Escape Artists
Escape Pod => Episode Comments => Topic started by: eytanz on May 12, 2011, 10:33:09 PM
-
EP292: In the Water (http://escapepod.org/2011/05/12/ep292-in-the-water/)
By Katherine Mankiller (http://www.katherinemankiller.com/)
Read by Kim Gianopoulos
Originally appearing in Fictitious Force.
---
Yvonne looked up from her monitor, the beads in her cornrows clattering as Roger walked into her office.
Roger sat in the dark wooden chair opposite her desk. “Weren’t you assigned Alice van Buuren?”
“Oh, no you don’t,” Yvonne said. “You can’t have her.” Yvonne hadn’t been assigned Alice; she’d requested her. Alice was probably the only murder victim’s wife she would ever meet. They hadn’t even put the murder in the papers. Maybe they thought there’d be a panic.
“Please,” Roger said. “I’m just trying to save you some trouble. I’ve already spoken to her, and…”
Yvonne crossed her arms and glared. “Wouldn’t you raise hell if I talked to one of your patients behind your back?”
“She’s refusing modern therapy. What are you going to do, use the old-fashioned techniques your grandmother used?”
Roger had a lot of nerve mentioning Grandma. Yvonne glanced at the photo on the corner of her desk. Grandma Jackson had been a big woman, with braids down to her hips and skin like chocolate. Grandma Jackson smiled back at the camera, all reassuring good nature.
Roger said, “I think we should just wipe her and have done with it.”
“Too bad she’s not your patient,” Yvonne said.
“I could take her away from you, you know.”
“Don’t you dare!”
Rated PG
(http://escapepod.org/wp-images/podcast-mini4.gif)
Listen to this week’s Escape Pod! (http://traffic.libsyn.com/escapepod/EP292_InTheWater.mp3)
-
I AM THE COW OVER THE MOUNTAIN AND I AM EATING ALL THE GRASS!
That's not how it goes? ???
Another Katherine Mankiller story read by Kim Gianopoulos. Kim's unique reading style fit this one better than the grandpa killing Annes from Grandfather Paradox. That said, I can't say I liked this one much more than Grandfather Paradox, it was fairly straightforward and easy to figure out. I didn't like the characters much, the plot was interesting enough to keep me listening, but will be forgotten quickly. I may not be the best judge of this story however, as I am not a huge psychiatry/psychology fan.
-
I don't know if it's Kim's reading style or just a coincidence, but i can never get into stories which she reads. Maybe she's a little too bland to really grab my interest, or something. This one didn't really work for me either way, sorry. It wasn't bad in the way that some stories are bad, it just wasn't terribly good either. Sorry.
-
I liked this story. Mystery drugs in the drinking water is pretty much my worst case scenario, so this came off more like horror then SF to me :P
I felt like the story didn't go anywhere, there was the set up, and rising action, then she just got mind wiped again and we were back at the beginning.
-
I AM THE COW OVER THE MOUNTAIN AND I AM EATING ALL THE GRASS!
Works for me.
Anyway, this story didn't really strike me as terribly powerful, but it was certainly an enjoyable little yarn. I may be in the camp of disliking Kim's style for most stories. It could see it working for some stories, but not for any story where I'm supposed to take the characters and their individual drama seriously. Her style is just too cutesy-cruel.
What I liked most about this story is how it presented a slice of a larger story. We got the impression of vast forces moving, just out of sight, but all we got was... all we got. And really, that's all we needed.
-
I may not be the best judge of this story however, as I am not a huge psychiatry/psychology fan.
I am, and it doesn't do it for me either. The idea itself is chilling, but it's also a bit familiar, and it didn't seem to be made much of. The characters seemed too archetypal; although in the UK, we have our fair share of grandiose and somewhat deluded shrinks, and the dialogue overly simplistic. Sadly, I don't think it benefited from the reading. Kim's style feels ponderously slow; and there were inflections and tones that I felt were unhelpful to the characters and the sense of the story. All a bit linear and slow, for me. So Sorry; I know how much work goes into these things.
-
I'm purposefully not reading the other comments because I'm about halfway through the story. And I really don't like to make negative comments, but: is the reader purposefully being condescending and reading this like a children's story, or is it just me? I feel like the story is good, but I feel like SHE thinks I'm eight years old.
-
I liked the story and the reading. The part that mostly struck me was imagining how creepy it must be to come to realize your mind has been messed with. By the people who are supposed to be keeping you safe, no less.
I am uncertain why the protagonist's mother was killed, though. She was a conspirator with Alice & Pete, is that it? Why then was Alice left alive..? Perhaps someone can clarify this for me.
