Noreascon: The 29th World Science Fiction Convention Awards Banquet
Produced by William Desmond; Various Speakers
Two 33 1/3 RPM LPs - Approximately 90 minutes [UNABRIDGED EXCERPTS]
Publisher: Nesfa Inc.
Published: 1973 - Out Of Print
Themes: / Science Fiction / Awards / Fandom / Hugo Awards /

A set of two long-playing records of the Awards Banquet at the 1971 World Science Fiction Convention in Boston. The Toastmaster for the function was Robert Silverberg. In addition to the speeches by Guest of Honor Clifford D. Simak and Fan Guest of Honor Harry Warner, Jr., there is a eulogy for John Campbell given by Lester del Rey. Other speeches were given by the TAFF delegate (Mario Bosnyak) and the Bob Shaw Fan Fund winner (Bob Shaw). Awards were presented for First Fandom (received by Philinda Hammond for late father, John W. Campbell) and the P.A.T. Terry Award for Humour in SF. The Hugo Awards were presented by Isaac Asimov.

I had to find a working record player to play this set, something more difficult than I expected, but it was worth the wait. Recorded in real time, this is a collection of excerpts from the awards banquet, so there are some slow spots, a little dead air, but the energy and sheer voyeurism more than makes up for this. After all, listening to these LPs is for a science fiction fan what the Oscars are to a movie fan.

Toastmaster Robert Silverberg, who just this year (2004) has been named a "grand master," sprinkles his 33 year old speeches with jokes, about Nixon, marijuana and other topical to 1971 themes - Silverberg also "roasts" many of his colleagues to his own and to the audience's obvious delight. But Silverberg isn't the only speaker. A somber and lamenting Lester Del Rey eulogized John W. Campbell and presented the first Fandom Award. Bob Shaw, specially imported to Boston just for the occasion made a brief speech full of warmth and humour and delightful Irish accent was a real treat! And Clifford D. Simak gave what sounded like a prepared speech - with some unfortunately insecure dentures. Simak's unadulterated benevolence shone through - in his late 60's by the time of this recording, he was the most eloquent speaker among all the honourees that night. Simak suggested in his speech that perhaps the "golden age", wasn't quite so golden as we all seem to remember and that the current 'dry spell' isn't perhaps quite so dry. He extolled the virtues of the "new wave" and suggests that science fiction is stronger than it ever was, and that the expansion into the softer sciences of economics, ethics, sociology, etc. is actually a good thing. Simak's conviction and good will brought genuine tears to my eyes and I wasn't the only one moved. Simak's speech was interrupted by spontaneous applause. After he'd concluded his speech he was again subject to a rousing and sustained round of applause and Silverberg said as Simak took his seat "He's a good man, a pretty good writer too, we have a lot of good writers here tonight but he's a good man". We'll miss you Cliff.

On Side 4 the serious handing out the "silver spaceships" began in earnest with Isaac Asimov as the dispenser. Asimov had even more fun with the microphone than did Silverberg, giving us a raunchy limerick and several references to himself as the worlds greatest science fiction author!

Larry Niven makes a brief vocalization too, after having been handed his Hugo for best novel (Ringworld), Niven said "I promised my wife I'd quit smoking right after this convention". Thankfully Larry is still with us more than a third of a century later and no doubt we have his wife to thank for that.

Sound quality with this 1973 production is only fair, vinyl/needle friction combined with numerous microphone bumps, pops and hisses are only a minor annoyance, most speakers are easily heard, the audience laughs at all the jokes and everyone seems to be having a great time. The line drawing cover art is rudimentary and is taken from the program to the convention (click on the picture to see the expanded fold out cover), the inside of the 2 disc set is illustrated with black and white photos from Noreascon 1971. With only 300 of these record sets ever printed this is a mighty rare collectible, I'll cherish mine until they invent that time machine these SF authors are always promising - then I can visit the convention myself!
6:49 AM -- (0) comments

 


A Green Thumb
By Tobias S. Buckell; Read by Alexander Wilson
MP3 DOWNLOAD - 15 minutes, 21 seconds [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Telltale Weekly
Published: 2004
Themes: / Science Fiction / Alternate History / Genetic Engineering /

