StarShipSofa

Karl El-Koura lives with his family in Canada's capital city and works a regular job by day while writing fiction at night. This is his second appearance in StarShipSofa (his story "The Undertow Jackpot" was featured in issue #685). Visit www.ootersplace.com to learn more about his work.This story originally appeared in Utopia Science Fiction, October 2021.Narrated by Randal L. SchwartzRandal L. Schwartz is best well known for his seminal books on the Perl programming language that helped make the world wide web possible and popular. He produced a weekly audio and video podcast on open source software, but has given that up after 13 years to get those five hours per week back again. Between the podcast, and bouncing all over the world teaching programming and speaking at conferences, he’s no stranger to the limelight. He enjoys pulling out his gear to record yet another narration, and likens it to “getting to read bedtime stories to the kids I never had”, and looks forward to future assignments

Main fiction: "The Orb" by Tara CampbellWith a BA in English, an MA in German, and an MFA in Creative Writing, Tara Campbell has a demonstrated aversion to money and power. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, she has also lived in Oregon, Ohio, New York, Germany and Austria. She currently lives in Washington, D.C.She is the recipient of the following awards from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities: the 2016 Larry Neal Writers' Award in Adult Fiction, the 2016 Mayor's Arts Award for Outstanding New Artist, and Arts and Humanities Fellowships for 2018 - 2022. She is also a 2017 Kimbilio Fellow and winner of the 2018 Robert Gover Story Prize.Tara earned her MFA from American University in 2019, and is a fiction editor at Barrelhouse. She teaches fiction with American University, Johns Hopkins University's Advanced Academic Programs, the Writer's Center, Politics and Prose, Catapult, and the National Gallery of Art's Virtual Studio.Narrated by: Tristin Rutherford Tristin Rutherford was born and raised in Alaska and spent her twenties working around the US. She is a poet, writer, voice actor, and educator, and is pursuing her MFA at Goddard College. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her fiance and their cat, Pops.Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H Sturgis

Main fiction: "The Unveiling" by Christopher RoweChristopher Rowe's stories have been printed, reprinted, and translated around the world and he has been a finalist for many awards, including the Hugo, the Nebula, and the World Fantasy Award. He lives in Lexington, Kentucky with his wife and many pets.This story originally appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, January 2015.Narrated by: Drew MalloryDrew Mallory is a professor of organizational psychology and management coach in Bangkok, where he studies workers with unique backgrounds and needs. In addition to his work with neurodivergent, queer, and disabled people, Drew spends his time in his rooftop garden saving green things from a dry death and accompanied, like any good psychologist, by his pet rats. You can learn more about him and his work at coachwithdrew.today

William Meikle is a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with over thirty novels published in the genre press and more than 300 short story credits in thirteen countries. He has books available from a variety of publishers including Dark Regions Press and Severed Press and his work has appeared in a large number of professional anthologies and magazines. He lives in Newfoundland with whales, bald eagles and icebergs for company. When he's not writing he drinks beer, plays guitar, and dreams of fortune and glory.This story originally appeared Transmissions from Punktown, 2018.Narrated by: Josh RosemanJosh Roseman (not the trombonist; the other one) has narrated several stories for StarShipSofa and the District of Wonders over the past fifteen years. In addition, he's an author with more than three dozen books and short stories published (some under pseudonyms). He lives in Georgia (the state, not the country) and absolutely loves to pet dogs (especially pitbulls). Find him online at roseplusman.com or on Twitter @listener42Fact: Looking Back at Genre History by Amy H Sturgis 

Main fiction: "I am the Grass" by Jeff SomersJeff Somers (www.jeffreysomers.com) began writing by court order as an attempt to steer his creative impulses away from engineering genetic grotesqueries. He has published nine novels, including the Avery Cates series and the Ustari Cycle series, as well as over fifty short stories, including “Ringing the Changes,” which was selected for inclusion in Best American Mystery Stories 2006. He is a contributing editor at Writer’s Digest Magazine, which also published his book on the craft of writing Writing Without Rules. He lives in Hoboken with his wife, The Duchess, and their cats. He considers pants to always be optional.This story is original to StarShipSofa.Narrated by: Mike BorisMike’s a long-time fan of the show and is always happy to record a story for the “Sofa.” He narrated Adam Troy Castro’s “Of A Sweet Slow Dance in the Wake of Temporary Dogs” 600-some episodes ago in 2009 (Aural Delights 87). He’s an IT consultant and e-learning narrator over in the Colonies, and his neighbors still think the soundproof booth in his basement is for recording…so far, so good. He’s got a wife, kids, cats and all that…. Okay, that’s enough about Mike—let’s get to today’s show!

Main Fiction: "The Big Whimper" by Laird BarronLaird Barron, an expat Alaskan, is the author of several books, including The Imago Sequence and Other Stories; Swift to Chase; and Blood Standard. Currently, Barron lives in the Rondout Valley of New York State and is at work on tales about the evil that men do.This story originally appeared in Weird World War IV, 2022.Narrated by: Will StaglWill Stagl is proud to be a member of the StarShipSofa team, recruiting narrators for the podcast’s stellar stories. Will works as a creative professional and occasional musician from his adopted home of Tucson, Arizona.Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H Sturgis