Comments on: EP189: The Botox School of Acting http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/ 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! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:04:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=5260 By: Stephane "ScienceFiction" Meer http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-13075 Stephane "ScienceFiction" Meer Tue, 04 Aug 2009 06:57:08 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-13075 <p>Thanks for the online stream.</p> Thanks for the online stream.

]]> By: Christopher Witt http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12924 Christopher Witt Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:04:36 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12924 <p>This was a classic story about Native American's constant struggle to reclaim (or retain) their identity. I respect the restraint used to mention the (obvious) casinos. Unlike others on the thread, I enjoyed how the tribe attempted to keep their traditions alive - the long horse ride to get to the rocket port - in the face of technology...like the rocket port.</p> <p>I won't go into detail about the implications of what makes a man - those were obvious - and well done.</p> <p>And as far as the narration - I thought it was matched perfectly with the story. I don't think I would have like it as much if I had read it myself. The narration really made it for me.</p> <p>Thanks for this one. I know by reading the other posts that a lot of us didn't like it - I did. A Lot.</p> This was a classic story about Native American’s constant struggle to reclaim (or retain) their identity. I respect the restraint used to mention the (obvious) casinos. Unlike others on the thread, I enjoyed how the tribe attempted to keep their traditions alive – the long horse ride to get to the rocket port – in the face of technology…like the rocket port.

I won’t go into detail about the implications of what makes a man – those were obvious – and well done.

And as far as the narration – I thought it was matched perfectly with the story. I don’t think I would have like it as much if I had read it myself. The narration really made it for me.

Thanks for this one. I know by reading the other posts that a lot of us didn’t like it – I did. A Lot.

]]> By: Tim http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12900 Tim Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:26:40 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12900 <p>Not the worst out there but the story was weak and the voice work was not only extremely amateurish but also quite hard on the ears.</p> Not the worst out there but the story was weak and the voice work was not only extremely amateurish but also quite hard on the ears.

]]> By: Steve http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12296 Steve Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:56:39 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12296 <p>I wanted to like this story but it just went nowhere... what exactly was it about, why should I care? Is this supposed to be science fiction because of the Botox? No wonder or imagination here at all, very disappointing.</p> I wanted to like this story but it just went nowhere… what exactly was it about, why should I care? Is this supposed to be science fiction because of the Botox? No wonder or imagination here at all, very disappointing.

]]> By: The Fix | From the Podosphere: March 2009 http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12289 The Fix | From the Podosphere: March 2009 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:22:11 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12289 <p>[...] Escape Pod begins with Liz Shannon Miller’s “The Botox School of Acting” (read by Dani Cutler). It’s a character story, about a man who trains young and [...]</p> [...] Escape Pod begins with Liz Shannon Miller’s “The Botox School of Acting” (read by Dani Cutler). It’s a character story, about a man who trains young and [...]

]]> By: LaShawn http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12142 LaShawn Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:41:40 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12142 <p>I was surprised when the story ended where it did. I was expecting more. It felt like the story was setting up for some big payoff and it ended just before it happened. Too bad. I would have loved to learn more about the granddaughter, or the wife, for that matter.</p> I was surprised when the story ended where it did. I was expecting more. It felt like the story was setting up for some big payoff and it ended just before it happened. Too bad. I would have loved to learn more about the granddaughter, or the wife, for that matter.

]]> By: jennyM http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12099 jennyM Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:10:50 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12099 <p>This was a nice idea or two and a collection of good one-liners looking for a story. Lacking plot drive, it makes the reader focus more closely on the details, but they don't quite hold up on their own. Harry's motivation is muddled and the problem the story present him with is vague and non-compelling. When his wife questions him (and already I've forgotten what about), we're told that it causes him to throw himself into work to avoid her; but, firstly the question wasn't particularly penetrating, and secondly Harry did not actually get the significance of it: the author told us it was important in the narrative. But because by then exposition has taken over, the author fails to notice that her characters are not experiencing directly what the narrative is telling us.</p> <p>I also felt the central idea was not really strong enough to support a whole story. It's funny enough, as an off-the-hip idea. But I'd have been more engrossed if a twist had been added to the premise, e.g. that future botox is capable of adding too much expression to people's faces, so they have to fight to control over-reacting, rather than predictably struggling with lack of mobility. As it is, the story starts off smart and funny but, as the plot fails to appear, the humour becomes thinner and the characters limper.</p> <p>Some of the writing was a little lazy. 'Boxtresses' is just not funny. And there was at least one Jordan-esque clunker: 'gallery of women, each more beautiful than the one before' or some such.</p> <p>Sorry to sound negative. I thought a lot of this story was funny and diverting. It just needs a point.</p> <p>JennyM</p> This was a nice idea or two and a collection of good one-liners looking for a story. Lacking plot drive, it makes the reader focus more closely on the details, but they don’t quite hold up on their own. Harry’s motivation is muddled and the problem the story present him with is vague and non-compelling. When his wife questions him (and already I’ve forgotten what about), we’re told that it causes him to throw himself into work to avoid her; but, firstly the question wasn’t particularly penetrating, and secondly Harry did not actually get the significance of it: the author told us it was important in the narrative. But because by then exposition has taken over, the author fails to notice that her characters are not experiencing directly what the narrative is telling us.