First published in Analog Science Fiction and Science Fact's Jul/Aug 2002 issue, "A Green Thumb" posits an alternate world where consumer goods, like automobiles, are planted and nutured like trees instead of being manufactured. These plants grow directly into products, taking their final shape via genetic engineering. No chemicals or pollution, just sunshine and earth. Unfortunately, this short story is missing an interesting consequence or any sort of twist. Instead it relies on juvenile emotions for direction and energy. Like a sitcom without the humor, a family problem arises, a mild crisis ensues ending with a happy ever after resolution. Alexander Wilson's reading was good with clear enunciation, though the characters voices could have used a little more distinctiveness. Available online at Telltale Weekly, "A Green Thumb" sells for only $.75 USD, merely the cost of a vended soda, making it a worthwhile listen.

posted by Jesse Willis 8:02 AM --

 


Faster Than Light producer Joe Mahoney, informs us that the third pilot for the proposed science fiction radio show, has not been greenlighted by the CBC Radio big wigs for summer broadcast. But its not all bad news, while this is the third pilot for the series, the CBC brass arent abandoning the concept. Joe informs us "they want to tweak it just a little bit more before committing to a series. I got a clear message that they believe in the project but they want to take the time to make certain that it's done absolutely right. This can only be a good thing for the show." Having heard both the first and second pilots so far myself, I can tell they've really got some great people working on the project and its just a matter of time. Thanks for the update Joe! Personally I've come to the conclusion that I should follow Roman Republic senator Cato the Elder's example and end every post on SFFAudio with: "And Faster Than Light MUST live!" Maybe that'll help.
12:02 PM -- (0) comments

 


A Hero Of The Empire
By Robert Silverberg; Read by George Guidall
Audio Download [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Random House Audible
Published: November 2000 - No Longer Available
ISBN: 0375417982
Themes: Science Fiction / Alternate History / Roman Empire / Islam /

A Hero Of The Empire is one of Robert Silverberg's "Roma Eterna" stories, set in alternate history world where the Roman Empire never fell. A homosexual Roman nobleman is sent in punishment to a remote corner of the Empire - the Arabian city we know as Mecca. The time is 600 years after the reign of the Emperor Augustus - by this time the Empire has expanded to include the entire Arabian Peninsula. Written in the style of a letter to a dear friend, this novella is a fascinating examination of both Roman and Islamic history. George Guidall's excellent reading infuses every word of this novella with his unique vocal magic. Audible's recording is good, and even includes appropriate music, but the sound has been degraded by heavy compression - it sounds digitized. Unfortunately, and inexplicably, Audible.com has pulled A Hero Of The Empire from its catalogue and it is no longer available by itself. This was one of the best science fiction audio downloads ever available. And its disappearance from Audible.com makes me want to download and listen to all their titles immediately, for fear that they too will disappear!

NOTE: A Hero Of The Empire is no longer available singly, but is available as a portion of "Audible Exclusive Sci-Fi, Volume 1".

posted by Jesse Willis 12:20 PM --

 


The Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA), announced the winners of the 2003 Nebula Awards for best science fiction or fantasy this weekend.

Best Novel of 2003
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon

Best Novella of 2003
"Coraline " by Neil Gaiman

Best Novelette of 2003
"The Empire of Ice Cream" by Jeffrey Ford

Best Short Story of 2003
"What I Didn't See" by Karen Joy Fowler

Best Script - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Stephen Sinclair & Peter Jackson

The Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award was presented to renowned science fiction and fantasy writer Robert Silverberg for lifetime achievement in the field.

A very interesting thing to note is that both "The Empire of Ice Cream" and "What I Didn't See" were published in the free on-line magazine, SCI FICTION. The times, they are a-changin.

On audio, there's a very nice version of "Coraline", read by Neil Gaiman, available from Harper Audio.

And what can be said about Robert Silverberg? A well-deserved award, to be sure. He's had some stuff produced for audio, but I still consider him largely untapped. Check Blackstone Audio and Fantastic Audio (whose website has not been updated for a long while) for the most recently released titles.

