Variant Frequencies

Best Speculative Fiction Story (Short Form)

• Clarkesworld Magazine – The Things by Peter Watts [subscribe]
• Podcastle – Restless in my Hand by Tim Pratt [subscribe]
• Tales of the Children – Swimming Lessons by Gabrielle Harbowy [subscribe]
• The Tank by Scott Sigler
• The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine – A Princess Of Earth by Mike Resnick [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Story (Novella Form)

• Tattoo by Paul Elard Cooley [subscribe]
• 7th Son: 7 Days by J.C. Hutchins [subscribe]
• Heaven – Season Five: War by Mur Lafferty [subscribe]
• Personal Effects: Sword of Blood by J.C. Hutchins [subscribe]
• Title Fight by Scott Sigler & Matt Wallace [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Story (Long Form)

• 7th Son: Descent (2009 production) by J.C. Hutchins [subscribe]
• Captain’s Share by Nathan Lowell [subscribe]
• Infected by Scott Sigler [subscribe]
• Underwood and Flinch by Mike Bennett [subscribe]
• Secret World Chronicle by Mercedes Lackey, Dennis Lee, Steve Libbey, and Cody Martin, with the reading done by Veronica Giguere [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Short Form)

• The Metamor City Podcast – Whispers in the Wood by Chris Lester [subscribe]
• In The Gloaming by Nathaniel Tapley [subscribe]
• Batman: The Ace of Detectives by Pendant Productions [subscribe]
• Sea of Stars: A Voyage of the Space Cruiser Argo by Devin Cox [subscribe]
• The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd by Grant Baciocco & Doug Price [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Long Form)

• Star Trek: Outpost by Daniel McIntosh & Tony Raymond [subscribe]
• Twilight Theatre – Sides by Mike Murphy [subscribe]
• We’re Alive by KC Wayland, Shane Salk, & Greyson Stone [subscribe]
• The Byron Chronicles by Eric Busby [subscribe]
• Decoder Ring Theatre by Gregg Taylor [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Video Story

• Calls for Cthulhuby Brand Gamblin [subscribe]
• GOLD: Season 1 by David Nett & Andrew Deutsch [subscribe]
• Grant’s Advent Calendar by Grant Baciocco [subscribe]
• The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd by Grant Baciocco & Doug Price [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast

• The Drabblecast edited by Norm Sherman [subscribe]
• Erotica à la Carte edited by P. J. Ballantine [subscribe]
• The Crypt edited by Scott Sigler [subscribe]
• Escape Pod edited by Mur Lafferty [subscribe]
• Variant Frequencies edited by Rick Stringer [subscribe]

Best New Speculative Fiction Podcaster/Team

• Brass Needles hosted by Miss Kalendar [subscribe]
• The Dreamer’s Thread by Starla Huchton [subscribe]
• The Gearheart by Alexander White [subscribe]
• In The Gloaming by Nathaniel Tapley [subscribe]
• ShadowCast Audio Anthology by Jason Warden [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Fan or News Podcast (Specific)

• The ScapeCast featuring Brent Barrett, Chris Polansky, Hank Shiffman, Kevin Bachelder, Kimberly Thompson, Lindy Rae, Michael Falkner, Sammy Mohr, & Wendy Hembrock [subscribe]
• The Signal featuring Kari Haley, Kevin Bachelder, Kara Helgren, Les Howard, Jutta Jordans, Dave Tomasic, Andy King, Nick Edwards, Miranda Thomas, Helen Eaton, Anna Snyder, James Parkinson, & Jill Arroway [subscribe]
• The Babylon Podcast featuring Tim Callender, Summer Brooks, & Jeffrey Willerth [subscribe]
• The ForceCast featuring Jason Swank & Jimmy “Mac” McInerney [subscribe]
• The H.P. Lovecraft Literary Podcast featuring Chris Lackey & Chad Fifer [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Fan or News Podcast (General)

• Television Zombies featuring Tina, Chris, Jeff, & Chuck [subscribe]
• PodCulture featuring Brad, Glenn, Christina, & Adam [subscribe]
• Galactic Watercooler featuring Audra, Chuck, & Sean [subscribe]
• Geek Radio Daily featuring Billy Flynn, The Flynstress, & The Bruce [subscribe]
• WhatTheCast featuring Brian, Stephen, Crispy, & Patrick [subscribe]

