Here’s a fine short story to entertain you for half an hour. It concerns a young man desperate to see his beloved girlfriend before she sails for Europe, and the really strange circumstances that appear to be preventing him from doing so. Anna Katherine Green was a 19/20th-century author who wrote poetry and fiction – in particular detective and mystery fiction. Her novel, The Leavenworth Case [1878] [read] [listen] is often cited as the second mystery novel written by a woman. She was praised by Wilkie Collins, who wrote the first detective novel, The Woman in White [1860] [read] [listen]. This story is from LibriVox, a great archive of free audio books. All the works are read by volunteers who love literature and LibriVox. Who knows, you might want to be one of those people! Please click the…
Podcast: “The Roads Must Roll”
A long time ago, in a California far far away [OK, that’s not working so well, but…] Anyway, In 1940, the famous science-fiction author Robert A. Heinlein wrote a story about a time in the future when people stood on high-powered conveyor belts to get from place to place. This is a story about a more ecologically responsible form of transport, but Heinlein spices it up with a bit of terrorism, so he’s way ahead of the social curve on two counts. First published in John W. Campbell’s Astounding Science Fiction magazine, here is “The Roads Must Roll.” I might add this waas one of my favorite short stories to read when I was a lad. Please click on the arrow below to listen to the podcast.
Podcast: “The Dark Valentine” Radio Broadcast
In the year 2000, a deejay at WSCS Radio, a college radio station, Came on the air calling himself “The 2000Man.” Nobody really knew who he really was, outside a few staff and jocks. His two-hour long show was broadcast on Friday nights from 10 until 12. His show was unique because the guy was pretty out-there, like Max Headroom or The Firesign Theatre. It was also unique because he would play extended sets of one band anywhere between 20 and 40 minutes in length. In between songs, he did his “2000Man” thing, and nobody ever knew what it would be. One night a listener called in and screamed, “What are you DOING?” and hung up. Here is an abbreviated version [just under an hour] of his now-famous “Dark Valentine” show. We…
Podcast: “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
We take a big, fun departure from our usual podcasting fare to present the Walt Disney classic retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” This is essentially the soundtrack for Disney’s first fully animated movie, shortened a bit to fit into a one-hour broadcast on Lux Radio Theatre December 26, 1938. This popular show broadcast every week from 1934 to 1955, delighting listeners with movie stories – usually played by the film’s actors – which they wanted to see. You might appreciate the singing in “Snow White”, especially the song it made famous, “Someday My Prince Will Come.” My favorite rendition is by Miles Davis from his eponymous album, although the Dave Brubeck Quartet rendition is a close second. Both are easily accessible on YouTube. Please click on the arrow below…
Podcast: Improbable Fortunes,” Part 3
OK, here’s the third and last enticement for you to listen to Jeffrey Price’s hysterically funny Audible novelmovie, “Improbable Fortunes.” Now, I just want you to consider that title. Improbable. Fortunes. Do you get a little twinge of Horatio Alger? Well, if you do, Price’s Horatio is young Buster McCaffrey, an archetypal orphan who seems like a sweet cowboy but who cuts quite a swath through the lives of the people of Vanadium, Colorado. I’ve nearly finished listening to the entire novel and can’t count the number of times I’ve LOL’d. I mean, really Laughed Out Loud. If you’re seeing this post for the first time, please go back and listen to Part One and Part Two. You’ll be glad you did. Please click on the arrow below to listen to the first excerpt from “Improbable Fortunes.”
Fresh Java! "Happy Birthday to Us," Poetry by Bruce McRae - is.gd/PizPf5
"Happy Birthday to Us," Poetry by Bruce McRae - The Fictional Café
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"Happy Birthday to Us" is the first poem in this collection by Bruce McRae. From new life comes infinite possibility.
Fresh Java! The Hurricane Book: A Lyric History - is.gd/PjCRAN
The Hurricane Book: A Lyric History - The Fictional Café
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How do we mark the passage of time? How do we reconcile what we remember of our life and those we love – and have loved – against the mutability o...