alternate history – The Drabblecast

Drabblecast 429 – Letter from Lynchburg

On July 16, 2020

Alternate history on this week’s show– an original story by Edward J. Knight about the American Civil War that we perhaps only narrowly missed!

7 August 1865

My darling Emily,

I do not know if this letter will reach you, but if it does, I hope it finds you well. General Lee has sent word to President Johnson requesting the evacuation of Washington, and I fear that Baltimore will be next. Remember that I have an uncle outside of Boston and he should be happy to take you in, should the worst come to pass. Just tell him that we are engaged to be married and I am sure he will provide for you.

Drabblecast 426- Trifecta: Friends Close, Enemies Closer

By Drabblecast

On June 21, 2020

In Drabblecast, Trifecta

This week, another Drabblecast Trifecta, this time with the theme: Friends Close, Enemies Closer. We bring you three stories, with three different narrators, by three different authors! Time Cookie Wars, by Benjamin C Kinney, Sandy, by Bruce McAllister, and Oh What a Privilege to Dwell in the Grand Palace of the Tungerils! by Kelly Moore.

Good evening. Below you are 2,478 feet of air. Yes, study the carpet, little Wesley. Whatever you do, don’t stomp! Just kidding—what you should be doing is taking off your clothes to ready yourself for this journey. All of you—Ms. Linden, and your glasses, too. Don’t worry. Over 2 feet of concrete and rebar lay between that long drop and us anyway…

Drabbleclassics 12 – Gifting Bliss: Fifteen Years Later, Jason Avery’s Magic is Still Saving the World (91)

By Charity Helton

On December 2, 2014

In Drabbleclassics, Strange

“When I first met Jason he was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the studio, surrounded by burning candles. The air smelled like flowers and a sort of a fog hung in the room and I’m thinking- this dude is a little off…”

This podcast begins with a content warning, beware the “f-bomb.” Norm takes the occasion of Thanksgiving to politely thank civilization and his listeners. The feature is a faux documentary from Josh Roundtree, a contributor to “Realms of Fantasy.” Its subject is a record called “Gifting Bliss” from fantasy musician Jason Avery, whose band “Broken” has a magical healing power to listeners. The reading includes fake commercial breaks and Norm’s hysterical imitations of several sub-standard bands and clueless musicians. Lastly, Norm reads the feedback for the recent Halloween story, “The Box Born Wraith.”

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Cover for Drabblecast episode 198, Love in the Pneumatic Tube Era, by Matt Wasiela

Drabblecast 198 – Love in the Pneumatic Tube Era

By Drabblecast

On February 17, 2011

In Drabblecast, Romance, Sci-Fi

We 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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Cover for Drabblecast episode 180, Something Borrowed Something Blue, by Bo Kaier

Drabblecast 180 – Something Borrowed, Something Doomed

By Drabblecast

On September 15, 2010

In Comedy, Drabblecast, Romance, Sci-Fi

While the rest a’ the country had turned away from the biorevolution, we Best Virginians had become magicians. We had learned how to use the tiniest creatures to change the world in the biggest, most beautiful ways…

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Cover for Drabblecast episode 167, Snowman's Chance in Hell, by Skeet Scienski

Drabblecast 167 – Snowman’s Chance in Hell

By Drabblecast

On June 9, 2010

In Drabblecast, Fantasy, Horror, Strange

If the snowman, whose name was Wink, had known that the meat man would invent such a rotten thing, he never would have built the man in the first place…

3rd Annual Nigerian Scam Spam Contest
Ducks are Bastards: Part I:

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Cover for Drabblecast episode 148, The Last Great Clown Hunt, by Bo Kaier

Drabblecast 148 – The Last Great Clown Hunt

By Drabblecast

On January 29, 2010

In Action, Drabblecast, Fantasy, Strange

It was clown-hunting weather. It was time to gather the musty costumes, clean the slide whistles, bag up the guns, and spin the lures of cotton candy…

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Cover for Drabblecast episode 144, by Sean Azzapardi

Drabblecast 144 – joanierules.bloggermax.com

By Drabblecast

On December 30, 2009

In Comedy, Drabblecast, Fantasy, Strange

This sounds ridiculous, I know. It’s like watching an old movie where everyone has a British accent, even if they’re supposed to be in ancient Rome or something. God is just impossible to translate…

Magpie Yarns

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Drabblecast 143 – The Golden Age of Fire Escapes (Part II)

By Drabblecast

On December 24, 2009

In Action, Drabblecast, Drama, Mystery, Romance

The Drabblecast continues this two-part series with “The Golden Age of Fire Escapes (Part II)” by John Aegard. If you haven’t heard Part I, you should listen to it here.

We also conclude Connor Choadsworth’s adventures in “In Search of the Mongolian Death Worm.”

