Cast of Wonders

Read by Rish Outfield Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Cosmetic Procedures by Desmond Warzel. We’ve featured stories by Desmond before in Episode 15, Same Day Delivery and Episodes 34 & 35, The Most Precious of Treasures, and we’re very happy to welcome him back. You can find more from Desmond in the Jan/Feb issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Today’s story first appeared in the anthology It Came From Her Purse from Sam’s Dot Publishing. Your narrator is the excellent Mr Rish Outfield, who co-edits The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine, with Big Anklevich. You can find The Dunsteef over at dunesteef.com where you can hear quality audio productions of genre fiction, and listen to Rish and Big discuss, well, just about everything! With lots of geek references. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Marguerite Kenner Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Mercurial Skin by Raechel Henderson. Raechel once worked in a bookstore that bears a striking resemblance to the one in the story, although the books never whispered to her. She has since traded selling used paperbacks for running her own publishing company, Eggplant Literary Productions. We asked Raechel if if she had anything to share about this story. She said, “I wrote the first draft back in 2002 or so. My critique group, the Semi-Omniscients, gave me invaluable feedback and helped me shape the story, and then it sat on my hard drive until last year when I decided to start submitting stories again.” Your narrator is our esteemed editor, Marguerite Kenner. Marguerite is a native Californian who has forsaken paradise to be with her one true love in Merrye Olde England. She currently wears so many hats that she needs two heads. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Graeme Dunlop and Dave Thompson Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Barsoom in June by Brian L. Hurrel. Brian is an American who narrowly missed being born in Glasgow. A lifelong science fiction fan, he is especially fond of Golden Age stories from the forties and fifties. His fiction has appeared in the science journal Nature and magazines such as Daily Science Fiction and Bete Noir. His many previous occupations include high school English teacher, carpet installer, cab driver, and US Marine. He now develops software for the financial industry and lives in New Jersey with his wife and son. We asked Brian if he’d like to share anything about this story in particular. He says, “By the time I got around to reading Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter books, along with Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles and his wonderful short story The Long Rain, our knowledge of the solar system had long ago made it clear that Martian canals and Venusian jungles were completely out of the realm of possibility. This did not in any way reduce my enjoyment of these stories, of course. And there was always a small corner of my mind […]

Read by Graeme Dunlop Listen above or download here. Show Notes Last week we announced a change here at Cast of Wonders… we have a new editor, Marguerite Kenner. Regular listeners will know Marguerite from her wonderful narrations and now, she brings her irresistible energy to picking great stories for you. Welcome, Marguerite! We begin the Cast of Wonders year with The Egg Game by S. R. Algernon. S. R. Algernon has been an avid reader of science fiction for many years. He studied fiction writing in North Carolina, U.S.A., and currently lives in Singapore — where making mischief with eggs in lifts would be strongly and justifiably frowned upon. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Listen above or download here. Barry: Hi, this is Barry J. Northern with an important announcement for Cast of Wonders listeners. Don’t worry: we’re not going anywhere — in fact I have recently taken steps to ensure that we continue to bring you high quality YA stories every week by deciding to step down as editor and hand the reins over to someone I’m sure regular listeners will know: Marguerite Kenner. I have been very busy making mobile and internet games in the last few months, and will be continuing to focus on game development. The show deserves someone who has time to read and manage our story submissions for Graeme. Graeme will continue to host and produce, so the show will still be familiar, and I will still be contributing to the running of the show, doing the admin and that sort of thing, as well as continuing to produce art work for each episode, which I hope attracts people to the site and to the show. Marguerite’s first reader comments on our stories have always shown me that she understands our audience and has an eye for a great story. I’m excited to see the direction she takes […]