I also felt the central idea was not really strong enough to support a whole story. It’s funny enough, as an off-the-hip idea. But I’d have been more engrossed if a twist had been added to the premise, e.g. that future botox is capable of adding too much expression to people’s faces, so they have to fight to control over-reacting, rather than predictably struggling with lack of mobility. As it is, the story starts off smart and funny but, as the plot fails to appear, the humour becomes thinner and the characters limper.

Some of the writing was a little lazy. ‘Boxtresses’ is just not funny. And there was at least one Jordan-esque clunker: ‘gallery of women, each more beautiful than the one before’ or some such.

Sorry to sound negative. I thought a lot of this story was funny and diverting. It just needs a point.

JennyM

]]> By: vbg http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12050 vbg Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:26:00 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12050 <p>"Each more beautiful than the next"? So the women were decreasingly beautiful? Are these stories actually edited, Steve, or do you just put them up as submitted?</p> “Each more beautiful than the next”? So the women were decreasingly beautiful? Are these stories actually edited, Steve, or do you just put them up as submitted?

]]> By: botox http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12043 botox Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:43:06 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12043 <p>Story was interesting and informative as well. Great talent!</p> Story was interesting and informative as well. Great talent!

]]> By: Ogion The Silent http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12040 Ogion The Silent Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:50:36 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12040 <p>Was there one original idea in this entire story? One thing we haven't heard a million times before? Superficiality - corruption - commercialisation yadda, yadda, yadda. This is straight out of "Build your own Science Fiction dystopia vol. 1" except that the author forgot to include the ubiquitous recreational drug use. Or the plot.</p> Was there one original idea in this entire story? One thing we haven’t heard a million times before? Superficiality – corruption – commercialisation yadda, yadda, yadda. This is straight out of “Build your own Science Fiction dystopia vol. 1″ except that the author forgot to include the ubiquitous recreational drug use. Or the plot.

]]> By: no name http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12039 no name Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:24:51 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12039 <p>thanks to every one at escape artists for doing it again, great job, great story, I will think all day about the issues rasied here, good job !!</p> thanks to every one at escape artists for doing it again, great job, great story, I will think all day about the issues rasied here,
good job !!

]]> By: besucher http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12030 besucher Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:34:35 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12030 <p>Ooops, I found a little bug on the post: if you try to click on the name of the author (Liz Shannon Miller), you will be directed to the site of the previous author's (Genevieve Valentine).</p> Ooops, I found a little bug on the post: if you try to click on the name of the author (Liz Shannon Miller), you will be directed to the site of the previous author’s (Genevieve Valentine).

]]> By: besucher http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12029 besucher Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:06:42 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12029 <p>Unfortunately, I didn't like this one. I didn't feel it like a real story, altough the basic idea was kinda good.</p> Unfortunately, I didn’t like this one. I didn’t feel it like a real story, altough the basic idea was kinda good.

]]> By: Hapax Legomenon http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12023 Hapax Legomenon Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:07:42 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12023 <p>Interesting story, beautiful writing. I enjoyed it. Nice physical descriptions (which actually were important to the story). Tree-trunk of a face....</p> <p>It's hard to end this kind of story though (but good closing line). I have to wonder which perspective is more important: Harry's or the actor's.</p> <p>In these kinds of stories, something usually goes awry (but not in this case). Good recording too.</p> Interesting story, beautiful writing. I enjoyed it. Nice physical descriptions (which actually were important to the story). Tree-trunk of a face….

It’s hard to end this kind of story though (but good closing line). I have to wonder which perspective is more important: Harry’s or the actor’s.

In these kinds of stories, something usually goes awry (but not in this case). Good recording too.

]]> By: Megatron0016 http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12009 Megatron0016 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:48:32 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12009 <p>I'm really hoping the stories pick up again soon. This one and the one prior just weren't that interesting, especially compared to where things left of before the hiatus with summer in paris light from the sky which was fantastic.</p> I’m really hoping the stories pick up again soon. This one and the one prior just weren’t that interesting, especially compared to where things left of before the hiatus with summer in paris light from the sky which was fantastic.

