tor.com / category / podcasts The latest news about Sci Fi and Fantasy culture including books, movies, games, art. Read short stories from top authors and join in the discussion! http://www.tor.com/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:41:34 +0000 Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management en-gb Reading at the Speed of Sound, Episode 6: The Fat Man: A Tale of North Pole Noir http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/12/reading-at-the-speed-of-sound-episode-6-the-fat-man-a-tale-of-north-pole-noir The Fat Man: A Tale of North Pole Noir by Ken HarmonIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but somebody’s got a grudge against Santa and The Fat Man may not be around when it’s time to load up the sleigh. This hard-boiled detective novel comes straight from Kringle Town, delivering a holiday mashup that uses humor to carry a unique story of the meaning of Christmas. The 11-minute podcast includes clips from the audiobook and comments from narrator Johnny Heller and author Ken Harmon. Be sure and give a listen!

Librarian by day, at night Susan is the audiobook reviews editor for SF Site. For more info about audiobooks, visit her site at Audiobook DJ.

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]]> Susan Dunman Published Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:28:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/12/reading-at-the-speed-of-sound-episode-6-the-fat-man-a-tale-of-north-pole-noir Reading at the Speed of Sound Podcast, Episode 4: Audiobook Review of Alan Goldsher’s Paul Is Undead: The British Zombie Invasion http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/08/reading-at-the-speed-of-sound-podcast-episode-4-audiobook-review-of-alan-goldshers-paul-is-undead-the-british-zombie-invasion Alan is a life-long Beatles fan who decides to write the definitive oral history of the zombie Beatles. Risking life and limb for interviews and tell-all stories, he delivers the goods about a brain-obsessed band and their blood- soaked rise up the charts. This hilarious mashup offers an ingenious take on the Beatles legend and narrator Simon Vance brings it to life (or death, depending on your perspective) with an incredible audio performance. This review includes clips from the audiobook, as well as comments from the narrator and author. Be sure and give a listen!

 

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Librarian by day, at night Susan is the audiobook reviews editor for SF Site. For more info about audiobooks, visit her site, AudiobookDJ.

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]]> Susan Dunman Published Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:26:53 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/08/reading-at-the-speed-of-sound-podcast-episode-4-audiobook-review-of-alan-goldshers-paul-is-undead-the-british-zombie-invasion Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy #021: African SF & Fantasy! Nollywood! Entomology! (Guest: Nnedi Okorafor) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-021-african-sf-a-fantasy-nollywood-entomology-guest-nnedi-okorafor Nnedi Okorafor, author of Zahrah the Windseeker and The Shadow Speaker, joins us to talk about Africa as it’s represented in science fiction and fantasy. Dave and John discuss portrayals of Africa in fiction and film.

 

[SHOW NOTES, I presume?]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 24 May 2010 10:00:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-021-african-sf-a-fantasy-nollywood-entomology-guest-nnedi-okorafor GGG#020: Climate Change! Geoengineering! Terraforming! (Guest: Eli Kintisch) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-020-climate-change-geoengineering-terraforming-guest-eli-kintisch Eli Kintisch, author of Hack the Planet, joins us to discuss some of the ambitious and risky geoengineering schemes that are being proposed to address climate change. Dave and John talk terraforming.

 

[Scientists have developed these SHOW NOTES as our last, best hope for saving the planet.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 17 May 2010 10:00:43 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-020-climate-change-geoengineering-terraforming-guest-eli-kintisch GGG#019: Immortality! Automata! Consciousness Transference! (Guest: Robin Wasserman) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-019-immortality-automata-consciousness-transference-guest-robin-wasserman Robin Wasserman, author of the young adult science fiction novel Skinned, joins us to discuss hacking Harvard, working in publishing, human identity, and writing about the future. Dave and John try to figure out how to upload their minds. 

 

[When Dave uploaded his brain to the internet last week, leaving his frail and sickly mortal remains behind, he selflessly exported these SHOW NOTES. Just for you guys.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Sat, 08 May 2010 08:25:01 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-019-immortality-automata-consciousness-transference-guest-robin-wasserman Tor Story Podcast 020 - “Firstborn” by Brandon Sanderson http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/tor-podcast-20

Dennison stepped into the hologram, walking until he stood directly behind his ships. There were about two dozen of them—not a large force, by Fleet standards, but bigger than he deserved. He glanced to the side. Non-commissioned aides and lesser officers had paused in their duties, eyes turned toward their youthful commander. Though they offered no obvious disrespect, Dennison could see their true feelings in their eyes. They did not expect him to win.