Congratulations to the award winners and the nominees!
11:27 AM -- (0) comments

 


Here's an interview with Alexander Wilson, the creative mind behind Telltale Weekly, a website dedicated to building a free online audio library. Here's an excerpt:

I'm a big fan of NPR [National Public Radio] when driving, exercising, or working at my day-job. And, as an avid reader, I never feel I have enough time in the day to read all the stuff I want. Before starting this project, I'd take a work with me by converting a Project Gutenberg text or a long online article to an MP3 or AAC using my Mac's text-to-speech ability and a GUI/program I released called Audiobook Studio. Very utilitarian, but it's tedious to listen to a lot of it. A few years ago I sold my recording equipment because of space and money considerations, and have since been looking for an excuse to replace it. When the back of your mind constantly looks for new ideas, occasionally one comes up that seems worth pursuing.

Enjoy the entire interview here.
6:55 AM -- (0) comments

 


Asimov Science Fiction Tales
By Isaac Asimov; Read by Isaac Asimov
2 Cassettes - 117 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Listening Library
Published: 1985 - Out Of Print
ISBN: 0807234184
Themes: / Science Fiction / Poetry / Storytelling / Artificial Intelligence / Robots / Mathematics / Parallel Worlds /

Written and read by Isaac Asimov, Asimov Science Fiction Tales is a collection of four short stories and one poem, all from Asimov's golden era, the 1950s. Though cover art is non-existent, the audiobook comes packaged in a heavy duty vinyl case that is extremely durable. This two cassette production from Listening Library is a repackaged selection of tales written and read by Asimov from the 1975 collection entitled Science Fiction Favorties: Isaac Asimov (ISBN 0807229288), which includes at least five other stories that are not included here.

Listening to Asimov Science Fiction Tales is like spending some quality time with the man himself. Asimov's reading is informal. He introduces and comments on each of the tales both before and after the reading, placing them in context and revealing their origins. His comments are insightful and sometimes quite humourous. The stories themselves are some of his best, featuring familiar Asimov themes, some serious, others funny, all great listening.

Stories Included:
Introduction - Asimov extemperaneously expounds on the wonderfulness of good old fashioned reading.

I Just Make Them Up, See - A infamous Asimov limerick, this one attempts to answer the question "Where do you get the ideas for your stories?" It’s a silly poem and but it left me smiling.

Someday - The first of two stories in this collection that deals with "lost arts". In a society that has forgotten the written word, two young boys upgrade an antique automated audiobook machine called a "bard" - giving it a new vocabulary so that it can tell modern stories. This is one of Asimov's most perfectly constructed stories, a real winner.

The Feeling of Power - A far future society that has become completely dependent upon computers rediscovers the lost art of doing math by hand. Very clever and well concieved, this story has more to say about our own society than it did about the time in which it was written.

Satisfaction Guaranteed - Housewife Claire Belmont is startled to find her husband's most recent aquistion, a human looking robot named "Tony", is the latest gimmick in the ceaseless battle to keep up with the Joneses.

Living Space - The discovery of easy access to parallel universe Earths, ones where life never evolved, means that the ever expanding human population of the future needn't worry about running out of living space. In fact, every family can have a whole planet to themselves! But some unforseen consequences of this discovery have got a few of the new homeowners worried. This is one of the best executed science fiction short stories ever written. Its premise entails a non-obvious problem that becomes clear only near the end of the tale. Highly recommended.

posted by Jesse Willis 11:41 AM --

 


A Clash of Kings
By George R.R. Martin; Read by Roy Dotrice
21 Cassettes - 37 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Random House Audio
Published: 2004
ISBN: 073930870X
Themes: / Fantasy / Medieval setting / Power struggle / Dragons /

A Clash of Kings continues the saga started by George R.R. Martin in A Game of Thrones. There are six projected volumes in this series. The first three novels are currently in print, and all three of them are now available on unabridged audio from Random House Audio or Books on Tape. A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings are also available on Audible.com.

This volume is frankly more of the same kind of thing experienced in A Game of Thrones. (See the SFFAudio review of A Game of Thrones here). In this case, that's a good thing. A Clash of Kings is a direct continuation of the first volume with the addition of several new characters. The stories of members House Stark and House Lannister were again the center of the plot - their struggle for power in the land of Westeros continues, while the supernatural threat from the North continues to gather, and Daenerys Targaryen, with her dragons, gains power. Tension runs high throughout the book, and resolution is left for future volumes.

