Drabblecast 193 - Scales

[StalinSays]

Scales by Samantha Henderson
Drabble - Thief by Craig Sokol

Wednesday, December 29, 2010
One day when a surge of dying summer heat roiled through the waterways, spoiling my fishing, I punted home to find Mama running down the grassy swell towards my docking-place. Hope died in her face when she saw my punt empty and I knew then what had happened...

Craig Sokol
Samantha Henderson
AuralSpice: Professional Narration
Art by Adam Doyle

[moonowl]

WOW! Gtreat reading, nice cover art!

[Goldenrat]

Good stuff. It had a cool steampunk vibe and a good creepiness factor with the bad-ass crab aliens. More Samantha Henderson!

[normsherman]

Good stuff. It had a cool steampunk vibe and a good creepiness factor with the bad-ass crab aliens. More Samantha Henderson!

Hehe that was escapepod sir rat.

[Betadog]

Loved the main fiction, art, and drabble, a great way to close out the year. Thanks for picking my twit fic, Norm! First time published!

Swamps make for such a vibrant, mysterious setting. I think it goes back to Dagoba.

[Talia]

Good all around episode, with truly spectacular cover art. Wow.

A great end to 2010. Looking forward to the DCs 2011 brings us.

[alhilton]

Awesome episode! The narrator was superbly matched with the story.

However, I'd like to point out the one place where people are happy - nay, anxious - to be called "average," "typical," and "standard." Medical context. "Normal" is their favorite word. The last thing anyone wants to hear when I'm looking at their pre-op EKG is, "Whoa! Never seen that before!" Or, as they're waking up, "Sir, the operation was strange, because your innards are weird."

And the idea made me laugh. Which is why I posted it. Happy New Year, folks!

[Mikes]

I hope the rest of you fit 'viganormous' into a conversation. I have. Although the wife told me she wished I'd consulted her before choosing my in-laws New Year's Eve BBQ as the time and place to try it out.

Great episode. Along with Tim Pratt and Elizabeth bear, Samantha Henderson has become one of my favourite short story writers this year, and this story just cements that. It was one where I would like to read the text as is to see just hoe much the awesome narration added to the feel.

[Talia]

Enjoyed the episode, totally blown away by the phenomenal cover art.

Thanks for another great year of DC and looking forward to what 2011 brings.

[Unblinking]

Well written, well told, I ilke a deal with the devil story, very good art.

[Mr. Tweedy]

So, yeah, I have to come post something because Norm thanked me in the episode, and I actually haven't even logged in here for months. (Thanks for nothing, Mr. Tweedy!) One day I will be un-busy again.

So, yeah, I really liked this one. It has that great Inception-like quality in that it can be legitimately viewed from more than one completely different perspective. Viewed in one light, it's the story of a monster destroying a child. Look from the other side, and it's about a lover redeeming his beloved from bondage. Does Copperhead steal her or does he rescue her? Does he destroy and pervert her nature, or does he set it free?

The fact that there doesn't seem to be a "right" answer to those questions is what makes it so interesting (beautiful?) to me. Probably my favorite Henderson to date.

[Unblinking]

Probably my favorite Henderson to date.

Harry-And-The will be so sad to hear that...

[normsherman]

Probably my favorite Henderson to date.

Harry-And-The will be so sad to hear that...

[tbaker2500]

Never got into the story, but the cover art is fan-freaking-tastic!

Abbie- good point.

Happy New Year everyone!

[Hatching Phoenix]

Holy crap did I like this drabble. "I blame Carmen Sandiego."
The main fiction was also great. It was atmospheric and really well read.
Here's to another great year of weird!

[Etaan]

Good stuff. It had a cool steampunk vibe and a good creepiness factor with the bad-ass crab aliens. More Samantha Henderson!

Hehe that was escapepod sir rat.

In his defense, the Escape Pod episode was pretty dern good too.

[Samantha]

For any who might be interested, I've posted "Quilt," the sequel to "Scales" at my LiveJournal here: http://samhenderson.livejournal.com/167 ... mode=reply" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

May, Sally-pher and Crack-John are back. Warning - it is a wee bit gruesome.

[normsherman]

So, yeah, I have to come post something because Norm thanked me in the episode, and I actually haven't even logged in here for months. (Thanks for nothing, Mr. Tweedy!) One day I will be un-busy again.

We miss us some Tweedy!

Viewed in one light, it's the story of a monster destroying a child. Look from the other side, and it's about a lover redeeming his beloved from bondage. Does Copperhead steal her or does he rescue her? Does he destroy and pervert her nature, or does he set it free?

Yah, that's my favorite part of this story also. Deeper than just the female 'coming of age'-- I'm eager to read the sequel on Sam's website. This story probably ties Starry Night with my fav's, but thinking back I have to say I'm impressed with Samantha's range of work we've run on DC-- she does the puzzle piece type story really well (Garkain, L'Wek and Sara, Red Bride) with a really consistent use of inventive and beautiful imagery (Garkain, L'wek and Red Bride.) Not to mention straight up, dark-and-stormy night horror (Route 9). No wonder she's the 2nd most frequented author on our 'cast behind Pratt.

Wow, just added it up, we've produced 9 Tim Pratt stories I think.

[Phenopath]

Great story, whilst I always knew where it was going I enjoyed the characters and the telling of the tale.

[Etaan]

Wow, just added it up, we've produced 9 Tim Pratt stories I think.

I recently told Tim (in classic wwic style via an email he probably didn't read) that the next time the DC commissions a story from him, he should demand a title as part of his terms. Writer-in-Residence or Weirdo Laureate or something.

BTW, if you didn't see Norm's tweet, here's the link to the excellent article by Paul Ford on WWIC.

http://www.ftrain.com/wwic.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;