Comments on: EP119: Aliens Want Our Women http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/ The Science Fiction Podcast Magazine. Each week Escape Pod delivers science fiction short stories from today's best authors. Listen today, and hear the new sound of science fiction! Tue, 08 May 2012 17:42:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: scatterbrain http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-8475 scatterbrain Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:22:18 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-8475 <p>Not bad and a first for a non-evil reason for aliens visiting Earth.</p> <p>Like 'Childhood's End' for the 'Women's fiction column'.</p> Not bad and a first for a non-evil reason for aliens visiting Earth.

Like ‘Childhood’s End’ for the ‘Women’s fiction column’.

]]> By: KingNor http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7303 KingNor Thu, 18 Oct 2007 07:17:11 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7303 <p>Laputa has a pair that are instantly friends and don't bicker.</p> <p>Amazing for fantasy/sci-fi. Even more amazing for Anime.</p> Laputa has a pair that are instantly friends and don’t bicker.

Amazing for fantasy/sci-fi. Even more amazing for Anime.

]]> By: Kay http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7304 Kay Mon, 08 Oct 2007 13:49:50 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7304 <p>The funniest thing about this podcast is that the story reminded me of a German song from 1981: "Fred from Jupiter". The planet next to the space rift and the golden appearance of this women's alien are the basic plot outline of this 16 year old new wave monstrosity as well as this episode. Fascinating!</p> <p>Witness the original at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw5F8Noxgu4</p> The funniest thing about this podcast is that the story reminded me of a German song from 1981: “Fred from Jupiter”. The planet next to the space rift and the golden appearance of this women’s alien are the basic plot outline of this 16 year old new wave monstrosity as well as this episode. Fascinating!

Witness the original at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw5F8Noxgu4

]]> By: Wolf-in-cheep-clothing http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7282 Wolf-in-cheep-clothing Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:40:41 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7282 <p>I love this podcast! When I fist read scifi some 36 years go, I started with Star Trek. Although I am not technoaly a "Treker" I have attended some cons and even was a LtCmnd abord a starship. (Not a real starship, I was a a memeber of Starfleet, the oldest trek club going sfi.org) I then moved on to the twilgiht zone, then Ray Bradbery. I am starting to move into the world of horror, and am working on a story of my own. I even have a few charitors though I am not serrious in anything. Three of the comic relef in the story are a set of Kitsune brothers a' al three stooges. The story I am working on is Werewolf/CSI. What if there was a werewolf verson during a crime wave while they were hidng in plan sight? (Personal Note, I know my spelling is bad, but that is why the grate cheese god created spell checks)</p> I love this podcast! When I fist read scifi some 36 years go, I started with Star Trek. Although I am not technoaly a “Treker” I have attended some cons and even was a LtCmnd abord a starship. (Not a real starship, I was a a memeber of Starfleet, the oldest trek club going sfi.org)
I then moved on to the twilgiht zone, then Ray Bradbery. I am starting to move into the world of horror, and am working on a story of my own. I even have a few charitors though I am not serrious in anything. Three of the comic relef in the story are a set of Kitsune brothers a’ al three stooges. The story I am working on is Werewolf/CSI. What if there was a werewolf verson during a crime wave while they were hidng in plan sight? (Personal Note, I know my spelling is bad, but that is why the grate cheese god created spell checks)

]]> By: SFEley http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7302 SFEley Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:44:50 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7302 <p>Hi Ferdinand,</p> <p>Yes, it's the Drabblecast, at: <a href="http://www.drabblecast.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.drabblecast.org</a></p> <p>You'll also find a link to it in the "Referenced Sites" section at the end of the show notes.</p> <p>I hope you enjoy it! I've been listening, and it's a lot of fun.</p> Hi Ferdinand,

Yes, it’s the Drabblecast, at:
http://www.drabblecast.org

You’ll also find a link to it in the “Referenced Sites” section at the end of the show notes.

I hope you enjoy it! I’ve been listening, and it’s a lot of fun.

]]> By: Ferdinand http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7301 Ferdinand Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:45:59 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7301 <p>What website was advertised at the end of the podcast? Something like drabbelcast? I was trying to find it but no luck.</p> <p>Could somebody provide a link please?</p> What website was advertised at the end of the podcast? Something like drabbelcast? I was trying to find it but no luck.

Could somebody provide a link please?

