Escape Artists
PodCastle => Episode Comments => Topic started by: Rachel Swirsky on April 01, 2008, 04:25:12 AM
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PodCastle Episode 1: "Come Lady Death" (http://podcastle.org/2008/04/01/pc001-come-lady-death/)
By Peter Beagle (http://www.peterbeagle.com/).
Read by Paul S. Jenkins (of The Rev Up Review (http://revupreview.co.uk/)).
Introduction by Ann Leckie (http://www.annleckie.com/).
First appeared in The Atlantic Monthly (http://www.theatlantic.com/), 1963.
But in time her own parties began to bore her, and though she invited the most famous people in the land and hired the greatest jugglers and acrobats and dancers and magicians to entertain them, still she found her parties duller and duller. Listening to court gossip, which she had always loved, made her yawn. The most marvelous music, the most exciting feats of magic put her to sleep. Watching a beautiful young couple dance by her made her feel sad, and she hated to feel sad.
And so, one summer afternoon she called her closest friends around her and said to them, “More and more I find that my parties entertain everyone but me. The secret of my long life is that nothing has ever been dull for me. For all my life, I have been interested in everything I saw and been anxious to see more. But I cannot stand to be bored, and I will not go to parties at which I expect to be bored, especially if they are my own. Therefore, to my next ball I shall invite the one guest I am sure no one, not even myself, could possibly find boring. My friends, the guest of honor at my next party shall be Death himself!”
Rated PG. Contains…well, Death.
(http://pseudopod.org/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/audio_mp3_button.png)
Listen to this week's Pod Castle! (http://media.rawvoice.com/podcastle/media.libsyn.com/media/podcastle/PC001_ComeLadyDeath.mp3)
Edited by Heradel to add links/standardize formatting.
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christmas came early! 11:55 and downloading now
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Well, it's either only about a 1/12th a Duke Nukem Forever (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Nukem_Forever) late or a very elaborate and cruel joke.
Also, while not discounting American Indian Fantasy as a subgenre, the music kinda sets up a very different story than one set in old society London. I like it, and it may just be that since it's the first time it's really sticking out instead of fading into the background, but I was expecting something about Thunderbirds than the myriad aspects of Death and the petty cruelty/sociopathy of old aristocrats.
The story reminded me of Sandman in the middle (I realize it predates it), and Poe at the near-end and Sandman again towards the very end. If anyone wants the text, Scifi has it (http://www.scifi.com/scifiction/classics/classics_archive/beagle/beagle1.html).
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A winner first time out. Congratulations. I normally listen to podcasts once and delete them. If there it was a really good story I may decide to keep it. On average I save less then 10% of EP episodes. This one is a keeper.
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Wow, what a great start! I had high expectations from the Podcastle launch, and they were entirely met by this great story.
One production comment: the music in the intro and outro was too loud, and Ann too quiet; I found it hard to understand everything she said, especially once the singing came on in the background. I think the balance should be changed in future episodes.
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I fully enjoyed the story, but then, this was apparently a classic, and if a good number of people don't like or appreciate it, it never reaches that status.
An excellent choice for reader. When he communicated the snarky parts, he had a touch of the Izzard about him. Enjoyable.
Ann's intro seemed to be a little too "I'm reading something I wrote beforehand; could you tell?" I know that's kind of nitpicky, and this IS the first show, so I'm sure it'll get better.
Interested now in hearing more current fantasy, to see how much change the genre has undergone since my last foray into short fantasy (early 00s).
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This was excellent....totally worth the wait.
I'm definitely looking forward to more from you guys.
Well done!
Michael
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Quite enjoyable. Looking forward to more. :)
For the interested, Mr. Beagle is a guest at I-Con in Stony Brook, Long Island this weekend.
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We're off to a great start. I'd be interested to know how the musical version works and whether it's vastly different, I can see it as being quite good in the Phantom/Les Mis/Lloyd-Webber mould but the introduction suggested it was aiming for something less populist.
But seeing as the Hostess was bored with her life, does this mean that becoming the new Death was supposed to be seen as a punishment? That's the sort of power you've got to hope comes with an instruction manual...
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Very nice, I quite enjoyed it. Fantasy is indeed such a very large realm, I'm glad you started with something classic but not "swords and sorcery". I mean, sure - I'd like to see some sword swinging at some point, but there's so much more to fantasy than elves and wizards in pointy hats. Lets keep that stuff as the exception rather than the rule. I do however require the occasional dragon. Any chance of a new Squonk story?