Story Excerpt:

The crowd was lined up six deep along the parade route. They ignored the Deputy Mayor who sat, lightly sedated, between his doctor and nurse in the Santa sleigh. Instead, they chanted endlessly for the Marshall, who would not leave the stifling warmth of his coach, or even roll down a window to wave. Their applause echoed off the surrounding skyscrapers. “Take off your mask!” they cried..

Enjoy!

Drabblecast 143 – The Golden Age of Fire Escapes (Part II)

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Drabblecast 142 – The Golden Age of Fire Escapes (Part I)

By Drabblecast

On December 19, 2009

In Action, Drabblecast, Drama, Fantasy, Romance

This week The Drabblecast presents “The Golden Age of Fire Escapes” by John Aegard who lives in Seattle, Washington with his blind dog.

We also meet a slew of cryptids as we continue the adventures of Connor Choadsworth in “In Search of the Mongolian Death Worm.” A festive special, to be sure!

Story Excerpt:

The Fire Marshall took office with a mask, a slideshow, and some compelling statistics. One hundred fifty eight incinerated at the Double Diamond in New York.

Above and behind him a screen showed the ashen remains…

Enjoy the show!

Drabblecast 142 – The Golden Age of Fire Escapes (Part I)

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Drabblecast 109 – Babel Probe

By Drabblecast

On April 1, 2009

In Drabblecast, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi

This episode of the Drabblecast features “Babel Probe” by David D. Levine.

This superbly narrated tale follows a nano scale robot on its mission to the past. Six thousand years earlier it uncovers the myths surrounding the Tower of Babel. A thought-provoking story unfolds. Which came first, God or man?

Story Excerpt:

I have been sent to investigate one of the greatest mysteries of all time. The identity of Jack the ripper, the fate of the lost colony at Roanoke, even the hidden story of the Crucifixion have all been revealed, but the truth–if any– behind the Tower of Babel myth, found in so many cultures, still lies shrouded in secrecy…

Norm also brings you a special Bbardle for Eisenbrauns Bookstore called “The Babylon Battle of the Bands.” We thank you so much for your generous contribution!

And now folks, without further ado, enjoy the show!

Drabblecast #109 – Babel Probe

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Cover for Drabblecast episode 91, Gifting Bliss, by Kelly MacAvaney

Drabblecast 91 – Gifting Bliss: Fifteen Years Later, Jason Avery’s Magic is Still Saving the World

By Drabblecast

On November 26, 2008

In Drabblecast, Strange

“When I first met Jason he was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the studio, surrounded by burning candles. The air smelled like flowers and a sort of a fog hung in the room and I’m thinking- this dude is a little off…”

This podcast begins with a content warning, beware the “f-bomb.” Norm takes the occasion of Thanksgiving to politely thank civilization and his listeners. The feature is a faux documentary from Josh Roundtree, a contributor to “Realms of Fantasy.” Its subject is a record called “Gifting Bliss” from fantasy musician Jason Avery, whose band “Broken” has a magical healing power to listeners. The reading includes fake commercial breaks and Norm’s hysterical imitations of several sub-standard bands and clueless musicians. Lastly, Norm reads the feedback for the recent Halloween story, “The Box Born Wraith.”

Podcast: Download

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Drabblecast 88 – The Toys of Peace

By Drabblecast

On November 5, 2008

In Comedy, Drabblecast, Drama

Harvey retreated to the library and spent some thirty or fourty minutes in wondering whether it would be possible to compile a history, for us in elementary schools, in which there should be no prominent mentions of battles, massacres, murderous intrigues, and violent deaths…

Norm thanks listeners who voted in the recent election, before punishing non-voters by busting out an unexpected freestyle rap explaining the American Electoral College system, entitled “Electoral Homies.” Keeping with the civic governance theme comes a feature story from 19th-Century author “Saki,” the pen name for Hector Hugh Monroe. In it, the National Council for Peace attempts unsuccessfully to limit and channel the aggressive instincts of playful young boys. Lastly, Norm reviews the overwhelming reader feedback response to Episode #84, “Floating Over Time.”

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Drabblecast 44 – The Arc of Hronos

By Drabblecast

On December 29, 2007

In Drabblecast, Mystery, Sci-Fi

I’ve almost finished checking those measurements. That tooth—it looks homo sapien. This could be huge…

Norm presents, in his inimitable style, a one-minute review of his long-awaited movie indulgence, “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.” The week’s Drabble concerns an auto thief reaching the top of his game through — what else — nefarious means. The feature story’s author, Anden Sharp, gifted the Drabbleverse with Episode #32, “The Warden’s Last Day.” In the feature story, tragedy strikes the marriage of an archaeologist and her time traveler husband. Feedback for Episode #38, the Drabblecast’s first “Trifecta,” debated how well suited the story concepts were for their broadcast length, and was generally positive.