Posts Tagged ‘Alasdair Stuart’

For Your Consideration

Hello everyone, this is Alasdair, the voice of Escape Artists. This is our 2016 metacast to present the stories we ran in 2015 which are eligible in the upcoming Hugo nomination season.

First, a quick plug four ourselves. All four EA shows – Podcastle, Pseudopod, Escapepod and Cast of Wonders – are themselves eligible in the SEMIPROZINE Hugo category.

Not Fancast. Not Fanzine. Semiprozine.

Yes, the categories are confusing and often overlap. Fancast as a category is traditionally dominated by commentary shows and sketch based audio programs. Take at look at the finalists over the last couple of years. Whereas the Semiprozine category is home to the types of publications we consider our publishing peers.

While there’s an argument to be made we could split the shows and compete in multiple categories to increase our chances, we don’t think benefits anyone. The division would be artificial at best, extremely difficult to explain given all four of our shows have harmonized pay rates and submissions policies, and smack of gamesmanship which doesn’t interest us.

Don’t get us wrong, we LOVED seeing Podcastle and Escapepod on last year’s Hugo long lists, and we’d be honoured for one of our shows to be a finalist. But that’s a decision that rests solely in the hands of you, our fans and supporters.

And just a note, Mothership Zeta doesn’t qualify this year because they’re too new.

Update: all of our editors (Graeme Dunlop and Rachael K. Jones at PodCastle, Shawn Garrett at Pseudopod, Marguerite Kenner at Cast of Wonders and Norm Sherman at EscapePod) are themselves eligible in the Editor, Short Form category.

These show notes contain links to a few different aggregation projects, where fiction fans are building cumulative lists of those eligible in the various categories. They’re great tools, and we’d like to thank David Steffen in particular for his efforts. We’ll also link to our Wikia page, containing links to all the stories mentioned.

And with that, we present the following for your consideration:

Editor, Short Form:

Marguerite Kenner

Cast of Wonders 2015 Short Story first publications:

• Aisha Bets Her Life on Magic by Jarod K. Anderson
• There Are No Marshmallows in Camelot by Christian McKay Heidicker
• Lost Socks by Lisa Montoya
• Above Decks by Terry Ibele
• Fairy Bones by Guy Stewart
• A Troll’s Trade by Sandra M. Odell

2015 reprints:

• The Mothgate by J.R. Troughton – originally published by Shimmer
• The New Kid Is Not An Alien by Bert Lowe originally published in the July 2015 issue of Spaceports & Spidersilk from Nomadic Delirium Press

Genres:

Cast of Wonders 187: The Haunted Jalopy Races (Staff Pick 2015)

Originally published in Shimmer (January 2013)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:12 — 21.3MB)

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Show Notes

Every year in January, Cast of Wonders takes the month off to recharge our batteries, plan the year ahead, and highlight some of our favourite episodes. As part of joining the Escape Artists family, this year we’re pulling out all the stops. We’re running 10 staff pick episodes over the month, each one hosted by a different member of the Cast of Wonders crew.

We hope you enjoy alumnus host and editor Graeme Dunlop’s favorite story from 2015, The Haunted jalopy Races by M. Bennardo, and narrated by Alasdair Stuart. The story originally aired March 22, 2015 as Cast of Wonders 160.

The Haunted Jalopy Races

by M. Bennardo

It all started when gallant Joe Jones and shiftless Sylvester Sneep agreed to race each other for the hand of pretty Sadie Merriweather. Except that’s not really how it started at all, not the first year anyway, not back in 1938.

Back then, that first year, Joe Jones wasn’t thought especially gallant and Sylvester Sneep wasn’t thought especially shiftless. Sadie Merriweather was indeed thought especially pretty–at least by most of the boys in Rock Falls–but Joe and Sylvester weren’t racing for her hand.

Not even in Rock Falls, not even in 1938, did anybody think that the outcome of a jalopy race could decide the affections of a teenaged girl. Instead, it was purely a matter of honor. Sylvester had felt his pride pricked when Sadie chose Joe over him, and so the challenge for the race had been given. The challenge was well-known among the upper classes at Rock Falls High School, but the rest of the town only got their first inkling of what was happening when the boys revved up their modified flatties at the top of the square pointing out to Falls Bridge down on Five Falls Road, and by then it was too late.