Well, Dennison thought, wouldn’t want to disappoint the good folks.

We have another archived story for you this week:  “Firstborn” by Brandon Sanderson.

[Dinner with Father after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Mon, 03 May 2010 21:48:19 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/tor-podcast-20 GGG#018: Organ Repossession! Con Men! Dystopian Satire! (Guest: Eric Garcia) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-018-organ-repossession-con-men-dystopian-satire-guest-eric-garcia Eric Garcia—screenwriter/author of Repo Men and author of Anonymous Rex and Matchstick Men—joins us to discuss con men, dark comedy, and dinosaurs living among us. Dave and John talk violent satirical ’80s science fiction movies.

 

[SHOW NOTES? I'd buy THAT for a dollar!]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 03 May 2010 10:00:43 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-018-organ-repossession-con-men-dystopian-satire-guest-eric-garcia Tor Story Podcast 019 - “Four Horsemen, at Their Leisure” by Richard Parks http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tor-story-podcast-019-four-horsemen-at-their-leisureq-by-richard-parks

After the Apocalypse the Horsemen rode off in separate directions. We met up now and then over the centuries, stayed together for awhile as the mood took us, broke apart again. The last time we were together we had a grand old time. War turned his back for a moment, and Pestilence tried to give him a cold. War chopped Pestilence’s head off and kicked it like a soccer ball. It was a good kick. Three hundred yards across the blighted landscape, easily. By the time Pestilence’s headless body managed, scrabbling across the dust and debris, to feel its way to where the head had rolled, we were pretty sure he wouldn’t try that again. A pity, really. I hadn’t laughed so hard since the Apocalypse.

After that we separated again, which was why I happened to be alone, riding along on a manifestation of a horse that I’d named Patience, brooding as is my habit, and almost didn’t notice when I came across the impossible.

A pine seedling.

Sorry for the delay, folks, the producer was sick last week. So this week we bring you last week’s new story, “Four Horsemen, at Their Leisure,” by Richard Parks. 

[Death, War, Pestilence, Famine, and none of them brought a trowel after the cut.]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:17:08 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tor-story-podcast-019-four-horsemen-at-their-leisureq-by-richard-parks GGG#017: Dragons! Fan Fiction! Copyright Law! (Guest: Naomi Novik) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-17-dragons-fan-fiction-copyright-law Naomi Novik, author of the Temeraire series, joins us to talk about dragons, fan fiction, and copyright law. Dave and John discuss dragons in books, games, and film.

 

[Here Be SHOW NOTES!]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:00:54 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-17-dragons-fan-fiction-copyright-law GGG#016: Geek Rock! Mad Scientists! Dave's Alien Ancestry! (Guest: Jonathan Coulton) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-16-joco-is-a-musician-john-is-a-metalhead-dave-is-an-alien Jonathan Coulton, geek singer/songwriter, joins us to talk about music, video games, and becoming an internet rock star. Dave and John discuss music for geeks. 

 

[All we wanna do is read your SHOW NOTES / We're not unreasonable / No one's going to dot your i's]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:00:36 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-16-joco-is-a-musician-john-is-a-metalhead-dave-is-an-alien Tor Story Podcast 018 - “First Flight" by Mary Robinette Kowal http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tor-story-podcast-018-first-flightq-by-mary-robinette-kowal

Eleanor Louise Jackson stood inside the plain steel box of the time machine. It was about the size of an outhouse, but without a bench or windows. She clutched her cane with one hand and her handbag with the other. It felt like the scan was taking far too long, but she was fairly certain that was her nerves talking.

Her corset made her ribs creak with every breath. She’d expected to hate wearing the thing, but there was a certain comfort from having something to support her back and give her a shape more like a woman than a sack of potatoes.

We have another archived story for you this week:  “First Flight” by Mary Robinette Kowal.

Promo: Merciless Storytellers

[Time travel back to 1905 after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Fri, 16 Apr 2010 18:41:59 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tor-story-podcast-018-first-flightq-by-mary-robinette-kowal Tor Story Podcast 017 - “The Film-makers of Mars" by Geoff Ryman http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tor-story-podcast-017-the-film-makers-of-marsq-by-geoff-ryman

Remember the first time you saw Nosferatu, and the vampire looked like a crossbreed between a human and a rat? Well Santa’s Elves looked like little Nosferatus, only they were three feet high and deranged. One of them was licking a child’s doll between her legs. You could hear the whole audience go Ew!