-
Having now finished the story and read the other comments, I guess I'm not the only one who felt the reading didn't help the story. I enjoyed the story, but I really wish that if there is another Katherine Mankiller story waiting in the wings, EscapePod finds someone else to read it.
I did figure out what was going on about halfway through, but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the story. I am curious why the grandmother was killed, though.
-
I did figure out what was going on about halfway through
Same here, that is about how long before I guessed the whole rest of the plot. Sorry but I just think this story has been overdone so many times that we really didn't need it on EP. I wish it were longer, with more details and hints about who was manipulating things and why. I could see this as the first chapter in a good book, where she fights the mind wipe and each time retains more information, but as is, it didn't do anything for me.
I would totally buy that book if this were the first chapter tho, amiright?
-
I appreciate everything Mur, Bill, etc. do to bring us a quality podcast. However, I have to say this was one of my least favorite stories and readings of the ~300 that have come down the pipe. The story just didn't draw me in, and the reading did not help - to "dramatic" or something, but it drew focus from the words. For example, mid-scene there'd be long pauses, but then there was a scene shift that was a short pause, so it took 1/2 sentence to realize the shift, pulling me out of the story.
Again, however, my thanks to everyone for bringing us a great podcast.
Matt Wood
-
As for the story, I felt that the build-up went on way longer than it needed to and the listener figured out what was going to happen before the author was done leading up to it. This had the unfortunate result of not enough time being spent on the climax and denouement, and I was left wanting quite a bit more once the story was done. Why was her grandmother killed, and for that matter why were we told that Yvonne and Alice might have been kissing in the kitchen if we were not going to learn anything concrete about the organization they work for? At the same time, did Yvonne remember enough to sabotage Roger and is that why he might be stepping down? What does it mean that business is booming if they are a psych unit? I'm all for letting the audience put together the last few pieces on our own, but to me this one took that to the extreme.
As for the reading, with apologies to Kim, the reading really took me out of it. I kept thinking about how that is not how adults talk to each other, and those inflections are not what an adult in a life and death situation would use to get their point across. I think that her style is appropriate for many stories, but apparently not those written by Katherine Mankiller.
I did figure out what was going on about halfway through
Same here, that is about how long before I guessed the whole rest of the plot. Sorry but I just think this story has been overdone so many times that we really didn't need it on EP. I wish it were longer, with more details and hints about who was manipulating things and why. I could see this as the first chapter in a good book, where she fights the mind wipe and each time retains more information, but as is, it didn't do anything for me.
I would totally buy that book if this were the first chapter tho, amiright?
yes, I want to read that book! :)
-
I didn't really enjoy the reading.
The story not only didn't feel new enough to grab my interest, but it also seemed like it was trying to be more twisted than it actually was. Yvonne should've been smart enough to see that Roger was reverse-psychology-ing her into fighting harder for Alice's case; Yvonne had it too easy escaping with Alice; Roger's monologuing at the end was thoroughly predictable. Perhaps because the plot contained well-used sci-fi tropes -- something in the water, crime defeated by drugs, drug/memory modification therapy, the establishment member working with the underground, anyone who is against all this is considered a terrorist -- I was less enthused by it.
Plus, I think the details were too much sometimes -- every single little detail of Yvonne's trip home, reading a book, drinking a glass of milk, etc. Some of them -- taking all those pills, for example -- were necessary and vivid, but others I felt dragged the story down.
I also think it was trying a little too hard to namecheck Atlanta points of interest -- Grady Hospital and MARTA, specifically. I fully admit I do the same thing in my stories, but maybe I'll back off a little in the future. I think there's a point writers have to reach that's just the right distance between accuracy and good storytelling. I might be sensitized to Atlanta namechecking in particular because I live here too, though.
-
I did figure out what was going on about halfway through
Same here, that is about how long before I guessed the whole rest of the plot. Sorry but I just think this story has been overdone so many times that we really didn't need it on EP. I wish it were longer, with more details and hints about who was manipulating things and why. I could see this as the first chapter in a good book, where she fights the mind wipe and each time retains more information, but as is, it didn't do anything for me.
I would totally buy that book if this were the first chapter tho, amiright?
yes, I want to read that book! :)
http://escapepod.org/2011/02/18/endosymbiont/
Just sayin'.
-
I did figure out what was going on about halfway through
Same here, that is about how long before I guessed the whole rest of the plot. Sorry but I just think this story has been overdone so many times that we really didn't need it on EP. I wish it were longer, with more details and hints about who was manipulating things and why. I could see this as the first chapter in a good book, where she fights the mind wipe and each time retains more information, but as is, it didn't do anything for me.