Best Podcast about Speculative Fiction Content Creation

• The Dead Robots’ Society featuring Justin Macumber, Ryan Stevenson, Terry Mixon, & P.G. Holyfield [subscribe]
• Writing Excuses featuring Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Eric James Stone, Howard Tayler, & Stacy Whitman [subscribe]
• The Henson.com Podcast featuring The Jim Henson Company, Grant Baciocco, Producer [subscribe]
• I Should Be Writing featuring Mur Lafferty [subscribe]
• Unleashed featuring James Melzer [subscribe]

Best Fact Behind the Fiction Podcast

• The 365 Days of Astronomy featuring the Astrosphere New Media Association [subscribe]
• The Command Line Podcast featuring Thomas Gideon [subscribe]
• Skepticality featuring Derek Colanduno & Robynn “Swoopy” McCarthy [subscribe]
• The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe featuring Steven Novella, Robert Novella, Rebecca Watson, Evan Bernstein, Jay Novella, & Perry DeAngelis [subscribe]
• Skeptoid featuring Brian Dunning [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Comedy/Parody Podcast

• Dragon*ConTV featuring Brian Richardson & crew [subscribe]
• Bell’s In The Batfry featuring John Bell [subscribe]
• Teknikal Diffikulties featuring Cayenne Chris Conroy [subscribe]
• Comedy4Cast featuring Clinton Alvord [subscribe]
• Frequency of Fear featuring Zombie Astronaut [subscribe]

Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast

• The FuMP featuring Devo Spice, Possible Oscar, Raymond and Scum, Rob Balder, Robert Lund and Spaff.com, the great Luke Ski, Tom Smith, & Worm Quartet [subscribe]
• Radio Free Hipster featuring Z. [subscribe]
• Wander Radio featuring Jack Hosley [subscribe]
• Wandering Geek Podcast featuring Curt Ardent & Scott Langsten [subscribe]

This is a special live recording from Balticon 44. Recorded on May 30, 2010
***
Written by Jonathan C. Gillespie
Narrated by Rick Stringer & Michael Spence

The Encroacher
Copyright 2010 Jonathan C. Gillespie
http://jonathancg.net

Variant Frequencies
Copyright 2010 Rick Stringer
http://www.variantfrequencies.com

***

 

 VF115: The Encroacher [38:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is a special live recording from Balticon 44. Recorded on May 28, 2010.

On Sunday May 30, we will be recording our final episode at Balticon 44.

***

Written by Matt Wallace

Narrated by Rick Stringer

A World Made of Wax
Copyright 2010 Matt Wallace http://www.matt-wallace.com

Variant Frequencies Copyright 2010 Rick Stringer http://www.variantfrequencies.com

***

 

 VF114: A World Made of Wax [26:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We have had five awesome seasons of Variant Frequencies. However, in recent months my work life has gotten to be more challenging than in the past. It is harder to concentrate on the podcast.

All good things must come to an end. On May 30, 2010 we will be doing a live show at Balticon 44. That will be the final episode of Variant Frequencies. We hope that any of you who will be at Balticon 44 will come join us for this farewell performance. It is an opportunity to celebrate and say goodbye, instead of simply fading away.

We can’t thank the Farpoint Media family enough. It has been an honor and a privilege to be associated with this wonderful group of people. We will keep the site going as long as FPM is willing to let us. That will keep all of the stories available. It will also leave open the possibility of one day returning if I get the bug again.

Then we have the amazing writers: A.R. Yngve, Adrian Grey Marsden, Bryn Sparks, Carmelo Rafala, Christa Faust, D.K. Thompson, Darren Reid, David Tallerman, Dennis Egan, D.J. Burnham, James P. Hogan, Jason McDowell, Jonathan C. Gillespie, Johathan McGoran, Michael Natale, Ray Banks, Scott Sigler, Seth Harwood, Matthew Warner, Jack Mangan, D. M. Moehrle, Michael A. Stackpole, Ray Banks, Jack Westlake, and of course the two authors for which this podcast was originally started, Anne Stringer and Matt Wallace.

