Drabblecast 201 - Trifecta XV

[StalinSays]

Feature: Fiddleback Ferns by Sarah Monette
Feature: Killipedes by Jens Rushing
Feature: The Difficulties of Evolution by Karen Hueler



Thursday, March 10, 2011
Warning: Episode contains one instance of the F-bomb

Christiana Ellis
Tina Connoly
Art by Alyssa Suzumura

[ROU Killing Time]

Doesn't this mean that episode 201 is REALLY the one true episode 200?

[tbaker2500]

Doesn't this mean that episode 201 is REALLY the one true episode 200?

No. Don't you understand quantum physics?

[tbaker2500]

Nice Trifecta!

Ferns I didn't fully get, I'll have to listen to again.

Killipedes was fun, and all too true sometimes. The characters were well represented.

Evolution was a fun metaphor, one obvious enough for even me to get. I felt it got way to slow towards the perceived ending... and then the twist. I have to admit I did not see that coming. It was a great way to end the story!

[Travelin Corpse Feet]

Not bad, but nothing that really left me wanting more. "Fiddleback Ferns" and "The Difficulties of Evolution" just didn't strike a chord in me. maybe once I'm a mother they will.

(Well, actually that'd require some serious advances in gender reassignment surgery and uterus transplants and so forth. I suppose I could sire a few children over the next two or three years and then have a sex change, but I'd rather wait for the perfect uterus.)

Killipedes I was actually a little disappointed in. Awesome name, and it's cute, but I think it could have been microfiction and still been the same story. Also, it had an awesome name. Yeah, I said that twice. Deal with it.

[Mikes]

I loved the second story (you'll have to excuse me, as I get older I find I take notice of titles less and less. I suppose when I'm a grandfather I'll just have to assign numbers based on preference to my grandchildren), and the first was competant and entertaining if not stand out. But I could not finish the third. Since becoming a parent anything where a child is in distress is a major turn off for me so I skipped it with ten minutes to go (thanks again guys for the chapter feature).

[Polecat]

No. Don't you understand quantum physics?

Absolutely not, aliens, though, are another matter...

Though not generally a Trifecta enthusiast (I like a little more time for development in a story than the trifecta or double headre allows), I am prepared, after careful consideration, to make an exception here and be lavish with my praise. I enjoyed all 3 stories, although "Evolution" has me a little confused as to the precise storyline. Killipedes caused me to grin - I used to be acquainted with several microbiologists who were very reminiscent of the "Doctor" (and they were of both sexes - emotional myopia is not gender-specific). I, too, found "Fiddleback Ferns" a trifle inconclusive, I was left wondering if the cloud of greasy smoke represented the end of the deadly spores, or merely their further transmission. And the most burning question of all is indubitably who inherited all those Barbie dolls?

respectfully,

The Polecat

[ROU Killing Time]

Killipedes was my favorite of the three. It reminded me a bit of Squidges, but a tad worse...

The doctor reminds me of a friend of mine.

[Etaan]

Um, I've listened to it twice and I still don't understand who Audrey is in the first story. Is the mom going crazy? If it was an allusion or something that was the key to understanding how that story was working on more than one level, it went completely over my head.

Killipedes was my favorite. The utter lack of empathy never got old. He was sharing fascinating information, and she had the gall to take absolutely no interest. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, however. She didn't really commit to either a twist ending or a punch line, so it came off as a bit of a half-hearted mix. I was really convinced that he was going to see the expectant mom covered in killipedes as well and have it turn out that he was simply off his rocker the whole time.

My wife's reaction to the Trifecta: "All the men were completely useless."

[emily]

Um, I've listened to it twice and I still don't understand who Audrey is in the first story. Is the mom going crazy? If it was an allusion or something that was the key to understanding how that story was working on more than one level, it went completely over my head.

Little Shop of Horrors reference? Audrey = evil plant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGRN39oifsE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mikes]

Little Shop of Horrors reference? Audrey = evil plant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGRN39oifsE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's how I read it.

[alhilton]

I loved this one! I particularly enjoyed Killipedes - perhaps because I work with physicians.

Boy, Norm is really struggling to give birth to episode 200...as though it were an alien creature, clawing its way out of-- Well, anyway, can't wait to hear it! (sticky and slick with afterbirth)

[Etaan]

Little Shop of Horrors reference? Audrey = evil plant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGRN39oifsE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's how I read it.

Wow, I completely forgot about that. He's so young!

*Moves to top of the Netflix queue.

[strawman]

Makes strawman remember the days he was a mere hayfield.

[tbaker2500]

Makes strawman remember the days he was a mere hayfield.

[Unblinking]

Fiddleback Ferns was pretty good, I didn't get the Audrey reference. Little Shop of Horrors I have not seen (though I ought to).

Killipedes was awesome. Awesome name, hilarious narrator with his twisted point of view (I'm pretty sure I work with that guy), nice touch on the ending.

The Difficulties of Evolution was an interesting idea, would've been nice if they'd used a different word than "evolution" since that had nothing to do with their mutations. Since the story kept stressing how people of any age could mutate, I was expecting the mother to change from the very beginning. Once she did change, I thought the story kept going on a bit too long--after the mutation it seemed that there was not really any more ground to cover.

[NoNotRogov]

The Difficulties of Evolution was, in my opinion, the best story of the lot objectively; but I cheated on my objectivity to have a disappointing three way with cold-fish Fiddleback Ferns and spicy meatball Killipedes before running away to Vegas with the latter, only to return back home to Difficulties of Evolution 72 hours later to beg for forgiveness at the doorstep.

[Unblinking]

The Difficulties of Evolution was, in my opinion, the best story of the lot objectively; but I cheated on my objectivity to have a disappointing three way with cold-fish Fiddleback Ferns and spicy meatball Killipedes before running away to Vegas with the latter, only to return back home to Difficulties of Evolution 72 hours later to beg for forgiveness at the doorstep.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Also, what happens with Killipedes is a miracle of life that you won't long survive anyway.

[Etaan]

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Also, what happens with Killipedes is a miracle of life that you won't long survive anyway.

I imagine that the doctor will die in a fascinating box jellyfish encounter.