Day: March 10, 2009

Uvula Audio: Justice Inc. by Paul Ernst

Jesse Willis

SFFaudio Online Audio

Uvula AudioJames J. Campanella, has begun a new pulp fiction audiobook beginning in his podcast this week. Says Jim:

This week Uvula Audio premieres Justice, Inc. by Paul Ernst. This is the introductory book in the 1940’s pulp serial about Richard Benson “The Avenger.” Benson was a globe-trotting adventurer who made millions all over the world in risky and dangerous ventures. When he finally decides to settle down and retire, he loses his wife and daughter in a mysterious tragedy aboard an airliner where they disappear mid-flight. Benson goes mad and ends up in an institution. When he is released he has undergone several physical changes from the shock including his hair turning white and his face becoming an equally deathly pallor. From that day forward Benson vows vengeance upon the people who caused his tragic loss. This is a dark heroic story which reminds you of Doc Savage and yet is much more sober in tone. Some people have suggested that if Doc Savage was the basis of Superman, then Benson is very probably the basis of Batman and his vigilante justice. It was always made clear that Doc worked with the police – although Benson respects the police, it is always made clear that he does not feel they can do the job of justice as well as he can because their hands are tied by the system … sound familiar?

Yes it does! Here is part 1 |MP3| – the rest, when it releases, can be found at UvulaAudio.com

Justice Inc. by Paul ErnstJustice Inc.
By Paul Ernst; James Campanella
Podcast – [UNABRIDGED]
Podcaster: Uvula Audio Bookcast
Podcast: March 2009 –

Podcast feed:

http://www.uvulaaudio.com/Books/Books.xml

Posted by Jesse Willis

BBC Radio 4: Ursula K. Le Guin biographical documentary

Jesse Willis

SFFaudio Online Audio

BBC Radio 4 Coming up on BBC R4
Ursula K. Le Guin looks back on her life and career…

Writer China Mieville talks to American science fiction writer Ursula Le Guin.

Le Guin was a trailblazer – writing in the 1960s, her series of books about the adventures of a boy wizard, Ged, included characters of every race and colour. Her fiction has been acutely concerned with politics, portraying worlds destroyed by environmental catastrophe that prefigured modern concerns about global warming, and societies without gender just as modern-day feminism began to take off.

Featuring contributions and tributes from Iain M. Banks and Margaret Atwood.

Airs Tuesday March 17th 2009 @ 11:30-12:00 BBC R4: Ursula Le Guin At 80

[Thanks Roy!]

Posted by Jesse Willis

Review of Steve, The First by Matt Watts

Scott D.

SFFaudio Review

Steve, The First, CBCSFFaudio EssentialSteve, The First
By Matt Watts; Performed by a Full Cast
2 CDs – 2 hours – [AUDIO DRAMA]
Publisher: CBC Radio
Published: 2007
Themes: / Science Fiction / Comedy / Post Apocalypse /

It was a thousand years ago. The Earth: in ruins, a nuclear wasteland. Humanity had written its final chapter. It took only a matter of minutes to destroy what took centuries to build. Greed, materialism… an overall sense of things being off… they would all spell society’s downfall. What few survivors remained were in a state of complete mental chaos. But all was not lost. One man, one hero, one legend, would bring civilization to the uncivilized.

This man… was Steve.

Steve, the First begins with the miraculous birth of Steve, the savior of all mankind, from a pile of rocks. Steve is not impressed with the post-apocalyptic world he sees, nor is he happy with the exploding dogs. The first people he meets are two kids who spend their time collecting dead people, and the hilarious conversation they have sets the tone for the rest of this dark comic radio drama, which was originally broadcast on CBC Radio One in 2005.

Matt Watts, who is Canadian, not that there’s anything wrong with that, wrote the series and also stars as the uninspired Steve. I’ve written about Matt Watts before, but this drama and the one that follows (aptly titled Steve, the Second) were written and broadcast before Canadia: 2056 seasons 1 and 2. That series and this one share some of the same actors, which is a great thing because this crew is wonderful.

The Colleen (Holly Lewis) is perfectly neurotic. My first clue? Her parents. Tim the Melty (Don McKellar) is positively unforgettable – a post apocalyptic Yes Man. And then there’s Steve’s nemesis, Phil Green (Mark McKinney) who still, despite the lack of a good number of people, yearns for political power.

I urge you to give this a listen – you’ll nestle it in your mind somewhere between Red Dwarf and Galaxy Quest in your pantheon of science fiction comedy. Funny, FUNNY, stuff!

Posted by Scott D. Danielson