Author Topic: EP145: Instead of a Loving Heart (Read 27848 times)

SFEley · **Reply #25 on:** February 16, 2008, 04:01:58 PM

Quote from: Czhorat on February 16, 2008, 03:51:00 PM

I'm glad that you took it in a positive way. It was meant to be so, or at least neutral.

Of course. If I couldn't take disagreement about story tastes I'm really in the wrong business. >8-> I'm not deluded enough to think we'll hit every listener with every story. The best we can do is offer variety, and hope to please most listeners most of the time. Occasionally I'm very surprised -- I half-expected "Friction" to fall flat with most people.

600south · **Reply #26 on:** February 16, 2008, 10:17:24 PM

i enjoyed this one, and Friction too, even though both stories were in SF subgenres that usually don't appeal to me. it's another example of Escape Pod's knack for finding engaging stories in all styles.

Tango Alpha Delta · **Reply #27 on:** February 17, 2008, 12:40:53 AM

Well, I'll happily stand in the apparent minority on this one. I enjoyed it very much. No, it's not as deep as it could be, and yes, it has some apparent holes, but the stuff that some others complained about actually helped form the mood for me.

A couple of details I heard that helped color this picture in for me:

*The artist: knowing he was a "starving artist" in Paris went a long way to set the tone for me. I started seeing this guy as one of my petulant, pseudo-goth, Depeche Mode-loving, art student friends from high school. Suddenly disembodied by this Mad Scientist, he was dealing with his lot in life the way a typical art student in high school dealt with something like calculus: he sulked and pouted. I also wondered if we were supposed to assume some kind of trust-relationship with the Mad Dr. before having his brain stolen, or if it was more of a sneak-theft.

*The lovely Lucinda: the author pretty much told us Z had a crush on her (no psi pun intended). She was why Z "called the cops"; so she could come and rescue the waifish robot.

*The vision thing: The Vain Dr. made it so Z could only see him in his virile prime; that was another clue that they had something going prior to the tinification of Z. This fiddling with his perceptions, in combination with the "unbearable pain" built in as punishment, may have had something to do with Z's ability to radio the Brits without having any recollection.

Granted, I was waiting for a twist on the obvious; something that made Z save the doctor instead of betraying him...and I thought he might have told us his real name, rather than Tin Man... but all in all, I was happy with the tale as told.

bolddeceiver · **Reply #28 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:23:56 AM

Quote from: wakela on February 16, 2008, 04:39:01 AM

At the end of the story Zed says, "call me Tin Man," implying that he still feels no emotion...

But remember, the tin man had a heart all along... the wizard's "heart" was just velvet stuffed with sawdust.

Quote from: Tango Alpha Delta on February 17, 2008, 12:40:53 AM

*The artist: knowing he was a "starving artist" in Paris went a long way to set the tone for me. I started seeing this guy as one of my petulant, pseudo-goth, Depeche Mode-loving, art student friends from high school. Suddenly disembodied by this Mad Scientist, he was dealing with his lot in life the way a typical art student in high school dealt with something like calculus: he sulked and pouted. I also wondered if we were supposed to assume some kind of trust-relationship with the Mad Dr. before having his brain stolen, or if it was more of a sneak-theft.

When they first said he was an artist (though only till I caught that he'd been in Paris, not Vienna) I had a feeling he was Adolph Hitler.

sirana · **Reply #29 on:** February 17, 2008, 07:53:13 AM

Since I am hugely into Steampunk (and its variations) I was delighted by this story. The plot was a bit clicheed, but in the case of Steampunk this evokes nostalgia rather than annoyance. It was fun to listen, even though it didn't make me think all to hard about it afterwards.

re the ad: I'm in Germany, I got the ad and I don't mind ads as business model. I won't subscribe to audible until they offer plain old mp3s, though.

Tango Alpha Delta · **Reply #30 on:** February 17, 2008, 02:41:22 PM

Quote from: sirana on February 17, 2008, 07:53:13 AM

Since I am hugely into Steampunk (and its variations) I was delighted by this story. The plot was a bit clicheed, but in the case of Steampunk this evokes nostalgia rather than annoyance. It was fun to listen, even though it didn't make me think all to hard about it afterwards.

re the ad: I'm in Germany, I got the ad and I don't mind ads as business model. I won't subscribe to audible until they offer plain old mp3s, though.

What a great way to characterize Steampunk! I was groping desperately for that context, and couldn't phrase it in a way that didn't sound condescending... thanks, sirana!

re the ad: I forgot to chime in on that. I'm in the U.S.; I got the ad; but, since I am the worst capitalist in the world, I thought no more about it than I do when I hear that the Gates Foundation sponsors NPR or somesuch. As far as I'm concerned, word of mouth is the only way to really get through to me, unless I am active Googling for you.