Rat teeth stuck out; fingernails curled in lumps like fungus. One of them snarled at Santa, and the old guy cuffed it pretty smartly about its pointed ears, then knocked it to the ground and gave it two smart kicks to the groin.

Then the reel ended.

Amy looked at me, her face seesawing between wonder and disgust. “That was a children’s film?”

The festival director bounced up to a lectern, trying to look spry. He joked about the movie. “It was called The Secret Life of Santa Claus and I think that must be the first X-rated Santa feature.”

We have another archived story for you this week:  “The Film-makers of Mars” by Geoff Ryman.

[More movies after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:12:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tor-story-podcast-017-the-film-makers-of-marsq-by-geoff-ryman GGG#015: The Black Death! Archimedes! Counterfactuals! (Guest: Dan Carlin) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-15-the-black-death-archimedes-counterfactuals Dan Carlin, host of the Hardcore History podcast, joins us to discuss the history of the future, the origins of the centaur legend, and what the Black Death can teach us about postapocalyptic fiction. Dave and John get medieval on your assumptions about historical fantasy.

 

[No written record of the history of Geek's Guide to the Galaxy has ever been discovered. All that remains are these SHOW NOTES.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:00:11 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-15-the-black-death-archimedes-counterfactuals GGG#014: Fairies! Unicorns! Action Figures! (Guest: Holly Black) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-14-fairies-unicorns-action-figures Holly Black, author of The Spiderwick Chronicles, joins us to talk about the Spiderwick movie, graphic novels, and D&D. Dave and John blame evil internet fairies for any number of things, possibly including the loss of their childhood action figure collections.

 

[To keep the evil internet fairies at bay, read these SHOW NOTES aloud in the presence of the full moon.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:45:24 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-14-fairies-unicorns-action-figures Tor Story Podcast 016 - “Escape to Other Worlds with Science Fiction” by Jo Walton http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tor-story-podcast-016-qescape-to-other-worlds-with-science-fictionq-by-jo-walton

In the Papers (1)

NATIONAL GUARD MOVES AGAINST STRIKERS
In the seventh week of the mining strike in West Virginia, armed skirmishes and running “guerrilla battles” in the hills have led to the Governor calling in

GET AN ADVANCED DEGREE BY CORRESPONDENCE
You can reap the benefits with no need to leave the safety of your house or go among unruly college students! Only from

EX-PRESIDENT LINDBERGH REPROACHES MINERS

ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION
April issue on newsstands now! All new stories by Poul Anderson, Anson MacDonald and H. Beam Piper! Only 35 cents.

We have another archived story for you this week:  “Escape to Other Worlds With Science Fiction” by Jo Walton. We have some bonus content this week, Carla Ulbrich's song “Duet with a Klingon.”

Promo: The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd

[A little more coffee after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:32:06 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/04/tor-story-podcast-016-qescape-to-other-worlds-with-science-fictionq-by-jo-walton GGG#013: Horror! Academia! Our Deepest, Darkest Fears! (Guest: John Langan) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-13-horror-academia-our-deepest-darkest-fears John Langan, author of House of Windows, joins us for our horrifying thirteenth episode! Dave and John discuss scary, scary stuff, including CNN and grammar.

 

[Only kids are afraid of SHOW NOTES!]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:21:30 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-13-horror-academia-our-deepest-darkest-fears Tor.com Story Podcast 015 - “Errata” by Jeff VanderMeer http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/torcom-story-podcast-015-errata-by-jeff-vandermeer

Dear Jeremy: I am writing this sitting in the waterlogged lobby of a rotting, half-finished condominium complex. I am surrounded by cavorting freshwater seals and have two pearl-handled revolvers in my lap, a bottle of vodka in my right hand, a human body in the freezer in the kitchens behind me, and a rather large displaced rockhopper penguin staring me in the face. Upstairs, on the second floor, is the room I’ve made my headquarters. It has a bidet but no bath. The toilet seat refuses to stay up. The wallpaper has succumbed in places to a grainy black fungus, despite the moderate climate. I smell mold everywhere. (Would you believe fish have appeared in the lobby on occasion?) Sometimes the electricity works, but mostly I hope it doesn’t because I’m convinced that with all the water everywhere I’m likely to be electrocuted, perhaps even while I sleep.

We have another archived story for you this week:  “Errata” by Jeff VanderMeer.

[Letters and more after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:51:40 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/torcom-story-podcast-015-errata-by-jeff-vandermeer GGG#012: Hobbits! Balrogs! My Precious! (Guest: Corey Olsen) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-12-hobbits-balrogs-my-precious The Tolkien Professor, Corey Olsen, joins us to talk about Tolkien, Medieval literature, and whether Balrogs have wings. Stay with us after the interview when Dave and John discuss all things Hobbit.