Okay, Lady Death. Excellent reading. I loved all the speculation beforehand about what Death was really like - and the sense of how removed these people really were from death - and by implication, life. I also loved the image of the military Captain being the only one willing to dance with death, while everyone else pretends not to be afraid.
I do wonder if Neil Gaiman took inspiration for his version of death from this story. Nothing wrong with that of course - artists build off each other. And Neil did such wonderful things with his beautiful goth-girl death. "You get what everyone gets. You get a lifetime."
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I don't really see much comparison between this Death and Neil Gaiman's death, myself. This death even seems a little malicious; Gaiman's death is a more sympathetic figure, but still all business. She's one collected chick; and certainly doesn't seem like the type, unlike this death, to be seeking/needing acceptance from others.
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"Any chance of a new Squonk story?"
Those will continue to be run in Escape Pod.
Our first dragon will bare its fangs next week.
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I don't really see much comparison between this Death and Neil Gaiman's death, myself. This death even seems a little malicious; Gaiman's death is a more sympathetic figure, but still all business. She's one collected chick; and certainly doesn't seem like the type, unlike this death, to be seeking/needing acceptance from others.
Well, the one big difference is that Gaiman's Death is constant — Always a young woman, always on the stylish side, sometimes rebellious. I can't remember her changing depending on who she's seeing like this Death does. Gaiman's death changes with the times like Morpheus does, but not to the same extent, thus her not being reborn like Morpheus. I guess this one might, but we don't really see her enough, and it's also apparently more of a job than a birthright.
My favorite Death's still Pratchett's.
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Here's a review of the opera--
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7DB1039F937A25755C0A965958260
It premiered almost literally down the street from where I'm sitting. I've never heard it, though, so I can't really tell you very much about it.
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congrats on the launch, good choice for the first story.
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An excellent story that captures the mores and feeling of a different time -a very real time- and mingles it with a fantasy tale about the nature of death! How does it get any better than this? Hard to say... But I'm sure we'll see the folk at Pod Castle doing their best to succeed!
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Great episode. I think I just found my favorite fantasy story as well as my favorite fantasy podcast.
I really like how Death was a position that was passed on, kind of like a Dead Like Me type of thing. Really cool. I also found it interesting how Mr. Beagle portrayed Death as a woman, something I have never heard/seen before. A great twist on an old bit of legend. What was the best for me though was that it made me want to write, something that very few stories are able to do for me.
Thanks PC crew and Mr. Beagle!
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Great I really like how Death was a position that was passed on, kind of like a Dead Like Me type of thing. Really cool. I also found it interesting how Mr. Beagle portrayed Death as a woman, something I have never heard/seen before. A great twist on an old bit of legend. What was the best for me though was that it made me want to write, something that very few stories are able to do for me.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/02/Death.jpg) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sandman_%28Vertigo%29) ?
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Well. That was a wonderful story for a first (or any) episode. It was nice to hear Paul Jenkins reading again (having enjoyed The Plitone Revisionist).
What I liked was that nothing really fantastic actually happened. No sorcery (that can be proven from the evidence), no pointy ears, nobody turned into a newt. A beautiful young lady shows up unescorted to a party and charms everybody. If anything, her role is similar to a mundane celebrity that everybody is too shy to approach and treat as just another person.
Okay, she was able to remember everybody's name. That's a magic trick I have yet to master.
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So great to hear this getting underway. I have to admit, when I first heart that they were spinning off a fantasy podcast (oh so loooong ago) my expectations were mixed. I must admit that while I consider myself a fan of speculative fiction in general, a lot of fantasy, and that which most readily and vocally embraces the name "fantasy," just rubs me the wrong way. Before I start sounding like a total snob, I totally get that there is just as much that is formulaic and tired in science fiction as there is in fantasy. But I guess I can stand a million pikers trying to be Heinlein or Azimov, because I like Heinlein and Azimov. A million Tolkiens? One was too many, in my book.
EA has done a good job publicizing PC, and I was happy when I heard Eley describe the variety of styles PC is planning to address. This first installment has me quite confident that this promise was a good one. Not to say that there's no good sword-and-sorcery out there -- espescially if you count Earthsea as S+S -- but if I felt like this was going to be elves-dwarves-goblins-cast I would probably not subscribe.
I guess that's a long-winded, self-important way of saying YES great story choice, great reading, great production, excited to hear more.
On the nuts-and-bolts side, is this going to be a Tuesday thing going forward? No complaints if it is; it'll be kinda nice to spread out my podcast week, turn my current "Wednesday-Drabblecast Thursday-Escape/Pseudo" into a three-day orgy of midweek fiction.
Ooh, include "Monday-Selected Shorts" in that equation, and it's four!
