Everything is relative. That includes literary genres. For example, is space opera science fiction, or is it fantasy in a sci-fi setting?
Our feature in this installment of Midnight Audio Theatre faces that relative classification conundrum. You’ll hear the beginning of the sci fi series Relativity by Lee Shackleford…except it might really be a mystery. Relativity is the story of a man marooned in space, and the woman hell-bent on rescuing him (albeit “by the book”). The big mystery to be solved if he’s going to make it home: how was his ship sabotaged, and why?
This series is lovingly produced by Shackleford. It’s truly a work of passion; he grew up poring over his parents’ recordings of classic radio drama, particularly the Mercury Theater of the Air’s infamous adaption of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds. (In fact, the photo above is of the writer/producer in a recent re-production of that classic broadcast.)
On board Relativity is renowned voice actor Alana Jordan. Her credits are legion, although if you attend sundry conventions, you might know her as an award-winning cosplayer, too. Jordan plays Sophia, our astronaut’s simultaneous hero and antagonist.
After this deep-dive into the duality of human frailties and strengths, we’ll leave you on a lighter note with a visit to our friends at It’s All Been Done Radio Hour. Your mood will lift listening to their collection of public service announcements from TipTown’s Pymer Labs, which help offset the scientific hot-dogging of Dr. Oscar Meyer.
Whether serious psychological sci fi or comedic horror, we share this love for the unique theater of the mind only audio drama can create. Apparently, so do the surviving members of the band Queen. We’ll close this little introduction with a quote from one of their songs written by Roger Taylor, and brought to our attention by Lee Shackleford:
“You gave them all those old time stars through wars of worlds invaded by Mars. You made them laugh, you made them cry. You made us feel like we could fly: radio!”
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