 

[SHOW NOTES are highly visible to the Nazgûl, so read them with caution. When you’re done with them, please hurl them into the fires of Mount Doom.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:16:22 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-12-hobbits-balrogs-my-precious Tor.com Story Podcast 014 - “The Next Invasion” by Robert Reed http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/torcom-story-podcast-014-qthe-next-invasionq-by-robert-reed

The assistant is a thin, plain woman named Molly. She has big eyes and a tiny crooked mouth and an elegant, ill-suited nose that isn’t quite three years old. Tattoos of black anchors cover her body, each anchor dipped in blood. Her forearms are sprinkled with burn scars. What might have been a bullet hole forms a crease on her long neck. Everyone who knows Molly has a favorite story about her wild past, but even the true stories fail to capture the magnificent awfulness of her first thirty years. The last four have been better, if only by comparison. Her present employer is a difficult, arrogant man who loves making impossible requests, and while she hasn’t done her present job cheerfully or perfectly, she’s proven a neurotic capacity to try almost anything to make her boss smile.

We have two treats for you this week: a new story, “The Next Invasion” by Robert Reed, and an interview with short fiction editor Ellen Datlow about her upcoming anthology, Darkness.

Promo: The Empress Sword by Paulette Jaxton

[Hitchhikers ahead after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:51:56 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/torcom-story-podcast-014-qthe-next-invasionq-by-robert-reed Reading at the Speed of Sound Podcast, Episode 2: Audiobook Review of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/reading-at-the-speed-of-sound-podcast-episode-2-audiobook-review-of-alices-adventures-in-wonderland When Alice first followed that rabbit, I’ll bet she had no idea her story would be as popular today as it was back when it was first heard in 1862.  Because it was originally told by Charles Dodgson to three girls (including one named Alice) during a boating trip, what better way to experience it again today than by listening to the story? And although I’m sure Dodgson did a lovely job entertaining his young audience, I’m willing to bet he didn't sound quite as good as Michael York, the narrator for this audio production.

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Librarian by day, at night Susan is the audiobook reviews editor for SF Site. For more info about audiobooks, check out her site, AudiobookDJ.

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]]> Susan Dunman Published Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:18:39 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/reading-at-the-speed-of-sound-podcast-episode-2-audiobook-review-of-alices-adventures-in-wonderland GGG#011: Star Wars! Ewoks! The Almighty Sarlacc! (Guest: Alexandre Philippe) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-11-star-wars-ewoks-the-almighty-sarlacc The People vs. George Lucas director Alexandre Philippe joins us to talk about the film and the love/hate relationship between Star Wars fans and its creator. Dave and John discuss their opinions of all six films and the expanded universe.

 

[Now witness the firepower of these fully armed and operational SHOW NOTES!]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-11-star-wars-ewoks-the-almighty-sarlacc Tor.com Story Podcast 013 - “Eros, Philia, Agape” by Rachel Swirsky http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/torcom-story-podcast-013-eros-philia-agape-by-rachel-swirsky

Adriana shrugged. “They’re all beautiful, right?”

“We’ll need specifications.”

“I don’t have specifications.”

The salesman frowned anxiously. He shifted his weight as if it could help him regain his metaphorical footing. Adriana took pity. She dug through her purse.

“There,” she said, placing a snapshot of her father on one of the display tables. “Make it look nothing like him.”

This week’s story is from our archives, and it’s the questing love story “Eros, Philia, Agape” by Rachel Swirsky.

Promo: Harvey by Phil Rossi

[silent robots and heartbroken birds behind the cut.]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:47:08 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/torcom-story-podcast-013-eros-philia-agape-by-rachel-swirsky GGG#010: Space Battles! Giant Ants! Physics! (Guest: Tom Rogers) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-episode-10-space-battles-giant-ants-physics Tom Rogers, author of Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics, joins us to talk about exploding cars, battles in space, and the problem of scale in the insectoid world. Dave and John discuss how much science there should be in science fiction.

 

[These SHOW NOTES are IMPOSSIBLE, but we’re going to use them anyway.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:12:39 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-episode-10-space-battles-giant-ants-physics Tor.com Story Podcast 012 - “The Final Now” by Gregory Benford http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/torcom-story-podcast-012-the-final-now-by-gregory-benford

How long now, since the Beginning? He wondered. The question did not actually have deep meaning, He saw, because in the early stages space and time were so entwined, feeding each other. Duration did not endure, after all.

