Episode 59: Gumchew by Zack Be

During a world-changing first contact event, David is seeking his father’s first edition copy of a sci-fi book about another Earth under alien invasion. Except, it’s not to study up on the little green men within, but to sell for drugs. What is it like to be in the midst of a real-life sci-fi event, with your mind entirely stuck on your next fix? Find out in "Seeking" written and read by Gregory Marlow. Content warnings for addiction, overdose, and IV drug use.

Harlan is a claims investigator in a world of zoomorphic gene editing and memory implants where anyone can become anything—including their true selves. When a job leads him to a club where modified humans called ‘mamms’ run wild, an opportunity for self-discovery presents itself. Behind layers of memory preserving brain-gum, who is Harlan really? And is this job really worth finding out? Find out in Gumchew written and read by Zack Be.

Taz and Rach are new humans living on a colony station run entirely run by intelligent machinery. As an old human warship descends on their colony, it becomes their job to bridge the divide and begin first contact. How to be diplomatic and detect lies and ill intent when the language you speak doesn't translate? Find out "The Language of Machines," read and written by Betsy Aoki. 

In “The Greenway,” a mother and her two small children are the last survivors in their small settlement. They wait for the arrival of the caravan that will both collect the last of their dead and bring a new spring. Listen to the latest story written and read by Susan Palwick.

If you could replace your memories with better ones, would you? Consider this as Ray Nayler reads you his story “Catch a Tiger in the Snow.” Here our narrator meets a memory tailor who alters memories for paying customers seeking a past that better suits the person they want to be.

It’s the start of summer vacation for Mella, a student at New Oakland High, but instead of attending parties and hanging out with friends, she’s cleaning heron cages at a wildlife rescue as court-ordered community service. As the days roll on, Mella falls into a pleasant groove, but as a bad influence rears its head, will she be tempted into the same behavior that got her in trouble to begin with? Find out in “The Night Heron Rescue,” read and written by Alice Towey.

On the grounds of a derelict oil refinery southeast of Phoenix, Abe and Vera operate a nature park that reflects a world ravaged by climate change, where tourists don heat-resistant suits to walk among junk-metal statues of dinosaurs, superheroes, and recently-extinct animals such as polar bears and rhinos. While the couple take great care in educating visitors, their real work lies in removing co2 from the atmosphere using some of their park’s unique structures. This is “In the Forest of Mechanical Trees,” read and written by Steve Rasnic Tem.

In Asimov's latest story from Misha Lenau, a middle aged person finds themself longing to be someone—something—else, and, thanks to a bold new business franchise, endeavors to turn themself into a hairy, bloodsucking beast: El Chupacabra. But after a series of disappointing events, our protagonist wonders if they'll ever be happy. Will El Chupacabra finally become comfortable in their own skin? Find out in “Cryptid or Your Money Back,” read and written by the author. 

Get a peek into Mariska Volochkova's past in "Going Deep," James Patrick Kelly's story printed in 2009 that gives a little background on our current tale by Jim, "Moon and Mars."

Robert is a scientist who has been working on an AI mobility system named Isaac, which he has been testing on his dementia-stricken father Hank. When Hank is discovered wrestling an alligator and acting less and less like the 103-year-old that he is, Robert begins to wonder if Hank’s adventurous streak will jeopardize Isaac’s rollout. Here is “Mere Flesh,” read and written by James Maxey.