EP110: Frankie the Spook
Published by SFEley on 14 Jun 2007 at 4:30 am.
12 Comments.
Filed under Podcasts, Rated PG.
By Mike Resnick.
Read by Stephen Eley.
Marvin leaned forward and squinted at Bacon’s image on his computer screen. “Will you do it?”
“Will the greatest writer in the history of the human race ghostwrite your pitiful little novel?” sneered Bacon. “Absolutely not.”
“But you ghosted for Shakespeare!” protested Marvin. “That’s why I had my computer assemble you.”
“Marvin, go write limpware and leave me alone.”
“It’s called software.”
Rated PG. Contains some coarse language and imagery, and potentially offensive literary theories.
alterion on 15 Jun 2007 at 3:33 am: 1
“its good to dream- but its better to take what you can live with and construct a story with it that you can love” <— this has to be the most profound thing i’ve ever heard on a podcast, ever
Julio from NY on 15 Jun 2007 at 10:49 am: 2
wow. I really felt for Bacon in this story. I’ll never ever consider becoming a ghostwriter ever again LOL.
Martin R on 17 Jun 2007 at 10:38 am: 3
This one was good fun. The Grumpy Old Bookman keeps recommending ghostwriting as a breadmaking occupation.
Derek on 18 Jun 2007 at 10:35 am: 4
I’m with Alterion. Very wise.
The story was great! Made me do a little research on the Shakespeare-Bacon theory. Interesting conspiracy.
Damien G Walter on 20 Jun 2007 at 3:11 pm: 5
I’d never read Mike Resnick before hearing his stuff on Escape Pod. Everyone of his featured so far has been excellent. I’ll be checking out his novels as soon as I get a chance.
Wez on 22 Jun 2007 at 6:30 am: 6
Being a new (read: trying) writer, I gained a different perspective on writing after listening to this story. The intro also set the scene quite nicely.
The ideas and dreams that you place in your stories appeal to a lot of people out there. On the other hand, when people read fiction they are expecting something to appeal to them. Ghostwriting or not, you’ll always have that latent connection with your readers, and I think you should keep that in mind.
Link 0 on 28 Jun 2007 at 1:22 pm: 7
Wow. Bacon is a total dick. I find it ironic but totally believable that someone who had such insight to write King Lear, Hamlet, etc. would have such lack of insight into his own ego. This was such a great story that reminded me of the Twilight Zone episode (The Bard) where a sitcom writer summons Shakespeare to write his pilot. Resnick has clearly done a much better job at telling the story.
Adam DeVeega on 30 Jun 2007 at 3:30 am: 8
What I never could understand was why, if Marvin assembled him, then why didn’t he just make him more agreeable. I guess it was the charater flaw that both enhanced his writing or that he thought he could manipulate him with it. I guess ego is what Resnick was trying to convey that drives these mad geniuses to their creative peaks… [Rest of comment deleted. Don't go personal, folks. -Ed.]
Omry on 13 Jul 2007 at 2:39 am: 9
Adam, it shows that you have no experience with construction of AI entities. unless you are one of the top experts, you don’t want to mess around with the structure of the positronic network. its very fragile!
araña on 28 Nov 2007 at 7:30 pm: 10
i heart mike resnick! “that fool would envy a turn of phrase that concisely asked directions to the men’s room.”
truly the most enjoyable episode i’ve heard so far, mainly because it hit so close to home. an angry englishman, blathering idiots and bad literature…what more could a girl want?
scatterbrain on 13 Apr 2008 at 2:55 pm: 11
Any other author would have screeched it up, but not Resnick, he sees the prize!
George on 21 May 2008 at 11:18 am: 12
Ahhh, the Absolutely Brilliant Mike Resnick!
Here indeed is a writer’s writer. Keep up the great work Mr Resnick …