(Continue Reading…)

Genres:

Cast of Wonders 186: A School Story (Staff Pick 2015)

Originally published by the author in More Ghost Stories, 1911

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:55 — 18.3MB)

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Show Notes

Every year in January, Cast of Wonders takes the month off to recharge our batteries, plan the year ahead, and highlight some of our favourite episodes. As part of joining the Escape Artists family, this year we’re pulling out all the stops. We’re running 10 staff pick episodes over the month, each one hosted by a different member of the Cast of Wonders crew.

We hope you enjoy artist and founder Barry J. Northern’s favorite story from 2015, A School Story by M. R. James, and narrated by Alasdair Stuart. The story originally aired August 2, 2015 as Cast of Wonders 172.

A School Story

by M.R. James

Two men in a smoking-room were talking of their private-school days. “At our school,” said A., “we had a ghost’s footmark on the staircase. What was it like? Oh, very unconvincing. Just the shape of a shoe, with a square toe, if I remember right. The staircase was a stone one. I never heard any story about the thing. That seems odd, when you come to think of it. Why didn’t somebody invent one, I wonder?”

“You never can tell with little boys. They have a mythology of their own. There’s a subject for you, by the way–‘The Folklore of Private Schools.'”

“Yes; the crop is rather scanty, though. I imagine, if you were to investigate the cycle of ghost stories, for instance, which the boys at private schools tell each other, they would all turn out to be highly-compressed versions of stories out of books.”

“Nowadays the Strand and Pearson’s, and so on, would be extensively drawn upon.”

(Continue Reading…)

Genres:

Cast of Wonders 172: A School Story

Originally published by the author in More Ghost Stories, 1911

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:23 — 17.9MB)

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Show Notes

Do you love flash fiction? The Escape Artists podcasts are hosting their fourth annual flash fiction contest, starting with Pseudopod this year. The submission window runs from August 15th through September 15th. All the details can be found on their forum.

A SCHOOL STORY

by M.R. James

Two men in a smoking-room were talking of their private-school days. “At our school,” said A., “we had a ghost’s footmark on the staircase. What was it like? Oh, very unconvincing. Just the shape of a shoe, with a square toe, if I remember right. The staircase was a stone one. I never heard any story about the thing. That seems odd, when you come to think of it. Why didn’t somebody invent one, I wonder?”

“You never can tell with little boys. They have a mythology of their own. There’s a subject for you, by the way–‘The Folklore of Private Schools.'” 

“Yes; the crop is rather scanty, though. I imagine, if you were to investigate the cycle of ghost stories, for instance, which the boys at private schools tell each other, they would all turn out to be highly-compressed versions of stories out of books.”

“Nowadays the Strand and Pearson’s, and so on, would be extensively drawn upon.”

(Continue Reading…)

Genres: ,

Cast of Wonders 160: The Haunted Jalopy Races

Originally published in Shimmer, Number 16 (2013).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:08 — 23.0MB)

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The Haunted Jalopy Races

by M. Bennardo

It all started when gallant Joe Jones and shiftless Sylvester Sneep agreed to race each other for the hand of pretty Sadie Merriweather. Except that’s not really how it started at all, not the first year anyway, not back in 1938.

Back then, that first year, Joe Jones wasn’t thought especially gallant and Sylvester Sneep wasn’t thought especially shiftless. Sadie Merriweather was indeed thought especially pretty–at least by most of the boys in Rock Falls–but Joe and Sylvester weren’t racing for her hand.

Not even in Rock Falls, not even in 1938, did anybody think that the outcome of a jalopy race could decide the affections of a teenaged girl. Instead, it was purely a matter of honor. Sylvester had felt his pride pricked when Sadie chose Joe over him, and so the challenge for the race had been given. The challenge was well-known among the upper classes at Rock Falls High School, but the rest of the town only got their first inkling of what was happening when the boys revved up their modified flatties at the top of the square pointing out to Falls Bridge down on Five Falls Road, and by then it was too late.