Read by Barry J Northern. Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present the final part — Chapter 7 — of our ongoing series, The Great Game by James Vachowski. This chapter is called The Mustard Wyrm. We’ve given James’ bio before in previous episodes so check them for details. Or, head on over to jamesvachowski.com/. This is the final episode for 2012! Thank you all for spending 2012 with us; we hope you’ll come back next year! We wish all a very happy holidays and a relaxing, festive and rejuvenating break. Cast of Wonders will return in 2013, probably in February. Watch the website for details. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Danielle Daly. Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Part 2 of The Gloaming by M E Garber. If you missed Part 1, it’s Episode 63 — please go back and listen to that first. Next episode is the final story in our ongoing series, The Great Game by James Vachowski. Make sure you’re here for the finale! And next episode is also the final for 2012! We wish you all a very happy holidays and hope you have a relaxing, festive and rejuvenating break. Cast of Wonders will return in 2013. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Danielle Daly. Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Part 1 of Empty Pockets by M E Garber. who grew up reading about hobbits, elves and dragons, so it’s no wonder that she enjoys writing strange things. She lives in Ohio (in the US) with her husband where, in addition to writing, she enjoys hiking, cooking, travel and chocolate. You can find her blog at: megarber.wordpress.com. You narrator is the wonderful Danielle Daly who is currently working on multiple audio book projects the ACX, the Audiobook Creation Exchange. Also, Christmas is coming up! Perhaps you’ve noticed? If you’d like a fun advent-themed video cast, take a look at the Princess Scientist Advent Calendar 2012! Every day, the Princess Scientist opens a door… look, I’m sure you get the picture and if you don’t, well, you will after you watch. Check it out at http://murverse.com/tag/advent/. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Graeme Dunlop Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present The Quarrel of the Monkey and the Crab from a book called Japanese Fairy Tales (published 1908) compiled by Yei Theodora Ozaki. Born in 1871, she translated Japanese short stories and fairy tales. They are thought to be fairly loose translations of the originals but were popular and were reprinted several times after her death. She had an interesting life, being the daughter of a Japanese Baron and a European woman named Bathia Catherine Morrison. You can find out more about her — of course — at Wikipedia. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Graeme Dunlop. Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Chapter 6 of our ongoing series, The Great Game by James Vachowski. This chapter is: When Stars Fall. We’ve given James’ bio before in previous episodes so check them for details. Or, head on over to jamesvachowski.com/. Barry Northern can’t make it today so it’s me doing narration duty! I shall try to read it in the style of Barry, without tipping over into parody. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Graeme Dunlop Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present The Swineherd by Hans Christian Andersen. Born in 1805 — yes, that’s over two centuries ago — Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author noted for his children’s stories. You may know some of his most famous including “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Snow Queen,” “Thumbelina,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “The Steadfast Tin Soldier.” His poetry and stories have been translated into more than 150 languages and have inspired motion pictures, plays, ballets, and animated films. (especially from Disney?) And because I’m of a “certain age” I keep hearing Danny Kaye in my head. “Hans Christian Andersen, Andersen that’s me.” Ahem. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Marguerite Kenner and Graeme Dunlop Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Once There Was A Hero… by Jenny Moore. Jenny grew up on a small ranch in Eastern Oregon and decided to be a writer when she was eight. Fifteen years later, her first story was published. Since then, her fantasy stories have appeared in many magazines and on many websites. Currently, she works as an aide at an elementary school. If you enjoy this story you’ll be glad to know that Jenny and is working on a novel about Nan and her hero father. Your narrator is the ever awesome Marguerite Kenner and… some strangely familiar guy. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss

Read by Barry J Northern. Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Chapter 5 of our ongoing series, The Great Game by James Vachowski. This chapter is: The Dark Continent. We’ve given James’ bio before in previous episodes so check them for details. Or, head on over to jamesvachowski.com/. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Graeme Dunlop. Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Part 2 of Empty Pockets by James Isaac. If you missed Part 1, it’s Episode 56 — please go back and listen to that first. We gave James’ thoughts on this story last episode so check the shownotes for Episode 56 if you want to know more. Read along Click here to read the text of the story Discuss Click here to discuss in the forums

Read by Graeme Dunlop. Listen above or download here. Show Notes Today we present Part 1 of Empty Pockets by James Isaac. Of this story James says, “Stories of magic shops abound. I needed to write something about a magic shop or else it would be itching at my subconscious forever In my experience, mixed with the boredom and irritating customers, some of the happiest, funniest memories of my life were of slacking-off while working in these places. But I didn’t know that at the time. “Many of us have worked in a shop at some point, often as a first job. I worked in one of those shops where nobody came in to buy anything, yet somehow it stayed open. Mafia front? Eccentric millionaire owner? Doubtful. Probably it was due to extra dimensional magic. And that’s where ‘Empty Pockets’ comes in.” James has three stories (non-YA) placed in three different anthologies that should be out before the year’s end. “Anabiosis” appearing in The Big Bad – An Anthology of Evil, editors John G. Hartness & Emily Leverett, (publication and other details pending) “The Edge Between” appearing in Soul Reflections, Wicked East Press, 2012 (not yet appeared) e Publications, 2012 […]