two where Etsy flickers in and out of multiple universes. In one universe, she meets a Topher who works at the botanical gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He’s a botanist, rather than a history major. Well, he calls himself an herbologist, but that’s probably what botany is called in that universe. This Topher, known as Christopher, loves to rattle off facts about deadly plants. You know what they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The idea that Etsy’s powers were surging in way she couldn’t totally control was very clever, and leads to some twists that I did not see coming.

If there is a central message to The Call of the Void, it is that bad things happen, often to good people, and the world is an often cruel and unkind place. But there is still hope despite all of this. A light within the darkness. Bad things may happen, but they can be overcome. It helps if you can find people who genuinely love and care about you. Darkness thrives in the void, but always yields to purifying light.

Well, it took me a while to get her, but I’m glad that I gave The Call of the Void a try. Don’t sit on this one like I did. Give it a try today. It is well worth your time. Come for the Lovecraft homages, stay for the engaging characters.

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

The Audio File: Hell Gate City Companion

You guys probably know, by now, how it goes when I'm asked to review an audio drama. I'm more than happy to review an audio drama that is asked of me. However, I also don't hesitate to critique anything I find to be lacking. So, with all that in mind, let's get into the podcast we'll be reviewing today. We're taking a look at Hell Gate City Companion.

Hell Gate City Companion is set in Neo Amsterdam. It's a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk future version of New York City. There's a portal that leads straight to Hell in the heart of the city, and demons run wild in the streets. The city is also under the iron grip of an authoritarian government. But radio host Kirby Bevins doesn't let it get him down. He runs a semi-illegal public radio show dedicated to informing and entertaining the people of Neo Amsterdam. Each episode delves into a different topic about life in Neo Amsterdam.

I was first made aware of Hell Gate City Companion when series creator Kevin Berrey. He'd seen my review of We Fix Space Junk. I'm always happy to help those who ask me to listen and review there shows, and so here we are.

Upon listening to Hell Gate City Companion, I was struck by how similar it is to Welcome to Night Vale. We've got a quirky community radio host, in a place where strange and unusual things regularly happen, and with a shadowy oppressive government, but the hosts remain cheery and upbeat despite it all. I should add that Kevin is an excellent narrator, but it was pretty clear to me that he was trying to channel Cecil Baldwin.

Don't get me wrong, I used to love Welcome to Night Vale. I listened to over 100 episodes, but after I got to...was it episode 112 or 120? Anyway, point is, eventually I got tired of it and noped out of it. I didn't like the fact that it was just going on and on, with no end in sight, and doing pretty much the same thing for episode after episode. As such, the last thing I want in an audio drama is something that reminds me of Welcome to Night Vale. So, Hell Gate City Companion was pretty much doomed from the start with me. I tried to give it a chance, but after the first few episodes it was clear that things weren't going to improve in that regard. Also, and this really is a minor point, it's billed a cyberpunk, but I find it to be more supernatural post-apocalyptic.

Ultimately, whether or not you enjoy Hell Gate City Companion will come down to whether you enjoyed Welcome to Night Vale, and you want more of the same. If so, then you'll probably enjoy Hell Gate City Companion quite a lot. If not, then you're better of skipping this one. There really is no getting around this point.

To be perfectly frank, I'm surprised that Kevin hasn't been sued for copyright infringement. Granted, I think there's probably enough differences to keep him out of legal trouble, but the influences from Welcome to Night Vale are pretty obvious. The biggest difference is that Hell Gate City Companion has a tendency to play Current Events Mad Libs. For example, one episode's main story was pretty obviously about the Capitol Riot, but with some of the names switched around. The other difference is that Hell Gate City Companion does not feature any guest music like Welcome to Night Vale does.

Well, I really don't think I can add much more. I didn't care for Hell Gate City Companion, but perhaps you will. I've given you all the information you need to make an informed decision, so decide for yourself.

