Are you ready to rock?

I can't heeeeeaaaaaarrrrrrr yyyyyyooooooouuuuuu....

“I Told You To Beat It” was mashed-up by Divide And Kreate. You can download it and other mash-ups at divideandkreate.com

“Unpretty Today” was mashed-up by A+D You can download it and other mash-ups at aplusd.net

“Epic Black Rock” was mashed-up by D.J. Lobsterdust.  You can download it and other mash-ups at djlobsterdust.com

The Voice of Free Planet X theme was written and performed by Russell Collins of www.clockworkaudio.net

When about midway of a certain block the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him the man spoke up quickly.

"It's all right, officer," he said, reassuringly. "I'm just waiting for a friend. It's an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it? Well, I'll explain if you'd like to make certain it's all straight...

"After Twenty Years" was written by O. Henry.  It is currently in the public domain.

The Voice of Free Planet X theme was written and performed by Russell Collins of www.clockworkaudio.net

On Tocline, do not wear pants.  You will see other Toclines wearing pants.  This does not mean you should wear them.  You can wear the rest of your usual diplomatic uniform, but whatever you do, do not wear pants.

What is the secret of Matthew Wayne Selznick, author of Brave Men Run?  You'll have to listen to the interview to find out, but may have something to do with this stuff he posted on his website:

"Ladies and gentlemen, on Sunday, July 13, 2008, every hour on the hour for eight hours beginning at 10:00 AM Eastern / 7:00 AM Pacific time, I will present a brand new, original short story set in the first year of the Sovereign Era universe. These stories — official Sovereign Era canon — are from some of the most respected authors of podcast fiction:

• J.C. Hutchins (The “7th Son” trilogy)
• Mur Lafferty (”Playing For Keeps”)
• Nathan Lowell (The “Golden Age of the Solar Clipper” novels)
• Matt Wallace (”The Next Fix”)
• J.R. Blackwell (Voices of Tomorrow)
• P.G. Holyfield (”Murder at Avedon Hill”)
• Jared Axelrod (The Voice of Free Planet X)

I’ll be reading each story aloud, on camera, absolutely live, in random order — so be sure to check in every hour so you don’t miss your favorite author!"

The Voice of Free Planet X theme was written and performed by Russell Collins of www.clockworkaudio.net

 I've been working on a beast of a story, and the reason it's a beast of a story is that until very recently, I was trying to write it with my Editor Hat on.

The Editor Hat is a powerful tool, but nothing stops your writing dead quite like it. 

It certainly did in my case.

As I say in the show, you can't build and polish at the same time.

The Voice of Free Planet X theme was written and performed by Russell Collins of www.clockworkaudio.net

Sergeant Ariel Odipo held back a grimace as her squadron approached the Sepch encampment. She doubted they could see her face through the mirrored visor of her helmet, but she wasn’t taking any chances. She loosened her grip on her rifle as well. The tension was thick enough as it was. This was a peacekeeping mission, after all.

Besides, these people weren't the problem. Odipo had grown fond of their crabby little faces and way they waved their eyestalks when she approached. They were not her problem...

Special thanks to Christiana Ellis and J.R. Blackwell for their voice talent this episode

This episode also featured "Srvival In A House Darkening" by Micheal Masley.  More information and work by this artist can be found at magnatune.com

The Voice of Free Planet X theme was written and performed by Russell Collins of www.clockworkaudio.net

The Dreeslings communicate through the transmission of viruses between hosts.  Unfortunately, your usual pre-landing inoculations will make you the equivalent of a deaf mute.  This may be for the best,  as while Dreeslings’ language will not kill you, if you are infected by the wrong joke or declaration, you may wish you were.

Yeah, J.R. Blackwell and I love our television, like any good nerds.  We love The Middleman.  We love Doctor Who.  But having long since deep-sixed the cable, we cannot watch them the moment the come on the boob-tube.

Also, we don't live in the United Kingdom.

Naturally, as podcasters, we turn to the internets to solve all our problems.  But there is no legitimate way to download the shows we love.  We'd pay for it, if only we COULD.

But we can't.  There is no way to legitimate get the shows we want in any reasonable amount of time.  Waiting months for the DVD is, quite frankly, unacceptable.

Forced by neglect, we do the only thing we can.  We turn to piracy.

And we aren't happy about it, neither.

The Voice of Free Planet X theme was written and performed by Russell Collins of www.clockworkaudio.net

Theme music is "Faithful" by The Shillas.

This week's story is "Hold Me Like a Girl" written and read by Jared Axelrod.  I'm proud for this to be my first gay sex story.  Even if you think you don't like this kind of story, listen anyways.  You might be surprised.

Jared is filling in for me this week while I recover from a nasty case of bronchitis.  My voice is only just this moment coming back at all, and I would not have been able to give you a show nearly this good.

Thank you, Jared.

I am currently recovering from a very hot and extremely unpleasant bout with Martian Spider Flu.  So, that's where this weeks podcasts have gone. 

They've been eaten.  By Martian spiders.  Let that be a lesson to you all.

Not to worry, however, as regular service will resume July 1st.   And it will be worth the wait.