Variant Frequencies could not have existed without the incredible voice talents of: Stacey Griffith-Livingston, Tom “DevoSpice” Rockwell, Ian Jones, Anne Stringer, Maia “KnitWhitch” Whitaker, Anton Buntic, Heidi Jones, Jan Dalton, Evo Terra, Neil Stringer, Adrian Grey Marsden, A.R. Yngve, Jeff Frank, Scott Sigler, Ali Groves, Rich Sigfrit, Dani Cutler, Nan Worthington, Tee Morris, Mur Lafferty, Michael R. Mennenga, Chuck Tomasi, Leann Mabry, J. Marcus Xavior, John Cmar, Jack Hosley, Tony McCartney, Matthew Wayne Selznick, Will Hoffacker, Phil Rossi, Jack Ward, Lonnie Ezell, Ciaran O’Carroll, Nobilis, Paul S. Jenkins, Lorrie Mennenga, TD-0013, P.G. Holyfield, Seth Harwood, Thomas “cmdln” Gideon, Marck Pearlstone, Matthew Warner, Heather Welliver, Kreg Steppe, Matt Wallace, J.C. Hutchins, Chris Lester, Marilyn Taylor, Michael A. Stackpole, Sean “Dogg” Robertson, Benjamin Grundy, Christopher Mott, and Alasdair Stuart.

We also had some beautiful artwork by: Deena Warner, Paul Drummond, and Vincent Chong.

A major part of Variant Frequencies has been the music. We have been honored to feature music by: Abney Park, Cagey House, Evan Tate, Greg Seaman, Mue Sephei, Neil Stringer, and the Traverse Symphony Orchestra.

Finally, we want to thank you, the listeners. Without you, Variant Frequencies would have had no reason to be. It has been truly an honor to have you listen to our stories. We can only hope that we entertained you, and distorted your reality…

for just a little while.

In the far future, the last leader of a reviled messianic religious order explores her faith as she struggles to save the planet from an apocalypse.
***
Written and narrated by Matthew Warner

Music
Digital Juice
http://www.digitaljuice.com

Noah’s Temple
Copyright 2010 Matthew Warner
http://www.matthewwarner.com

Variant Frequencies
Copyright 2010 Rick Stringer
http://www.variantfrequencies.com

***

 

 VF113: Noahs Temple [74:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We have a special treat for you.

A few months back, Kenn Crawford was looking for voices for his new podiobook, “Dead Hunt.” I agreed to do one of those voices. We are sharing with you episode one of Dead Hunt. I think you are going to like it, and if you do be sure to go to http://deadhunt.kenncrawford.com, or soon you will be able to subscribe to the entire story at http://www.podiobooks.com.

“Dead Hunt“ episode one by Kenn Crawford

Off the coast of Nova Scotia on a remote island, a lonely scientist, a powerful computer, a simple mistake. Unleashes a new threat, somewhere in the hills of Margaree.

“Dead Hunt” is Kenn Crawford’s chilling tale of a desperate father’s undying love, a daughter frozen in time, and the small group of teens trapped in the aftermath.

“Everyone makes mistakes. Some are small, some are bigger. My father’s mistake, born of an innocent heart and fueled by sadness, was the greatest mistake. Some thought the death of his little girl drove him to the point of insanity; some thought he was trying to be God. But, this is not how it happened. The truth is, he wanted to save me. To give me life. And, in doing so, everyone was doomed.” ~Robin

Dead Hunt is narrated by R.E. Chambliss (Dreaming of Deliverance), and features the voice talents of: Kimi Alexandre, Brian Brown, Ry Stevenson, Melissa Bartell, Erk and Kim Butler with special guest appearances by Andrew Ball, Arlene Radasky, Judy, Kristopher Lamont, Lindsey Burns, Lisa Tobias, Neil Stringer, Nobilis Reed, Randall Carruthers, Tom Storms and Featuring Rick Stringer of Variant Frequencies as the voice of Professor Patrick Heslin, and introducing “Robin” as herself.