(Continue Reading…)

Genres:

Cast of Wonders 143: Dagon

Originally published in issue #11 of The Vagrant (November 1919).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:01 — 25.6MB)

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Dagon

by H. P. Lovecraft

I am writing this under an appreciable mental strain, since by tonight I shall be no more. Penniless, and at the end of my supply of the drug which alone, makes life endurable, I can bear the torture no longer; and shall cast myself from this garret window into the squalid street below. Do not think from my slavery to morphine that I am a weakling or a degenerate. When you have read these hastily scrawled pages you may guess, though never fully realise, why it is that I must have forgetfulness or death.
(Continue Reading…)

Genres: ,

Cast of Wonders 132: The Collector

Cast of Wonders 132: The Collector is a Cast of Wonders original.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:36 — 26.2MB)

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The Collector

by Jameyanne Fuller

Maddie died that night fifty years ago. Car accident. Drunk driver. Fifty years and worlds ago, Maddie Collins died, and the Thief couldn’t think about her, not tonight, not ever again.

The Thief stopped in the shadows on the corner of Maple Street and Brookdale Road. He was tall and graceful, carrying himself with absolute certainty. This was the role he’d chosen for himself, after all, when he agreed to become Death’s assistant. The assistant before him was traditional, black cloak and hood, bloody scythe, shrieking as he swooped down on his victims and chased them towards Death itself. The Thief was quieter, modeling his actions on the books he liked to read as a kid. He liked that he’d added his own personal touch to the job.

(Continue Reading…)

Genres:

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 11)

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 11) is a Cast of Wonders original.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:34 — 8.9MB)

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Show Notes

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching is a Cast of Wonders production brought to you by Wolfsbane Publishing. It features the voice talents of Kate Baker, Adam Black, Tina Connolly, Graeme Dunlop, Christiana Ellis, Marguerite Kenner, Alethea Kontis, Alasdair Stuart, Ian Stuart, and Barry J. Northern. You can learn more about the world of Camp Myth at our website, castofwonders.org.

The Camp Myth theme music, “August”, is by Cast of Wonders’ favorite musical artist Alexye Nov, at MusicAlley.com.

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 11)

By Chris Lewis Carter

Welcome back, campers! Ready for Chapter 11?

Last week we met Asterion, the founder of Camp Myth, and took the camper pledge. It sounds like the opening ceremony is drawing to a close. I wonder what Felix, Argee and Moxie will be doing next…

Now where were we? Ah yes…

This week’s camper spotlight is Natious, the Cyclopean Sharpshooter.

Felix says “Ugh, Natious wouldn’t stop talking about his Basilisk encounter in the Forgotten Forest. I’m not sure how much of the story I believe, but I’m not crazy enough to tell him that. Instead, I drew him this picture in honour of his “triumphant” victory. (Note: that was sarcasm.)”

Natious was invented by Nathan Pettigrew. You can find the picture of her on the Camp Myth webpage.

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 9)

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 9) is a Cast of Wonders original.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:44 — 15.4MB)

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Show Notes

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching is a Cast of Wonders production brought to you by Wolfsbane Publishing. It features the voice talents of Kate Baker, Adam Black, Tina Connolly, Graeme Dunlop, Christiana Ellis, Marguerite Kenner, Alethea Kontis, Alasdair Stuart, Ian Stuart, and Barry J. Northern. You can learn more about the world of Camp Myth at our website, castofwonders.org.

The Camp Myth theme music, “August”, is by Cast of Wonders’ favorite musical artist Alexye Nov, at MusicAlley.com.

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 9)

By Chris Lewis Carter

Welcome back, campers! Ready for Chapter 9?

Last week Felix met Loam the golem, and took a tour of Camp Myth.

Tonight’s a big night for the campers, let’s get started. Now where were we. Ah yes…

This week’s camper spotlight is Ox, the Warmhearted Warrior.

Felix says “Ox is, without a doubt, the toughest Minotaur wearing a Camp Myth sash, but he also has a baby snowy owl, Olot, that never leaves his side. Yesterday, an Ogre thought that it would be a good idea to steal the bird for an afternoon snack. About three seconds later, Ox made sure that the Ogre’s next meal would have to fit through a straw. I guess Minotaurs can have a soft side after all.”

Ox was invented by Roger Sellars. You can find the picture of him on the Camp Myth webpage.