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

The Audio File: Visionaries: Season 1

 If you've been following my last two editions of The Audio File, then you'll know the drill by now. I'm happy to help anyone who ask me to review their audio drama podcasts. However, I also maintain a policy of strict honesty, and I won't hesitate to critique any elements that I think aren't working. I don't really have any more to add, so let's jump right into it. We're taking a look at season one of Visionaries. 

Visionaries takes place in the post-apocalyptic future of 2185. Humans have evolved various superpowered abilities. What these abilities are depend on what eye-color you have. Hence, these powered individuals are known as Visionaries. However, not all humans managed to evolved powers. These powerless individuals are known as Dead Eyes. Dead Eyes are kept as slaves by the Visionaries. This is how it has been for years, but all of that is about to change. The Dead Eyes are about stage a revolt against the Visionaries. But they aren't doing it alone. Rumor has it that a Visionary is leading them. 

I had heard about this show before, and I'd been meaning to listen to it. What finally got me around to it was when I was contacted by Visionaries series creator Richard Seneque. He discovered by reviews from the r/audiodrama subreddit. In particular, he enjoyed my reviews of Lights Out and Sticks Shift Incorporated. I said I'd be happy to take a look at his podcast, and now here we are. 

On the technical aside of things, this is a very well produced audio drama. The audio is very slick and professional sounding. The audio is the same high-quality sound you would find in any professionally produced audio drama. The actors as also quite talented. I don't know if they are professionals, but they certainly sound professional. The sound effects and music are well done, and there's plenty of them, which keeps the audio drama properly immersive, and contributes to the professional feel of it. 

Another aspect I liked was how the narrator will describe the scenes and the action. It reminds me of various recorded plays I have listened to, mostly stuff written by Shakespeare and Sophocles. They too will feature narrators who describe the action for the benefit of the listening audience. It is good that it reminded me of those plays. Fall of the Shah did something similar due to it nature as a docudrama. It also reminds me of those podcasts that adapt prose short stories into audio. Honestly, descriptive narration is something I miss from those short story podcasts, and I wish more audio dramas would consider incorporating it. There's certainly a lot that a little bit of descriptive narration can add to an audio drama. 

Okay, I put it off as long as I can so let's get to it: the podcast has more than a few issues. Let's start with the setting. The premise makes this sound like the audio drama is going to be a science fiction adventure, but it wound up being fantasy. The powers of the Visionaries are pretty much magic in all but name. There's some official artwork on the podcast's website that depicts Seer's Rock, one of the settings of the series, as a medieval-style castle that wouldn't look out of place on the cover of a fantasy novel. The names are the  characters also wouldn't be out of place in a fantasy novel. This podcast feels much more like a fantasy that was wearing the skin of a science fiction podcast. 

Now, to be fair, the audio drama's website does specifically describe Visionaries as a fantasy podcast. And I wouldn't have minded that if Visionaries didn't bill itself using clear science fiction elements; such as the setting being a post-apocalyptic future, or the Visionaries' powers being explained by evolution. When you include stuff like that, it creates certain expectations within your listeners. So, when your podcast then turns out to be fantasy, it kind of feels like false advertising. It would have been better, I think, if the podcast had gone the full nine yards and set itself in a separate fantasy world.  

We get some hints and justification about why the world has reverted into a quasi-medieval fantasy world. There's mention that there was a World War III, and that the Visionaries banned pretty much all advanced technology because they didn't want another war. Well, that's what they say at any rate. I suspect the real reason for the ban was because technology might put Dead Eyes on equal footing with Visionaries. 

The setting just felt reminiscent of at least a dozen or so young adult fantasy novels, which aren't something I typically seek out of my own volition. Which is interesting, as I've always felt that those novels were just re-skinned young adult dystopias. Oh, science fiction dystopia, especially ones like The Hunger Games, might not be as common as they once were, but fantasy young adult, especially ones set in secondary fantasy worlds, often hit a lot of the same beats as young adult dystopia. Oppressive ruling classes, generic badass (usually female) protagonist, love triangle, getting cool clothes at some point, rebellion to overthrow the oppressive kingdom, deadly challenge or quest that must be completed, it's all there. 

