SF has an influence in the real world. Need proo…

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SF has an influence in the real world. Need proof? Big Brother isn’t just an idea in an George Orwell novel. Political Science Ficion is good stuff and finally there’s someone out there proving it…

Good old Doc Brown (Professor Courtney Brown Ph.D) of Emory University in Georgia (USA) is offering a Political Science course entitled Science Fiction and Politics (Political Science 190) and he’s making the lectures available as a podcast. The spring 2006 semester has already started, but don’t worry there’s no cost to audit. SFFaudio gives it an A+!

Lectures already available include:

Class #01: Introduction and Overview |MP3|
Class #02: Foundation by Isaac Asimov (1 of 2) |MP3|
Class #03: Foundation by Isaac Asimov (2 of 2) |MP3|
Class #04: Foundation And Empire by Isaac Asimov |MP3|
Class #05: Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov |MP3|
Class #06: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1 of 2) |MP3|
Class #07: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (2 of 2) |MP3|
Class #08: The Left Hand Of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (1 of 2) |MP3|
Class #09: The Left Hand Of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (2 of 2) |MP3|
Class #10: The Uplift War by David Brin (1 of 2) |MP3|
Class #11: The Uplift War by David Brin (2 of 2) |MP3|
Class #12: Darwin’s Radio by Greg Bear (1 of 2) |MP3|
Class #13: Darwin’s Radio by Greg Bear (2 of 2) |MP3|
Class #14: How to write your essays |MP3|
Class #15: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1 of 2) |MP3|
Class #16: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1 of 2) |MP3|
Class #17: The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (1 of ?)|MP3|
Class #18: ??? |Forthcoming|
Class #19: ??? |Forthcoming|
Class #20: ??? |Forthcoming|
Class #21: ??? |Forthcoming|

Forthcoming lectures will cover Neuromancer, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress.

Were I attending the classes in person I’d have banged my shoe on the desk and insist we talk about a Mack Reynolds novel. Maybe later in the course?

posted by Jesse

Way back in 2004 we brought you the news that J….

Jesse Willis

News

JMS on the set of The Adventures Of Apocalypse AlWay back in 2004 we brought you the news that J. Michael Straczynski had sold a series to CBC Radio. We’ve been patiently waiting two years and nothing has come of it… until today!

Last weekend, JMS was seen in the CBC Toronto studios with his Jeremiah cohort Sara (Samm) Barnes, producing the first batch of twenty 5 minute episodes of his new radio drama The Adventures of Apocalypse Al. The lead role is being voiced by Canadian TV star Cynthia Dale. We’ve been informed that further details will likely show up in recorded TV interview set to air on Space: The Imagination Station (Canada’s version of The SciFi Channel) during the Hypaspace program tommorow afternoon (Sunday February 19th).

In the meantime check out this 50 second preview video by clicking HERE ( Windows Media Player format).

UPDATE: Joe Mahoney, CBC Radio producer and friend to SF&F audio fans worldwide, points out that his blog AssortedNonsense.com has pictures of the recording session! Check them out THERE, along with his posts or peek at his Flickr account directly.

posted by Jesse Willis

Hurry quick! Head on over to the premiere resour…

Jesse Willis

Online Audio

The OTR Plot Spot LogoHurry quick! Head on over to the premiere resource for Science Fiction and Fantasy OTR – The OTR Plot Spot and check out this week’s LISTENING BOOTH. There you’ll find all the three parts of The Word for World is Forest by Urusla K. LeGuin in two mp3 files. This version is terrific, it was originally produced by CBC Radio for the long running Science Fiction series Vanishing Point.

Science Fiction Radio Drama - The Word For World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le GuinThe Word for World is Forest
By Ursula K. LeGuin; Dramatized by Alberto Manguel
2 MP3 Files – Approx 90 Minutes [RADIO DRAMA]
Broadcaster: CBC Radio / Vanishing Point
Broadcast: March 1989

“The seemingly simple natives of a world blanketed in forest resent the arrogance of human interlopers, and the contempt they show for the local ecology. All the natives need is a leader strong enough and clever enough to match wits with their human exploiters…. Based on a novel by Ursula K. le Guin.”

WARNING: Easily embarrassed? Take heed, there’s a stunning difference between this series and the OTR of the 1950s. First there’s the spotlight on the evils of manifest destiny, social Darwinism, ecological strip mining, genocide, rape and miscegenation. Second, there is a complete absence of censorship, The Word for World is Forest contains sounds (urination), concepts (“hygenic homsexuality”) and more even unthinkable – language straight from the book!

posted by Jesse Willis

Saturday 18th of February 2006 sees the BBC Radi…

Jesse Willis

Online Audio

BBC 7's The 7th DimensionSaturday 18th of February 2006 sees the BBC Radio 7 doing a special broadcast in honour of Richard Matheson’s upcoming 80th birthday. Along with a specially recorded interview with the man himself is a bonus unabridged reading of Duel, his short story classic inspired by a real-life experience.

Science Fiction Audiobooks - The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L. Frank BaumDuel
By Richard Matheson; Read by Nathan Osgood
Approx 20 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Broadcaster: BBC 7 / 7th Dimension
Broadcast: February 18th 2006, repeated February 19th 2006

“A huge truck plays deadly games with an innocent motorist. “

NOTE: Those outside the UK can use the BBC7 Listen Again service to catch it for 6 days following the broadcast.

posted by Jesse Willis

Mech Muse’s March/April 2006 Double Issue (Issu…

Jesse Willis

Online Audio

Mech Muse Issue 1
Mech Muse‘s March/April 2006 Double Issue (Issue 1) is now available! This brand new science fiction and fantasy audio download magazine contains 13 hours of content. Tracks are encoded at a high quality 160 kbps. Though we originally reported it as costing $5.00 USD per issue the price is actually $7.00 USD or $35.00 for a six issue subscription.

Stories included in the first issue are:

After A Lean Winter by David Farland
On My Way To Paradise (Part I of a serialized novel) by David Farland
The Second Rat by David Barr Kirtley
Veil Of Ignorance by David Barr Kirtley
Primary Colors by Richard Raleigh
The River Is Forever by Edmund R. Schubert
Expensive Gifts by Miles Romney
The Elf Trap by Francis Stephens

There are also a column on film and other non-fiction audio features still forthcoming.

Mech Muse guarantees access to a purchased issue for a minimum of 60 days after purchase, and a possibility after that. Also of note are the abilities to download either in a ZIP file or by RSS! Another bonus is what appears to be full downloadable cover art for each individual tale.

The Mech Muse website looks really terrific check it out HERE.

posted by Jesse Willis

New Releases: Brad Lansky and the Alien Engineer, a Protophonic …

Scott D.

SFFaudio New Releases

Brad Lansky and the Alien Engineer, a Protophonic audio adventure, Audio Drama
Visit Protophonic.net for audio samples of this retro SF audio drama.

How to Survive a Robot Uprising by Daniel H. Wilson, read by Stefan Rudnicki, Blackstone Audio, Unabridged
This one looks like a lot of fun…

Mystic Quest by Tracy and Laura Hickman, read by Lloyd James, Blackstone Audio, Unabridged
The second book in the Hickmans’ Bronze Canticle epic fantasy trilogy.

Star Wars: Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn, read by Jonathan Davis, Random House, Abridged
Another Star Wars title from the guy who started it all back in the early 1990’s with Heir to the Empire.

Titan by Ben Bova, read by various, Audio Renaissance, Unabridged
A novel from Bova’s Hard SF Grand Tour is always welcome!

posted by Scott D. Danielson