]]> By: john http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12008 john Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:07:34 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12008 <p>normally I let the Escape Pod story files stick around on my hard drive. I went out of my way to make sure this one was deleted.</p> normally I let the Escape Pod story files stick around on my hard drive. I went out of my way to make sure this one was deleted.

]]> By: logopetria http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12007 logopetria Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:00:09 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12007 <p>I was surprised when the story finished, as it seemed by that point to have done just enough set-up to launch into a potentially interesting pay-off, which unfortunately never appeared. All kinds of issues had been put in play, both in the personal story and elsewhere, and another few minutes of development might have brought things to a satisfying conclusion (or perhaps an uncomfortable Vonnegutian twist!) But just before any of these bubbles can get near the surface, the story just deflates and stops. An opportunity missed.</p> I was surprised when the story finished, as it seemed by that point to have done just enough set-up to launch into a potentially interesting pay-off, which unfortunately never appeared. All kinds of issues had been put in play, both in the personal story and elsewhere, and another few minutes of development might have brought things to a satisfying conclusion (or perhaps an uncomfortable Vonnegutian twist!) But just before any of these bubbles can get near the surface, the story just deflates and stops. An opportunity missed.

]]> By: Blaine Boy http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-12000 Blaine Boy Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:00:24 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-12000 <p>This is the warped brainchild of Aldous Huxley's brainchild <em>Brave New World</em>. It pulled out the idea that we would rather give up individuality for superficial "perfection". ("Be myself and miserable." -<em>Brave New World</em>)</p> <p>Sincerely, The Blaine Boy</p> This is the warped brainchild of Aldous Huxley’s brainchild Brave New World. It pulled out the idea that we would rather give up individuality for superficial “perfection”. (“Be myself and miserable.” -Brave New World)

Sincerely,
The Blaine Boy

]]> By: Nosmo King http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-11992 Nosmo King Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:19:42 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-11992 <p>A great big "Meh." for the story. And I question the decision to use a narrator who appears to be suffering some nasal difficulties.</p> A great big “Meh.” for the story. And I question the decision to use a narrator who appears to be suffering some nasal difficulties.

]]> By: The Fragulator http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-11987 The Fragulator Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:31:09 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-11987 <p>I thought that everything in the story was already happening NOW. So for me it was just a retelling of some brainwashed people daily lives.</p> I thought that everything in the story was already happening NOW. So for me it was just a retelling of some brainwashed people daily lives.

]]> By: scatterbrain http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-11986 scatterbrain Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:02:02 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-11986 <p>A bleak, Ballardian near future where individuality and natural beauty are systimatically crushed, while the world is captivated by the hit sitcom "Fuck Your Mother".</p> <p>Did I write this story...?</p> A bleak, Ballardian near future where individuality and natural beauty are systimatically crushed, while the world is captivated by the hit sitcom “Fuck Your Mother”.

Did I write this story…?

]]> By: Vance M. http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-11984 Vance M. Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:18:31 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-11984 <p>My first reaction after listening was "Meh." I didn't see the point by the end, felt the characters were boring or superficial (which they may have been written that way on purpose) and I don't feel the ending had a satisfying or interesting conclusion. Not one of the worst Escape Pod stories, but one that should have been skipped.</p> My first reaction after listening was “Meh.” I didn’t see the point by the end, felt the characters were boring or superficial (which they may have been written that way on purpose) and I don’t feel the ending had a satisfying or interesting conclusion. Not one of the worst Escape Pod stories, but one that should have been skipped.

]]> By: davetopper http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-11980 davetopper Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:38:49 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-11980 <p>I thought it was good and easy to follow. Given that it is an audio book the characters were well portrayed.</p> I thought it was good and easy to follow. Given that it is an audio book the characters were well portrayed.

]]> By: Ed from Texas http://escapepod.org/2009/03/04/ep189-the-botox-school-of-acting/comment-page-1/#comment-11976 Ed from Texas Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:57:42 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=341#comment-11976 <p>While this story had an interesting premise and raises some good questions, the execution of the narrative was pretty poor and well below what I've been used to from Escape Pod. It's approach was as superficial as the students of the school. The logical inconsistencies hurt the flow as well. Ultimately, the story really couldn't decide what it wanted to be about and ends up as a rambling stream of consciousness.</p> While this story had an interesting premise and raises some good questions, the execution of the narrative was pretty poor and well below what I’ve been used to from Escape Pod. It’s approach was as superficial as the students of the school. The logical inconsistencies hurt the flow as well. Ultimately, the story really couldn’t decide what it wanted to be about and ends up as a rambling stream of consciousness.

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