Robotz of the Company
Official Site/Listen : Click Here
(Dream Realm Enterprises)
This is an original science fiction comedy series about a group of robots on a ship who aren’t the brightest or latest upgrades. They each, in fact, have definite flaws of one kind or another, which makes the show all the more amusing. There are 59 episodes so far, so there is no need to worry about running out of audio to listen to. This was one of the original audio dramas that I subscribed to back when I first discovered the genre, and I was drawn to the ridiculous quirky humour of it.
The sound might be a bit distracting at first, because all the characters are robots, so it has a metallic robotic sound to the voices which is difficult to get used to. Usually on a scifi show there are some regular humans in the cast with normal sound to balance it out and give your ears a rest– the constant robots can be wearing at times. This is also one of the more impressive parts of the show, however, because you’d think they would all sound the same. By no means! Each robot has a very distinct voice and personality. I’ve noticed on a lot of the large ensemble cast genre audio dramas, all the characters start sounding the same and acting the same. There is no problem keeping track of who is who on Robotz of the Company. After only a few episodes, you have the characters pretty well memorized purely based on their unique voices and quirks.
The stories are a mix of hilarious petty problems magnified to epicness, and epic problems lampooned into pettiness. Whether it is a cleaning job gone heinously wrong or the entire future of the ship at stake, each robot stays selfishly obsessed with their own ideas and trains of thoughts. In this, they appear much more human than many audio dramas about humans. In reality, no matter what the problem, we look at it based on our narrow view of life in general, whatever that view may be, and proceed accordingly. In Robotz of the Company, this is exaggerated to the point where we can easily see that. Although on the surface, the series seems to be utter silliness in space, it has a lot of deep life lessons that can be learned as human beings.
All that being said, I did stop listening to the series regularly quite a while ago. While it is fun in small doses, it’s style isn’t for everyone. In general I’d put the rating at about AD-PG, although that goes both up and down depending on the episode. The writing isn’t always completely there, and a few episodes really needed a lot more work, but the post-production is fairly dependable. It isn’t a show that requires a lot of effects most of the time– just the general background of the ship hum, and the different robot voice effects are usually quite well balanced when it comes to levels.
This is not an impressive show with fantastic writing or effects, but it succeeds at what it set out to do– entertain with silly stories. It is the sort of show to listen to after a hard day at work, or long study session for school where you want to turn your brain off for a while and just sit there laughing at some robot antics.
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 4)
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Buffy Between the Lines
Official Site/Listen : Click Here
(Between the Lines Studios)
This is a fan audio drama series which tells the story of what happened between the seasons of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. Often many months would pass, so this is an audio drama fan fic filling in the gaps. I’ve only seen a few episodes of Buffy, since it really isn’t my cup of tea, but I ended up listening to the entire seasons of BBTL. I think that, while I didn’t find the television series worth wasting complete attention on, listening to a podcast while doing chores or other things was much more doable. So even if you aren’t really a Buffy fan, I wouldn’t write off BBTL just yet. If you are a Buffy fan, this is a series not to miss.
Even with my limited experience, I could tell that the various fan writers were doing their best to make the audio drama as much like Joss’ style as possible. This is not Mary Sues and wishful thinking poorly done fanfic, but rather a well-thought-out careful tribute to the tv series. I was quite impressed with the level of writing brought to BBTL, which is the main reason I would recommend this audio drama. There are two seasons so far of twelve episodes each, as well as several holiday specials for Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Halloween which are a lot of fun.
The acting in this series is extremely varied. There are some that hit it out of the ballpark, like Nick Edwards as Spike, and others that are quite weak. A few are excellent actors, but the microphone quality is terrible. Sometimes it is better to have someone who isn’t quite as good an actor, but whose mic quality is up to par, rather than have a great actor that you wince over every time they start talking, due to technical issues. There are a few winceworthy microphones in this series, which is really a shame.
