Episode 58: The Language of Machines by Betsy Aoki

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.

When Evan’s partner leaves him after their move to rural Michigan, Evan finds himself alone, often drunk, and a little unsettled by his new home, with its flickering lights and loud thumps in the night. Will Evan discover the source of this supernatural phenomena?  Find out in  “Art Deco Farmhouse, Original Hardwood Floors, Slightly Haunted,” read and written by Alice Towey

Rupert is a young time traveler who figured his first trip to the past would be a breeze. He was only going back to Christmas 2020, after all, close enough to his present and the 2021 attack on the US capitol, which he intended to study. Despite the challenges by posed by a global pandemic, will Rupert complete his mission while adhering to the strict rules of time travel?  Find out in “Last Thursday,” read and written by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.