Still, the end of all this was sharp, clear. The accelerating expansion had calmed, died, and the great coolness descended. Time coiled now, in the final, languid waltz between space and time.

She nodded at the firmament around them, saying, “Let us have Others again.” —and brilliant acrid displays frothed, with ruby scents, soft gliding pleasures and deep bass rolls, all blending with the views. They swam in coasting galactic clusters, amid simmering amber stars, and worlds and variety beyond measure—or at least, measures that He and She now cared about. In the long past times, near the very start of all this, they had needed to be more careful. Not now.

This week we bring you a new story: “The Final Now” by Gregory Benford. Illustration by Rick Berry.

Promo: Trickster Moon Podcast

[Defining Eternity after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:18:26 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/torcom-story-podcast-012-the-final-now-by-gregory-benford GGG#009: Vampires! Werewolves! Unicorns! (Guest: Carrie Vaughn) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-9-vampires-werewolves-unicorns Carrie Vaughn, bestselling author of the best-selling Kitty Norville series, joins us to talk about werewolves, heroines, Wild Cards, and other things. Dave and John talk about some of their favorite werewolves and vampires.

 

[SHOW NOTES only come out during the full moon. READ MORE while you can!]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:00:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/03/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-9-vampires-werewolves-unicorns Tor.com Story Podcast 011: “Down on the Farm” by Charles Stross http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/torcom-story-podcast-11-down-on-the-farm-by-charles-stross

Down on the Farm, Illustration by Craig Phillips

Ah, the joy of summer: here in the south-east of England it’s the season of mosquitoes, sunburn, and water shortages. I’m a city boy, so you can add stifling pollution to the list as a million outwardly mobile families start their Chelsea tractors and race to their holiday camps. And that’s before we consider the hellish environs of the Tube (far more literally hellish than anyone realizes, unless they’ve looked at a Transport for London journey planner and recognized the recondite geometry underlying the superimposed sigils of the underground map).

This week we have a story from the archives: “Down on the Farm” by Charles Stross. Illustration by Craig Phillips.

Promo: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin

[Never volunteer to read more.]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:34:18 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/torcom-story-podcast-11-down-on-the-farm-by-charles-stross Podcast: I Speak Fluent Giraffe: Henngar the Hungry http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-henngar-the-hungry

“Fool’s son of a whore’s leper bitch-dog!” scoffed Henngar. “Why this very morning, as the sun asked me for permission to rise, I heard no less esteemed and veracious a man as Matt Lauer proclaim for all the world to hear that the recession comes to a halt, though for no real reason!”

This week’s I Speak Fluent Giraffe sends a warning to all mall food courts: Henngar the Hungry.

[MATT LAUER SPEAKS! After the cut, of course...]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:07:02 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-henngar-the-hungry GGG#008: Magic! Medicine! Fantic Episy! (Guest: Blake Charlton) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-8-episode-8-magic-medicine-fantic-episy Blake Charlton, author of Spellwright, joins us to talk about fantasy, dyslexia, and medical school. Dave and John discuss magic and medicine in fiction.

[Can’t remember that how to spell that spell you wanted to cast? The incantation is in the SHOW NOTES.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-8-episode-8-magic-medicine-fantic-episy Tor.com Story Podcast 010: “Tourists” by Sean Craven http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/torcom-story-podcast-010-qtouristsq-by-sean-craven

They pushed me out of the portal, dumped me into the sage and manzanita. The great orb’s pastel colors glowed against the clear night sky. As I backed away she rocked, then lifted into the air, the only sounds a scrape and rattle as dirt and pebbles rolled into the hollow she’d left. I saw the sparkle of distant flashbulbs from the perimeter of the landing site, like stars on waves.

I wondered if it was my fault the aliens had stolen my grandmother.

This week we bring you a new story: “Tourists” by Sean Craven. Illustration by Goni Montes.

Promo: The Immortals by Tracy Hickman

[We hate the tourists but we love their money after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:03:25 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/torcom-story-podcast-010-qtouristsq-by-sean-craven Podcast: I Speak Fluent Giraffe: Gaul Deluxe Anti-Free Pairs http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-gaul-deluxe-anti-free-pairs

One ponce the clock comen to the bearhouse a girl all shimsy in the sparkle-locks. Slim of centerpiece, and not much ticking in the crain, she went a bit woodsy-where-am, not gnosting whence or thence, rift or light, soulther or narwhal. Sun shim nighty-mode, and the fordarkest. Creekle in the leavings, shadow jumpen and the frime darken and unwen.

