The Best of Escape Pod 2015

written by David Steffen

Escape Pod, the original science fiction podcast, is still running more than ten years later.  It continues to be edited by Norm Sherman.  Mur Lafferty began the year as editor-at-large (whatever that means) but moved on to the sister publication Mothership Zeta.

Escape Pod published 41 stories in 2015.

 

The List

1. “Beyond the Trenches We Lie” by A.T. Greenblatt
Fighting a war against blobs whose only vulnerability is lying, the more novel the more effective.  The story is told in the space between the lies.

2. “Everyone Will Want One” by Kelly Sandoval
What would it be like if you had a bot to aid you in your social situations to help you get through high school?

3. “Flowers For Algernon” by Daniel Keyes
Classic science fiction, you may have read it in school, a journal story written by a mentally handicapped man who undergoes a procedure to enhance his intelligence.

4. “The Semaphore Society” by Kate Heartfield
Future user interface technology allows the paralyzed to begin a new online group, inventing a new language as they go.

5. “Adaptation and Predation” by Auston Habershaw
A shapeshifting scavenger as assassin, taking on a member of a dangerous predator species.  Really fun, interesting, action packed story.

 

Honorable Mention

“The Lone and Level Sands” by Marco Panessa

 

The Best of Cast of Wonders 2014

written by David Steffen

More great content from Cast of Wonders the Young Adult SF/Fantasy podcast.  Marguerite Kenner continues to do a great job as editor.  She did mention a few episodes back that they could use more donations–they have a good-sized audience but less than 1% of them make donations.  If you value work like this, please consider donating to the makers of your favorite work.

The List

1. “Shimmer” by Amanda Davis
A setting where you immediately become what others think of you, and what one girl does to fight back.

2.  “Tell Them of the Sky” by A.T. Greenblatt
A toymaker makes models of something he calls birds, something which no one alive has ever seen.

3.  “The Girl With the Piccolo” by Charity Tahmaseb
Opposing marching band armies face off.

4.  “The Filigreed Cage” by Krystal Claxton
The alien Overseers  have come to our world and bestowed many gifts upon us.  One of them are the cuffs that tell us exactly what to do.  To refuse gifts is to live in exile.

5.  “A House in the Forest” by Shawn Bailey
Nigh-indestructible bugs are overrunning the world.

Honorable Mention

“Some Assembly Required” by Terry L. Mirll