News flash!

[eldritchhobbit]

Great news! This week the fantastic podcast StarShipSofa, in conjunction with the British Science Fiction Association, is bringing listeners all five of the short stories that have been shortlisted for the BSFA Award for Best Short Story 2007 in audio format for free download. Starting today, StarShipSofa will upload one of the nominated stories each day. In today's installment, Chaz Brenchley narrates his own nominated story, "Terminal." Check out StarShipSofa here or on iTunes.



And now, a quote for the day (with thanks to sittingduck1313):

Johnny never knew for certain why he started seeing the dead.

Wobbler Johnson, who was technically Johnny's best friend, said it was because he was mental.

But Yo-less, who read medical books, said it was probably because he couldn't focus his mind like normal people. Normal people just ignored almost everything that was going on around them, so that they could concentrate on important things like, well, getting up, going to the lavatory and getting on with their lives. Whereas Johnny just opened his eyes in the morning and the whole universe hit him in the face.

Wobbler said this sounded like "mental" to him.

- from Johnny and the Dead by Terry Pratchett

Comments

[bouncybabylemur.livejournal.com]

When I saw this post I thought it was great news too. Then I tried listening to "Terminal." I'm sure the story is good, but I had a really hard time listening to the author. It's a cool concept. Thanks for the link. I just hope the others will be easier on the ears.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I think he only read it because he's the author, so you can count on other readers for the rest of the week. I must say I thought it was a fascinating story. The ending is quite well done, and brings the whole tale full circle in a manner that's quite satisfying. I hope you like the others more. Once this week is over, SSS will go back to having one short story per week, added every Wednesday, and one program on a science fiction author per week (these are absolutely wonderful), added every weekend.

[witchcat07.livejournal.com]

If you haven't read the Johnny Maxwell series, you should. It's one of the reasons I think Terry Pratchett is a better writer than JK Rowling.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thanks so much for the recommendation! I haven't really ever been able to get into Pratchett (save Good Omens), but I've never tried the Johnny Maxwell series. It sounds really interesting!

[witchcat07.livejournal.com]

It's cool, I think you'd like it.

[abbie (from livejournal.com)]

I love the quote! I wish the universe would hit me in the face every morning.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

But softly, right? Otherwise, it might hurt! ;)

[estellye.livejournal.com]

"Terminal" was spellbinding...very visual, which I like, and opened up a whole world of contemplation. As if I needed another one. ;)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Wasn't it gorgeous? I loved how the opening and closing lines mirrored each other with such powerful visual images. And the idea of jumping from one body to another, and divorcing our sense of self from the bodies we inhabit... fascinating. A very poignant story.

[sithdragn.livejournal.com]

Totally unrelated to your post, but majingojira has a post here connecting Buffy-verse to a variety of sources, including Lovecraft. I thought of you when I saw it, and that you might enjoy their thoughts.