I should add that Visionaries doesn't follow this formula as slavishly as other examples I can think of. For example, we have a male protagonist, no love triangle, no quest beyond the rebellion. 

The worldbuilding felt like it left something to be desired. It felt like I was being plopped in the middle of the story without being given much to go on beyond the whole slave revolt angle. This is particularly bad given the aforementioned use of the narrator. Give me a sense of this world; descriptions of clothing, food, social customs. I suppose it is possible these things are being saved for future seasons, but I still found their absence annoying. 

Richard has said that he intended Visionaries to be a commentary on racism and discrimination. Essentially, what if we discriminated people based on eye color, rather than skin color? If this is meant as allegory, well, then we have some issues. Let's have a brief refresher on terms. Allegory is a form a storytelling where everything in the story is meant to be a stand-in for something else. Applicability, by contrast, is where a story can be interpreted numerous way because it is written in such a way that it could apply to numerous things, even those the author might not have known about. If we interpret Visionaries as an allegory, then we have a problem. 

In our world, white supremacists claim that whites are inherently superior to other races, despite there being no evidence to support such claims. In the world of Visionaries, the Visionaries claim to be superior to the Dead Eyes...and they're absolutely correct. Yeah, doesn't really work as an anti-racism allegory. However, if we take the audio drama as applicable, then we could see it as applying to discrimination against the physically handicapped, but also having some elements of racial discrimination. Applicability would also work because Visionaries don't seem to care much about skin color anymore. Though, as mentioned, that just means they focus on eye color. The official artwork does seem to show the slaves as multiracial. They also look like they got lost on their way to a Mad Max themed BDSM club, but I digress. 

As for the characters, I struggled to keep track of who was who, which is never a good sign. I just didn't find that any of them really made much of an impact on me. I'd also like to take a moment to clarify a point. I know it sounds like I've been ragging on the official artwork, but I actually think it is quite good. It looks like something you'd find in a high-quality indie comic. Besides the castle and the slaves,my of get to see what the different colored eyes look like. 

Look, I need to be perfectly honest with you guys. This isn't the sort of podcast I'd normally seek out: especially after I realized just what kind of podcast this really is. It's not that I'm opposed to this kind of fantasy. The Two Princes is set in a fantasy world, and I very much enjoyed it. Though, it took a considerably different tone than Visionaries does. 

Now, that having been said, I must give Visionaries the benefit of the doubt here. I still encourage all of you reading this to checkout Visionaries. It might not have been my cup of tea, but maybe it will appeal to you in was that it doesn't for me. At the end of the day, it is important to try things for yourself. It didn't matter what other people say or think about an audio drama, what matters is what you think, even if that goes against the consensus. I give you all full permission to like things I don't like, and to dislike things I do like. I will not hold it against you. 

In sort, listen to Visionaries and decide what you think about it yourself. Season one is only five episodes long, and the episodes themselves aren't very long in length. You can easily binge it in one sitting. So, even if you don't like it, you won't have lost too much time. 

Well, I think that covers everything for now. I will see you guys next time. 

Book Review: The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm by Nancy Farmer

Today, we’re going to take a look at one of the most famous young adult speculative fiction books that’s set in Africa…and written by a white woman. To be fair though, Nancy Farmer did live in Mozambique and Zimbabwe for seventeen years. Today we will be reviewing The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm by Nancy Farmer.

The book is set in Harare, Zimbabwe in the year 2194. Zimbabwe has grown into a first world economy and is a major player on the world stage. It has had some trouble with gangs, but that’s mostly behind it now thanks to the work of General Amadeus Matsika. The General’s three children Tendai, Rita and Kuda have spent almost their whole lives on the grounds of their family’s fortified mansion. One day they decide to sneak out to earn their scout badge for exploration, but it isn’t long before the children are kidnapped.

In order to find the children General Matsika hires a trio of mutant deceives named Ear, Eye and Arm. Ear has super-hearing, Eye has super-sight and Arm has telekinesis that allows him to feel the emotions of other people. Together the three detectives must make their way across the futuristic city of Harare and find the Matsika children before time runs out.

