StarShipSofa

William Meikle is a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with over thirty novels published in the genre press and more than 300 short story credits in thirteen countries. He has books available from a variety of publishers including Dark Regions Press and Severed Press and his work has appeared in a large number of professional anthologies and magazines. He lives in Newfoundland with whales, bald eagles and icebergs for company. When he's not writing he drinks beer, plays guitar, and dreams of fortune and glory.

This story originally appeared Transmissions from Punktown, 2018.

Narrated by: Josh Roseman

Josh Roseman (not the trombonist; the other one) has narrated several stories for StarShipSofa and the District of Wonders over the past fifteen years. In addition, he's an author with more than three dozen books and short stories published (some under pseudonyms). He lives in Georgia (the state, not the country) and absolutely loves to pet dogs (especially pitbulls). Find him online at roseplusman.com or on Twitter @listener42

Fact: Looking Back at Genre History by Amy H Sturgis 

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Main fiction: "I am the Grass" by Jeff Somers

Jeff Somers (www.jeffreysomers.com) began writing by court order as an attempt to steer his creative impulses away from engineering genetic grotesqueries. He has published nine novels, including the Avery Cates series and the Ustari Cycle series, as well as over fifty short stories, including “Ringing the Changes,” which was selected for inclusion in Best American Mystery Stories 2006. He is a contributing editor at Writer’s Digest Magazine, which also published his book on the craft of writing Writing Without Rules. He lives in Hoboken with his wife, The Duchess, and their cats. He considers pants to always be optional.

This story is original to StarShipSofa.

Narrated by: Mike Boris

Mike’s a long-time fan of the show and is always happy to record a story for the “Sofa.” He narrated Adam Troy Castro’s “Of A Sweet Slow Dance in the Wake of Temporary Dogs” 600-some episodes ago in 2009 (Aural Delights 87). He’s an IT consultant and e-learning narrator over in the Colonies, and his neighbors still think the soundproof booth in his basement is for recording…so far, so good. He’s got a wife, kids, cats and all that…. Okay, that’s enough about Mike—let’s get to today’s show!

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa.

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Main Fiction: "The Big Whimper" by Laird Barron

Laird Barron, an expat Alaskan, is the author of several books, including The Imago Sequence and Other Stories; Swift to Chase; and Blood Standard. Currently, Barron lives in the Rondout Valley of New York State and is at work on tales about the evil that men do.

This story originally appeared in Weird World War IV, 2022.

Narrated by: Will Stagl

Will Stagl is proud to be a member of the StarShipSofa team, recruiting narrators for the podcast’s stellar stories. Will works as a creative professional and occasional musician from his adopted home of Tucson, Arizona.

Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H Sturgis

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Main Fiction: "In a Structure Simulating an Owl" by Ander Monson

Ander Monson is the author of eight books, including the forthcoming I Will Take the Answer and The Gnome Stories from Graywolf. He edits the magazine DIAGRAM among other projects, and he directs the MFA program at the University of Arizona.

“In a Structure Simulating an Owl” from The Gnome Stories. Copyright © 2020 by Ander Monson. Used with the permission of The Permissions Company, LLC on behalf of Graywolf Press.

Narrated by: Lee Datura

Lee Datura is an otherworldly creature that resides on the Olympic peninsula. She is a practitioner of somatic psychology with a focus on community liberation & a retired blueberry farmer.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Main Fiction: "Charlie's Angels" by Terry Bisson

Terry Bisson is a science fiction writer and editor. Currently he is the series editor for PM’s Outspoken

Author Series. He also writes the This Month in History feature in Locus Magazine. His works and story can be found on his website, Terry Bisson of the Universe.

This story originally appeared in SciFiction, August 2001.

Narrated by: Mark Nelson

Mark Nelson began audiobook narration in 2006, and now has over 180 titles at LibriVox. Recording as “Harry Shaw,” he has more than 100 additional titles for Audible. While he mainly records sci-fi, fantasy and horror titles, Mark has ventured into the classics, including Hugo and Dostoyevsky.

Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H Sturgis

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Main Fiction: "With Frank and Lucinda Brewer at the East Pole" by Gregory Norman Bossert

Gregory Norman Bossert is an author and filmmaker based just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. He started writing in 2009 on a dare and has no intention of stopping anytime soon. His story “The Telling” won the 2013 World Fantasy Award; other stories have appeared everywhere from Asimov’s Science Fiction to the Saturday Evening Post. When not writing, he wrangles spaceships and superheroes for the legendary visual effects studio Industrial Light & Magic.

This story originally appeared in The Unquiet Dreamer: A Tribute to Harlan Ellison, 2021.

Narrated by: Mike Boris

Mike’s a long-time fan of the show and is always happy to record a story for the “Sofa.” He narrated Adam Troy Castro’s “Of A Sweet Slow Dance in the Wake of Temporary Dogs” 600-some episodes ago in 2009 (Aural Delights 87). He’s an IT consultant and e-learning narrator over in the Colonies, and his neighbors still think the soundproof booth in his basement is for recording…so far, so good. He’s got a wife, kids, cats and all that…. Okay, that’s enough about Mike—let’s get to today’s show!

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Rasnic Tem is a past winner of the Bram Stoker, World Fantasy, and British Fantasy Awards. His novel Ubo (Solaris Books), a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award, is a dark science fictional tale about violence and its origins, featuring such historical viewpoint characters as Jack the Ripper, Stalin, and Heinrich Himmler. He has published over 500 short stories in his 40+ year career. Some of his best are collected in Thanatrauma and Figures Unseen from Valancourt Books, and in The Night Doctor & Other Tales from Macabre Ink.

This story originally appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, January 2010.

Narrated by: Will Stagl and Lee Datura

Will Stagl is proud to be a member of the StarShipSofa team, recruiting narrators for the podcast’s stellar stories. Will works as a creative professional and occasional musician from his adopted home of Tucson, Arizona.

Lee Datura is an otherworldly creature that resides on the Olympic peninsula. She is a practitioner of somatic psychology with a focus on community liberation & a retired blueberry farmer.

Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H Sturgis

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Molly Tanzer is the award-winning author of five novels, two collections, and many works of short fiction. She lives outside of Boulder, CO with her notorious cat, the Toad. Follow her on Instagram @molly_tanzer.

This story originally appeared in Phase Change: Imagining Energy Futures, 2012.

Narrated by: Mary Murphy

Mary is a New York based actor/voice-over artist. She loves the world of audio drama and is delighted to be back on board the StarShipSofa. She has performed in theatre, film, TV, animation, radio, and video games. A few of her recent credits include the one-woman play An Evening With Lola Montez, It’s A Wonderful Life, a streamed performance of the piece Near Nellie Bly, Divination of The Three for Asheville Fringe, and the audio dramas Frontier Gentleman, Chinook, and Newfield. She can be heard voicing various characters for Disney, GoKidGo, LeapFrog, the Center For New American Media, Audible, and Audimance. She has also been a regular performer on the audio drama series Fireside Mystery Theatre, The NoSleep Podcast, The Wicked Library, To the Manor Borne By Robots, and Campfire Radio Theater. marymurphyonline.com

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa.

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Main Fiction: "Mines" by Eleanor Arnason

Eleanor Arnason published her first story in 1973. She is one of the flood of women writers who came into SF during the Second Wave of Feminism; and her work reflects the Second Wave, as well as the aspirations and conflicts of the 1960s. She has published five or six novels, depending on how you count, 50+ short stories and some poetry. It's been a tough forty years, but she still lives in hope of Freedom and Justice.

Narrated by: Will Stagl

Will Stagl is proud to be a member of the StarShipSofa team, recruiting narrators for the podcast’s stellar stories. Will works as a creative professional and occasional musician from his adopted home of Tucson, Arizona.

Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H Sturgis

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Main fiction: "Planet of Sarah" by David McGillveray

David McGillveray was born in Edinburgh, Scotland but now lives and works in London. His fiction has previously appeared or is forthcoming in Interzone Digital, Shoreline of Infinity, Kaleidotrope, Space & Time and others.

This story is original to StarShipSofa.

Narrated by: Anthony Babbington

Anthony Babington is a voice actor who looks just slightly off from how he sounds. From his secret volcano lair in Minnesota he narrates podcasts, and leases his soul to corporate America. He can also be heard on the Tales to Terrify podcast, and has recorded for both the Far Fetched Fables and The Cursed Inn podcasts

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/starshipsofa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.