In IN

We are in Indiana (ValParasio to be specific) until Wednesday visiting Mason's grandma. In preparation for the long drive I downloaded a few podcasts into my .mp3 player. I’ve decided I really like listening to science fiction stories, because I can do it while otherwise engaged – driving or doing the dishes or cleaning the fish tanks -- and that this may be a way for me to finally feel “well read.” I mean, I got to conventions and listen to people talk about other authors. I feel like such a dope because I’ve heard all these names, but have never read much of my colleagues’ work. Now, at least, I can be familiar with some of their work.

So, for instance, I listened to some of what is available over at Lightspeed. I found a bunch that I liked that I will recommend to you.

“Long Enough, Just so Long,” Cat Rambo

A classic story of misfits and a retired sexbot. It's a weird thing of mine, but I like any story with a thief, a junkie, or a gigalo. This one is particularly interesting because the main character's BFF has Aspergers.

“Standard Loneliness Package,” Charles Yu

He's hot right now because his novel How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe is kind of the "it" book right now. I ended up enjoying this story of outsourcing pain and suffering, even though it's more of a metaphor than 100% believable/possible future.

“The Observer” Kristine Katherine Rusch

A dark vingnette of the life of an altered soldier.

“Breakaway Backdown” James Patrick Kelly

I've been mad at James Patrick Kelly since his story "10^16 to 1" won the Hugo the year the Eleanor should have gotten it for "Stellar Harvest." However, this story nearly redeemed him for me, as I found the voice (particularly as in audio format, I don't know it would "read") very engaging.

And Clarkesworld (One thing I did NOT like about the Clarkesworld podcast is the fact that the editor comes back at the end of the story and talks about it. I like how Lightspeed just leaves you to your own thoughts/feelings at the end.): 

 “The Book of the Phoenix” by Nnedi Okofafor

This is a very powerful story about human experimentation gone wrong and the power of one woman to change the world. Of course, Nnedi was recently the GoH of WisCON, but I'd never read/heard anything of hers before this. I recommend this 100%.

“Matchmaker” by Erin M. Hartshorn

Not as powerful as Nnedi's but this has some strange similarities in theme.

I have to run off to the Chinese buffet for lunch, but perhaps I'll write more about this later.