The challenge was issued in
this poll thread to show folks that there’s a lot more material on the other two podcasts that will appeal to the listeners who gravitate towards one. I’ve already done posts pointing
EscapePod and
Pocastle listeners to PseudoPod. Take a look at those and add your opinions in any of these threads as to which stories I missed, and if you think I missed the mark on some of these.
I’ll admit, I mostly swim in PseudoPod’s murky waters. However, I’ve ventured out, sometimes on my own, sometimes on recommendation, and unearthed some significant gems. For those of y’all who enjoy wandering through the blackness of Mirkwood, and don’t want to brood only on the Necromancer, I think you would benefit from listening to the following:
PC069 – The Ovelrung
This is an adventure/caper fantasy story with a seriously broken hero. The dark character study is effective.
PC093 – The Mermaid’s Tea Party
Tina Connolly’s reading adds depth and vulnerability to a character imprisoned by the Grimm sort of mermaids. No shiny cartoons with scallop-shell brassieres here. Add a flawed and tortured pirate and the mix is exquisite.
PC120 – Some Zombie Contingency Plans
This one bookends quite nicely with PP043 - Everything is Better With Zombies. Norm Sherman’s off-balance reading really makes this character study of a deeply flawed loner, and shines a light on the narcissism of the Me Generation. You might be able to see some glimmers of redemption in this one. I can’t.
PC 143 – Hurt Me
A ghost story full of warped anger.
PC 152 – The Hortlak
The happenings in a 24-hour convenience store on the edge of a chasm full of zombies.
PC 153 – The Ghosts of New York
A brutal and effective musing on the spiritual impacts of 9-11.
PC 154 – Sinners, Saints, Dragons, and Haints
An effective musing of the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans. A phenomenal reading by Laurice White captures the feel of the city, and conveys the human impact of the storm.
PC 157 – As Below, So Above
The crisis of faith of a giant squid who is sworn to protect an island fortress from invaders.
PodCastle 191: Balfour and Meriwether in The Vampire of Kabul
A solid fantasy adventure tale that pits our Victorian heroes against a dark cult.
PodCastle 214: We Never Talk About My Brother
A brutal and moving tale about the impact of choices and familial ties.
A miniature for the list if you only have time for a little bite:
PCm50 – Cranberry Honey
This is a mood piece, but quite dark and brooding.
Then some classics, that are worth checking out, as they’re classic for a reason:
PCm – The Trouble in Leafy Green Street
Don’t go looking for undersea gods to worship. You’ll likely regret it and/or go mad.
PC 177 – The Fall of the House of Usher
If you only have time for one Poe story, make it this one. The reader did a stellar job with a really challenging, densely-layered story with multiple nested phrases.
And the other Poes:
PCm19 – The Cask of Amontillado
PCm56 - The Masque of the Red Death
EDIT: Will add links later
