ntil fairly recently, audio adaptations of modern SF works were relatively rare. Other than the occasional serialization of high-profile projects like the Star Wars trilogy or the books-on-tape retelling of various Star Trek adventures, fans of spoken-word science fiction generally had to be content listening to recordings of programs from the Golden Age of radio. However, the high-tech realm of the Internet has helped change that situation, allowing folks to experience myriad versions of both classic and contemporary speculative adventures.
The Sci-Fi Channel's Seeing Ear Theatre is one of the preeminent producers of sonic science fiction on the Web, and the five tales presented on this two-cassette package offer examples of their latest online output. The collection features "George and the Red Giant," a work by Eric Brown based upon Stephen Baxter's short story "George and the Comet," "The Flat Edge of the Earth" by Brian Smith and Terry Bisson, "The Oblivion Syndrome" by Benjamin Wachs and an audio collage by Smith, George Zarr and Rick Bradley titled "Too Late: An Experiment in Sound Theatre."
Harlan Ellison provides introductions for each narrative, and even "appears" in a version of his novelette "Wanted in Surgery." Most of the roles are voiced by an ensemble cast, but there are also a few notable guest stars, including Babylon 5's Peter Jurasik and Andreas Katsulas and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Alexander Siddig and Nana Visitor.
Opening the mind's ear
Most fans of old-fashioned speculative radio readily acknowledge that many vintage SF programs--like more than a few pulp stories from that same era--were long on fiction and short on science. Fortunately, the five Seeing Ear Theatre adventures featured on these tapes are significantly more cerebral than typical old-time radio fare.
"George and the Red Giant" is far and away the best work in the collection, telling the tale of two men who are unexpectedly catapulted billions of years into the future, where they find themselves living as lemurs in a gigantic banyan tree. The premise sounds ludicrous, but a superb script, coupled with genuinely moving performances by both Jurasik and Katsulas, results in a heartrending and decidedly human fable. Another surprisingly worthwhile yarn is the sound-effects-driven "Too Late: An Experiment in Sound Theatre," which, depending upon the mood of the listener, can be either harrowing or humorous.
Although not entirely flawless, the other stories are also quite engaging. Notwithstanding a few overly talky sections, "The Flat Edge of the Earth" raises interesting questions about the nature of life, while "Wanted in Surgery" successfully addresses a number of intriguing humanistic issues despite some problematic dialogue. Through this powerful quintet of tales, Seeing Ear Theatre opens both the mind's eye and ear to some highly contemplative and entertaining concepts.