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I just have to comment that after six months of waiting and finally seeing the story come up in the feed, I was very excited. And then, disaster struck! My stupid iPod Classic would. not. sync. This happens sometimes. No matter what I do, no matter what contortions I try, no matter how many times I disconnect, reboot, reconnect, beg, plead, threaten, and sacrifice virgins to the silicon gods of Apple, I cannot get it to sync. And I had to leave for work!
I had to wait a whole day.
Torture! :)
Luckily (for my blood pressure), it sync'd instantly this morning and I'll get to listen to it on my commute home. Yay!
If I were a suspicious person, I'd think maybe someone at iTunes was having a nice little April Fool's Joke on me. <shifty, narrow-eyed glances around the vicinity>
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Great way to start the podcast. I suppose it's easy to get a good first story if you've got such a long time to choose one. ;)
Excellent reading, too: I've been a bit lukewarm on some of Paul S Jenkins's readings for EscapePod, but I thought he did a fantastic job with this.
For a 45-year-old story it's aged very well. A lot of that can be attributed to the "timeless" fairy-tale style, but there's a playfulness to it that feels very fresh. Speaking of fairy tales, I expected things to go much worse for the aristos when Death asked them if they were all really, really sure that they wanted her to stay around: when fairy-tale characters ask that kind of loaded question, I run a mile.
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Great story, great start. Paul's delivery was delicious to listen - so dry, and there was a sexy bass drop in his voice right at the start that made me go "ohhh".
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Wonderful way to end my day: listening to a good story on the way home from an annoying day at work.
And I hate to be the first one to bring this up, but bring it up I must! I wonder which came first, this story or Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series? :) Not that I'm saying either is derivative of the other. They're both fine stories with skin-deep similarities on the nature of Death as an office instead of an entity.
I also kept flashing back to Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," and was sort of expecting things to take a turn into that sort of macabre.
Nice toe-wetting. I look forward to the plunge into the deep end. :)
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Wonderful way to end my day: listening to a good story on the way home from an annoying day at work.
And I hate to be the first one to bring this up, but bring it up I must! I wonder which came first, this story or Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series? :)
That's easy to answer. This story was first published in 1963. "On a pale horse" was first published in 1983.
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What everyone else says, basically - so glad you're up and running, and ohhhhhh what a lovely start. The story was amazing, as well as the delivery. It quite reminded me of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, for obvious reasons like the setting, but also for the typically nonchalant treatment of the supernatural or higher powers as something just like us, that is expected to follow the same rules, laws and procedures as the rest of us. Lovely!
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Great start. Perfect choice for narrator. Looking forward to more good stuff.
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Speaking of fairy tales, I expected things to go much worse for the aristos when Death asked them if they were all really, really sure that they wanted her to stay around: when fairy-tale characters ask that kind of loaded question, I run a mile.
Heh. Me, too. Having never read this before, I was totally expecting it to devolve into a Masque of the Red Death scenario, because they all seemed so cruel, especially with their attitude to the poor and sick.
I did also wonder if Gaiman took at least some inspiration for his Death from this story. The two are very different of course, but they're both portrayed as young, beautiful girls -- not at all the perception of death we're used to imagining.
Great premiere episode. I'm really excited to hear what's in store for us!
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Excellent first episode.
Solid story choice, and great narration.
One suggestion: perhaps the intro and outro could be delivered a little closer to the mic? I see that it has been commented that the speech was too soft in comparison to the background music, and I wonder whether it was too soft, or didn't cut through the mix enough due to attenuation of mid frequencies. I have no idea what equipment you are using, but this could be due to mic placement.
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I loved the story! Written so beautifully. And wonderfully read. I would have so totally danced with hot death. Thank you!
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I realized that I have not read much of Mr.Beagle's work and I went to Amazon to see what was available. I found a couple of titles and linked to them for the rest of you. If I am missing some must reads, let me know.
The Line Between (Paperback) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1892391368/escapepod-20)
The Rhinoceros Who Quoted Nietzsche and Other Odd Acquaintances (Paperback) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1892391090/escapepod-20)
The Fantasy Worlds of Peter S. Beagle (Paperback) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345289676/escapepod-20)
The Last Unicorn: (40th Anniversary Edition) (Paperback) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451450523/escapepod-20)
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I realized that I have not read much of Mr.Beagle's work and I went to Amazon to see what was available. I found a couple of titles and linked to them for the rest of you. If I am missing some must reads, let me know.
If you enjoy low-key, very human fantasy, "A fine & private place" (http://www.amazon.com/Fine-Private-Place-Peter-Beagle/dp/0451450965) is well worth checking out.