George R.R. Martin has created a medieval world filled with interesting characters that I continue to care about. The plot is complex, and each time I felt a question was answered, a new mystery unfolded.

The myriad of characters created a challenge for narrator Roy Dotrice, but again he does a fabulous job. With captivating skill and range he charges on, unfolding the story chapter by chapter, character by character, event by event. The book is certainly a marathon for the listener, but by the end, after 37 hours, I was (and am) still eager to continue listening to this truly excellent fantasy series.

posted by Scott D. Danielson 11:01 AM --

 


Ecotopia - An Audio Novel
By Ernest Callenbach, Read by Ernest Callenbach and Edwin Newman
2 cassettes - 3 hours [UNABRIDGED AUDIO ADAPTATION]
Publisher: Audio Renaissance
Date Published: April 1990 - Out of Print
ISBN: 1559270527
Themes: Science Fiction / Utopias / Environmentalism / Ecology /

Dateline -- the early 21st Century. The nation of Ecotopia -- made up of what was once Washington, Oregon and Northern California -- has been independent of the United States for 20 years. Now, for the first time since its secession, this mysterious society is allowing an outsider to enter its borders and report on its way of life.

William Weston is a journalist from the eastern United States, the first person to be granted permission to enter Ecotopia since its breakaway from the rest of the USA 20 years earlier. The news reports he transmits from Ecotopia describe the strange customs, practices and beliefs of the Ecotopians. Meanwhile, his personal journal doesn't try to remain objective as he comes to terms with his personal response to this strange new society.

Ecotopia is less a novel than it is an extended essay on how we could live if we would just all become environmentalists. The basic premise is simply an environmentalist version of Sir Thomas More's literary classic Utopia. While listening to the story I never once got lost in the tale. I was always aware that this was directly inspired by More's famous work - heck, even the title jars the suspension of disbelief, its like naming the first moon colony "Moonbase Alpha" and then expecting us all to take it seriously. But Ecotopia isn't exactly a modern retelling of More's work. Unlike his utopia, Ecotopia is earnest, real earnest - and in a way only a true environmentalist or an evangelical vegetarian can be. But don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story and liked a lot of the ideas in it. But the story is a complete daydream, with no chance of it ever happening, at least any sort of revolutionary way as Callenbach has it. I shouldn't overstate the flaws. Ecotopia was written in 1975, and here nearly three decades later a significant portion of the population has adopted at least some of the mindset set out in the novel.

I must tell you I'm no true-believing granola-cruncher myself, but I concede that much of the novel has great power and is persuasive. Ecotopians enjoy 20-hour work weeks, have a stake in the product of their labor and live in a society that has abolished patriarchy. The greatest criticism that I can have against the story is that it's completely unrealistic - it ain't gonna happen, not like he's written it. Now normally this wouldn't be an issue at all. Many fantasy novels are set in worlds which are absolutely physically impossible, but nobody says "elves don't exist so I can't accept the story", but in this case I think the criticism is apt. Ecotopia isn't fantasy fiction, it's utopian fiction - and the charge of implausibility is much much stickier when it comes to utopian stories especially when they're earnest. Dystopian tales on the other hand, like George Orwell's 1984 need not be plausible. They are vaccinations against future problems. By taking our modern moral and technological problems to an extreme in utopian/dystopia stories like Aldous Huxley's Brave New World or Ira Levin's This Perfect Day we are immersed in a complex vision of the problems and benefits such a society would have. Utopian dystopias demonstrate how good ideas can be ruined by unforeseen consequences and how taking some of the bad with the good might not be such a bad thing. But straight earnest utopian literature has to be laid out in such a way as to explain how we get there from here. Author Ernest Callenbach doesn't do that. He doesn't even wave his hands or use a throwaway excuse, and that shortcoming is a huge hurdle. All his characters are true believers, no one rails against the obvious implausibility of it all, so it is we, the listener who must. In Kim Stanley Robinson's utopian novel Pacific Edge (1988), for example, a similar ecological balanced society is pondered, but it manages to explain how the self same human nature that we have in a consumer mad society like ours can also become an ecological utopia and it does it in a much more plausible and immersive fashion.

