Feature Story Nominations

[Scattercat]

1) EP 170/171- Mongoose by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear
Absolutely no contest. This was a fabulously detailed world, well-written and full of allusions and sly winks for the literary set, and with a fun romp of a story, to boot.

2) EP 150- Morris and the Machine by Tim Pratt
I found the idea haunting and disturbing, and I only wanted one Pratt story in my top five, so I went with this offbeat number. I do prefer the offbeat ones.

3) EP 148- The Last Great Clown Hunt by Chris Furst
Speaking of offbeat... I don't know why, but this one really worked for me. It handled the sublime and the ridiculous with just the right balance that it ended up both funny and sad, with each flavor informing the other rather than sabotaging it.

4) EP 162- Birdwatcher by Garth Upshaw
In here for pulling off a successful story with a thoroughly unlikable main character. Often that sort of thing translates to an unenjoyable story, but this managed it, and for that feat I applaud it.

5) EP 163- Once a Month on a Sunday by Ian McHugh
Eerie imagery and a fascinating glimpse into an underutilized mythology. Win on several levels.

Honorable Mention: EP 191- Primary Pollinator by Nicole Kimberling
It managed to stick with me far longer than I thought it would. I saw the shape of the story almost instantly and was prepared to be mildly bored, but it drew me in despite my jaded ennui. I'm still not super-thrilled with it - the characters are a little one-note for my taste - but it was better than I gave it credit for, and thus I'd like to give it at least a polite nod.

[Unblinking]

1. Mongoose
2. Snowman's Chance in Hell
3. Floaters
4. Morris and the Machine
5. A Matter of Size

[ROU Killing Time]

Gah, I'm so far behind... and I call myself a DC fan... One for sure I want in, so I'll put it here now, and hopefully catch up and completely my 5 selections later

EP 150- Morris and the Machine by Tim Pratt

[uptoparr]

EP179- The Red Bride
EP148 - The Last Clown Hunt
EP161 - High Than Usual
EP170/171 - Mongoose
EP172 - The Apocalypse Hits Moosefork, etc..

[startreksteve]

Damn! I really wanted to vote for Store of the Worlds! I guess he's dead then, even my wife liked that one, and I had to put it on her player to make her listen to it!

[egbarth]

Morris and the Machine was my absolute favorite. The other four are in no particular order.

EP 150- Morris and the Machine by Tim Pratt
EP 184/185- Horror World 2025 by Kevin D. Anderson and D.K. Thompson
EP 192- Rangifer Volans by Tim Pratt
EP 148- The Last Great Clown Hunt by Chris Furst
EP 174- The Fantasy Jumper by Will McIntosh

[PureChance]

Again favourites were hard to pick, but I think mine were, in no particular order:

EP 158- Dr. Diablo Goes Through the Motions by Saladin Ahmed
EP 161- Higher than Usual by Derek Paterson
EP 170/171- Mongoose by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear
EP 176- Cinderlands by Tim Pratt
EP 186- Garkain by Samantha Henderson

It was too hard to choose based on quality, so I just went for the ones which I enjoyed the most

[Hussar]

Been listening for a while, but first time post. My favorites, in no particular order:

1. EP 170/171- Mongoose by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear
2. EP 173- Go Beep by Aliya Whiteley
3. Toaster of the Gods by Randall Coots
4. EP 179- The Red Bride by Samantha Henderson
5. EP 174- The Fantasy Jumper by Will McIntosh

Those are my favorites.

/edit - Changed my 5th choice to Fantasy Jumper after looking at the album art and remembering a fantastic, and fantastically creepy, story.

[tbaker2500]

It was too hard to choose based on quality, so I just went for the ones which I enjoyed the most

That is one of the best middle fingers to art critics everywhere!

[strych9]

EP 186- Garkain by Samantha Henderson
EP 183- Angel of the Ordinary by Tim Pratt
Bsides 13- Snuggle the Dead by Matthew Bey
EP 195- A Matter of Size by Robert Jeschonek
EP 169- The Reenactment by Ben H. Winters

[tbaker2500]

Lot of new posters in this thread. Welcome to the forums guys and gals!

[alhilton]

Without looking at anyone else's, here are my 5:

EP 153- What Fluffy Knew by Kristine Kathryn Rusc
EP 157- Brief Candle by Ruthanna Emrys
EP 163- Once a Month on a Sunday by Ian McHugh
EP 170/171- Mongoose by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear
EP 191- Primary Pollinator by Nicole Kimberling

[tbaker2500]

Without looking at anyone else's, here are my 5:

As in- I didn't cheat! Really!

[alhilton]

As in- I didn't cheat! Really!

My vote is unswayed by public opinion! And now that I look at everyone else's, I'm glad to see Mongoose is gonna win fair and square.

[SeldonCrisis]

EP 169- The Reenactment by Ben H. Winters *
EP 179- The Red Bride by Samantha Henderson
EP 164- The Observer by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
EP 173- Go Beep by Aliya Whiteley **
EP 170/171- Mongoose by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear



*I wish I could vote for this story five times.

**Half of the reason this story made my list was the Nirvana spoofs, which I believe but am not sure were Norm's doing and not the author's.

[tamarbucks]

EP 173- Go Beep by Aliya Whiteley
EP 174- The Fantasy Jumper by Will McIntosh
EP 181- Funeral Song for a Ventriloquist by Douglas F. Warrick
EP 169- The Reenactment by Ben H. Winters
EP 170/171- Mongoose by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear

[wbxreilly]

without a doubt, #1 - 170/171 Mongoose
#2 - 177 Floaters
#3 - 194 A Distant Sound of Hammers
#4 - 176 Cinderlands
#5 - 191 Primary Pollinator

you rock, norm.

[Mikes]

without a doubt, #1 - 170/171 Mongoose

Without a doubt you are a man of refined tastes. Good choice And welcome to the forums.

[The Haunted Tubby]

#1 170/171 Mongoose
#2 188 Store of the worlds
#3 181 funeral song for a ventriliquist.
#4 173 Go beep. (dude, i really, REALLY wish he would finish that song off!)
#5 177 Floaters.

[blueeyeddevil]

In order, though 1 and 2 are practically interchangeable.

1. 170/171- Mongoose by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear
2. 150- Morris and the Machine by Tim Pratt
3. 163- Once a Month on a Sunday by Ian McHugh
4. 174- The Fantasy Jumper by Will McIntosh
5. 194 A Distant Sound of Hammers by S. Boyd Taylor