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StarShipSofa No 516 Allen Steele
Main Fiction: ““An Incident in the Literary Life of Nathan Arkwright” by Allen Steele
Originally published in Asimov's Science Fiction, September-October 2017
Allen Mulherin Steele, Jr. became a full-time science fiction writer in 1988, following publication of his first short story, "Live From The Mars Hotel" (Asimov's, mid-Dec. `88). Since then he has become a prolific author of novels, short stories, and essays, with his work translated into more than a dozen languages worldwide. His novels include Orbital Decay, Clarke County, Space, Lunar Descent, Labyrinth of Night, The Jericho Iteration and Arkwright amongst others. His most recent novel is Avengers of the Moon, a new Captain Future novel. His novelette, “The Emperor of Mars” won the 2011 Hugo Award for Best Novelette and also the Asimov’s Readers Award. His novella “The Legion of Tomorrow”, which was expanded as Part One of Arkwright, won the Asimov’s Readers Award in 2015.
Narrated by: Drew Sebesteny
Writer and designer, editor and inventor, brewer and narrator, Drew’s been called a lot of things in his career – some nicer than others. By day he spins stories with words and pictures as an advertising creative director. But by the light of the moon, he can be found weaving tales for sound and screen, and alchemizing bubbly brews with hops and barley. Drew’s also associate editor, and a regular narrator, for Tales to Terrify here in the District of Wonders. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with his wife, son and a menagerie of small creatures. Discover more about Drew at www.idrewthis.ca.
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StarShipSofa 785 Jeremy Szal
57:30|Jeremy Szal was raised by wild dingoes, which should explain a lot. He writes epic fantasy and dark space opera of a character-driven, morally grey nature. He sold The Common trilogy to Gollancz/Orion when he was 23, which includes STORMBLOOD, BLINDSPACE, and WOLFSKIN, about a drug harvested from alien DNA that makes users permanently addicted to adrenaline and aggression. He’s the author of over fifty short stories, translated into seventeen languages, many of which appear in his short fiction collection BROKEN STARS. He was the editor for the Hugo-winning StarShipSofa until 2020 and has a BA in Film Studies and Creative Writing from UNSW. He carves out a living in Sydney, Australia with his family, where he loves watching weird movies, eating Japanese food, exploring cities, learning languages, cold weather and dark humour. Find him at https://jeremyszal.substack.com/ or @jeremyszalNarration by: Doni NicollDoni Nicoll-Duir (nickel-dar) is originally from the Western Slope of Colorado. He has lived in and out of Arizona his whole life and now finds himself settling down in Tucson, AZ. Doni works in the renewable energy sector as a design engineer and permitting specialist. When Doni isn’t working on saving the planet, one rooftop at a time, or trying to keep up with his teenage daughter, he can be found cooking, hiking or playing board games with his friends at one of the local breweries.Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H Sturgis
StarShipSofa 784 Seia Tanabe
47:10|Seia Tanabe is a horror and weird fiction writer based in Osaka. She won the 15th Japanese Horror Novel Award in the Short Story category for her debut work, "Iki-byobu" (The Living Folding Screen). Deeply inspired by local folklore, ghost stories, and urban legends, she has published numerous horror novels and edited several anthologies. Tanabe's English-language debut, "The Parrot Stone", was published in the anthology Phantasm Japan.This story was translated by the author and is original to StarShipSofa.Narration by: Will StaglWill Stagl is Star Ship Sofa's audio engineer and occasional voice talent. He lives in Tucson Arizona and would like to wish a happy August birthday to the pride of Leos in his life--Susan, Violet, Stacey, Daphne, Jeremy and Doni.
StarShipSofa 783 T. K. Rex
49:47|T. K. Rex is a science fiction and fantasy author from the western United States, whose stories can be read in numerous publications, including The Wildcraft Drones, their debut collection on shelves May 21, 2026. The Wildcraft Drones begins in the near future of "The Flowers Where Five-Eighty Used To Be" and follows the evolving relationship between humanity, nature and technology into the far future. T. K.'s stories, socials, and newsletter can be found at tkrex.wtf.This story originally appeared in Tractor Beam, March 2025Narration by: Diane SeversonDiane Severson is a lyric soprano specializing in Early Music, especially Baroque and medieval music. Diane has been involved in the SF Poetry Scene (yes, it’s a thing) since 2010. She has narrated for StarShipSofa, and PodCastle. She produces the sporadic podcast, Poetry Planet and is a member of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. She is a staff blogger for Amazing Stories Magazine focusing on Science Fiction Poetry. The best place to find her is on the web because she tends to pick up and move to another country at the drop of a hat. She and her family currently reside in Paris.