CGFxColONeill · **Reply #31 on:** February 17, 2008, 08:00:56 PM

the more I think about the story ( sorry to drag us back on topic lol) the more it seems like the plot for a video game than short story material

eytanz · **Reply #32 on:** February 17, 2008, 08:25:09 PM

Quote from: CGFxColONeill on February 17, 2008, 08:00:56 PM

the more I think about the story ( sorry to drag us back on topic lol) the more it seems like the plot for a video game than short story material

A video game where you spend most of it shovelling snow, waking up your master, and occasionally burying bodies? Not sure that would be quite exciting enough for me.

WireMySoul · **Reply #33 on:** February 17, 2008, 10:17:08 PM

Quote from: SFEley

I'm not deluded enough to think we'll hit every listener with every story. The best we can do is offer variety, and hope to please most listeners most of the time. Occasionally I'm very surprised -- I half-expected "Friction" to fall flat with most people.

EP has hit with me nearly every story, and even those that didn't weren't stories I'd say I hated. Maybe I just really have similar tastes, or maybe I'm just easy to please.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the Steampunk-ness and will probably start seeking out more stories like this. (I'm pretty new to it. XD)

I, too, wanted to hear more background on Zed; who was he and how had he crossed paths with Dr. Octavio? Also I didn't get that Zed was in love with Lucinda as much as he loved her like a sibling. She called Octavio "Father", not "My father" and I got the impression that he was her actual father, making her and Zed siblings of a sort.

I loved the narrator for this. His Octavio was vaguely Dr. Evil-ish and it made me chuckle.

I didn't mind the ad, either. I did type in the URL and check it out, but I'm glad I didn't sign up, now that I know there's extra software involved. What a waste of time. Still, I don't mind hearing ads that help EP and are likely to interest us listeners.

Biscuit · **Reply #34 on:** February 17, 2008, 11:26:41 PM

Haven't listened to the story yet (fritzed the transfer to my ipod last night), but just checked and wanted to say that I here in New Zealand got the ad.

On the concept: I'm really impressed by the concept of "splicing in" ads to downloadable audio, depending on locale/demograph. Putting aside the necessary evil of advertising, I think it's very cool that someone's working hard to find ways of using the technology to the best of its abilities.

the_wombat · **Reply #35 on:** February 17, 2008, 11:55:42 PM

I definitely liked this story, but it left me wanting more, to the point that the entire story actually felt like a characters back story, or perhaps the origin of a superhero in some steampunk or league of extraordinary gentleman team.
As far as the audible.com stuff goes, I really wish I could use it, but I use LINUX, and the stuff from iTunes and Audible and my Public Library (which really really pisses me off) all use DRM, which means you have to use a restricted program and can only play on restricted players.
Being a Linux user I believe in freedom, of all kinds, especially information. DRM programs only have one purpose, predicted by Marx and Engels in the communist manifesto long ago, that being to give greater and greater control of market, or market-share to certain groups.
This is one of the reasons I sought out and love escape pod so much, so consider before making a deal with these people SFELEY that some of us are left out in the cold for trying to resist certain peoples tendency to want to build fences around things.

CGFxColONeill · **Reply #36 on:** February 18, 2008, 12:32:55 AM

Quote from: eytanz on February 17, 2008, 08:25:09 PM

Quote from: CGFxColONeill on February 17, 2008, 08:00:56 PM
the more I think about the story ( sorry to drag us back on topic lol) the more it seems like the plot for a video game than short story material

A video game where you spend most of it shovelling snow, waking up your master, and occasionally burying bodies? Not sure that would be quite exciting enough for me.

notice I did not say a good game lol
more like one on addicting games or miniclip

Ocicat · **Reply #37 on:** February 18, 2008, 03:01:04 AM

I thought it was fun, and I don't expect much more from Steampunk type tales. This was the sort of thing that would make a great comic book. In fact, it reminded me a great deal of Girl Genius.

The Mad Scientist was light on characterization and motivation because he was a Mad Scientist. Just a personification of the archetype, nothing more. He's just meant as background for the story of Z / Tin Man. Speaking of the Tin Man, I was pleased that the story mentioned his storybook origin, which wasn't in the movie version and is thus little known. Of course, the movie wouldn't have come out when the story is set, anyway...

gelee · **Reply #38 on:** February 18, 2008, 01:56:28 PM

Story:
I thought this was very solid and entertaining. Pulp era SF, a la The Rocketeer, has never really appealed to me very much. Still, the premise was quite sharp. I've always wondered what the villains henchman thought of the goings-on. The writing was quite good, and the characters felt consistant and believable, just not my cup of genre tea.
Intro:
I'm really glad to see Escape Artists farming a new revenue source. Good work!

The_Witt · **Reply #39 on:** February 18, 2008, 02:25:49 PM

Great Story...Reminds me of all the serialized stories that I listen to as a kid. Hope to see/hear(?) more from this...

Rain · **Reply #40 on:** February 18, 2008, 08:21:25 PM

Good story, nothing really special, but i liked it.

Doganharp · **Reply #41 on:** February 18, 2008, 09:14:36 PM

I dug the story quite a bit, but I'm a sucker for disembodied minds transplanted in robots. The idea is strangely romantic for some reason... The character reminded me of the protagonist from the Arthur C. Clarke novel, "A Meeting with Medusa".

