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MetaxuCafe UpdatesSearching Member Sites
I’ve recently added a search function so that you can limit your Google search to just the blogs that are members of MetaxuCafe. I think that will be a good resource for everyone looking for literary topics online and you’ll find it right on the front page as well as other places on the site. Now if you want to read about, say Orhan Pamuk, but only want to search the litblogs you trust, you can narrow your search right here.
BURNING WORDS: Podcast Reviews
by Tamara on October 10, 2007
BURNING WORDS: Podcast Reviews
October 2007
by
Welcome to Burning Words: Podcast Reviews, a monthly column reviewing short prose podcasts featuring fiction or creative nonfiction.
What is a podcast? It might be thought of as the 21st Century equivalent to the old time radio show. Using the latest technology, listeners can download these radio shows as media files to their mp3 devices and computers and, with a single click, listen at their own convenience, either through headphones or through a speaker. Most podcasts are free and can be downloaded through various directories such as iTunes, ZenCast and Podcast Alley.
Note: All podcasts reviewed in this column were downloaded to either an IBM ThinkPad or a Creative Zen V mp3 player for listening and review.
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OCTOBER 2007 PODCAST REVIEW
Title: Well Told Tales
Overall Rating: 9/10
URL: http://welltoldtales.com/index.php
RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/WellToldTales
Language: English
Genre: Pulp fiction in the hard-boiled, scifi or horror genres
Background
This story podcast of dark, speculative work shows a lot of promise for having been started only seven months ago. Initially, Well Told Tales was produced weekly, but has since moved to a bimonthly schedule in order to make sure they maintain a high level of quality in narrative and production. I think it’s a smart move. What listeners may not know is that producing a podcast, even a short one of, say, ten minutes of content, takes hours and hours. While it would be fabulous to get a free weekly story from this production, I’d still prefer they produce less often in favor of solid content. Also, the chances are good they won’t burn out any time soon. That’s a big challenge for podcasters: making sure they can maintain the production schedule.
The writers who contribute to this podcast are a well-seasoned lot, from alternative magazine editors and literary series hosts to British dramatic writers, widely published genre authors, and filmmakers. Most recently, Well Told Tales began work on a first-time film production in an effort to develop “a writer-centric production company that delivers top quality genre content to multiple platforms in a variety of formats (ie.: video, audio, text.)” It’s not a bad concept, if you consider all the amazing movies that have been made from short stories, such as “Brokeback Mountain,” “Minority Report,” and “Stand By Me.” This podcast is one to watch as podcasting slowly nudges its way into the consciousness of the mainstream.
General Review
Well Told Tales, which is hosted by writer/publisher Finn Colgan, exemplifies some of the better work being done today in story podcasting. The productions are simple and clean; a simple bass guitar riff announces physical transitions between segments of the stories. The focus is specific (hardboiled, sci fi, horror, noir) and the work that plays matches the focus.
The stories are performed by “real Hollywood actors,” which doesn’t necessarily mean that Brangelina will be doing recitations any time soon, but it does mean that the performers have had elocution lessons, so you’ll likely be riveted by the tellings.
I would definitely recommend this to listeners who loved the old Twilight Zone or work with a Stephen-Kingish flair to it. Humor seems to have marked all the pieces I listened to, and if this is any indication of the rest of the stories left to listen to, then I’m happy to say I’ll be returning.
One caveat: I’d estimate that 75% of these stories are not family friendly or work safe, due to some rare sexual references, coarse language, and violence. My experience as a listener, however, was a positive one: for a collection of dark work, Well Told Tales doesn’t get too terribly gratuitous, or if they move into more graphic territory, they balance it with dark humor to make the dreadful things that happen a little more palatable.
Perhaps pulp fiction isn’t for every reader, and if I were to be 100% honest here, some of the work produced here might be said to be familiar, but in terms of genre, that seems to be what readers want, so my guess it’s what listeners will want as well. For these reasons, I give this podcast a 9/10 rating.
Episodes reviewed
NOTE: Always check content ratings for individual episodes of all podcasts; some may not be work-safe or family friendly.
“Cellar Meat” by Douglas R. Burchill; read by Richard L. Richards, Jr.
[air date: 5.22.2007; 16 min]—Tales from the Crypt fans (and fans of Saw, for that matter) will love this one, a classic “I must have taken a wrong turn in Albuquerque” horror story. Definitely a macabre must-hear for fans who want to be grossed out. Great delivery by Richard L. Richards, Jr. Not work-safe or family friendly. Rating: 10/10
“The Hard Way” by Tom Barlow; read by Frederic Heringes
[air date: 6.15.2007; 41 min]—This is pretty classic hardboiled fiction: a gambler must face an unexpected random meeting with a dirty bomb while working a deal to pay off his bookies. I thought the story was fresh and entertaining, though I think it could have been a little shorter (there were some good opportunities for endings earlier in the story that were liquidated by an unnecessary denouement, but that could just be me being picky). Still, highly enjoyable, and the reader did a good job of capturing a kaleidoscope of characters so that listeners can keep the story straight. Not work-safe or family friendly. Rating: 8/10
“The Last Day of Summer” by Willie Meikle; read by Andy Hoff [air date: 4.02.2007; 15 min]—This one seems inspired by the Twilight Zone. I especially liked Andy Hoff’s reading of the story, though the story itself might seem a bit familiar. Still, fun to listen to, with great images, and this one is work-safe and family friendly. Rating: 8/10
“The Love Bug” by Teej Grant; read by Christina Colligan
[air date: 8.01.2007; 22 min]—Oh, this was a fun sci fi piece in the speculative vein. Clever concept, and told well (in keeping with the podcast’s aims) by Christina Colligan. Worldwide plagues and good lovin’ meet at an unlikely and humorous crossroads. Not work-safe or family friendly. Rating: 10/10
“The 30 Day Baby Company” by Darren Callahan; read by Rachael Drummond
[air date: 5.08.2007; 29 min]—My favorite of the batch. I listened to this one while on an errand and could not get out of my car until it was finished. This one will inspire you to random outbursts of both laughter and despair, so if you’re listening to it on earbuds, be warned: people might think you’re a little schizo. But it’s so worth that risk, all the same, with a pro performance from actress Rachael Drummond. Not work-safe or family friendly. Rating: 10/10
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Previous podcasts reviewed:
King Bonk’s Campfire Cast, March 2007
http://metaxucafe.com/cafe/article/burning_words_podcast_reviews
short fiction, essays, poetry, music, soundscape
Miette’s Bedtime Story Podcast, April 2007
http://metaxucafe.com/cafe/article/burning_words_podcast_reviews1
short classic fiction and essays
The Stuffed Fabulist on Air, May 2007
http://metaxucafe.com/cafe/article/burning_words_podcast_reviews_may_2007
From the website: “A collection of contemporary fables, parables, and other reports of ‘things that go bump in the night.’”
Bound Off, August 2007
http://metaxucafe.com/cafe/article/burning_words_podcast_reviews_may_2007
Short stories in the literary tradition
Special Edition: Hurricane Katrina stories, August 2007
http://metaxucafe.com/cafe/article/burning_words_podcast_reviews_special_edition
First-person oral history re: Hurricane Katrina
© 2007, TKS
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