Genres:

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 8)

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 8) is a Cast of Wonders original.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 12:02 — 11.1MB)

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Show Notes

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching is a Cast of Wonders production brought to you by Wolfsbane Publishing. It features the voice talents of Kate Baker, Adam Black, Tina Connolly, Graeme Dunlop, Christiana Ellis, Marguerite Kenner, Alethea Kontis, Alasdair Stuart, Ian Stuart, and Barry J. Northern. You can learn more about the world of Camp Myth at our website, castofwonders.org.

The Camp Myth theme music, “August”, is by Cast of Wonders’ favorite musical artist Alexye Nov, at MusicAlley.com.

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 8)

By Chris Lewis Carter

Welcome back, campers! Ready for Chapter 8?

Last week our trio arrived at Camp Myth, only to be separated by the appearance of Brontes and Tessa, two of the camp’s senior counselors. Looks like Felix is on his own again…

I wonder what’s in store for him next? Now let me see, where were we. Ah yes…

This week’s camper spotlight is Ruth Liz, Child of the Warrens.

Felix says “To be honest, most Redcaps are complete lunatics. Not Ruth, though. She’s a real sweetheart. In fact, she’s even invited me to visit The Warrens to look at her collection of gold pieces from medieval castle vaults. She even has an antique knife that she really wants to show me! I’m going to give her this drawing as a thank you. What a nice girl!”

Ruth was invented by Dean Fierce. You can find the picture of her on the Camp Myth webpage.

Genres:

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 7)

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 7) is a Cast of Wonders original.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 12:39 — 11.7MB)

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Show Notes

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching is a Cast of Wonders production brought to you by Wolfsbane Publishing. It features the voice talents of Kate Baker, Adam Black, Tina Connolly, Graeme Dunlop, Christiana Ellis, Marguerite Kenner, Alethea Kontis, Alasdair Stuart, Ian Stuart, and Barry J. Northern. You can learn more about the world of Camp Myth at our website, castofwonders.org.

The Camp Myth theme music, “August”, is by Cast of Wonders’ favorite musical artist Alexye Nov, at MusicAlley.com.

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 7)

By Chris Lewis Carter

Welcome back, campers! Ready for Chapter 7?

Last week Felix made it safely back aboard, thanks to Lil’s dryad magic and the dramatic appearance of Moxie the Kitsune.

Still listening campers? Good, now where were we. Ah yes…

This week’s camper spotlight is Mayumi, the High Flying Vulpine.

Felix says “Mayumi the Kitsune came all the way from Tokyo to attend Camp Myth! I found her hanging around the Golem Statuary, which she enjoys because they remind her of the sculptures and stone carvings found in her native homeland.”

Mayumi was invented by Trudy Goold. You can find the picture of her on the Camp Myth webpage.

Genres:

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 6)

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 6) is a Cast of Wonders original.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:29 — 7.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | RSS

Show Notes

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching is a Cast of Wonders production brought to you by Wolfsbane Publishing. It features the voice talents of Kate Baker, Adam Black, Tina Connolly, Graeme Dunlop, Christiana Ellis, Marguerite Kenner, Alethea Kontis, Alasdair Stuart, Ian Stuart, and Barry J. Northern. You can learn more about the world of Camp Myth at our website, castofwonders.org.

The Camp Myth theme music, “August”, is by Cast of Wonders’ favorite musical artist Alexye Nov, at MusicAlley.com.

Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching (Chapter 6)

By Chris Lewis Carter

Welcome back, campers! Ready for Chapter 6?

Last week Argee showed us he really doesn’t like to be teased, and then the roc carrying their bus lost one of his handles, sending Felix skyward!

Quick! Let’s find out what happens to Felix!! Where were we, campers? Ah yes…

This week’s camper spotlight is Anthea, Herald of the Forest.

Felix says “Sitting in the limbs of the Peridexion tree, Anthea the Dryad says there’s no place in the world where she feels more in tune with nature. I was going to tell her I’m so bad with plants that I once managed to kill a small potted cactus, but I decided to draw her this picture instead.”

Anthea was invented by Elizabeth Verbraak. You can find the picture of her on the Camp Myth webpage.