]]> By: CDQ http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7300 CDQ Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:56:26 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7300 <p>Good story. And a great reader.</p> Good story. And a great reader.

]]> By: spellwight http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7289 spellwight Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:03:58 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7289 <p>I've been listening for a long time and this is the first time I've been compelled to comment. Kind of like how every women on Earth is compelled to fall for that one guy. Yuk.</p> <p>I thought he sounded smarmy, too. There must have been a paragraph missing at the end where the female character (who didn't even get a name) puts Les in his place and takes over his ship.</p> I’ve been listening for a long time and this is the first time I’ve been compelled to comment. Kind of like how every women on Earth is compelled to fall for that one guy. Yuk.

I thought he sounded smarmy, too. There must have been a paragraph missing at the end where the female character (who didn’t even get a name) puts Les in his place and takes over his ship.

]]> By: Pam http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7288 Pam Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:19:48 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7288 <p>I found the story amusing.</p> <p>The LUV angle was laid on so thick, though, I was sure it would turn out to be a variant on Bluebeard. Instead, it devolved into a long speculation on the role of females in galactic civilizations. I laughed at the ending.</p> <p>I had more trouble with the first half of the story. EVERY woman on Earth wants this latinesque lover? (I thought he sounded smarmy.) Married women, too? Women who live under strict patriarchies? There's no mention of what the men think of Les. It's all swept under the rug of space constraints.</p> I found the story amusing.

The LUV angle was laid on so thick, though, I was sure it would turn out to be a variant on Bluebeard. Instead, it devolved into a long speculation on the role of females in galactic civilizations. I laughed at the ending.

I had more trouble with the first half of the story. EVERY woman on Earth wants this latinesque lover? (I thought he sounded smarmy.) Married women, too? Women who live under strict patriarchies? There’s no mention of what the men think of Les. It’s all swept under the rug of space constraints.

]]> By: Bright Lies http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7285 Bright Lies Fri, 24 Aug 2007 05:41:16 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7285 <p>Long time Escape Pod listener, first time poster:</p> <p>Good story, gimme more!</p> <p>Maybe I'll have more insightful comments for the next one.</p> <p>FEED THE POD!</p> <p>BL</p> Long time Escape Pod listener, first time poster:

Good story, gimme more!

Maybe I’ll have more insightful comments for the next one.

FEED THE POD!

BL

]]> By: wonkachocolatebars http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7281 wonkachocolatebars Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:33:23 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7281 <p>I agree with Gary H, we men don't make ourselves too attracting to women and so, when something new comes along thats more appealing to them, they jump for it.</p> <p>I personally liked this story alot and I believe that even though it wasn't as thought provoking as some others, it still was a good story.</p> I agree with Gary H, we men don’t make ourselves too attracting to women and so, when something new comes along thats more appealing to them, they jump for it.

I personally liked this story alot and I believe that even though it wasn’t as thought provoking as some others, it still was a good story.

]]> By: Dave (aka Nev the Deranged) http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7287 Dave (aka Nev the Deranged) Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:40:48 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7287 <p>Meh. This one sounded like it was written back in the days when misogyny was still an acceptable trope of science fiction, which was written almost exclusively by men. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd have thought this one was. What exactly about this demonstrated a positive relationship model? Was it the manipulations, or was it the lies? Tough call. Frankly, although I was reasonably amused by this story while listening (I've mentioned I'm a pretty easy mark for any story), in retrospect, it doesn't say anything kind about men or women, or aliens for that matter. The idea that aliens desire Earth's movies for their value as commodities was more believable than the idea that <em>every woman on the planet</em> would do anything, let alone fawn over some alien guy. Every woman on the planet has different tastes and desires in a mate, if they have such desires at all. Some women even prefer <em>gasp</em> other women! It was like a reflex for me, each time the phrase "every woman" was used, to think "what about lesbians?", and that's just the most obvious one.</p> <p>If I had run across this story in the old issues of Asimov's I've got stacked in my bathroom, I could have forgiven it (as I have already forgiven several of the stories in them). But here on EP, it gets merely a resounding "meh".</p> Meh. This one sounded like it was written back in the days when misogyny was still an acceptable trope of science fiction, which was written almost exclusively by men. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d have thought this one was. What exactly about this demonstrated a positive relationship model? Was it the manipulations, or was it the lies? Tough call. Frankly, although I was reasonably amused by this story while listening (I’ve mentioned I’m a pretty easy mark for any story), in retrospect, it doesn’t say anything kind about men or women, or aliens for that matter. The idea that aliens desire Earth’s movies for their value as commodities was more believable than the idea that every woman on the planet would do anything, let alone fawn over some alien guy. Every woman on the planet has different tastes and desires in a mate, if they have such desires at all. Some women even prefer gasp other women! It was like a reflex for me, each time the phrase “every woman” was used, to think “what about lesbians?”, and that’s just the most obvious one.