It’s very rare to see science fiction novels that are set in Africa. Granted, that’s starting to change thanks to the growing prominence of Nigerian science fiction writers. For the moment, though, African based science fiction still remains something a rare bird. So, it was a pleasant surprise for me to have found this novel. The history, traditional culture and mythology of Zimbabwe all play major parts in the plot. It’s all very well researched and you’ll probably wind up learning a lot about all three of the above mentioned.

The world building in this book is absolutely top-notch. You really get a sense that 22nd century Zimbabwe is a land where ancient traditions exist side-by-side with futuristic technologies such as robots and flying cars. Zimbabwe seems to have experienced something of a cultural renaissance. For example, the primary religion of 22nd century Zimbabwe is based around the traditional gods and spirits. One thing I found interesting was that the characters only remembered English as having been used in the colonial days of Zimbabwe. That and certain other details seem to suggest that the English-speaking world has fallen from prominence. It would seem that the 22nd century is a world turned on its head.

The novel is primarily a coming of age story for Tendai and his siblings. However, all of the major characters experience growth and development to some extent. Even seemingly minor characters experience change and there is an epilogue at the end of the book that lets us know how they’re all doing. The book is evenly split between the adventures of the Matsika children and the investigation of the three detectives. So even those of you not normally into YA might find something to enjoy in this novel.

One thing I founds interesting was that all of the places the Matsika kids went to could be viewed as metaphors for the various points in Zimbabwe’s history. In that regard, you could almost consider this book an unconventional time travel story of sorts. Harare, from the vibrant Mbare Musika marketplace to the Mile-High MacIlwaine hotel, represents 22nd century Zimbabwe and the hope for the future. Dead Man’s Vlei, a garbage dump the size of a small town, could represent present day Zimbabwe. The English suburb of Borrowdale and the reservation of Resthaven seem to be stand-ins for colonial and pre-colonial Zimbabwe respectively.

While we’re on the subject, let’s talk about Resthaven. It’s a sovereign nation where its inhabitants keep the ways of pre-colonial Africa…including all of the unpleasant aspects. As a result, while Resthaven is an Edenic paradise for men it tends to be a rather unpleasant place for women. In many ways Resthaven could be seen as a caution against those who romanticize the past and advocate preserving cultures for the sake of preserving cultures. The fact that the people of Resthaven hardly ever leave it and only have the vaguest notions of the outside world suggest that it might have cultist undertones.

Now let’s talk about race and ethnicity. Almost all of the characters are either black or brown, and you can count the white characters on one hand. Even the white characters somewhat count since you tend not to see White Africans in books too much besides maybe South Africa. One thing I found interesting about the race relations in the book was how most of the white characters typically occupied the ethnic labor jobs. Guess it goes back to the world of The Ear, The Eye and The Arm being something of a mirror image of the present day.

For the most part this is a science fiction novel. There are a few instances where the characters debate if spirits are involved, but it’s left fairly ambiguous. That is, until the end of the novel when things are pushed firmly into science fantasy territory. In terms of scientific accuracy, I’d say that most of the advances in technology are fairly realistic for 200 years in the future. About the only bit that was off was the explanation for Ear, Eye and Arm’s powers. They grew up in a village near a nuclear power plant and were born mutated as a result. To be fair, it is mentioned that they were the exception rather than the rule for their village’s mutant population.

It’s mentioned that certain diseases, such as chickenpox, have been eliminated. I’d let that slide, but it’s shown that such diseases still exist in Resthaven. I know it’s to underscore the moral of not being blind to the ills of the past, but given that there is a very limited amount of travel out of Resthaven, it creates a major health risk. However, this is a minor issue and overall the science aspects stand strong.

Now for a minor note about book covers.  The Ear, The Eye and the Arm has had multiple covers over the years.  I picked the one on top, which is a more recent cover, because I kind of like it the most.  That having been said, I’m also a big fan of this cover as well.