Poor losty sparklehead.

This week’s I Speak Fluent Giraffe tells us a familiar story in a somewhat different tone. Gaul Deluxe Anti-Free Pairs.

[But hopes! After the cut!]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:18:57 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-gaul-deluxe-anti-free-pairs GGG#007: Escape Pod! Audio Fiction! Unabridged! (Guest: Steve Eley) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-7-fiction-podcasts-audiobooks-short-stories Steve Eley—editor of Escape Pod, the internet’s most popular science fiction podcast—stops by this week and we discuss the very promising future of audio fiction.

 

[You won’t  BELIEVE how awesome these SHOW NOTES are! Click through!]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-7-fiction-podcasts-audiobooks-short-stories Tor.com Story Podcast 009: “The City Quiet as Death” By Steven Utley and Michael Bishop http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/torcom-story-podcast-009-qthe-city-quiet-as-deathq-by-steven-utley-and-michael-bishop Illustration by Jon Foster

This week we offer you a story from the archives, “The City Quiet as Death” By Steven Utley and Michael Bishop.

Promo:  Beware the Hairy Mango

[Shhhh after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:21:32 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/torcom-story-podcast-009-qthe-city-quiet-as-deathq-by-steven-utley-and-michael-bishop Reading at the Speed of Sound Podcast, Episode 1: Audiobook Review of The Sword-Edged Blonde http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/reading-at-the-speed-of-sound-podcast-episode-1-audiobook-review-of-the-sword-edged-blonde

Imagine  Sam Spade in a medieval fantasy, decked out in tunic and broadsword. That incarnation would be a dead ringer for Eddie LaCrosse, the no-nonsense detective who tells this genre-bending tale with a cool confidence that would make any Private Investigator proud, no matter the time or place. Clips from the audiobook help give you an idea of how the production actually sounds. Give it a listen!

____________________________________________________________

Librarian by day, at night Susan is the audiobook reviews editor for SF Site. For more info about audiobooks, check out her site at AudiobookDJ.

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]]> Susan Dunman Published Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:21:07 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/reading-at-the-speed-of-sound-podcast-episode-1-audiobook-review-of-the-sword-edged-blonde Podcast: I Speak Fluent Giraffe: Shpydah! http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-shpydah

A spider landed on my shoulder this morning. A great gruesome Shelob tarantuloid terrorclump, prodding and full of schemes and dastardly encreepment. Legs like wicked celery stalks, body akin to a water balloon of malice. I could hear its ichorous mandibulae chittering clicky-wet. A panic filled me, a panic one generally reserves for massacres or George Hamilton films.

This week’s I Speak Fluent Giraffe dabbles in the arachnid communication arts. Shpydah!

[Shpydah says “Pah!” after the cut.]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:38:07 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-shpydah GGG#006: Steampunk! Sherlock Holmes! Eschatology! (Guest: Cherie Priest) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-6-steampunk-religion-sherlock-holmes Cherie Priest—Steampunk aficionado, amateur theologian, and author of Boneshaker—joins us as our guest this week. We explain what Steampunk is, why it’s cool, and where you can check it out.

 

[Crank up your analytical engine and click through for SHOW NOTES...]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-6-steampunk-religion-sherlock-holmes Podcast: I Speak Fluent Giraffe: Triage of Porks http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-triage-of-porks I Speak Fluent Giraffe: A Traige of Porks

The sun slid down the sky, leaving behind it a grand and flammable slickment of colour (or, to give the British spelling, coulououour) like unto that trailing a blood orange snail. Thence, scenting the breeze and finding an even-toed ungulate within it, the Canid of Enormous Malevolence decided to sup of its source. “Growl, indeed!” spake he. “Veritable threat, via glottal auditory!”

This week’s I Speak Fluent Giraffe is that cautionary tale with a hard, brick-like moral, Triage of Porks.

[Taste the goodness of the bacony variety after the cut...]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:09:45 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-triage-of-porks Tor.com Story Podcast 008: “Vilcabamba” by Harry Turtledove http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/torcom-story-podcast-008-qvicabambaq-by-harry-turtledove

This week we offer you a new story, a tale of weighing risks and taking stands: “Vilcabamba,” by Harry Turtledove. 

