Review of Peter Galaxy: Interstellar Envoy by Brian Price and Jerry Stearns

Science Fiction Audio Drama - Peter Galaxy: Interstellar EnvoyPeter Galaxy: Interstellar Envoy
By Brian Price and Jerry Stearns; Featuring David Ossman and Michael Sheard
1 CD – 45 Minutes [Audio Drama]
Publisher: Great Northern Audio
Published: 2003
Themes: / Science Fiction / Comedy / Aliens / Cars /

This CD contains the live performance of Peter Galaxy: Interstellar Envoy and Tell Them NAPA Sent You, which were recorded at the Mark Time Science Fiction Audio Awards at the 2003 CONvergence in Minneapolis, MN. It stars Michael Sheard (Star Wars, Dr. Who) and David Ossman of the Firesign Theater. And it is hilarious, great fun.

Peter Galaxy: Interstellar Envoy tells the story is about a radio actor who, long ago, was the star of the famous Peter Galaxy radio series. Aliens come down, thinking that Peter Galaxy is a real person whose help they need to defend themselves against an interstellar threat. The comparison to Galaxy Quest is obvious and intentional. The script is full of science fiction tropes that play well in front of a convention audience. The jokes come fast and furious, and there’s not a poor actor in the entire cast.

Tell Them NAPA Sent You is a funny shorter piece about a guy whose car won’t start. He figures out which part he needs, then goes in search of it. The story takes a distinct fantastic turn when he’s told, after a dizzying set of directions to a place where he can find this part, to knock on the “lower door – DON’T try the high one”. Definitely chuckle worthy.

Like I said, both shows were recorded live in front of a convention audience, which had a great time by the sound of them. As did I!

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Prisoners of Gravity

SFFaudio Online Audio

Prisoners of Gravity is a television show that originally ran on TVOntario from 1989-1994. It is a wonderful show full of science fiction and fantasy author interviews in a very entertaining format. Each show has a topic, like “Heroes and Superheroes”, “Collaborations”, and “Robots and Artificial Intelligence”. Commander Rick, the host, plays pre-recorded segments of various author interviews where they comment on the topic in question. It is an excellent show.

But it is a television show, and this site is devoted to audio. Though I think such a show would be FANTASTIC on audio (even this show would be great heard and not watched), it’s not available. What is available are a few audio clips on Signal Loss, a beautiful site dedicated to the show.

I wish Prisoners of Gravity was still on and I wish I could see reruns of past shows in the United States. Short of that, I wish I could download the audio from the shows to listen to in my MP3 player. Thanks for the site!

Posted by Jesse Willis

Review of Philip K. Dick Recorded Telephone Interviews

Science Fiction Audio - Philip K. Dick Telephone InterviewPhilip K. Dick Recorded Telephone Interviews
Conducted by John Boonstra
2 CDs – Approx. 111 Minutes [UNABRIDGED EXCERPTS]
Published: 1991
Themes: / Non-Fiction / Science Fiction / Interview /

These discs combine telephone interviews conducted 3/11/81 and 6/28/81. Portions appeared in The Hartford Advocate and The Twilight Zone Magazine. I’ve interviewed dozens of interesting people in the years since, but no conversation has been quite so exhilarating. It was a privilege to have even this brief contact with PKD…”
— John Boonstra

This is a set of 2 CD-Rs with printer paper labels and a photocopy of a handwritten insert written by the interviewer John Boonstra. The packaging and media is straight out of the Staples catalogue. But the content… oh the content… It’s the ultimate! Disc 1 is one long uninterrupted audio track. It starts with a ringing telephone, answered by a “Hello?” And if you’ve heard his voice anywhere else you instantly know it is Philip K. Dick.

Boonstra conducted by telephone these two interviews. Boonstra was better prepared than we have any right to expect – he was familiar with the vast majority of his subject’s writing and anxious to engage someone who he clearly admired greatly. Dick himself is full of life, overflowing with funny anecdotes, eager to talk and expound and is a true delight to hear in such an unfiltered setting.

Admittedly the sound quality isn’t great. A constant tape hiss mars both interviews, but the voices are both loud and clear, and in stereo. Dick’s voice comes out of the left speaker and Boonstra’s out of the right. They talk for nearly two hours over the course of the two interviews and I was riveted the entire time. Unfortunately the last portion of the first interview is completely cut off and the first portion of the second interview is entirely missing. Boonstra prompts Dick now and again with well researched questions and Dick never shies away, giving us the inside dope on many aspects of his professional and private lives as well as explaining the research that went into many of his later books including, The Cosmic Puppets, The Man In the High Castle, Martian Time-Slip, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, The Galactic Pot-Healer, Confessions Of A Crap Artist, VALIS, The Divine Invasion, The Transmigration Of Timothy Archer and others.

If you like Philip K. Dick’s novels you’ll love these interviews! I just wish there were more of them. Unfortunately Dick died less than a year after the second interview was recorded. I got two CD set from Zack Wood: click here to check out his site and tell him SFFAUDIO sent you!

Posted by Jesse Willis

Congratulations to the 2004 Hugo Award winners! H…

SFFaudio News

Congratulations to the 2004 Hugo Award winners! Here they are:

BEST NOVEL
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
An unabridged audio version is available, published by Audio Renaissance.

BEST NOVELLA
“The Concrete Jungle” by Charles Stross
This one’s not available on audio, but Infinivox just released three of his works.

BEST NOVELETTE
“The Faery Handbag” by Kelly Link
No audio edition known.

BEST SHORT STORY
“My Travels with Cats” by Mike Resnick
No audio edition known.

Click here to see all the Hugo Winners this year.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

The Audie Awards are given every year by the Audio…

SFFaudio Online Audio

The Audie Awards are given every year by the Audio Publisher’s Association for excellence in audiobook publishing. In 2003, a Science Fiction category was added, but a number of genre titles won awards previous to then, and continue to win in other categories. Just completed: A complete list of Audie Award-winning science fiction and fantasy titles.

Thanks for visiting!

Posted by Scott D. Danielson

Review of Scary Stories with Alan Maitland by Various

Horror Audiobook - Scary Stories by Alan MaitlandScary Stories with Alan Maitland
By various; Performed By Alan Maitland
1 Cassette – 1 Hour [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: CBC Radio
Published: 2002
ISBN: 0660187825
Themes: / Horror / Classics / Family / Short Stories /

Alan Maitland is a veteran Canadian Broadcasting Corporation broadcaster, who reads seven classic horror stories and poems here. The cassette makes for quality family listening, and Maitland reads with energy and enjoyment.

My favorite of the group is The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe. It’s true that I’ve read it several times and have heard it performed a couple of other times, but still – I enjoy it every time, and did again here. The heart beats below the floorboards, and Maitland helps us feel it.

The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes is a classic poem. I know it best from Loreena McKennitt’s musical version, and it was interesting to hear the poem read aloud.

Other stories and poems included on the 1 hour cassette: Goblins Who Stole a Sexton by Charles Dickens, The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service, The Witches’ Convention and Reunion of the Night Creatures by Rose Robert, and An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce.

The whole recording had a sort of Ray Bradbury feel to it, but that could be because I identify Bradbury so strongly with Halloween. This audio would be a worthwhile and appropriate purchase for family listening.

Posted by Scott D. Danielson