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I did also wonder if Gaiman took at least some inspiration for his Death from this story. The two are very different of course, but they're both portrayed as young, beautiful girls -- not at all the perception of death we're used to imagining.
Neil,Thanks for the heads up about the Peter S. Beagle book. I too stumbled onto him as a child, wandering around Lake Tahoe on a vacation with my parents. In a small, quaint, they-don't-make-em'-like-that-anymore bookstore I came across "The Fantasy Worlds of Peter S. Beagle. It not only turned me into a serious reader for life, it made me want to be a writer as well.Beagle is one of those writers who escapes your memory when asked "who are your influences?", but immediatly brings a smile to your face when someone else brings him up. Thanks again for the info, and the smile.-Steve Gomez
That was exactly my thought. I almost never mention Beagle in a list of influences, but I know that Matthew the Raven was a descendant of the raven in A Fine and Private Place, and that the Death in "Come, Lady Death" was definitely somewhere in the back of my mind when I decided that Death had to be a girl...
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hmmm, i feel so out of place and isolated, but i didnt like the theme music....
the story was great though and i enjoyed the perspective, and the story that came from it
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I did also wonder if Gaiman took at least some inspiration for his Death from this story. The two are very different of course, but they're both portrayed as young, beautiful girls -- not at all the perception of death we're used to imagining.
Neil,Thanks for the heads up about the Peter S. Beagle book. I too stumbled onto him as a child, wandering around Lake Tahoe on a vacation with my parents. In a small, quaint, they-don't-make-em'-like-that-anymore bookstore I came across "The Fantasy Worlds of Peter S. Beagle. It not only turned me into a serious reader for life, it made me want to be a writer as well.Beagle is one of those writers who escapes your memory when asked "who are your influences?", but immediatly brings a smile to your face when someone else brings him up. Thanks again for the info, and the smile.-Steve Gomez
That was exactly my thought. I almost never mention Beagle in a list of influences, but I know that Matthew the Raven was a descendant of the raven in A Fine and Private Place, and that the Death in "Come, Lady Death" was definitely somewhere in the back of my mind when I decided that Death had to be a girl...
Ah, thanks! You're a gentleman and a scholar!
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What a great story to start with! The narration was phenomenal as well. I hope to hear much more of him!
I liked the story in general and it was the elitist attitudes that kept me engaged. I was waiting for them to receive their "just dues," which sadly, never came. Maybe on pseudopod they would have.
The death premise seemed reminiscent of 'On a Pale Horse' but that could just be me.
Can't wait for more!
Jim
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The death premise seemed reminiscent of 'On a Pale Horse' but that could just be me.
Probably not, since someone else mentioned it above. I think it's pretty likely that "On a pale horse" was influenced directly by this story.
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I was going to come and add to the "hooray/great story/glad you've launched" sentiment.
Then I thought I'd be waggish and cobble together a big fake "I hated this story/it's not real fantasy", just to be funny.
Then I thought, no... that would be mean. And you guys did too good a job for even fake snark. So I'm settling for a "thanks for the hard work that obviously went into this" and looking forward to the next few weeks!
Cheers,
Tad
Edit: fixed quotation marks
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What an amazing story. Great choice for the PC debut, and wonderfully read!
Congratulations Pod Castle!
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Once I stopped having the mental picture of the Death of the Discworld out of my mind when the story got to the point where death showed up, I was able to get into it better. Having listened to at least 5 Discworld books in just a few days, I had it imprinted in my mind.
I think I will quite enjoy PodCastle. I've never been a huge fantasy fan, though Tolkien has always been enjoyed, I am glad to be able to hear more. I listen to podcasts all day at work, so variety is great! I'll soon catch up in the archives, so I'll need more sources to keep a full plate of ear food.
Going back to my first point, I think listening to other possibilities can really expand the way we think, because we can easilly get set in a way, and even something that is not reality can change how we view reality.
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Once I stopped having the mental picture of the Death of the Discworld out of my mind when the story got to the point where death showed up, I was able to get into it better. Having listened to at least 5 Discworld books in just a few days, I had it imprinted in my mind.
[off topic]
Which ones? The ones read by Nigel Planer? I've heard Hogfather, Guards! Guards! and I think one more (and of course the three Tiffany Aching books and The Amazing Maurice read by Stephen Briggs) ... I've got all the audios unabridged except Small Gods ... have the Tony Robinson reading of that.
[/off topic]
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Once I stopped having the mental picture of the Death of the Discworld out of my mind when the story got to the point where death showed up, I was able to get into it better. Having listened to at least 5 Discworld books in just a few days, I had it imprinted in my mind.
