Comments on: EP195: 26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/ 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=4400 By: Great SF audio stories http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-13283 Great SF audio stories Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:02:36 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-13283 <p>[...] EP195: 26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss [...]</p> [...] EP195: 26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss [...]

]]> By: Gwen http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-13173 Gwen Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:47:15 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-13173 <p>I love this story! I imagine some of the beating it's taking is because it wasn't classic "science fiction," but the lack of explanation is part of what I loved about it.</p> I love this story! I imagine some of the beating it’s taking is because it wasn’t classic “science fiction,” but the lack of explanation is part of what I loved about it.

]]> By: M J Sharpe http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-13073 M J Sharpe Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:48:43 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-13073 <p>I'm a sucker for "broken life gets fixed in an unexpected way" stories. Loved it.</p> I’m a sucker for “broken life gets fixed in an unexpected way” stories. Loved it.

]]> By: Lungdoc http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12769 Lungdoc Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:13:41 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12769 <p>I love this story! don't know why but I did.</p> I love this story! don’t know why but I did.

]]> By: LaShawn http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12684 LaShawn Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:34:35 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12684 <p>Existentialist monkeys! I loved it. This was a fun story, though it does seem to be more of a Podcastle story. Nevertheless, fun!</p> Existentialist monkeys! I loved it. This was a fun story, though it does seem to be more of a Podcastle story. Nevertheless, fun!

]]> By: Howie Feltersnatch http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12343 Howie Feltersnatch Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:21:54 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12343 <p>@Jason: I guess I don't know how the Hugos work. Clearly, then, the fans don't know good literature. Either that, or someone's been stuffing the ballot box, as 4chan have been doing for the Time 100 online survey.</p> <p>While "Exhale" was a brilliant story, these two monkey stories have been just downright awful.</p> @Jason: I guess I don’t know how the Hugos work. Clearly, then, the fans don’t know good literature. Either that, or someone’s been stuffing the ballot box, as 4chan have been doing for the Time 100 online survey.

While “Exhale” was a brilliant story, these two monkey stories have been just downright awful.

]]> By: Jason Erik Lundberg http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12339 Jason Erik Lundberg Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:43:46 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12339 <p>I loved this story to pieces. I take public transport to school every morning, and this was the perfect length to listen to whilst on the train and bus. Exquisitely written (and nicely performed by Ms. Severson), with a perfect payoff at the end. I haven't been able to stop smiling about it for hours.</p> <p>@Howie: your comment shows a lack of understanding of how the Hugo Awards work. The stories are nominated by, and then voted on by, the attendees of this year's and last year's World Science Fiction Convention. This is not a juried award like the World Fantasy Award or the Booker Prize that are decided by committee. This is a popular award, voted on by the sf-reading public. These are readers. These are fans.</p> I loved this story to pieces. I take public transport to school every morning, and this was the perfect length to listen to whilst on the train and bus. Exquisitely written (and nicely performed by Ms. Severson), with a perfect payoff at the end. I haven’t been able to stop smiling about it for hours.

@Howie: your comment shows a lack of understanding of how the Hugo Awards work. The stories are nominated by, and then voted on by, the attendees of this year’s and last year’s World Science Fiction Convention. This is not a juried award like the World Fantasy Award or the Booker Prize that are decided by committee. This is a popular award, voted on by the sf-reading public. These are readers. These are fans.

]]> By: Howie Feltersnatch http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12335 Howie Feltersnatch Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:12:41 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12335 <p>@L33tminion: No, it's just that I use Cory Doctorow as a yardstick for measuring sucky science fiction (in much the same way I use Bjork as a yardstick for bad music, John Woo for bad direction, and Kyra Sedgwick as the yardstick for bad acting). If you'll note my comment for the monkey story following this one, I don't mention Cory Doctorow at all.</p> <p>PS: Cory Doctorow is a very bad writer.</p> @L33tminion: No, it’s just that I use Cory Doctorow as a yardstick for measuring sucky science fiction (in much the same way I use Bjork as a yardstick for bad music, John Woo for bad direction, and Kyra Sedgwick as the yardstick for bad acting). If you’ll note my comment for the monkey story following this one, I don’t mention Cory Doctorow at all.

