Comments on: EP103: The Watching People

By: E H

E H — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:18:38 +0000

Fantastic story that hooked me on Escape Pod and reminded me why I have always loves SF short stories. Would like to hear more from this author.

By: Brother Osric’s Scriptorium » Blog Archive » "Just wait ’til NEXT year!"

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 04:46:25 +0000

[...] them both out at Variant Frequencies, a superbly produced collection), and Paul Berger’s “The Watching People” (Escape [...]

By: Motti

Motti — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:45:02 +0000

A great story! It reminded me of one of my favorites, The Flying Sorcerers by Niven and Gerrold.

By: Synthesizing Science Fiction at TealArt

Synthesizing Science Fiction at TealArt — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:03:32 +0000

[...] and science fiction.) While we’re on the anthro connection I’d also point out “The Watching People” which appeared on EscapePod a few weeks ago. If you’re not familiar with escape-pod [...]

By: Dave (aka Nev the Deranged)

Dave (aka Nev the Deranged) — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:59:52 +0000

I was wondering exactly where the ship plans to land... perhaps in the middle of the village? That might work out best for the galaxy in the long run...

Definitely one of the best EP stories I've heard so far, and as Chris said, more effectively chilling than many PP eps. Good choice, Steve!

By: Danthelawyer

Danthelawyer — Mon, 28 May 2007 21:05:33 +0000

I've been listening to Escape Pod for about six months now, and this was definitely one of my favorites.

Now, where can I find this in print, so I can share it? Ideomancer's on-line archives only go back to 2005.

Thanks!

By: Martin Rundkvist

Martin Rundkvist — Sat, 26 May 2007 20:00:07 +0000

Great story!

I wonder what the blast radius of the landing ship is like. How many survivors? And I'd also like to know if the ship will be able to take off again, and if it will, whether it will have fuel enough left to anyplace.

By: dscarron

dscarron — Sat, 12 May 2007 07:32:07 +0000

Great story. Reminded me of a Golden Age first contact but put on it’s head.

By: naming

naming — Wed, 02 May 2007 16:35:54 +0000

god help that galaxy once the watching people discard the direct questions taboo and are capable of innovating independantly.

By: Bill Ruhsam

Bill Ruhsam — Wed, 02 May 2007 02:13:18 +0000

Fabulous story. I especially liked how the researcher POV was aware of his own ignorance with respect to surviving in the marshes, but we listeners know that even he doesn't know how much he is unaware of. God help that galaxy once the Watching People get out.

By: Bryce Fields

Bryce Fields — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:53:30 +0000

I'm doing something right now for the first time ever. I'm listening to a story from Escape Pod a second time! Even though I have a tremendous backlog of my favorite podcasts to wade through, it's worth the effort to hear this story one (two, three???) more times. Very well written. Not a weak spot in the entire story.

Nice work, Paul Berger.

By: ChrisAaron

ChrisAaron — Tue, 01 May 2007 07:55:31 +0000

Wow. 'Chilling' is right.

This story sent more shivers down my spine than all but two Pseudopod episodes.

They are warm, fuzzy, and Innocent, for now, and we all love them. Later they sweep over the galaxy and we become watchers, or extinct.

By: photogirl

photogirl — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:17:56 +0000

I think this is the same Paul Berger who has a story in the D. Moles antho "20 Epics."

Good stuff here.

By: Omry

Omry — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 06:38:19 +0000

Fantastic story, feels like a setup for a much larger piece – which I would love to read/hear .

By: Kaylea

Kaylea — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:16:00 +0000

Wow — definitely a favorite. Where can I read more work by Paul Berger? My googling is coming up empty .

By: David

David — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 01:44:46 +0000

I absolutely loved this. Such an interesting concept to create the “Watching People”, who basically have a cult of knowledge. It’s a good POV story, and it created a sense of immersion and companionship with the Watching People. Overall my favorite story since Nightfall.

By: Formerly Evil

Formerly Evil — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 21:20:52 +0000

This was a terrific story. I especially enjoyed the alien POV and the total cluelessness of the human scientist. The scene where the Watching People communicate with “the man in the small box” was simultaneously funny and chilling. Loved it!

By: naming

naming — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 19:38:57 +0000

sayeth: thanks.

By: Sayeth

Sayeth — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 13:17:33 +0000

I think the Watching People had, through evolution and culture, established such a value on gaining knowledge that asking a direct question would imply that one couldn’t figure it out on his own. It would be the equivalent to asking someone to read a sign to you when you’re able to read for yourself. The same goes with being told something directly — it’s like the other couldn’t figure it out with just a hint, and on this world, not being able to figure things out quickly would mean death.

By: naming

naming — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 06:53:03 +0000

i didn't want this one to end. "prime-directive" stories have been a favorite of mine ever since Data went amnesic and stumbled into a pre-industrial civilizations.

but, could someone explain the "context" that promoted their aversion to direct questions? did i miss something important?