Callenbach himself narrates Ecotopia with help from Edwin Newman, they take turns reading the first person account of William Weston's journey through Ecotopia and the dispatched news reports respectively. Both do very competent work presenting the story and have pleasant reading voices. The original cover art is attractive, the packaging adequate. Overall, this is a good package but not exceptional. Worth a listen but by no means a classic.

posted by Jesse Willis 1:50 PM --

 


A SONG BEFORE SUNSET
By David Rowland Grigg; Read by Alexander Wilson
MP3 DOWNLOAD - 28 minutes, 22 seconds [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Telltale Weekly
Published: 2004
Themes: Science Fiction / Post-apocalypse / Music /

In a post-apocalyptic city, an old man seeks to recreate his past as a concert pianist. First published in 1976 in the Australian anthology entitled: Beyond Tomorrow - An Anthology of Modern Science Fiction edited by Lee Harding, this story has been languishing unreprinted until this exceptional audio edition was released. Production value is high, the sound is exceptionally clear and the reading is lightly, and appropriately accented with music. Alexander Wilson's reading is haunting and restrained, matching the mournful tone of this short story. Available online at www.telltaleweekly.com for only $1.00 USD, "A Song Before Sunset" is an excellent value and a great listen!
8:48 PM -- (0) comments

 


Check out Telltale Weekly! These guys are publishing new content every Friday. Here's some of their speculative fiction selection:

A Song Before Sunset by David Rowland Grigg, Songs of Robin Hood by James Leigh Hunt, The Magic Shop by H.G. Wells, A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, A Tale About the Boy Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was by the Brothers Grimm, A Green Thumb by Tobias S. Buckell, and Amaryllis Radio, Episode 1: Lovers Argue.

The stories can be purchased and downloaded off their website - they are priced EXTREMELY well. Give them a visit!
11:56 AM -- (0) comments

 


Sci-Fi Private Eye
Edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin Greenberg; Read by Bill Fantini and Nelson Runger
4 cassettes - 6 hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Dercum Audio
Date Published: August 1997 - Out of Print
ISBN: 155656273X
Themes: Science Fiction / Mystery / Utopia / Dystpoia / Sherlock Holmes / Mars / Berzerker / Time Travel / Aritificial Intelligence / Covert Warfare /

Decades ago, SF grandmaster Isaac Asimov noted the similarity between detective "whodunit" stories and science fiction "puzzle" stories. Avoiding some of the obvious pitfalls, he began to write stories that contain elements of both of these popular genres. Later as an anthologist, Asimov teamed up with Martin H. Greenberg to collect the best of this subgenre. Sci-Fi Private Eye was the happy result. Though obviously not recorded under perfect conditions, you can literally hear the pages turning, I was flabbergasted by the love and care that went into the recording of this audiobook. It starts off with a haunting original musical score, then, instead of simply reading the first story, as is typical with nearly every audiobook, it introduces the anthology with a brief but well composed essay on the subject of mystery science fiction! The packaging is not as good, while in a sturdy enough case, the original cover art falls into a category I call "computer designed abstract boring". Even worse, they spelled Asimov's name wrong. The cassettes themselves also lack important details (what story starts where and ends where). The stories though are so good that I've got to summarize and review them individually:

Stories Included:
Introduction written and read by Isaac Asimov
"Getting Across" by Robert Silverberg
"The Martian Crown Jewels" by Poul Anderson
"Of The Metal Murderer" by Fred Saberhagen
"Mouthpiece" by Edward Wellen
"War Game" by Philip K. Dick

Robert Silverberg's "Getting Across" is a terrific SF short story told in the first person. It was originally published in the anthology entitled Future City (1973). A future society is in danger. To house the engorged human race, the Earth is entirely covered by one large metropolis. But it isn't one big city so much as it is a million city-states abutting one another. Each district has its own government, its own customs and industries, and it's own way of life. Contact between districts is restricted and often dangerous to those who attempt it. All districts rely on a master computer program for the smooth operation of these automated communities. So when Ganfield's master computer program is stolen, things start to deteriorate quickly. Garbage starts piling up uncollected, food stops being delivered, the climate control system stops working, and the deactivated robotic police force cannot prevent the cannibalism that is only weeks away. The man whose "month-wife" stole the program is sent to find her and bring it back. His task is nearly impossible because even if he can get out of his district getting across will only be the first hurdle. Typical of Silverberg's great work in the 1970s.

