Escape Pod

By Escape Artists FoundationFiction Drama Science Fiction

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on Science Fiction
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Typical duration
41 min
per episode

Based on Podcast App listening data

Escape Pod episodes

September 28, 2023 Escape Pod 908: Harvest Moon
Author : Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe Narrator : Somto Ihezue Host : Tina Connolly Audio Producer : Summer Brooks “Harvest Moon” was previously published in Solarpunk Magazine Harvest Moon by Oluwatomiwa Ajeigbe “We cannot sustain the farm, Gozie.” I don’t like the way the words fall easily from Iyeh’s lips, even though I know he speaks the […]
Source
32 min
September 21, 2023 Escape Pod 907: A Layer Thin As Breath
A Layer Thin As Breath
By T. K. Rex
“Valley. Can you still hear me?”
Julian’s voice filtered through her dying radio. The Prince of Cats was a speck of light, dimming through the gold-grey film that, atom by atom, was devouring her helmet.
Valley tried to say something, anything. Failed.
Julian was sobbing on the other end. “I’m so sorry. I’m so, so kzzzzzzchchchcffft-” and that was it. Her radio was gone.
“Oh god,” she breathed to herself, to no one. “Oh god,” I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. She sobbed once, twice, and then, with tears pooling in her eyes and the Prince of Cats invisible through the liquid, she found a pocket of calm, like stepping from a noisy bar onto a cool, quiet street.
Something brushed against her hand, and she cried out, startled. Her vision was still blurred by tears, and the thing dissolving her space suit was like an iridescent veil across the glass of her helmet, but through it all she could see the outline of her hand.
Not her glove.
Her hand.
52 min
September 14, 2023 Escape Pod 906: Trash (Flashback Friday)
Author : Marie Vibbert Narrator : Tatiana Grey Host : Valerie Valdes Audio Producer : Summer Brooks “Trash” was originally published in Escape Pod 467 (November 2014) Harsh language. Trash by Marie Vibbert Nanlee was a woman with the sort of past that necessitated moving to a non-extradition treaty country, but that didn’t mean she […]
Source
31 min
September 08, 2023 Escape Pod 905: Six Ways to Get Past the Shadow Shogun’s Goons, and One Thing to Do When You Get There
Six Ways to Get Past the Shadow Shogun's Goons, and One Thing to Do When You Get There
By Stewart C. Baker
1. Dust 'em
"Listen, little lady," the guy in front of the door is saying with a sneer. "There's two types of swordsman..."
Chiyome's already heard enough to peg his type, so she tunes out his braggadocio and pulls out a bag of nanite dust. She'd hoped to use her status as the Shingen warlord's only child to bluff her way in to the Shadow Shogun's presence, but the dust works too. She blows a handful in his face and he shrieks, drops his sword, then follows it to the floor, thrashing in the station's artificial gravity.
Behind her, Rui whistles. "What'd you give him?" The other woman asks.
"You know how my father's always talking about unsanctioned violence and other threats to order?"
"Sure, but I always figured he only says it because he's the one doing the sanctioning. No offense."
"None taken. The point is, every time this guy even thinks about violence for the next 4 hours, this will happen."
"Not bad."
"Not bad? It'll take you longer to beat the next one with your naginata, I bet."
"A bet, eh?" Rui cups Chiyome's chin in one long, slender hand and tilts her head up. "Well and good, then. We'll bet a favor."
"A favor and a kiss."
30 min
August 31, 2023 Escape Pod 904: Itoro fe Queen
Author : Maurice Broaddus Narrator : Cherrae L. Stuart Host : Mur Lafferty Audio Producer : Summer Brooks “Itoro fe Queen” was originally published in The Sunday Morning Transport, May 2022 Itoro fe Queen by Maurice Broaddus “It’s all gone.” The ethereal voice whispered—almost robotic and clearly distant—its desperate lament choked off with a gasp, […]
Source
26 min
August 24, 2023 Escape Pod 903: Bishop’s Opening (Part 4 of 4)
Bishop's Opening (Part 4 of 4)
By R.S.A. Garcia
The attendants set little bowls shaped like flower petals in front Sebastian and Olly. Steam drifted upward, redolent of fresh herbs and a hint of lime. Bits of white flesh speckled with green seasonings, and rolled dumplings floated in a golden broth.
