Stodge.org

I remain utterly fascinated by Escape Pod, the weekly science fiction podcast magazine which just podcasted it’s 30th episode this week. Over the last month or so I have observed a new trend in this series; Steve and his assistants are busy reclaiming and reanimating defunct sub-genres of science fiction and fantasy.

The recent stories have been new takes on old ideas until recently considered off-limits to the aspiring writer (the kind of writer who wants his books seen in airports and public transport systems of fashionable countries). No writer worth his letters wants to do monsters, superheroes and dragons any more that’s been done to death right?

Clearly Steve and the the growing band of writers he has attracted disagree: For example, the ludicrously titled Episodes 24 (”Death Trap of Dr. Nefario“) concerns an attempt of a famous comic-book character to foil a typically comic-book evil plot, however the story is told from the perspective of the psychiatrist who has to deal with the super-hero’s many neuroses. The conclusion is that only somebody with serious problems would be drawn to the super-hero lifestyle in the first place

Only three weeks later Steve gave us “Iron Bars and the Glas Jaw“, an attempt what might happen if a super-hero messes up his super-heroizing and has to face the consequences in a small-town jail cell and a county-sheriff who just wont stop lecturing him.

He could break out of the cell an instant but must refrain from further violence because of a Byzantine set regulations that govern interactions between the “supers” and the “normals”. Once again, a novel twist lifts this story above the genre established by Marvel and DC comics. The fun in this story comes from exploring how a legal system might co-exist with a legion of super-powered vigilantes.

The latest eposode (at the time I click the “publish” button) is “Aliens Love Oranges”. not so much science fiction (the existance of the titular aliens is only hinted at the very end of the story), but a work of fiction about science; It’s a story of an outsider finding some kind of purpose because of through science and friendship. I liked this story because it shows that science fiction doesn’t need to rely on a high-concept or as Garth Marenghi says a “What If” in order to be a valued part of the genre.

Now just in case Steve finds this article, for being your number-one fan, Is there any chance of a link-back on your site? Steve, would you mind linking to the Resonance FM Podcasts page? A little link? Pretty Please?