Windup · **Reply #42 on:** February 19, 2008, 05:23:17 AM

I find this is a sub-genre I'm warming to, and apparently I'm not completely alone. I thought Steve's comparison with Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow was apt.

I thought going for the henchman's point of view was a good twist, and thought the mixture of pulp elements and realism was illuminating. Observations of the bodies in the village after the death ray attack were a way to point out that those bodies flying around in cheesy pulp-art explosions are, in the real world, bodies. It's a technique I like a lot -- step back from a genre convention and then say, "OK, what if that really happened and the characters had to deal with all the real implications?"

No problems with the Audible ad, though I do notice that Audible seems to be driving hard into the podcast market -- a couple others I listen to have the trailer and free book offer as well. So, my reaction was along the lines of, "Oh, so they finally found Escape Pod. The podcast thing must be working for them..."

DKT · **Reply #43 on:** February 19, 2008, 06:51:40 PM

I liked this story a good deal, although I think I like the promise of there being more stories featuring "Tin Man" more.

It was fun. Definitely reminded me of Hellboy mashed up with Frankenstein (and anything that triggers "kind of like Hellboy" gets a thumbs-up from me).

I was a bit surprised that the Brits were willing to take him in, even though Zed fried like, what? 10 British commandos. But yeah, cool. More please

VBurn · **Reply #44 on:** February 19, 2008, 09:16:46 PM

I am in the middle of the US and I did not get the ad!

DKT · **Reply #45 on:** February 19, 2008, 09:53:06 PM

Oh, I forgot to say, I'm in the US and DID get the ad. Also, I have absolutely no problem with advertisements on Escape Pod. If there's a way for Steve to get some help making money on EP, I'm fine with that. If it's something like Audible, I'm very good with it.

Planish · **Reply #46 on:** February 21, 2008, 10:15:10 AM

Well. Steampunk with a dash of Post-Singularity. Who'd a' thunk it.

I rather enjoyed it. My initial reaction was to recall EP090: How Lonesome a Life Without Nerve Gas, thinking it was narrated by an AI. I guess making him a transplanted human brain rather than an AI makes the human emotions more plausible.

Young artist forced to give up his Art and become a robot drudge for Dr. Rotwang ... er... The Man. Perhaps it's not too far-fetched a premise.

Scientist with Attractive Daughter, ho-hum.
Mad Scientist with a (presumably) Attractive Daughter, who finances Daddy's research with the proceeds from jewel heists and is a chopper pilot - now that's refreshing.
Can we get Jessica Alba for the role of Lucinda?

------------
I heard no Audible promo. (Canada)

darth_schmoo · **Reply #47 on:** February 23, 2008, 02:05:55 AM

I never got remotely interested in this one. Half way through, my commute was over and I turned it off. Usually I would have finished it. But there was the weird robot and the mad scientist and the lady with the blimp, and none of it felt remotely interesting.

Maybe I'm just not a steampunk guy.

Listener · **Reply #48 on:** February 25, 2008, 02:46:50 PM

Quote from: Biscuit on February 17, 2008, 11:26:41 PM

Haven't listened to the story yet (fritzed the transfer to my ipod last night), but just checked and wanted to say that I here in New Zealand got the ad.

On the concept: I'm really impressed by the concept of "splicing in" ads to downloadable audio, depending on locale/demograph. Putting aside the necessary evil of advertising, I think it's very cool that someone's working hard to find ways of using the technology to the best of its abilities.

On that... I used to listen to a podcast called "Sex with Emily" (have since given it up; it ceased to interest me, and was WAAAAAAAY too long). It came in 8-10 parts a week, and in the middle of each part, an ad would be spliced in. Not a fan of ads in audio content. Before or after? Sure. Not a problem. I can ignore them. But take me out of the story or the interview or the conversation and I just get pissed off.

Unblinking · **Reply #49 on:** September 14, 2010, 04:22:24 PM

Quote from: bolddeceiver on February 17, 2008, 01:23:56 AM

But remember, the tin man had a heart all along... the wizard's "heart" was just velvet stuffed with sawdust.

Though, yes, the Tin Man did have a heart all along, the fact that the wizard's heart was just velvet with sawdust just illuminates the fact that he's a humbug (fraud). He pretends that he's giving the placebo gifts for the reason that these people all had what they wanted all along, but the real reason is that he has no power to do anything. Three members of the group are willing to accept intangible warm-fuzzy gifts, so he gives them. Because Dorothy's request is tangible and well beyond his power he buggers off in his balloon.

So... I wouldn't take the Wizard's word for pretty much anything--he's an admitted scam artist, happy to say whatever will profit himself the most. (Sorry for the tangent, I love talking Oz)

Anyway, regarding this story: I liked it reasonably well, the WWII steampunk Frankenstein take was interesting, and the fact that the monster is a real artist deprived of his art made him very relatable. The ending seemed a little far-fetched with them so readily accepting his help after killing a bunch of their soldiers. But all in all, I liked it.