Promo: Adventures in SciFi Publishing

[Chew some snarfar and join us after the cut.]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:16:53 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/torcom-story-podcast-008-qvicabambaq-by-harry-turtledove GGG#005: Crystal Skulls! Alien Abductions! Bigfootology! (Guest: Brian Dunning) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-5-crystal-skulls-alien-abductions-bigfootology Brian Dunning of Skeptoid joins us as our guest this week. The Skeptoid podcast is one of the most popular science podcasts around, with over 50,000 listeners. Brian joins us to discuss critical thinking and its application in everything from alien abductions to medicine in the movies. Dave and John apply a little critical thinking of their own.

 

[Don’t believe in SHOW NOTES? Click through and the truth will be revealed!]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:19:43 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/02/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-5-crystal-skulls-alien-abductions-bigfootology Podcast: I Speak Fluent Giraffe: The Love Song of S. Alvadore Dali http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-the-love-song-of-s-alvadore-dali

I grow surreal. . .I grow surreal,
I shall paint Shirley Temple on a glockenspiel.

In order to catch up to our normal recording of I Speak Fluent Giraffe, today we’re posting the audio for ISFG from last week, The Love Song of S. Alvadore Dali.

[Coffee cups and melting clocks behind the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:28:53 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/podcast-i-speak-fluent-giraffe-the-love-song-of-s-alvadore-dali Tor.com Story Podcast 007: “Catch 'Em in the Act” by Terry Bisson http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/torcom-story-podcast-007-catch-em-in-the-act-by-terry-bisson

Another story from the archives this week: Catch ’Em in the Act by Terry Bisson!

[Crime videos after the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:56:14 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/torcom-story-podcast-007-catch-em-in-the-act-by-terry-bisson Podcast: I Speak Fluent Giraffe: Planet Earse http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/podcast-how-to-speak-fluent-giraffe-planet-earse

What a fine day, ladies and, perhaps, gentlemen of the Earth. A superlative day for a story, I’ll be bound. No, fear not, it’s not a binding sort of story. Uncover your eyes. There now; brace up. I meant it only as a declarative colloquialism. There’s a brave little corn flake.

We’re now bringing Jason Henninger’s surreal goodness to podcast form every Monday! We start with yesterday’s piece, Planet Earse.

[Brave little corn flakes after the cut.]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:06:24 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/podcast-how-to-speak-fluent-giraffe-planet-earse GGG#004: Superheroes! Romance! Sea Monsters! (Guest: Marjorie M. Liu) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-4-comics-romance-mermen Marjorie M. Liu—writer of comics NYX and Dark Wolverine (Marvel) and author of the novels in the Dirk and Steele and Hunter Kiss series—is our guest this week. She tells us about attending Clarion and writing for Marvel, and Dave and John discuss comics, then and now.

 

[For the super-amazing and fabulous SHOW NOTES, click through!]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:58:10 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-4-comics-romance-mermen Tor.com Story Podcast 006: “The Cat Who Walked A Thousand Miles” by Kij Johnson http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/torcom-story-podcast-006-qthe-cat-who-walked-a-thousand-milesq-by-kij-johnson

This week's story is from our archive, the story “The Cat Who Walked A Thousand Miles,” by Kij Johnson. Read the story here.

Promo: Audio Market List

[Cats and stories after the cut...]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:31:16 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/torcom-story-podcast-006-qthe-cat-who-walked-a-thousand-milesq-by-kij-johnson GGG#003: Robots! War Machines! Robolobsters! (Guest: P. W. Singer) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-3-robots-in-science-fiction-a-science-fact P.W. Singer, author of Wired for War, joins us this week to talk about the subject of robots in the military and the intersection between video games and war. John and Dave consider some of the science fiction works that influenced the development of robots as we know them.

 

[Show Notes after the jump.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:50:02 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-3-robots-in-science-fiction-a-science-fact Tor.com Story Podcast 005 - "The Starship Mechanic" and "Looking For Truth In the Wild Blue Yonder" by Ken Scholes and Jay Lake http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/torcom-story-podcast-005-qthe-starship-mechanicq-and-qlooking-for-truth-in-the-wild-blue-yonderq-by-ken-scholes-and-jay-lake

This week we bring you two stories from the minds of Jay Lake and Ken Scholes: “The Starship Mechanic” and “Looking for Truth in a Wild Blue Yonder.” You can see the story of how these stories happened on this post by Shannon Page.