StarShipSofa 782 Scott Edelman
44:41|Scott Edelman has published 135+ short stories, many of which have been collected in These Words Are Haunted, What Will Come After, Tell Me Like You Done Before, Things That Never Happened, and 101 Things to Do Before You're Downloaded. He has been a Stoker Award finalist eight times. Additionally, he has hosted the 2026 Hugo Awards finalist Eating the Fantastic interview podcast since February 2016.This story is original to StarShipSofa.Narration by: Brian RollinsBrian Rollins is a voice actor living in Colorado with his wife. He's the prolific narrator behind the Glen & Tyler series as well as the Uncommon Bonds fantasy adventure series. In addition to audiobooks, he's the host and creator of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. You can find Brian at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.
StarShipSofa 781 Cat Rambo
57:29|Cat Rambo’s 300+ fiction publications include stories in Asimov’s, Clarkesworld Magazine, and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. In 2020 they won the Nebula Award for fantasy novelette Carpe Glitter. They are a former two-term President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). Their most recent works are space opera Devil’s Gun (Tor Macmillan, 2023) and anthology The Reinvented Detective (Arc Manor, 2023), co-edited with Jennifer Brozek.Narration by: Diane Severson Daine Severson is a lyric soprano specializing in Early Music, specifically Baroque and medieval music and loves her work teaching people to sing. She has narrated for Escape Pod, PodCastle, Cast of Wonders, Pseudopod, and Tales to Terrify. Diane has been involved in the Speculative Poetry Scene since 2010, she is Vice President and membership chair of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association and is a passionate promoter of genre poetry. The best place to find her is on the web because she tends to pick up and move to another country at the drop of a hat.Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H Sturgis
StarShipSofa 780 P. A. Cornell
56:14|P.A. Cornell is a Chilean-Canadian speculative fiction writer. A two-time finalist for the Nebula Award, her stories have been published in over seventy magazines and anthologies, including Lightspeed, Apex, and eight “Best of the Year” anthologies. In addition to becoming the first Chilean Nebula finalist in 2024, Cornell has been a finalist for the Aurora and World Fantasy Awards, and in 2022 won Canada’s Short Works Prize. When not writing, she can be found assembling intricate LEGO builds or drinking ridiculous quantities of tea. Sometimes both. For more on the author and her work, visit her website pacornell.com.This story first appeared in Frivolous Comma, January 2023.Narration by: Will StaglWill Stagl celebrates his fourth anniversary as audio editor for Starship Sofa this June. He lives in Tucson Arizona, where he works as a creative professional, and as the bass player for the Fathers of the Violet Moon, an all-nerd-dad doom metal band.Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H Sturgis
StarShipSofa 779 Kenneth Mark Hoover
40:05|Kenneth Mark Hoover is a professional writer who has sold over 70+ short stories, and several novels, including those of the Haxan series. He is a member of SFWA and HWA. His fiction has appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Strange Horizons, and many others. Mr. Hoover divides his time between New Mexico and Texas. He writes full-time.This story is original to StarShipSofa.Narration by: Christina RauChristina M. Rau, The Yoga Poet, leads Meditate, Move, & Create workshops for various organizations in person and online. Her collections include How We Make Amends, What We Do To Make Us Whole, and the Elgin Award-winning Liberating The Astronauts. She moderates the Women’s Poetry Listserv and has served as Poet in Residence for Oceanside Library (NY) since 2020. Her poetry airs on Destinies radio show (WUSB) and appears in various literary journals like fillingStation and The Disappointed Housewife while her prose has appeared in Punk Monk Magazine and Reader’s Digest. During her downtime, she watches the Game Show Network.http://www.christinamrau.com
StarShipSofa 778 Will Waller
42:56|Kenneth Mark Hoover is a professional writer who has sold over 70+ short stories, and several novels, including those of the Haxan series. He is a member of SFWA and HWA. His fiction has appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Strange Horizons, and many others. Mr. Hoover divides his time between New Mexico and Texas. He writes full-time. This story is original to StarShipSofa.Narration by: Will StaglWill Stagl lives in Tucson, Arizona and is a proud member of the StarShipSofa team. He’s like to kick off the new year by inviting any listeners interested in narration to contact him at williamstagl@gmail.com to join our stellar team of volunteer voice actors.Fact: Looking Back At Genre History by Amy H SturgisGrowMore CookMore GrowMore CookMore: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6755640310GrowMoreCookMore Website: https://growmorecookmore.com/
StarShipSofa 777 Carrie Finch
34:14|Carrie Finch is a writer in San Francisco, California. Her published fiction includes fantasy, science fiction, and horror. She has two cats, who take turns lying down on the keyboard and keeping her from writing. carriefinch.comThis story originally appeared in Broken Time Blues, 2011.Narration by: Doni NicollDoni Nicoll-Duir (nickel-dar) is originally from the Western Slope of Colorado. He has lived in and out of Arizona his whole life and now finds himself settling down in Tucson, AZ. Doni works in the renewable energy sector as a design engineer and permitting specialist. When Doni isn’t working on saving the planet, one rooftop at a time, or trying to keep up with his teenage daughter, he can be found cooking, hiking or playing board games with his friends at one of the local breweries.GrowMore CookMore GrowMore CookMore: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6755640310GrowMoreCookMore Website: https://growmorecookmore.com/