If I had run across this story in the old issues of Asimov’s I’ve got stacked in my bathroom, I could have forgiven it (as I have already forgiven several of the stories in them). But here on EP, it gets merely a resounding “meh”.

]]> By: TZ http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7299 TZ Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:35:42 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7299 <p>Hated this story, but I was intrigued by the question in your intro, Steve. I have been racking my brain trying to think of sci fi stories that have good examples of functioning relationships. Came up with lots of examples of bad relationships. Robert Jordan definately won that one, with his endless fantasy series about a world where guys and girls just can't seem to ever understand each other (LAME!)One example of well portrayed love I came up with is from escape pod, the story L'Alchemista, which was infinately more romantic and respectful than this latest post.</p> <p>Man, I love this site, but that story was a stinker.</p> Hated this story, but I was intrigued by the question in your intro, Steve. I have been racking my brain trying to think of sci fi stories that have good examples of functioning relationships. Came up with lots of examples of bad relationships. Robert Jordan definately won that one, with his endless fantasy series about a world where guys and girls just can’t seem to ever understand each other (LAME!)One example of well portrayed love I came up with is from escape pod, the story L’Alchemista, which was infinately more romantic and respectful than this latest post.

Man, I love this site, but that story was a stinker.

]]> By: Gary H http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7284 Gary H Tue, 21 Aug 2007 05:06:42 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7284 <p>Good read. OK story. I'm a man, so I'm a little biased, but I think earth men are at least sufficient to breed with, thus making use more desirable than aliens.</p> <p>I also have a fabulous relationship with my wife, so think intra-species relationships is one of humankind's defining characteristics.</p> Good read. OK story. I’m a man, so I’m a little biased, but I think earth men are at least sufficient to breed with, thus making use more desirable than aliens.

I also have a fabulous relationship with my wife, so think intra-species relationships is one of humankind’s defining characteristics.

]]> By: automatic.badgirl http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7298 automatic.badgirl Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:03:59 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7298 <p>I agree--Ms. Mabry's reading was very well done, but the story left with the overwhelming feeling that I'd just been patted on the head metaphorically.</p> <p>This kind of harkens back to early 90's Spice Girl's "girl power" nonsense, where women could be anything they wanted provided they were cute and boy-crazy while doing it.</p> <p>Simeon made a great point about the "search for better dick",(he also made me snort laughter at work) this is like the Cosmo version of a science fiction story.</p> <p>Not so much with the tongue in cheek and more with the overall bad taste in the mouth over here, frankly.</p> I agree–Ms. Mabry’s reading was very well done, but the story left with the overwhelming feeling that I’d just been patted on the head metaphorically.

This kind of harkens back to early 90′s Spice Girl’s “girl power” nonsense, where women could be anything they wanted provided they were cute and boy-crazy while doing it.

Simeon made a great point about the “search for better dick”,(he also made me snort laughter at work) this is like the Cosmo version of a science fiction story.

Not so much with the tongue in cheek and more with the overall bad taste in the mouth over here, frankly.

]]> By: David http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7283 David Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:40:14 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7283 <p>Well read story, but I have to agree with Simeon and Martin on this one. Tongue-in-cheek is one thing, but this story basically hinges on the little twist at the end, and it's entirely too implausible to justify the story so far. We expect the power of "a woman scorned" to defy all modern science and propel us by leaps and bounds into the future. I just don't see how the sci-fi medium is necessary to get the author's view across here. The story also seems to be caught between misogyny and feminism, between empowering the women of Earth and having them fawning over one "uber-man" from beyond the stars. For a truly good piece on manipulative aliens taking advantage of Earth, try the much better and more complex "Betelgeuse Bridge", by William Tenn.</p> Well read story, but I have to agree with Simeon and Martin on this one. Tongue-in-cheek is one thing, but this story basically hinges on the little twist at the end, and it’s entirely too implausible to justify the story so far. We expect the power of “a woman scorned” to defy all modern science and propel us by leaps and bounds into the future. I just don’t see how the sci-fi medium is necessary to get the author’s view across here. The story also seems to be caught between misogyny and feminism, between empowering the women of Earth and having them fawning over one “uber-man” from beyond the stars. For a truly good piece on manipulative aliens taking advantage of Earth, try the much better and more complex “Betelgeuse Bridge”, by William Tenn.