 

 Dead Hunt [15:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A wounded man finds himself driven underground, into the purgatory of tunnels that honneycomb the ruined earth. Battling for a life he knows he’s already lost, he is haunted by fever dreams of a time before the Accident: of blue skies, green grass, of his long-dead mother. If the rats don’t get him, if the poison coursing through his veins doesn’t kill him, there are worse things hidden in the depths. Worst of all may be the answers to the questions that have haunted his whole life…
***
Written by David Tallerman
Narrated by TD-0013

Music
Digital Juice
http://www.digitaljuice.com

Sound Effects
Soundsnap
http://www.soundsnap.com/

Promo
A Different Point of View
http://www.adpov.net

The Seeker Cast
http://www.seekercast.com

How To Grow Your Geek
http://www.howtogrowyourgeek.net/

The DragonLance Canticle
http://www.dlcanticle.com

Survivor Guilt
Copyright 2010 David Tallerman
http://davidtallerman.net/

Variant Frequencies
Copyright 2010 Rick Stringer
http://www.variantfrequencies.com

***

 

 VF112: Survivor Guilt [32:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Ever since Saint Darwin returned with harvested seeds from an Egyptian bush that wouldn’t burn, golem constables have worked alongside human and ghost inspectors. They patrol England’s cobblestone streets together, keeping them safe from the monsters the patron saint of scientists exposed to the world. But when inanimate golems are being trafficked by a shadowy group of businessmen dressed up in wicked smiles and sharp teeth, it’s up to the Paranormal Patrol’s newest created member – Constable Lump – to go undercover in the gaslit night and learn where his missing brethren have vanished to, without sacrificing his newfound life getting the answers.
***
Written by D.K. Thompson
Narrated by Rick Stringer
Voices: Ali Groves, Marck Pearlstone, Dani Cutler, and Alasdair Stuart
Art: Vincent Chong

Music
Abney Park
http://www.abneypark.com

Digital Juice
http://www.digitaljuice.com

Promo
Dead Hunt
http://deadhunt.kenncrawford.com

Vincent Chong
http://vincentchongart.wordpress.com

Murky Depths
http://www.murkydepths.com

Heart of Clay: A Saint Darwin’s Spiritual
Copyright 2010 D.K. Thompson
http://krylyr.livejournal.com/

Variant Frequencies
Copyright 2010 Rick Stringer
http://www.variantfrequencies.com

***

 

 VF111: Heart of Clay [47:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hi everyone. This post was supposed to be a celebration of our fourth anniversary, on our anniversary. Unfortunately for us, Variant Frequencies was off-line for a week and a half, we were unable to post this on the actual anniversary. Thank you to everyone who stuck with us.

On January 24th, 2006, Variant Frequencies was born. It is hard to believe that we have been going for over four years now. Many things have happened in those four years.

We started out as a showcase of the writing by Matt Wallace and Anne Stringer. Our first story was written by Matt Wallace. Another Man’s Run was released in two parts.

Another Man’s Run – part 1

Another Man’s Run – part 2

Our second story was another Matt Wallace piece. Absolution Insured was not only a great story, but it won a Parsec Award for Best Short Story. Not bad for only the second story that we produced.

Absolution Insured

After that was the beginning of the ground breaking “The Failed Cities Monologues” by Matt Wallace. This dystopian tale was told from the perspective of eight characters. It was critically acclaimed, and also appeared on Podiobooks.com.

The Failed Cities Monologues 01: Ethan

Our first story written by Anne Stringer was “Evelyn.” Evelyn, actually is two stories in one podcast episode. It is two short stories called “Any Other Name,” and “Evelyn.” Both stories are narrated by Stacey Griffith Livingston.

Evelyn

Over the next three years, we added more authors and won three more Parsec Awards.

Now, in our fifth season, we are bringing you even more great stories.

Thank you for listening to Variant Frequencies. We hope you have found our stories to be entertaining.

It’s Christmas Eve. Private detective, Dan Taylor is contemplating his past and his future, or lack of one. Then a potential client comes to his door.
***
Written by Michael A. Stackpole
Narrated by Christopher Mott

Music
Digital Juice
http://www.digitaljuice.com

Promos
Dead Hunt
http://deadhunt.kenncrawford.com

The Leviathan Chronicles
http://www.leviathanchronicles.com/

A Real Christmas
Copyright 2010 Michael A. Stackpole
http://www.stormwolf.com

Variant Frequencies
Copyright 2010 Rick Stringer
http://www.variantfrequencies.com

***

 

 VF110: A Real Christmas [39:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download