Sunday 28 April 2013

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Official Blurb

None.

My Review

In this full cast audio drama from the Seeing Ear Theater we get a real treat.

When Dana is surprised by being sacked from her job, it's just the start of the strange and weird things about to happen. This is a historical sci fi drama, that might sound a bit weird, but when the story is based around time travel it has to be sci fi, right? But when that time travel keeps the main characters in the past, during the age of slavery in the southern states of america it kind of becomes historical.

This story is about a modern black woman who falls through time into the 1800's. As the story evolves, she finds that she has a mission to accomplish, although it's not one she asked for nor volunteered for.

The white slave-owners treat her as a slave and she has to deal with the culture shock that this produces.

It's very well written, well acted and the story drew me in and kept me hooked for all two hours.  It was fun, exciting and intriguing all at the same time.

Once again, this is a not-safe-for-work story that contains in-character racism of the lowest order, it shouldn't be played to an unsuspecting audience.

Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3

Total Score 9/9

Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part

Snow Glass Apples by Neil Gaiman

Official Blurb

None.

My Review

I've just finished listening to a dramatisation of Snow Glass Apples by the Seeing Ear Theater. I was really impressed.  It's a full cast drama and very well written and acted. Just like the previous presentation from them.

This is a new look at the Snow White story. All the elements seem to be in the story, Snow White, the dwarves, the poisoned apple, the magic mirrow, yet they are not arranged in the way you remember!

This is plain and simple a monster story, and the monster is not the queen. This is a harsh, horrid story that's not safe for work. It's more Brothers-Grim than Disney.

I really enjoyed the story, despite its dark and horrific nature. Half the pleasure was finding out how the classic story had been twisted!


Reading 3/3
Production 3/3
Story 3/3

Total Score 9/9

Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part


History of the Devil by Clive Barker

Official Blurb

None.

My Review

I've just finished listening to a dramtisation of History of the Devil by the Seeing Ear Theater. I was really impressed.  It's a full cast drama and very well written and acted.

The story is based around a court case in which the devil is on trial. If the devil is found innocent of corrupting mankind he will go back to heaven. It's filled with flash back scenes to events throughout history where the devil was involved, from the original garden through to events around WWII.

As you might expect with a Clive Barker story things get horrific at times and I don't think the producers of this show held back. The prose is quite belly-churning at times, the brutalness is very raw at times.

The devil himself is no simple one-dimensional character in this story, you tend to hear a lot of story from his own lips and the actor chosen to play him actually makes him appealing to the listener.

As stated above, this is full cast audio drama with music, sound effects etc. It's very well produced although I found this recording a little muddy.

In summary, I really enjoyed this, not safe for public listening, you'll get a few funny looks if you do!

Reading 3/3
Production 2/3 (would have been 3, but this recording was a bit muddy)
Story 3/3

Total Score 8/9

Download it from the Internet Archive
Listen to the first part

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