Saturday, September 12, 2009

From Aural Delight to Writen Word: StarShipSofa Stories Volume 1

Some of you may recall me mentioning how much I love the StarShipSofa podcast. (If you listen to the podcast I know you are thinking, "Lord, have mercy! Again?")

It began life as two pals talking about science fiction authors they enjoyed. One pal had to move on, but Tony stuck with it. By being open to the opportunities of the moment, he has created a most unusual and delightful podcast.

Essentially the Sofa is a science fiction magazine. Aurally delivered. Each episode has a major story by a modern science fiction author, usually some flash fiction (very short story), some poetry (yes, science fiction poems do exist), an editorial by "my good self" as Tony always says, and some nonfiction commentary. The nonfiction ranges from a scientist (who is also a fantastic fiction narrator and has his own podcast, Uvula Audio), an English teacher with some wonderfully insightful pieces into genres and authors, a film reviewer, a book reviewer, and various other assorted features as they come along. I, myself, have been privileged to narrate some fiction and poetry for the Sofa.

In the next evolutionary step, Tony tells us that they are going to the written word with some of the Sofa's stories. I can see from the TOC that this features some of my favorites (Tideline, The Sledge Maker's Daughter) and some of science fiction's cutting edge authors. I'm thinkin' Christmas gift time here, people. If you know a SF lover, this is a fantastic collection.

Tony sent along a nicely worded press release, but I prefer his more informal style (as always, luv) so I just edited his email. The website is not yet up but you can always drop by StarShipSofa and they'll have the link soon.

Well you might know or you might not but StarShipSofa's Aural Delights is 100 shows old in a couple of weeks and to celebrate StarShipSofa is doing something quite unique - she is putting out her very own book: StarShipSofa Stories Volume 1. This will be a PoD dead-tree type and there will also be a free PDF download. There will be a new website and art commissioned by Skeet. It's all a jolly time over here at StarShipSofa HQ but I'd love some help in promoting this adventure.

I'm hoping you can post info on your blogs or pass on any news that might help StarShipSofa get her shinny new book out and about. All authors have kindly donated their stories to the Sofa in the hope it will raise funds to keep StarShipSofa going for many years to come.

StarShipSofa Stories Volume 1
1. "Into The Blank Where Life Is Hurled" by Ken Scholes
2. "London Bone" by Michael Moorcock
3. "The Second Coming Of Jasmine Fitzgerald" by Peter Watts
4. "Lest Young and The Jupiter's Moons' Blues" by Gord Sellar
5. "Vampire Kiss" by Gene Wolfe
6. "Vinegar Peace (or The Wrong-Way Used-Adult Orphanage)" by Michael Bishop
7. "Godzilla's 12 Step Program" by Joe R Lansdale
8. "Jesus Christ, Reanimator" by Ken MacLeod
9. "The Sledge-Maker's Daughter" by Alastair Reynolds
10. "Mars: A Travelers Guide" by Ruth Nestvold
11. "The Empire of Ice Cream" by Jeffrey Ford
12. "The Ant King: A California Fairytale" by Benjamin Rosebaum
13. "In The Olden Days" by Spider Robinson
14. "Tideline" by Elizabeth Bear

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