The main objection of BBTL is the low post-production quality. You can have the best script in the world, but if the mixers aren’t doing their job, it can ruin a show. There is absolutely no background soundscape, very few atmospheric effects and even fewer action effects. Something will happen that clearly requires a sound, but nothing is heard. That’s fine if this were a live, in-studio production during the 1930s, or if the style of the show imitated OTR, such as Black Jack Justice. This series is trying to fill the gaps of a television series, however, which calls for a little more than audiobook minimalist sounds. I’m not asking for the level of detail that Bill Hollweg gives to a production, for example, just basic ambient background additions. It doesn’t take that long to create a set of interesting backgrounds and drop them into scenes. It would also help cover up all the microphone sound issues as well.
Overall this is a very professionally written show that lacks execution. If you can get past the sound issues, however, it is a great audio series to listen to. This isn’t for the kids, since it is based on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. I’d say it is rated about AD-PG 13 or so bordering on R at times. I hope that BBTL continues for a few more seasons and maybe works through the sound quirks to eventually have a solidly produced show.
(2 votes, average: 3.00 out of 4) Loading ...
Space Casey
Official Site/Listen : Click Here
(Christiana Ellis)
Parsec award winner Space Casey is a very entertaining science fiction show. The most remarkable thing about it is that there isn’t a huge cast. Often when we think scifi a sort of epic story and world comes to mind along with a large ensemble set of actors. For all practical purposes, there are only two actors in Space Casey with a few guests here and there. This is extremely difficult to write, but much easier to post-produce and listen to. The audience doesn’t have to worry about keeping a bunch of characters straight. This is very refreshing when listening to podcasts.
Primarily, Space Casey is a comedy and satire, although it has exciting and frightening moments. There are 10 episodes so far, I’m not sure if there will be another season or not but the storyline is definitely open for one. For those of you unfamiliar with Christiana Ellis, she is one of the top podiobook authors and most famous for Nina Kimberly the Merciless. Her work is top notch in writing, and she has a special gift for snarky banter. Space Casey is a character similar to Vala on the later seasons of Stargate SG-1. She is a bit of a petty crook / swindler / con artist and good at what she does, but also has a good heart and is a decent sort of person overall. She’s the sort of person that can be trusted to save the world, but keep a firm grip on your purse and ipod when she’s around. This sort of character is a lot of fun to drop into a heroine role, and I found all the episodes highly amusing. The situations are classic cliche scifi, but her reactions to them aren’t what you’d expect. She views each problem from her own unique point of view and acts accordingly which is the main appeal of the series.
Another great thing about Space Casey is the strong fan community attached to it. You can easily talk with other fans about it, and there is even a club to join with pins and special releases and all sorts of fun stuff. Whenever Christiana does something, she jumps in whole heartedly and you can depend on that.
This series has minimal sound effects, and the narration is not reverb which I hugely appreciate. A lot of reverb really gets old after a while! The theme song of the series is a lot of fun and really gets you in the mood to listen. The sound quality is fairly solid throughout the series, but if you like complex sound effects this is not the series for you. There are just enough sound effects to set a mood and indicate main events.
Space Casey isn’t entirely family friendly due to some inuendos, so I’d recommend a screening listen before allowing children to join in, but in general it isn’t that bad. If you enjoy snarky comedy and science fiction, I would highly recommend this series. If you like con scheme situations such as Oceans 11 you also might enjoy the style of this audio series.
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 4) Loading ...This was a rewrite of an episode that had to be mostly scrapped. Half the storyline involved a plot about Jane which ended up being abandoned completely. The other half wasn’t enough to make an entire episode– or so I thought. When I first approached the rewrite, I planned on combining Fenrir and Prince Ring (two Icelandic related stories of mythology). What happened was that I placed Atherton and Westbrook on the rainbow bridge to Asgard on their way to start the Prince Ring story when I realized there were too many guest voice actor parts. It is very difficult to cast audio dramas, particularly Maudelayne, so I realized the bridge guardian addition was a bit much. Reading up again I discovered he was an enemy of Loki.
For those of you that remember, Loki has appeared on Maudelayne voiced by…Stevie K. Farnaby the mixer! So no problem bringing him back. Oden was voiced by Steven Jay Cohen, also a Maudelayne regular so that was simple as well. Result: Loki remembers our stalwart duo and of course sets to work right away. After the squabble, Oden steps in and thus the two storylines are combined.
