Coming Up
Fiction: Contact Authority by William Mitchell 02:50
Fact: Science News by J.J. Campanella 01:35:40
Fiction: The Paradise Aperture by David Carani 01:57:30
First Chapters: The Beauty of Our Weapons by Darusha Wehm 02:47:50
Narrators: Dave Robison, Josh Roseman
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I’m a long time fan of the podcast, and I particularly enjoyed the first story, but I am driven to post a comment here for the first time ever to express pure shock and dismay that ‘The Paradise Aperture’ came in first place in a writing competition. After a few minutes of soul-searching, I can state confidently that that was literally the worst story I’ve heard on the show. There have been a fair number that just didn’t appeal to me personally for whatever reason, but this was really the first time I can just point to an entire story as a whole, and gesture vaguely, and say: “that was a mess.” I’m not even the sort of person that posts comments on websites, but that is how much I disliked that story. My pain needs to be heard.
I’m not a writer. Maybe there’s something I’m missing. If anybody else checks these comments (I have no idea if anybody does), could someone say why they liked it, or if not, validate my opinion?
/rant
I agree that I thought Contact Authority was a much better story overall. JJ sounds so tired! JJ, if you ever get over the top and want one a bit more aimed toward medicine, I could pitch in and help. I love your fact articles.
Yes, I thought Contact Authority was a GREAT story, while The Paradise Aperture was only pretty good.
I didn’t really think it was a mess, and I liked it, but I’ve never been as big a fan of the semi-surreal as I have of stories that are clear and understandable. I did enjoy The Paradise Aperture, but I agree that it was not nearly as enjoyable as Contact Authority, so I’m not sure why it won the top prize. Contact Authority might actually be my favorite “first contact” story ever, now.