[More audio x2]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:11:19 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/torcom-story-podcast-005-qthe-starship-mechanicq-and-qlooking-for-truth-in-the-wild-blue-yonderq-by-ken-scholes-and-jay-lake GGG#002: Dystopias! Global Warming! Thailand! (Guest: Paolo Bacigalupi) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-2-bacigalupilooza Paolo Bacigalupi, author of the critically-acclaimed The Windup Girl (which was named one of Time Magazine’s top ten novels of the year) joins us this week to talk about global warming, the horrors of travel, the current state of literature for boys, and his own forthcoming YA novel, Ship Breaker. John and Dave discuss their own experiences with literature when they were growing up, and how they became science fiction fans.

  

[Show Notes after the jump.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:26:31 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-podcast-episode-2-bacigalupilooza Tor.com Story Podcast 004 - “Bugs in the Arroyo” by Steven Gould http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/torcom-story-podcast-004-bugs-in-the-arroyo-by-steven-gould Bugs in the Arroyo by Steven Gould

This week we bring a story to you from our archives: “Bugs in the Arroyo” by Steven Gould. Gould blogs at Eat Our Brains. Read the story here.

Promo: Nina Kimberly the Merciless by Christiana Ellis

[Bugs! Bugs! More bugs after the cut!]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:54:08 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/torcom-story-podcast-004-bugs-in-the-arroyo-by-steven-gould GGG#001: Zombies! Video Games! The End of the World! (Guest: Chet Faliszek) http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-episode-1-zombies-video-games-and-the-end-of-the-world Left 4 Dead 2 lead writer Chet Faliszek is the featured interview guest on the premiere episode of The Geek's Guide to the Galaxy a new podcast talk show here on Tor.com. In this episode, your hosts John Joseph Adams and David Barr Kirtley take on zombies and the apocalypse in video games, popular culture, and literature. They discuss Valve Software's history of story-focused games and talk to Chet about zombies and video games and contingency plans, then discuss their own strategies for surviving the coming zombie apocalypse, and give their opinions of Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

  

[Show Notes after the jump.]

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]]> John Joseph Adams Published Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:35:06 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/01/the-geeks-guide-to-the-galaxy-episode-1-zombies-video-games-and-the-end-of-the-world Tor.com Story Podcast 003 - “Farewell Performance" by Nick Mamatas http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/12/torcom-story-podcast-003-farewell-performanceq-by-nick-mamatas Farewell Performance

Our final story for 2009 will be another new one, the Lovecraftian-themed “Farewell Performance” by Nick Mamatas. Read the original story here. Have a safe and happy new year, and we’ll see you again on Jan. 5!

[Audio beyond the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:00:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/12/torcom-story-podcast-003-farewell-performanceq-by-nick-mamatas Tor.com Story Podcast 002 - “Overtime” by Charles Stross http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/12/torcom-story-podcast-002-overtime-by-charles-stross Overtime by Charles Stross

Happy holidays! For your Christmas treat, we bring you Charles Stross’ “Overtime,” and don’t forget to check the rest of the blog for more news and discussions. Read the  story here.

[Audio and show notes beyond the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:00:00 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/12/torcom-story-podcast-002-overtime-by-charles-stross Tor.com Story Podcast 001 - “After the Coup” by John Scalzi http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/12/torcom-story-podcast-001-after-the-coup-by-john-scalzi After the Coup, by John Scalzi

For over a year, Tor.com has brought you excellent short fiction on our site, but now we’re making the audio of these stories available to you in podcast form. We’ll be bringing you both new fiction and our archived stories, so don’t worry if you’ve missed anything archived on the site. The podcast will also include mention of the recent topics on the Tor.com blog, convention reports, and interviews from time to time. We hope you enjoy it and we welcome your comments.

We’re starting out with one of our classics, John Scalzi’s “After the Coup.” Read the original story here.

[Podcast beyond the cut]

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]]> Mur Lafferty Published Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:47:56 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/12/torcom-story-podcast-001-after-the-coup-by-john-scalzi Interview with Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/09/zombieland-director-interview Though I am not allowed to give a full review yet I can safely say to you that Zombieland freakin’ rocks! This Zom-com is directed by Washington, D.C. native Ruben Fleischer and is about a post-apocalyptic zombie world starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin.  Fleischer began his career as an assistant to Miguel Arteta on Chuck & Buck and The Good Girl. From there he spent two years making a slew of low-budget music videos, short films, and other experiments and in his own words put himself embarrassingly deep into credit card debt. Eventually he got signed to a production company where he was able to direct commercials and bigger budget music videos. Ruben got his big break when he met Rob & Big Black, with whom he created and developed Rob & Big, which became a hit reality television show on MTV for three successful seasons. Zombieland is Rubens’ first feature film.

[Read more...]

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]]> mike sargent Published Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:59:27 +0000 http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/09/zombieland-director-interview