PS: Cory Doctorow is a very bad writer.

]]> By: MasterThief http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12317 MasterThief Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:52:12 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12317 <p>Definitely not Escape Pod's normal fare, but I went in with Steve's words in mind that this is technically an urban fantasy.</p> <p>But why only 24 chapters if there were 26 monkeys?</p> Definitely not Escape Pod’s normal fare, but I went in with Steve’s words in mind that this is technically an urban fantasy.

But why only 24 chapters if there were 26 monkeys?

]]> By: L33tminion http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12309 L33tminion Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:56:53 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12309 <p>@Howie Feltersnatch: Got some sort of a bone to pick? There's hardly a week that goes by when you don't leave a comment saying, "I hate Cory Doctorow (and, incidentally, this week's story)."</p> @Howie Feltersnatch: Got some sort of a bone to pick? There’s hardly a week that goes by when you don’t leave a comment saying, “I hate Cory Doctorow (and, incidentally, this week’s story).”

]]> By: Podcasts on the iPhone, #1 of an Occasional Series. « The Unfocused Life http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12302 Podcasts on the iPhone, #1 of an Occasional Series. « The Unfocused Life Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:17:02 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12302 <p>[...] Escape Pod #195:  Hugo nominee “26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss,” by Kij Johnson. [...]</p> [...] Escape Pod #195:  Hugo nominee “26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss,” by Kij Johnson. [...]

]]> By: Jeremy Tolbert http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12285 Jeremy Tolbert Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:53:24 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12285 <p>Chainring,</p> <p>We were graciously loaned the use of the last couple of narrations by Starship Sofa while we organize and get on top of things here at Escape Pod. We'll endeavor to increase the quality in our EP-produced episodes.</p> Chainring,

We were graciously loaned the use of the last couple of narrations by Starship Sofa while we organize and get on top of things here at Escape Pod. We’ll endeavor to increase the quality in our EP-produced episodes.

]]> By: Chainring http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12284 Chainring Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:47:45 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12284 <p>Is anybody else having a really hard time lately with the audio quality on EP? I have been skipping about half of the episodes recently because they have been so badly recorded or weirdly filtered in post that they have been (to me) un-listenable. In this one the letter S was so harsh that it hurt my ears and I had to turn it off. I even tried playing it back on different devices to make sure it wasn't my hardware. I understand there's not much money in podcasting, but decent microphones really don't cost that much.</p> Is anybody else having a really hard time lately with the audio quality on EP? I have been skipping about half of the episodes recently because they have been so badly recorded or weirdly filtered in post that they have been (to me) un-listenable. In this one the letter S was so harsh that it hurt my ears and I had to turn it off. I even tried playing it back on different devices to make sure it wasn’t my hardware. I understand there’s not much money in podcasting, but decent microphones really don’t cost that much.

]]> By: carrie http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12281 carrie Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:27:32 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12281 <p>I really enjoyed this--mostly because I could picture all the monkeys doing their various tricks. I also almost always enjoy magic that's not magic.</p> <p>Still, a Hugo? I guess I'm a genre-ist!</p> I really enjoyed this–mostly because I could picture all the monkeys doing their various tricks. I also almost always enjoy magic that’s not magic.

Still, a Hugo? I guess I’m a genre-ist!

]]> By: Jennifer http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12276 Jennifer Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:00:29 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12276 <p>I liked it, and I'm not the sort who normally would. Go figure. Odd but interesting, even if you never find out why things are the way they are.</p> I liked it, and I’m not the sort who normally would. Go figure. Odd but interesting, even if you never find out why things are the way they are.

]]> By: Brave Space Monkey http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12274 Brave Space Monkey Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:43:06 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12274 <p>As a rule I like anything with monkeys in it. As for this story - I loved it. It wasn't until the end that I really smiled. Fun, different, and good.</p> As a rule I like anything with monkeys in it. As for this story – I loved it. It wasn’t until the end that I really smiled. Fun, different, and good.

