That accent ruined the story a second time, it was so very hokey. I personally am offended by Evo’s attempt to sound like Ricardo Montobaln’s rich and authentic accent.

Either there has been a mild injustice or modern speculative fiction is going down the shitter.

I don’t see anything wrong with affecting an accent in reading a story like Don Ysidro. I tried without the accent and with it. I quickly rejected the one without. To me the accent is needed, not to keep it authentic, but to get closer to the root of the story. I’m sure Evo would say the same thing. If we lose the Sporks out there, so be it.

I think Evo did an excellent job. I also encourage folks to subscribe to Bruce’s stories, which are wonderful. The cost is now $10 a year, not $5. Still, that’s a little over a quarter a story. Well worth it.

Has anyone read the SciFi story “Potters of Firsk” by Jack Vance? I listened to an old Dimension X radio broadcast of this story a few days after I listened to “Don Ysidro”. Amazing! Two stories about using the dead to make pottery.

I assume the author has read the Vance story, but maybe they are both from a common folk tale. The stories are actually quite different in tone and setting.

Steve keep up the good work. And I didn’t mind the accent.

THAT’s what made it such a shitball reading. It yanked me kicking and screaming out of the story. Why do you think audiobooks are read by actors and voice professionals? Steve’s lucky enough to be a natrually gifted reader/storyteller. Evo, is not. Evo is, however, burdened with an over-inflated ego, and an opinion of his vocal abilities that far outpaces reality.

Steve (was: Scott)? Next time where you’ve got a need for a hick from Oklahoma voice, drop me a line. I’m your man.

E.

I love the podcast!

Opinions vary. I personally liked Evo’s reading quite a bit, and others have said the same, including the story’s author. I am sorry you didn’t. Of course no one’s going to like every story or every reading, but I do hope you’ll stick around to listen to the next one.

Are you really insulting your contributing writers?

Evo sucked. No, this isn’t a statement of opinion, he genuinely sucked sweat off a donkey’s balls with his reading. There’s a truism in businesses that deal with customers. Yeah, I know you’re not much of an actual business, but hear this out. For every one customer from whom you hear a complaint, there are about a dozen with the same opinion from whom you don’t hear. Ever. They just go away.

Your sarcasm, and apparent lack of faith in your contributing authors’ abilities to convey mood and culture in a piece without the benefit of a poorly-performed reading is sadly disappointing.