For those of you who enjoy audiobooks there is an audiobook version narrated by George Guidall. George is a well-loved narrator of audiobooks, but initially wasn’t sure if he’d be able to pull it off. Turns out that my fears were misplaced. George has a considerable vocal range and has narrated other great audiobooks such as Eric Flint’s 1632 series, American Gods by Neil Gaiman and The Epic of Gilgamesh. Suffice it to say he does an outstanding job here as well. There is a slight hiss to the audio, but it’s isn’t that distracting, and you’ll hardly notice it.

The Ear, The Eye and The Arm has won the Newbery Honor and the Hal Clement Award. That second one is a part of the Golden Duck Awards. Also, don’t worry, I promise that no dogs are harmed in the advancement of this book’s plot.

Well there you have it. The Ear, The Eye and The Arm combines traditional African culture with science fiction technology for one unforgettable experience. If you’re looking for science fiction in a non-Western setting, or just good young adult science fiction generally, it can’t be beat.

Paleoworld

This is a new stonepunk/sandalpunk/silkpunk setting I've come up with that I call Paleoworld.  Its not alternate history, but it should appeal to that crowd.  As you can see, I was inspired by both Dinotopia and Tekumel.  

Several centuries into the future humanity has spread out to distant worlds and far flung stars.  Many planets were life-bearing worlds, but there were just as many that had to be terraformed; including the the planet at the center of our story.  What was once a lifeless rock was made to support life, and many creatures from Earth's prehistoric past were cloned to serve as beasts of burden and to create and ecosystem for the planet.  The terraforming process made the planet resemble land masses from various periods in Earth's geologic past.  For many years the worlds colonized by humans had lived in peace with one another, but that was not to last.  A great interstellar war broke out and the young world, still in the process of being settled, was forgotten.  Due to the lack of easily accessible metals technology and society eventually regressed to ancient/agrarian levels.  

Eventually the humans, and other sentient life forms, forgot that they weren't native to the planet; their true origins long since faded to myth and legend.  Still, remains from the more technologically advanced days are scattered across the planet, but most people don't realize what they are.  Robots are somewhat common features, but range from being viewed as magically creatures to outright feared as metallic monsters.  Most of the languages the original settlers of the planet brought with them have changed quite a bit.  English is still studied, but in much the same way Latin was during the Middle Ages and Enlightenment.  Life went on, empires rose and empires fell and thus a new world was born: Paleoworld.  Many of the nation's of Paleoworld strongly resemble civilizations from Earth's past.  Let's go meet them.

The yellow nation is The Celestial Empire.  Their culture includes elements from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.  The Celestial Empire is arguably the most advanced nation in all of Paleoworld.  Their head of state is an emperor, but in many ways the emperor is a figure head with the real power resting with the imperial bureaucracy.  Anyone can join the bureaucracy of the pass the civil servant exam.  Unfortunately, this mostly amounts to measuring one's knowledge of the ancient classics, though as of lately there have been reforms put forward to make the exam fairer for everyone and more of a measure of aptitude in multiple areas.  The military makes use of several different feathered dinosaurs; such as microraptors for spies and scouts, velociraptors for assassins and shock troops.  Dinosaurs like therizinosaurus and protoceratops are used in the military as well, but they are more so used to help with farming.  

In the event that a city cannot be saved and is going to fall to an enemy their is a last resort: Tarbosaurus.  Cities located close or within Tarbo Country have high ringed walls surrounding them, or are built in the middle of lakes.  Those cities in safer lands are less well defended.  Several calls and scents are used to lure them in, and of course there's an equal number used to drive the Tarbosaurs away.  The religions are primarily based on ancestor veneration and leading a moral life.  There are gods that are worshiped, but the Celestial Empire's religions tend to be more on the philosophical side.  The more intelligent dinosaurs live as equals with humans.  The Celestial Empire does its best to have strong diplomatic ties to the other nations of Paleoworld.  