]]> By: Onan the Barbarian http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12273 Onan the Barbarian Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:58:28 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12273 <p>Here's the trick to the story. There is no trick. The words pour from the authors to your ears and then into your brain and then they vanish because the story is dumb and pointless and doesn't go anywhere. The world is full of boring, pointless things (like authors who write stories where nothing happens), things that make no sense (like vanishing monkeys or the popularity of "American Idol" or why Kyra Sedgwick has a career), and maybe this story is one of them. Maybe the author chose not to be obtuse in a blatant effort to win some sort of prize, that's cool, who can blame her.</p> <p>Maybe this is the author's mystery, how she found a way to get this cruddy story nominated, and figured out a way to get it made into a podcast so it could bore us all to death. Maybe bad stories like this are really just houseguests in the your mental world: they are there for a while to torment you and then they leave, once you hear a story that's actually interesting and has a plot and characters you care about.</p> Here’s the trick to the story. There is no trick. The words pour from the authors to your ears and then into your brain and then they vanish because the story is dumb and pointless and doesn’t go anywhere. The world is full of boring, pointless things (like authors who write stories where nothing happens), things that make no sense (like vanishing monkeys or the popularity of “American Idol” or why Kyra Sedgwick has a career), and maybe this story is one of them. Maybe the author chose not to be obtuse in a blatant effort to win some sort of prize, that’s cool, who can blame her.

Maybe this is the author’s mystery, how she found a way to get this cruddy story nominated, and figured out a way to get it made into a podcast so it could bore us all to death. Maybe bad stories like this are really just houseguests in the your mental world: they are there for a while to torment you and then they leave, once you hear a story that’s actually interesting and has a plot and characters you care about.

]]> By: Howie Feltersnatch http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12268 Howie Feltersnatch Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:23:38 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12268 <p>With the exception of the astoundingly awful Corey Doctorow pieces that have appeared on EP--which are so bad they're in a class by themselves--this is the worst thing I've heard on EP.</p> <p>I hate monkeys, and I hate, hate, hate, hate this stupid story.</p> <p>I can't for the life of me understand how this could be a Hugo nominee. I can only conclude that the author has incriminating evidence on the Hugo staff and is blackmailing them.</p> With the exception of the astoundingly awful Corey Doctorow pieces that have appeared on EP–which are so bad they’re in a class by themselves–this is the worst thing I’ve heard on EP.

I hate monkeys, and I hate, hate, hate, hate this stupid story.

I can’t for the life of me understand how this could be a Hugo nominee. I can only conclude that the author has incriminating evidence on the Hugo staff and is blackmailing them.

]]> By: scatterbrain http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12259 scatterbrain Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:34:07 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12259 <p>The least I expect from a story is for it to go somewhere; "sigh".</p> <p>A not-so bold prediction: Chiang's Exhalation is going to win hands-down.</p> The least I expect from a story is for it to go somewhere; “sigh”.

A not-so bold prediction: Chiang’s Exhalation is going to win hands-down.

]]> By: Holiday http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12258 Holiday Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:12:38 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12258 <p>I also liked this one. Sometimes accepting and appreciating what is can be more important than understanding the why or how. As was mentioned in the story, things happen for a reason, but the reason may be beyond our understanding in that very moment. Somehow what needs to happen does without our being aware of what those needs are.</p> I also liked this one. Sometimes accepting and appreciating what is can be more important than understanding the why or how. As was mentioned in the story, things happen for a reason, but the reason may be beyond our understanding in that very moment. Somehow what needs to happen does without our being aware of what those needs are.

]]> By: Janice in GA http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12256 Janice in GA Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:22:46 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12256 <p>I heard this on Starship Sofa, and actually I'd also read it on Ms. Johnson's website. I really love her writing.</p> I heard this on Starship Sofa, and actually I’d also read it on Ms. Johnson’s website. I really love her writing.

]]> By: Sushma http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12255 Sushma Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:26:59 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12255 <p>I really liked it. Its odd, off-kilter tone, its air of melancholy, the mystery. Really special</p> I really liked it. Its odd, off-kilter tone, its air of melancholy, the mystery. Really special

]]> By: Ken_K http://escapepod.org/2009/04/18/ep195-26-monkeys-also-the-abyss/comment-page-1/#comment-12254 Ken_K Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:19:47 +0000 http://escapepod.org/?p=363#comment-12254 <p>Odd. Very odd. And a Hugo nominee too. Go figure?</p> Odd. Very odd. And a Hugo nominee too. Go figure?

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