The other story had to do with Fenrir the giant wolf rampaging his way around Maudelayne. Obviously Worsley had to be involved, since he is amusing to put into frightening situations. I wanted Cecil to have a major role and asked the VA what he would like– the reply was that he wanted the sword wielding professor of the pilot back. Therefore Professor Cecil is back as the only line of defense against the vicious beast.
In the climax, everyone is running around after Fenrir– the god Tyr, Atherton, Westbrook, Professor Cecil, Miss Worsley, and even the Gardener. All over the president’s prize lawn of course!
In short: what had been a disappointment (rewriting an entire episode) turned into a very funny romp which I highly enjoyed.
Excerpt:
Cecil: No weapon has given the wolf even the least bit of harm!
SFX: Running up
Gardener: Oh yeah, what about this?
SFX: Shotgun, roar of wolf and something smashing
Cecil: Shouldn’t you be off weeding the petunias?
Gardener: I saw this here wolf, professor, so I got me old shotgun.
Cecil: Away with you, I have the situation well in hand.
SFX: Running up
Jane: What are you doing to that poor animal?
Gardener: It’s a monster!
Jane: Have you tried asking it politely to stop rampaging?
Cecil: The young lady has a point. You there, foul beast, what do you mean by this destruction?
Fenrir: Me? I’m not ruddy hurting anyone. A few vases, perhaps, but that was an accident. Can’t help me size.
Jane: See! He’s harmless.
Fenrir: I do occasionally eat children, but who doesn’t?
Jane: Or maybe I should just…back away a bit…
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 4) Loading ...Because sitting about working, mixing & writing 24/7 isn’t good for your health!
Original Idea | Descriptions
24 January, 2010 - 101 miles - West of Barrow-downs
After sitting a lot on Sunday (church & Swan Lake with SFB), I really needed to go for a run/walk so headed for Shollenberger Park. Fortunately it is open until 10pm no matter what so you can use it during the dark. It was dripping a bit, and extremely cold, so there was no-one else out there. The odd part was that I knew I was heading into the part of the LotR book where Frodo and co. head out in the dark toward the creepy Barrow-downs where they would be nearly trapped forever. Walking along in the dark in a landscape almost identical to that described in the book made for a bit of a nervous time. I kept feeling like a Barrow-weight was following me and stopped several times to look round it was so strong! Note to self: do not walk here at night when get to the chapter of “Knife in the Dark”.
17 January, 2010 - 98 miles - House of Tom Bombadil
29 December, 2009 - 95 miles - Rescued by Tom Bombadil from Old Man Willow
15 October, 2009 - 83 miles - Path In The Old Forest
13 October, 2009 - 80 miles - Path In The Old Forest
27 September, 2009 - 78 miles - The Old Forest Bonfire Glade
3 September, 2009 - 76 miles - The Old Forest, path vanishes
24 August, 2009 - 73 miles - Leaving Crickhollow
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 4) Loading ...Short Story 17 - Trafalgar
I wanted to do this story from the very beginning of the series. The Battle of Trafalgar is possibly one of the most crucial sea battles in the entire history of Earth (save perhaps Salamis). Not only did this story come just at the right time, but so also came the reason she never made the historical record in the lists of ships present. I’ll save that surprise for the airing, but suffice to say it will be a lot of fun.
Excerpt:
“So that is what you’ve been about!” Prowse laughed, “I wondered why they wasted you on a sixth rate.”
“You believe me?”
“I’ve seen enough odd sorts of things to know the possibility existed. I have your word, and there is no reason to doubt that. If this…living ship of yours is correct we may save England.”
“You will send the signal?”
“The moment the first rays of dawn appear, we’ll hoist 370. HMS Victory should receive it via a series of posted frigates within three hours. That will be ample time to form battle lines in a location of our choosing.”
“We will be outnumbered, every advantage will be crucial,” Gibson nodded.
“Now, we have an hour before day, I simply must know more!”
“I was not even technically allowed to speak of what I have…” Gibson pointed out.
“Yes, indeed, it is so fascinating, though…aliens…in London? Really?”
“I have a strange feeling that happens quite often,” Gibson remarked.