[off topic]
Which ones? The ones read by Nigel Planer? I've heard Hogfather, Guards! Guards! and I think one more (and of course the three Tiffany Aching books and The Amazing Maurice read by Stephen Briggs) ... I've got all the audios unabridged except Small Gods ... have the Tony Robinson reading of that.
[/off topic]
How do they deal with the footnotes?
If this goes too far/long, I'll split it into a different thread.
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Well worth the wait!
Wouldn't you know that my i-pod went through the wash the day before this came out? For the second time this year? [Takes a day or two to dry out - but it still works like new, and is so much cleaner! ::)]
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Once I stopped having the mental picture of the Death of the Discworld out of my mind when the story got to the point where death showed up, I was able to get into it better. Having listened to at least 5 Discworld books in just a few days, I had it imprinted in my mind.
[off topic]
Which ones? The ones read by Nigel Planer? I've heard Hogfather, Guards! Guards! and I think one more (and of course the three Tiffany Aching books and The Amazing Maurice read by Stephen Briggs) ... I've got all the audios unabridged except Small Gods ... have the Tony Robinson reading of that.
[/off topic]
How do they deal with the footnotes?
If this goes too far/long, I'll split it into a different thread.
In order, up to Wyrd Sisters, which I am on, but need to finish listening too. I was getting burned out on em {:0p Nigel Planer, yes, other than the ones read by a woman whose name escapes me.
Footnotes are read with an echo.
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Great story, reading, and well, everything!
Being somewhat underread in the fantasy genre I didn't pick up on any of the influences behind this story. I was wondering if everyone ate the salmon mousse, though.
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I loved the story, and am now kicking myself for not having discovered the author before now. I will admit I’m not a fan of the theme music though. This surprised me since pseudopod and escape pod have music which fits them perfectly.
I too am a huge fan of the Pratchett books on audio. Not only do I get to listen while I’m moving about, but I can actually get my husband to expierence the foolishness and satire that is Pratchett. I love Stephen Brigg’s reading of the Tiffany Aching series, his Nac Mac Feegle voices are fantastic.
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It quite reminded me of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
Exactly the comparison I was going to use. I liked it, but I didn't love it. I was waiting for a twist or a more sublime or dramatic presentation of the message that "life is worth appreciating." It just seemed to lack the punch that I thought it should have had. The potential was there, but it just didn't deliver, for me. The style and tone were beautiful, and I did like the story, I just didn't love it. I'm very excited about what's to come, though!
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That was a fabulous beginning. I haven't heard of the author before, but will probably be looking him up in the near future. I was impressed by his ability to avoid turning it into just another "supernatural being takes revenge on heartless rich people" story and go for real subtlety and nuance.
I didn't sense the hostess becoming Death as being so much a punishment as simply the logical outcome of where her choices thus far have taken her. I think she might actually enjoy the job, once she finds her bearings...
If this is what we have to look forward to, I'm looking forward to more Podcastle.
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Great way to start out!
I really like the theme music... what is it/who is it by?
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Great way to start out!
I really like the theme music... what is it/who is it by?
It's by Shiva in Exile.
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/shiva-ethnic/
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There were many interesting ideas here and i really liked the first half, after that it just seemed to dra out a little, could have done with maybe 5 minutes cut out there
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There were many interesting ideas here and i really liked the first half, after that it just seemed to dra out a little, could have done with maybe 5 minutes cut out there
Really?
I though it was pretty well timed. Where do you think it was drawn on too long?
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Just wondering--did Peter S. Beagle himself submit this story to PodCastle?
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I'm fairly certain that Our Esteemed Editor occasionally goes out to solicit stories he likes.
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It's my understanding that Peter Beagle and his business manager approached Steve.
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It's my understanding that Peter Beagle and his business manager approached Steve.
Steve's said in the past that authors have come to him after getting letters from fans telling them to go to Steve, so if you want something in EP/PP/PC you might want to try writing the author a letter.
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I know I'm a bit late to the party, but I still have to aggree with the majority.
That was a really really good story and an excellent first story for the Best Fantasy Podcast that I expect Podcastle to be.
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yawn.
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yawn.
Wow... tough crowd. :)
Care to expound?
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I really liked this one, but I'm usually a sucker for Death as an anthropomorphic personifcation, especially one where Death has different than typical qualities (like Pratchett's or this one).
I think it's cool how this story was done without a single supernatural occurrence happening on-screen.
I like how Death was so insecure, not what I would've expected at all. I saw the ending coming a little way away, but it wasn't any worse for it.
It's no surprise this tale has passed the test of time!