]]> By: Martin Rundkvist http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7297 Martin Rundkvist Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:46:56 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7297 <p>Yeah, I didn't get this one either. Steve said something in the intro about it being tongue-in-cheek, but that wasn't really my impression. More like very mildly humorous and lacking a punchline.</p> <p>I liked Ms Mabry's reading, though.</p> Yeah, I didn’t get this one either. Steve said something in the intro about it being tongue-in-cheek, but that wasn’t really my impression. More like very mildly humorous and lacking a punchline.

I liked Ms Mabry’s reading, though.

]]> By: Simeon http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7286 Simeon Sat, 18 Aug 2007 14:50:17 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7286 <p>So, the moral of this story is: Men on Earth are so lame, and the alternatives of boxes of chocolate and fresh batteries so unsatisfying, that the women of Earth not lucky enough to be lesbians, are going figure out interstellar travel, just to get some better dick.</p> <p>Wow.</p> So, the moral of this story is: Men on Earth are so lame, and the alternatives of boxes of chocolate and fresh batteries so unsatisfying, that the women of Earth not lucky enough to be lesbians, are going figure out interstellar travel, just to get some better dick.

Wow.

]]> By: Betty http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7296 Betty Sat, 18 Aug 2007 06:18:49 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7296 <p>It's working for me now. Thanks, Steve!</p> It’s working for me now. Thanks, Steve!

]]> By: SFEley http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7295 SFEley Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:42:37 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7295 <p>Dreamhost -- my Web provider -- has been having systemwide problems with domain name resolution. That's why the site's been unreachable for a long time and why media files still aren't loading for some.</p> <p>I've switched some things around, and this problem <i>should</i> be fully resolved for everyone as your own Internet providers slowly update their DNS. If you can't see things now, please keep trying. I'm very sorry about the problems, and I'll be working to make sure this doesn't happen again.</p> <p>At least, not with <i>this</i> provider.</p> Dreamhost — my Web provider — has been having systemwide problems with domain name resolution. That’s why the site’s been unreachable for a long time and why media files still aren’t loading for some.

I’ve switched some things around, and this problem should be fully resolved for everyone as your own Internet providers slowly update their DNS. If you can’t see things now, please keep trying. I’m very sorry about the problems, and I’ll be working to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

At least, not with this provider.

]]> By: automatic.badgirl http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7294 automatic.badgirl Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:38:07 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7294 <p>I can't play the pop-up player or download anything either.</p> I can’t play the pop-up player or download anything either.

]]> By: Hatton http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7293 Hatton Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:35:31 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7293 <p>Tried to listen / download on Friday and am getting: Not Found The requested URL /EP119_AliensWantOurWomen.mp3 was not found on this server.</p> <p>Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request</p> Tried to listen / download on Friday and am getting:
Not Found
The requested URL /EP119_AliensWantOurWomen.mp3 was not found on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request

]]> By: Mark http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7292 Mark Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:03:33 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7292 <p>The download link appears to be working for me. Though I was having problems even getting to EscapePod.org all morning long.</p> The download link appears to be working for me. Though I was having problems even getting to EscapePod.org all morning long.

]]> By: Betty http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7291 Betty Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:31:08 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7291 <p>Is the link to the download broken, or is there just something screwy going on on my end?</p> Is the link to the download broken, or is there just something screwy going on on my end?

]]> By: RR Anderson http://escapepod.org/2007/08/16/ep119-aliens-want-our-women/comment-page-1/#comment-7290 RR Anderson Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:41:12 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=232#comment-7290 <p>Nicely read story... though how come whenever a lady writes about "the perfect man" he always is a sissy and says condescending things like "my dear" instead of da ladies name yo?</p> Nicely read story… though how come whenever a lady writes about “the perfect man” he always is a sissy and says condescending things like “my dear” instead of da ladies name yo?

]]>