Short Story 20 - Salty Explorers
At this point in 1805, Lydia has rounded the Horn and is along the Northwest coast around late December. Being logical, I looked up what was going on then during that year and lo and behold…Lewis and Clark! I’m not sure why I didn’t think of this straight off, since I was actually at a conference last year held by the chap in charge of the Living History Lewis & Clark salt makers. It never twigged that it was the right year for Lydia. The minute I spotted the connection I simply had to put it in! And if you are ever in Oregon around January, go by and see them. The Living History is first person so you can show up and ask if they’ve seen the Lydia’s crew 
(Of course they’ll say no because Cheswick was careful to instruct them to say nothing but you can try breaking their resolve!)
Excerpt:
The boat found a safe sandy beach as a landing, and the sailors dragged her well up leaving a couple of marines behind. Cheswick was astonished to see a couple of men waving from the distance dressed in European clothes. The lieutenant led the way over and found three men, their white shirts a bit muddy, standing around a fire pit. They were just as astounded to see a perfectly groomed British naval lieutenant as the crew of Lydia was to see Americans on the wrong side of the continent. After exchanging formalities, Pendennis couldn’t help looking at what the men were doing.
“Why are you boiling water?” he stared into the bubbling pots hanging over the fire, protected from the wind by mounds of stones. It seemed a bit daft to him.
“I’ll show you!” a cheery chap named Bratten picked up two large empty pots and the midshipman followed him down to the ocean. Bratten carefully dipped it into the surf at just the right moment, to make sure no sand got in. He good naturedly handed the other to Penn, who didn’t have the technique down yet. After a few failed attempts where there was a lot of sand at the bottom, the midshipman managed to fill the pot with pure seawater.
Bratten hooked the two heavy pots onto a wooden yoke of wood which he hoisted over his shoulders and easily carried the water back to the small encampment.
“Perfect timing!” one of the other Americans grinned.
The water that had been over the fire was boiled off, leaving a layering of salty sludge behind. They dumped it on a wide flat board and scraped the edges of the pot carefully to make sure all of it came out. Bratten began spreading the salt out so that it could properly dry, while Hardwicke helped hook the new pot over the fire.
They had to put a long sturdy piece of wood through the handle of the pot, then carefully lower it over the fire so that the two ends of the wood rested on the piles of rocks.
“Not to be presumptuous, but what brings you to the Northwest Coast?” Cheswick asked.
Short Story 22 - Au Revoir
This had the potential to be extremely difficult. I made the decision early this year to end the series at 22 episodes. It is a classic number to stop on, and I had mapped out that many stories anyway as it turns out. This needed to be special, and hopefully resolve a lot of plot points that had been brought up throughout the run. I don’t want to spoil it for you but I think it turns out wonderfully for everyone involved, and I mean everyone– including the ships. (Yes I said shipS there are three in this). Captain Prowse returns, indeed the entire reason of his first being introduced to the series was for this moment. This is the big payoff!
Excerpt:
“I am tacking this direction now,” she spoke, causing Prowse to flinch with surprise. Her voice was definitely not human— it had a curious combined watery and creaking quality to it not unlike the wooden beams of the actual vessel, “Gibson is attempting to use my superior maneuverability to outpace the Imbattable.”
“Then it is high time we step in!” Prowse led the way on deck and began shouting orders. The ship raced along the ocean, parting the water and passing through it within seconds. They plunged and hurtled toward their goal with all canvas out.
Things were looking desperate on Lydia. Gibson was clever, but the wind and curvature of the coast were against him. Despite his best efforts, the massive Imbattable’s shadow crept up. He would have to tack again to avoid the cape, and already the soundings were coming up dangerously shallow. At last there was nothing else for it— run aground or face the ship more than twice his size. Gibson gave the order to beat to quarters, knowing it could be his last.
As Lydia gracefully arced her way to meet the enemy, the captain of the Imbattable laughed— he had succeeded. At last the thorn in his side would be utterly destroyed and he would be free to exploit and torture any alien that came near his ship. He felt some respect for Gibson choosing to go down like a man, in the height of battle. What he did not expect was a voice shouting in French that there was a frigate bearing down on their position.
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 4) Loading ...