Substitute Reading List

It's been a bit in vogue lately for people to post their reading lists. I feel sad when I read them, because I don't have time to read any more, and I've always been a voracious and addictive reader until recently. So what does a person do when they can't read any more? They substitute something else. Sometimes what's been substituted gives you a new dimension to appreciate, and you end up feeling as satisfied.

Recently I have discovered the joys of podcast audio fiction, and I actually look forward to my drive to and from work every day, thanks to these. Here is my substitute reading list for the last couple of months:

Escape Pod - Every week, an amazing Science Fiction story via podcast. The quality of the stories ranges from the good to the utterly unforgettable, and it is always worth listening. I've listened to every single full and flash-fic episode, even going back through the archive to story #1.

Pseudopod - I am a huge horror buff thanks to my Dad's lifelong love of the stuff. Pseudopod is a spinoff of Escape Pod, so expect the same with a horror twist. The quality of stuff on Pseudopod is, if anything, of higher quality than Escape Pod, but maybe that's just my preference bias. I've never missed an episode of this show.

(BTW, I'm eagerly looking forward to Podcastle, another spinoff. You can probably guess the theme without clicking on the link. :-)

Eastern Standard Tribe podcast novel - I am a big fan of Cory Doctorow, and not merely because we have the same first name and last initial, spelled the same way. I haven't finished this podcast yet, but I'm hooked already. Be prepared to listen fast; Cory doesn't slow down, so you get a lot of story in a little time. :-)

The Corridor podcast novel - This one, I have finished. It's a thrill a minute, the writing is excellent, and the horror fantasy aspects are simultaneously imaginative and self-consistent, which is difficult to achieve. As if that weren't enough, Zan has one of my all-time favorite reading voices.

The Pocket and the Pendant podcast novel - This one is aimed at young adults and, while it is a bit less consistent than The Corridor, it is well-written, exciting to listen, and entertaining. Mark Jeffrey is also an excellent voice.

(Not podcast audio, but . . . : )

Flight, Volumes 1 and 2 - Graphic novel/anthologies. Absolutely stunning art, in dozens of rich and evocative styles. Tiny bundles of story on page after page. Volumes 3 and 4 are out as well, I will be buying them ASAP.