Drabblecast 201 – Trifecta XV

Friday, March 25th, 2011
Warning:  One instance of the F-Bomb

Cover for Drabblecast episode 201, Trifecta XV, by Alyssa Suzumura“Are these fiddlebacks ferns mommy?” Cindy asked. Fiddlehead honey. Margery said absently. “Fiddlebacks are nasty spiders.” It was only later that she would realize Cindy, for once in her vacuous, Barbie obsessed life, was right.”

The first episode of Women and Alien’s month 2011 featuring three stories, each exploring nasty, insectile alien menaces. Fiddleback Ferns, a space infestation sends a mother to her breaking point. Killipedes, a dark, humorous tale where a doctor breaks down a patient’s nasty parasitical infection. In The Difficulties of Evolution, a mournful parent contemplates her child’s anthropomorphic metamorphosis.

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Episode Art:  Alyssa Suzumura
Read by:  Tina Connoly, Norm Sherman, Christiana Ellis
Twabble:  “when I was young I played with dolls. Now, I don't have any dolls, so I play with people. Soon I'll run out of people as well ”  by  Pure Chance
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Drabblecast 200 – The Last Question

  •  Feature:  The Last Question  by  Isaac Asimov
  •  Genre:  Drama  Sci-Fi
Friday, March 11th, 2011

Cover for Drabblecast episode 200, The Last Question, by Adam S. DoyleIt all had a beginning in the original cosmic explosion, whatever that was, and it’ll all have an end when all the stars run down. The sun will last twenty billion years and maybe the dwarfs will last a hundred billion for all the good they are. But just give us a trillion years and everything will be dark. Entropy has to increase to maximum, that’s all…

On this special episode celebrating the Drabblecast’s 200th episode, we feature sci-fi milestone The Last Question by the ubiquitous genre giant Isaac Asimov. Norm takes listeners along for a thankful, whistful retrospective of the podcast’s history. The episode then moves in to a full cast, sweeping production of the sci-fi epic. The Last Question is an existential piece occurring over a grand timeline in the fullness of outer space, as mankind and artificial intelligence alike consider immortality, the end of all things, and what it means. The episode features chapter illustrations, and announces the 2010 People’s Choice award winners.

Winners of 2010 People’s Choice Awards!
Best Story: Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette
Best Drabble: Chris Munroe
Best Art: Liz

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The Dunesteef, Ray Sizemore, Mike Boris, Frank Key The Hootingyard, Escapepod, Cheyenne Wright, Phil Rossi, Mur Lafferty
Episode Art:  Adam Doyle, Liz, Jan Dennison, Broken Cyborg, Aimee Leonard, Skeet Scienski, Josh Hugo
Music by:   Norm Sherman, Gringo Motel, Clint Mansell, with special closing music by 19 Action News
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Drabblecast 199 – In the Octopus’s Garden

  •  Feature:  In the Octopus's Garden   by  James S. Dorr
  •  Drabble:  Dead or Alive?  by  Benjamin Parker
  •  Genre:  Horror  Mystery
Sunday, February 27th, 2011

Cover for Drabblecast episode 199, In the Octopus's Garden, by Bill HalliarI woke to this new darkness, swirling about me. A phrase sticking in my mind — “Lazarus Syndrome.” What happened to people when they had died, but, for some reason, some lack of death’s completion — some unfinished business — had rejoined the living.

In this episode of the Drabblecast, with a theme ‘Control,’ Norm speculates on zombies as dependents. In the drabble, we visit the zombie apocolypse. In the feature story, the consciousness of a slain man forms a being out of his remains, and the sea life around the. What is the nature of this entity, what is its place, and ultimately, what is its sinister purpose?

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Drabblecast Fan Archive
Episode Art:  Bill Halliar
Music by:   Norm Sherman, Hayfield, George Benson, Brian Reitzell
Twabble:  “When I was young I played with dolls. Now, I don't have any dolls, so I play with people. Soon I'll run out of people as well. ”  by  Pure Chance
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Drabblecast 198 – Love in the Pneumatic Tube Era

  •  Feature:  Love in the Pneumatic Tube Era  by  Jessica Grant
  •  Drabble:  Mixed Martial Hearts  by  Peter Diamond
  •  Genre:  Romance  Sci-Fi
Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Cover for Drabblecast episode 198, Love in the Pneumatic Tube Era, by Matt WasielaWe discover old scrolls that we wrote to each other in high school, back in the Early Pneumatic Tube Era. That was back when a PT message took five minutes to get across the city.

We shake our heads. Now you can send a living butterfly to Dubai in ten seconds…

This Valentine’s Day episode of the Drabblecast’s theme is centered on odd love. Norm rattles off a staggering set of fart/love puns, and waxes on about the travails of staying together in the digital age. In the drabble, we experience love through a fighter’s eyes. In the feature story, two soul mates seperated by great distance negotiate an alternate, steampunk (tube punk?) future. In addittion the Drabblecast 2010 People’s Choice nominations are announced.