I would totally buy that book if this were the first chapter tho, amiright?
yes, I want to read that book! :)
http://escapepod.org/2011/02/18/endosymbiont/
Just sayin'.
yeah, I really liked that one :) *goes and checks her post in that thread* yep, in fact I said I LOVED it 8)
-
Mr. Peters' diplomacy will be well tested when it's time to compile this thread to feedback.
-
I've only recently picked up on Escape Pod and have listened to a few stories and read some of the articles with interest. This is the first time I've felt compelled to comment.
This story was a reasonable variation on the "what reality is real" theme but as mentioned elsewhere, it has been done to death. New ideas please!
As for the reading; I startled fellow tube passengers with a heartfelt "Get on with it!" at one point. The delivery was far too slow and with no attempt at introducing any drama (or even inflection), especially when reading the characters' spoken words. I could listen to Mur Lafferty all day but I'll be giving a miss to any future stories read by Kim Gianopoulos, it's just too painful to listen to.
-
I'm afraid I only got halfway through the last story read by this narrator, and I turned this one off too. I just find her delivery too patronising, full of the 'fake awe' an adult uses when talking to a child, and not very well-suited to this podcast... Technically, she's fine, but I think she should be reading bedtime stories.
-
I did enjoy this story, as far as it went, but there were just too many hanging threads left at the end. This is one that has a feel of being a study for a novel, and wasn't complete enough for a short story. I did get into the premise, though, even though this is a trope that I've seen/heard before.
As for Kim's reading, it did pull me out of the story somewhat. I noticed that I enjoyed her reading more in the non-dialog parts. Perhaps her skills would be better put to use in a story with little to no dialog.
-
You know, the only reason I finished listening to the story was that I was driving and couldn't be bothered to take my phone out and go to another playlist. The story was so-so, but the reading of it really let me down. While it did keep me semi awake, I was glad it was short and over quickly. If this had been an hour long, I think I would have turned it off. :-\
I'm sorry that this has to be my first post.
-
I can't say anything about this story, because I couldn't listen to it.
When Murr had said the name of the reader, it rang a bell in my head, but I couldn't place it.
Then Kim read the title and I groaned out loud. That's where I've heard her name! Here! (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=4761.msg86942#msg86942)
Anyway, I promised myself that I wouldn't let that ruin the story for me, and I tried very hard to listen, pay attention to the story and follow it.
But I just couldn't :(
I restarted the story 5 times before giving up.
Maybe it was a good story, maybe it wasn't. But until I read it myself I will never know.
-
I've only recently picked up on Escape Pod and have listened to a few stories and read some of the articles with interest. This is the first time I've felt compelled to comment.
I'm sorry that this has to be my first post.
I won't begrudge anyone for making negative comments, but if you liked other stories, maybe you could comment on those as well? Especially now that you're registered and everything? It seems like there are more often those who feel compelled to register for the first time to make negative comments, but I want to know what stories are your favorites, too!
Anyhoo... I don't have a lot to add. The government memory-wiping is an interesting idea, and drugs in the water, but it seemed slow for the ground it covered. I hope the narrator sticks around--I like the sound of her voice, but her tone did make me think of children's books, I think because of the relatively slow pace and exaggerated inflections.
-
I really enjoyed this piece though it was a little obvious that her grandmother was murdered and she didn't remember it. I did like that she maintained her wariness of the water after being mind zapped a second time.
-
I hate to pile on, but not everything needs to be emphasized quite so heavily. I mean, "the hallways were disinfected to the point of being blinding" is just not the way to read that sentence. It was the audio equivalent of silent-era film acting, with exaggerated reactions and stylized facial expressions. I didn't mind the previous story reading quite as much, but it just drove me nuts this time.
I liked the offhand mention of the holographic aquarium with the fish in it. I took it as a reference to the myth that goldfish have a memory only a few seconds long and thus are continually surprised by everything they see.
-
I'm one of those that couldn't get past the reading. Might have been a good story, but I found myself concentrating so hard on not being annoyed by the narration that I couldn't pay attention to the story. I lasted about 5 minutes.
-
For what it's worth, I kind of like a reader with a little more peculiarity to the reading sometimes, specially when the story is more standard fare like this one. Kim sure draaaags out sentences, but I don't think it feels like a reading of a children's book, more like an almost bored rendition of the story, told by someone who has already told the story many many times, and is trying to spice it up by randomly changing the emphasis in a way that in it's more transcendent moments feel a bit like beat poetry. The story was OK, although thematically it was nothing news, the reveal was pleasantly slow and the end a nice circular twist, but it would have benefited from expansion.