Poul Anderson's "The Martian Crown Jewels" was first published in A Treasury of Great Science Fiction, Vol. 1 (1959). The Martian Crown Jewels have been stolen! The theft threatens to destroy diplomatic relations between Mars and Earth. Inspector Gregg, of the Earth police force stationed on Mars, is stumped. Who can solve the baffling locked spaceship mystery and avert a galactic catastrophe of cataclysmic proportions? None other than Mars' greatest consulting detective, Syaloch, a seven-foot feathered Martian who lives at 221B "Street of Those who Prepare Nourishment in Ovens." Most entertaining.

Edward Wellen's "Mouthpiece" first saw print in the pages of Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine's February 1974's issue. Most of the stories I've read by Edward Wellen tend to be focused on the workings of the human mind, and this one is no exception. This one fictionalizes a fascinating historical curiosity regarding the final hours of "Dutch" Schultz and takes it just that bit farther - into artificial intelligence - leaving us pondering the nature of personality, memory and thought. It's also a great little mystery to boot!

Fred Saberhagen's "The Adventure Of The Metal Murderer" was first published in Omni Magazine's January 1980 issue, and is another in Saberhagen's long running series of Berzerker short stories. It's a time travel story that starts in the distant future and then goes back to 19th century London, England. A clever tale that will remind you of Michael Moorcock's "Behold The Man".

Philip K. Dick's "War Game" was first published in Galaxy Science Fiction Magazine's December 1959 issue. Earth's traditional enemy, Ganymede, is at it again. They are trying to subvert and soften up the good people of Earth by selling potentially dangerous toys and games as a prelude to invasion. One toy appears to assemble itself over time into a nuclear weapon, another convinces the user that the virtual reality he or she is in is actual reality, and a third is a harmless variation on the board game Monopoly. But the market demand for the inventive Ganymedian games is pressuring the Earth customs to clear the toys for stocking in time for Christmas. If they follow the rules only one will get through to the store shelves. Typically Dickian and thus very entertaining.
2:20 PM -- (0) comments

 


THE COMPLETE WORKS OF L. RON HUBBARD
By L. Ron Hubbard; read by Fran Drescher
48 cassettes - 71 Hours [ABRIDGED]
Publisher: PEDANT AUDIO
Published: April 1st 2004
ISBN: 031200400X
Themes: Science Fiction / Money / Past Lives / Money / Psychic Alien Invasion / More Money / L. Ron Is The Messiah /

"A year ago it was just another snake cult, but now..."

A work to stagger the imagination, The Complete Works Of L.Ron Hubbard (abridged) includes short stories, novellas, novellettes, novels, trilogies, quadrilogies, grocery lists and much much more by L. Ron Hubbard! You really can't deny the persuasive argument it all makes - in fact the good folks at PEDANT AUDIO made sure I couldn't leave their Scientology compound until it did make sense and of course only after the symbolic signing-over of my trust fund and all my worldly goods! What's especially nice is the writing all hangs together like a beautiful audio-tapestry, kind of like the way things do when you've been denied sleep for three days straight. In fact now that I think about it, it makes sense in exactly that way. The audiobook is perfomed by Fran Drescher, who you probably remember from "The Nanny" television series. Fran Drescher's range is impressive, she's able to put a Queens, NY accent with her trademark nasal quality into any character she chooses - thankfully she chooses to do it a lot in this audiobook. The packaging is also excellent, it comes in a lead lined box weighing 88 pounds guaranteed to prevent Xenu and his evil minions from controlling it with their thought-rays. Thankfully the audiobook is available by express courier for the reasonable price of $560.99 + $122.50 shipping. I suggest you take out a second mortgage and buy this audiobook immediately, I know I did. This review will self destruct in 5 seconds...
9:12 AM -- (0) comments