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Pendragon Variety Podcast
Episode Art:  Matt Wasiela, Peter Diamond
Read by:  Kate Baker
Twabble:  “I scan his purchase, a boquette and a spade. Necrophiles need love too, he says. They just have to dig down deep for it. ”  by  Nevermore66
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Drabblecast 197 – Death Comes But Twice

  •  Feature:  Death Comes But Twice  by  Mary Robinette Kowal
  •  Drabble:  Whodunnit?  by  Jeff Johnston
  •  Genre:  Horror
Monday, February 7th, 2011

Cover for Drabblecast episode 197, Death Comes But Twice, by Phil PomphreyAs always, he took delight in my interest in the scientific pursuits. ‘My assistant took the journey yesterday, by way of a shot to the heart. Prior to that, our trials on convicts included strangling, drowning, and beheading. By Jove! That reanimation was a sight to see…

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Larry Santoro, Revolution SF
Episode Art:  Phil Pomphrey
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Drabblecast 196 – Moons Like Great White Whales

  •  Feature:  Moons Like Great White Whales  by  C.C. Finlay
  •  Feature:  Lavendar  by  Justin Quintata
  •  Genre:  Romance  Sci-Fi
Friday, January 28th, 2011

Cover for Drabblecast episode 196, Moons Like Great White Whales, by Sean AzzapardiThe pilot and her companion skimmed through the atmosphere on organic wings. They had completed their survey and the planet sampling, so this flight out from the landing craft and back was purely for their own joy. They’d timed it exactly so they could see all three moons rise together…

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Ray Sizemore
Episode Art:  Sean Azzopardi
Music by:   Norm Sherman, Curt Siffert, Carlos Reyes, Jennifer Galatis, The Cheebacabra
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Drabblecast 195 – A Matter of Size

  •  Feature:  A Matter of Size  by  Robert Jeschonek
  •  Drabble:  Ménage à trois  by  Liz Pennies
  •  Genre:  Action  Drama  Mystery
Saturday, January 15th, 2011

Cover for Drabblecast episode 195, A Matter of Size, by Arron Cambridge“Wow.” Tiny Tim shakes his head slowly. Peels off his crimson domino mask and slaps it down on the meeting table. “That makes three of us.”

“We’re marked men….” Dust Mite’s voice trembles. He tugs at the hood of his pale gray body suit. “Every costumed avenger with the power to shrink…”

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Orbital Maneuvers by RC Davidson {episode sponsor}
Episode Art:  Aaron Cambridge
Music by:   Norm Sherman, Gringo Motel, Richard Cheese, Vitamin String Quartet, Jeff Toyne, Mumford & Sons, Phil Cuneff, Helen Long, Flopsy, Steve Cornish
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Drabblecast 194 – A Distant Sound of Hammers

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Cover for Drabblecast episode 194, A Distant Sound of Hammers, by Broken CyborgThe horn blares and the red light floods down over the Cragmer’s Slaughter House sign and thirty feet below me the gates part wide like a huge and starving mouth. Then pours forth the herd…

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Episode Art:  Broken Cyborg
Read by:  Kate Baker
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Drabblecast 193 – Scales

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Cover for Drabblecast episode 193, Scales, by Adam S. DoyleOne day when a surge of dying summer heat roiled through the waterways, spoiling my fishing, I punted home to find Mama running down the grassy swell towards my docking-place. Hope died in her face when she saw my punt empty and I knew then what had happened…

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AuralSpice: Professional Narration
Episode Art:  Adam S. Doyle
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Drabblecast 192 – Rangifer Volans

Saturday, December 25th, 2010

Cover for Drabblecast episode 192, Rangifer Volans, by Bo KaierIn early December, Brad Miro walked into the office of his partner, Dr. John Estes, and said, “I’ve got our next target. It’s perfect. The public is going to love it.”

John closed his eyes. “I haven’t even finished writing the paper about the Mongolian death worm yet”

This Christmas Special episode of Drabblecast starts with Norm’s Lovecraft inspired take on “The Night Before Christmas”. The theme this week is a creepy yet festive take on Christmas. The feature lets us see the career of a successful crypto-zoologist. As we see Dr John Estes just recovering from discovering the Mongolian death worm when his partner wants to catch a flying reindeer. Norm discusses how it’s better not to believe, like in Santa… or the Mayans.

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Download 'Twas the Night MP3
Episode Art:  Bo Kaier
Twabble:  “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus, and it became suddenly clear why I was the single teenager sporting a fluffy white beard. ”  by  CLP
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