"You must be hungry by now," Sticky said. "I made this fresh earlier today. But of course, you know that. I dropped an entire pot--"
"This is mom's fish broth, isn't it?" Olly said in a low voice, staring at the delicate transparent bowl.
"Her favourite," Sticky's voice was gentle and Sebastian's heart pinched at the melded love and loss in his expression. "The Bishop has a fondness for it as well. I make it often for him."
"Why do you call him the Bishop? Isn't Bishop his name?" Sebastian asked.
48 min
August 17, 2023 Escape Pod 902: Bishop’s Opening (Part 3 of 4)
Bishop's Opening (Part 3 of 4)
By R.S.A. Garcia
(Continued from Part 2...)
The Pawn was seated at the table with arms outstretched along its surface. Metal restraints held their forearms and wrists immobile. They had been stripped naked and their mask removed. Their neck and torso were fastened to the chair, which was bolted to the floor.
Bishop took the clear plastic robe Second Rook held out to him and wrapped it around himself. He strolled to the other end of the rectangular table, which had deep grooves around its edges. Sitting, he placed his left ankle on his right knee, gripping it lightly with his fingers.
The two Rooks stood on either side of the door as he studied the Pawn. Studied the even rise and fall of their pale brown chest and the smooth, emotionless face with its dark, angry eyes.
He gave himself time to bring his focus back to the task before him, instead of the swirl of conflicting emotions he'd left in the cabin, along with the most beautiful man he'd ever seen.
"No lies," Bishop said. "Or there will be consequences. Unlike some, I keep my word."
46 min
August 10, 2023 Escape Pod 901: Bishop’s Opening (Part 2 of 4)
Bishop's Opening (Part 2 of 4)
By R.S.A. Garcia
(Continued from Part 1...)
Bishop was alone in the Grandmaster's Penthouse suite when the call came from the Kingston. Once it was over and his Grandmaster's virtual form had dissipated, Bishop cursed under his breath.
The Grandmaster Valencia's ship had failed to jump to the nearest Arbor after leaving Consortium space because of another instance of miscalculation by the Coretrees. There had been minor errors before, on Valencia. He'd heard of an incident several tempi ago, when a Sept vineyard transition deposited travellers at the wrong Sept. But this was far more serious. This time, a mistake had left the Valencia's flagship stranded half a galaxy from their planned destination.
Whatever had caused the error, the crew no longer trusted the ship's quantum exchange would work accurately. As a result, the Grandmasters had chosen the long, slow flight to another Arbor. From there, they would transition to their Septhold vineyards safely, and allow the ship to be inspected and repaired.
But that meant his Grandmaster would not arrive in time for the meeting. He expected Bishop to handle it instead. Bishop did not look forward to the task of soothing the Bartica's temper once he realised the Kingston was not in attendance.
45 min
August 03, 2023 Escape Pod 900: Bishop’s Opening (Part 1 of 4)
Bishop's Opening (Part 1 of 4)
By R.S.A. Garcia
Old as she was, the Kiskadee had done three full delivery runs without a single safety incident. So naturally, with the crew relaxed after a fourth successful delivery and launch, and eight cycles after Reece slingshotted the starship around Tavaco to head back to the Roost and their next job, their luck ran out.
Sebastian was in the middle of his daily workout when the shrill bark of the fire alarm brought him to a halt.
"Where's that coming from?" he shouted as he hurried to unbuckle himself from the treadmill's harness with sweaty hands. Officially, he was the newest crewmember, two years into a three-year contract and designated as a cargo handler. The alarm meant the 'other duties as assigned' part of his contract was about to kick in.
"Ventilation shafts ten and eleven," Reece replied in his ear.
Sebastian was shoving his feet into his mag boots when the pilot added, "Origin point--Oxygen unit four."
41 min
July 27, 2023 Escape Pod 899: Sounding the Fall (Flashback Friday)
Author : Jei D. Marcade Narrator : Amanda Ching Host : Valerie Valdes Audio Producer : Summer Brooks “Sounding the Fall” is an Escape Pod Original, first published in July 2015. Sounding the Fall by Jei D. Marcade Sometimes, Narae can almost convince emself that the AI’s Voice was a dream. Some kind of minor […]
Source
37 min