-
...did Yvonne remember enough to sabotage Roger and is that why he might be stepping down? What does it mean that business is booming if they are a psych unit? I'm all for letting the audience put together the last few pieces on our own, but to me this one took that to the extreme.
Interesting. I though that part was clear. Here's how I interpreted the end (though your results may vary)...
Yvonne gave Alice the formula, but didn't tell Roger she did. The formula was the antidote for the drugs in the water and the underground group must have managed to slip the antidote into the water supply. The government doesn't know the underground has the antidote and so doesn't take steps to prevent or counter-act this possibility. Now, with the mind-control drugs not working, the populace is reverting to their normal behaviour, which ironically means more psychotic behaviour and more work for the psych unit. Roger, who is responsible for making sure the populace is under control, is clearly is not doing his job well and will probably be urged to step down very soon.
Also, I must say that I really don't understand all the dissatisfaction with Kim's reading. I don't hear any of the condescension or unusual emphasis that people are complaining about. But so many people say they do, so it must be just me. In any case, I enjoyed the reading just fine.
-
Also, I must say that I really don't understand all the dissatisfaction with Kim's reading. I don't hear any of the condescension or unusual emphasis that people are complaining about. But so many people say they do, so it must be just me. In any case, I enjoyed the reading just fine.
Naw, me too. I liked it. Different strokes for different folks and all.
-
...did Yvonne remember enough to sabotage Roger and is that why he might be stepping down? What does it mean that business is booming if they are a psych unit? I'm all for letting the audience put together the last few pieces on our own, but to me this one took that to the extreme.
Interesting. I though that part was clear. Here's how I interpreted the end (though your results may vary)...
Yvonne gave Alice the formula, but didn't tell Roger she did. The formula was the antidote for the drugs in the water and the underground group must have managed to slip the antidote into the water supply. The government doesn't know the underground has the antidote and so doesn't take steps to prevent or counter-act this possibility. Now, with the mind-control drugs not working, the populace is reverting to their normal behaviour, which ironically means more psychotic behaviour and more work for the psych unit. Roger, who is responsible for making sure the populace is under control, is clearly is not doing his job well and will probably be urged to step down very soon.
Also, I must say that I really don't understand all the dissatisfaction with Kim's reading. I don't hear any of the condescension or unusual emphasis that people are complaining about. But so many people say they do, so it must be just me. In any case, I enjoyed the reading just fine.
Ahh, okay that makes sense. I understood that she managed to give the formula for the antidote to Alice, but somehow missed the rest of it. I feel so much more closure now. :P Thanks so much for the explanation! :)
-
...did Yvonne remember enough to sabotage Roger and is that why he might be stepping down? What does it mean that business is booming if they are a psych unit? I'm all for letting the audience put together the last few pieces on our own, but to me this one took that to the extreme.
Interesting. I though that part was clear. Here's how I interpreted the end (though your results may vary)...
Yvonne gave Alice the formula, but didn't tell Roger she did. The formula was the antidote for the drugs in the water and the underground group must have managed to slip the antidote into the water supply. The government doesn't know the underground has the antidote and so doesn't take steps to prevent or counter-act this possibility. Now, with the mind-control drugs not working, the populace is reverting to their normal behaviour, which ironically means more psychotic behaviour and more work for the psych unit. Roger, who is responsible for making sure the populace is under control, is clearly is not doing his job well and will probably be urged to step down very soon.
Also, I must say that I really don't understand all the dissatisfaction with Kim's reading. I don't hear any of the condescension or unusual emphasis that people are complaining about. But so many people say they do, so it must be just me. In any case, I enjoyed the reading just fine.
Ahh, okay that makes sense. I understood that she managed to give the formula for the antidote to Alice, but somehow missed the rest of it. I feel so much more closure now. :P Thanks so much for the explanation! :)
Happy to oblige. :)
-
I'm going to go out on the limb and say that I enjoyed the story as well. I had just a little trouble figuring out what happened at the end with the business at the psych ward booming, but CryptoMe summed it up well.
As for the reading, I thought it was okay. There were times when she did drag out certain words, but it put me in mind of Laurice White's slow, but extremely excellent reading of "Sinners, Saints, Dragons, and Haints..." over at Podcastle.
There was a moment when Kim's reading worked perfectly. It's when Roger drawls to Yvonne, "Good giiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrlll..." When Kim read it that, I actually gritted my teeth, full of righteous outrage...then laughed out loud when she reads Yvonne doing the exact same thing.
Which then made me wonder. If the water works to tamp down negative thoughts, it didn't work as much to stop that response in Yvonne. Interesting...