The silver nation is The Mammoth Rider Hoard.  They're based on various tribal and nomadic people such as the Mongols, the Sioux, and the Massai among others.  They aren't a single nations, but are more of a loose confederation of tribes.  Besides mammoths they also use dire wolves, lions and certain tribes have even tamed cave bears, elasmotherium and megaloceros.  In the past the tribes had a bit of a reputation for raping, pillaging and murdering.  There are certainly still a few tribes that do that, but on the whole the tribes have begun to settle down, with a few even establishing year-round settlements.  The tribes prefer their harsh but fulfilling existence to the ways of civilized societies.  Most civilized people are perfectly happy to live and let live as long as the tribes don't attack them.  

Mammoth Riders have pretty good gender equality, with women being equal to men in almost all regards.  Women who die in childbirth receive the same funeral rights as men who die in battle.  Marriage is common practice, but purely monogamous relationship are less so, and on the whole Mammoth Riders are pretty free love.  One's wealth is determined by the number of children and mammoths one possesses; if you have a lot of one, but not a lot of the other, then you are poor.  Dead bodies are left out for predators and scavengers after funeral rights have been provided.  It is believed that burial hurts the earth (scientifically speaking, it does) and cremation is generally frowned upon.  Leaving the body is also viewed as the dead's final gift to the world.  Religion is fairly animalistic/shamanistic with emphasis placed on paying respect to the spirits of the natural world.  

The bronze colored nation is The Kingdom of Rig Tal.  Their culture is influenced by East Africa, South India and Australian Aborigines.  Rig Tal is a major maritime power both in terms of trade and military.  Their navy and shipping fleets utilize dunkleosteus, liopleurodon, orthocones, elasmosaurus, ichthyosaurus and basilosaurus among others.  They're also quite the force to be reckoned with on land, as their possession on the mainland show.  They follow a monist religion that preaches that everything in the universe is a part of God, and worship is focus around the greater aspects of God, which we might think of as gods and goddesses.  However, as of recently there's been a schism in the faith.  The mainland has developed a strictly monotheistic version of Rig Tal's religion, and many worry this could potentially lead to war. On the whole, however, Rig Tal is reasonably peaceful and prefers good trade relations and diplomacy.  

Rig Tal is renowned for its excellent cuisine especially, not surprisingly, it's seafood.  Shipwrights from Rig Tal have served as consultants to many of the other navy's on Paleoworld.  Part of Rig Tal's religious beliefs is that all life originated from the seas, and swimming is viewed very much as a religious experience.  Upon death, and after funeral rights, the bodies of the dead are sent out to sea.  Riding the great sea beasts is considered a right of passage for many youth in Rig Tal.    

The pink, teal and blue nations are The Triple Alliance.  Their culture is based on various Native American cultures, but especially the Aztecs and Mayans.  Originally they were three separate nations, but have since been united under a single ruler.  Speaking of that ruler, The Triple Alliance is unique among the nations of Paleoworld for actually being ruled by a dinosaur; in this case, a troodon.  The emperor has traditionally been selected via trail-by-combat, but in recent times test of other skills, such as intellect and closeness to the gods, has become equally common.  The Triple Alliance is often stereotyped as being obsessed with human sacrifice, but the truth is a bit more nuanced.  Human sacrifice has largely been phased out in favor of making other offerings to the gods in the form of something personal.  It can be a meal, or some personal time but I must be something meaningful to the person in question.  

As far as dinosaurs go The Triple Alliance has all of the classic ones; tyrannosaurus, triceratops, stegosaurus, brachiosaurus, diplodocus, ankylosaurus, utahraptor, deinonychus and many more.  The Triple Alliance also keeps an air force with primitive hot balloons, gliders, pteranodons, quetzalcoatlus and other pterosaurs.  The blue colored part contains jungles with unusually high oxygen content due to force fields and leftover terraforming equipment.  These jungles are home various Carboniferous arthropods such as meganeura, arthropleura and pulmonoscorpius among others.  The Triple Alliance is very good about providing equal rights.  Women are equal to men in almost all areas of life, including reviving the same education, and intelligent dinosaurs live as equals with humans.  When possible, it is preferred for cities to be built on lakes.  

The dark brown nation is The Republic of Pindaros.  It's culture is primarily influenced by Greece and Rome.  Pindaros contains a mix of European dinosaurs as well as various Mesozoic mammals and birds such as leptictidium and gastornis.  Pindaros is famous for its many philosophies, and it is partially governed by a council of Philosopher Kings.  The Philosopher Kings serve to guide and advise the nation, but the real power is with the people themselves, and Pindaros is the only true democracy in all of Paleoworld.  This has earned them a reputation as a nation of anarchy and mob rule, but on the whole Pindaros is reasonably peaceful.  Pindaros used to worship many gods, but what little religion they still have is of an extremely philosophical nature.  Emphasis is placed on living a moral and just life rather than on prayers and piety.  

The red nation is The Kingdom of Ragnaroon.  They're culture is based on the Vikings and medieval Western Europe.  Much like Pindaros they feature a mix of Mesozoic mammals and dinosaurs such as iguanodon, baryonyx, archaeopteryx, kentrosaurus and related species.  Ragnaroon was originally a series of tribes until they were united under a single ruler.  Despite having settled down Ragnaroon still maintains a strong warrior ethos, and in particularly tough times has been known to raid its neighbors.  Despite these occasional scuffles they maintain strong trade relations to other nations.  Society is a strictly stratified feudal hierarchy with limited mobility.  Religion is based around the worship of gods who are considered cool and best not bothered.  In general, life is harsh in Ragnaroon, but its citizens try to make the best of things.

The orange nation is The Empire of The Sun.  It's culture is based on South American civilizations such as the Inca, the Moche and the Mapuche.  The Empire of the Sun is spread out across a series of vast and rolling grasslands, and it's scattered cities are connected by a series of well maintained roads; the most famous of which is The Trans-Imperial Trailway.  They use dinosaurs such as giganotosaurus and argentinosaurus, but they also have Mesozoic species such as smilodons, terror birds, giant ground sloths, giant armadillos and macrauchenia among others.  The roadways ensure that goods reach all corners of the empire incredibly fast.  In fact, even cities far from the coast can enjoy fresh fish thanks to the road system.  The government system of the empire is actually quasi-socialist.  Towns have grains stores, with rations given out everyday, and jobs are assigned based on desire and need.  Citizens work a government assigned job part of the week, and a job of their personal choosing the rest of the week.  

Giganotosaur attacks are a constant concern along the trailways.  To get around this shipments can be sent by argentinosaurs, which are big and provide more space for goods and ample protection, but are also quite slow.  Alternatively, the various mammal species can be used, and they are considerably faster, but provide less potential protection if an attack occurs.  Most cities include public gardens and parks with elaborate sculptures.  The empire's religion has many gods, but the most important (not surprisingly) is the sun.  The Empire of the Sun has also dabbled in primitive hot air balloon development.  

The green nation is the Kingdom of Aredesh.  It's based on Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Arabia during the Golden Age of Islam and with a bit of West Africa thrown in as well.  Aredesh is a lush and fertile land with plenty of rainfall year round.  Consequently, they're a major agricultural producer and are the top shipper of produce on Paleoworld.  Black is considered the sacred color of life, good fortune and prosperity; red, on the other hand, is considered the color of death, bad luck and evil.  Aredesh is famous for its stills in magic, but in reality most of this is due to their having discovered lost technology from the more advanced days of Paleoworld.  

The purple nation is the Kingdom of Mujungdar.  Not much to say other than that they're culturally similar to Rig Tal and have lots of volcanos.

The burgundy nation is the Uluru Confederation.  Culturally they're based on the Maori, Polynesians and Australian Aborigines.  Their animals include Tasmanian tigers, moa, dodos, giant eagles, giant wombats, giant snakes, dwarf elephants, megalania.  This is another part I haven't quite fleshed out.

Finally, the white nation is the Twilight Isles...I haven't really figured this one out.  

Okay, obviously there's a few "here there be dragons" territories, but I hope you enjoyed it.  I've certainly enjoyed making it and I might just makes some stories set in this world some time.