Comments on: PC025: Anywhere There’s a Game http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/ PodCastle is the world\'s first audio fantasy magazine. Weekly, we broadcast the best in fantasy short stories, running the gammut from heart-pounding sword and sorcery, to strange surrealist tales, to gritty urban fantasy, to the psychological depth of magical realism. Our podcast features authors including Peter Beagle, Benjamin Rosenbaum, Jim C. Hines, and Cat Rambo, among others. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:03:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Sabre Runner http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-2164 Sabre Runner Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:53:49 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-2164 It was about half expected, the audio file is a bit corrupted and the range of the narrator wasn't that fulfilling. But this story is about atmosphere, about wonder, and it got it across beautifully. I like it when stories are built well, don't try too hard, just go with their own flow and yet, through the tiny sandbox of contained awareness, they reach out and touch your heart. This is one of those stories. It was about half expected, the audio file is a bit corrupted and the range of the narrator wasn’t that fulfilling. But this story is about atmosphere, about wonder, and it got it across beautifully.

I like it when stories are built well, don’t try too hard, just go with their own flow and yet, through the tiny sandbox of contained awareness, they reach out and touch your heart. This is one of those stories.

]]> By: Fred http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1966 Fred Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:48:37 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1966 I am not a sports fan. I've never managed to work up any interest in basketball or football or any of the other sports type things that many people, particularly most males, seem to love so much. The premise of this story really shouldn't have appealed to me, but I listened anyway, knowing I could simply hit "Next" on my player if I didn't like it. Like it? I loved it! This was one of my favorite episodes so far. I didn't really follow the sports references, but the characters were interesting and the emotions rather intense. I don't have to know what a forward point back (whatever) is to relate to the determination and drive the characters were experiencing. The last segment in particular ... wow, now *that* is a real drive to play the game you love! Well done. Insert some appropriate sports analogy here. ("Go Local Sports Collective!") I am not a sports fan. I’ve never managed to work up any interest in basketball or football or any of the other sports type things that many people, particularly most males, seem to love so much. The premise of this story really shouldn’t have appealed to me, but I listened anyway, knowing I could simply hit “Next” on my player if I didn’t like it.

Like it? I loved it! This was one of my favorite episodes so far. I didn’t really follow the sports references, but the characters were interesting and the emotions rather intense. I don’t have to know what a forward point back (whatever) is to relate to the determination and drive the characters were experiencing. The last segment in particular … wow, now *that* is a real drive to play the game you love!

Well done. Insert some appropriate sports analogy here. (”Go Local Sports Collective!”)

]]> By: The Fix | From the Podosphere: September 2008 http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1480 The Fix | From the Podosphere: September 2008 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:51:18 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1480 [...] “Anywhere There’s A Game” by Greg Van Eekhout is an episodic tale about basketball (though being British and not a sports fan, I took a while to fathom this out). A few hints of magic justify its place in PodCastle, even though none of the magic seems to have any structure or justification, so the story is essentially a character study. Maybe it would mean more to someone into basketball, or a sports fan in general, but I found it aimless and unsatisfying, despite Benjamin Manoochehri’s competent reading. [...] [...] “Anywhere There’s A Game” by Greg Van Eekhout is an episodic tale about basketball (though being British and not a sports fan, I took a while to fathom this out). A few hints of magic justify its place in PodCastle, even though none of the magic seems to have any structure or justification, so the story is essentially a character study. Maybe it would mean more to someone into basketball, or a sports fan in general, but I found it aimless and unsatisfying, despite Benjamin Manoochehri’s competent reading. [...]

]]> By: Soren http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1422 Soren Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:59:47 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1422 I liked it a lot. Now I don't want to complain, but this story wouldn't have been out of place on pseudopod. Event though there was very little horror in it, the mood was like the one in "the twilight zone", the good episodes any way. Not that it didn't fit in podcastle, it was just a thought. I liked it a lot.

Now I don’t want to complain, but this story wouldn’t have been out of place on pseudopod.

Event though there was very little horror in it, the mood was like the one in “the twilight zone”, the good episodes any way.

Not that it didn’t fit in podcastle, it was just a thought.

]]> By: Kirsty1181 http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1419 Kirsty1181 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:08:17 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1419 Not normally one to comment on stories, I’m not a writer so listen for the pleasure not the analysing but I felt compelled to say something about this one I am not a sports fan and when I heard the introduction of this story I was worried. But I dutifully as always listened to the end and was shocked to find I loved it. The shock comes because I’m still not 100% sure what makes me listen to it over and over again? I’m not sure if it’s the Story or the reader or a bit of both. Well done Podcastle I’m loving the series Not normally one to comment on stories, I’m not a writer so listen for the pleasure not the analysing but I felt compelled to say something about this one

I am not a sports fan and when I heard the introduction of this story I was worried. But I dutifully as always listened to the end and was shocked to find I loved it.

The shock comes because I’m still not 100% sure what makes me listen to it over and over again? I’m not sure if it’s the Story or the reader or a bit of both.

Well done Podcastle I’m loving the series

]]> By: Blaine Boy http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1404 Blaine Boy Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:43:01 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1404 Nice story. Good story. Good choice. Except on the reader. Mr. Manoocheri had a sort of flat voice and so every character seemed the same (I mean he got the emotion in there all right, but every character seemed blended). I know it seems awkward when you're changing voices to fit a character, but it's worth it. Your faithfully, the Blaine Boy Nice story. Good story. Good choice. Except on the reader. Mr. Manoocheri had a sort of flat voice and so every character seemed the same (I mean he got the emotion in there all right, but every character seemed blended). I know it seems awkward when you’re changing voices to fit a character, but it’s worth it.

Your faithfully,
the Blaine Boy

]]> By: Old Man Parker http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1314 Old Man Parker Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:26:43 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1314 Good tale. Moody and weird. No silly goofy winks to the audience to apologise for being fantasy. Good tale. Moody and weird. No silly goofy winks to the audience to apologise for being fantasy.

]]> By: Bingorage http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1310 Bingorage Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:47:59 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1310 Excellent story. I went to school with many folks who treated basketball as religion and the end all/be all; and find it unsurprising as a setting for the piercing of reality. PS: Thanks for the mention of a previous comment of mine, but, it is not pronounced "Bing Orange", but bingo-rage, like road rage. Thanks. :Eric Excellent story. I went to school with many folks who treated basketball as religion and the end all/be all; and find it unsurprising as a setting for the piercing of reality.

PS: Thanks for the mention of a previous comment of mine, but, it is not pronounced “Bing Orange”, but bingo-rage, like road rage.
Thanks.
:Eric

]]> By: WriterDan http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1287 WriterDan Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:43:19 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1287 Not my favorite. Very little actual, solid fantasy until very near the end, and even then it was kind of iffy. Very little impact for me, with less and less within each successive sub-story. Not my favorite. Very little actual, solid fantasy until very near the end, and even then it was kind of iffy. Very little impact for me, with less and less within each successive sub-story.

]]> By: scatterbrain http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1277 scatterbrain Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:11:56 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1277 Ah, my request for more zombies was fulfilled along with some Hindu mysticism and Voodoo magic as well. Thank you Rachel Swirksy! Ah, my request for more zombies was fulfilled along with some Hindu mysticism and Voodoo magic as well. Thank you Rachel Swirksy!

]]> By: Hyperion http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1255 Hyperion Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:54:22 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1255 "Anywhere There's a Game" took me back to late nights at the park, under the lights, nothing better than waiting for Next. Greg Van Eekhout clearly knows his basketball, and I liked how the Fantasy aspects melted in without Pomp and Fizzle, like a Garcia Marquez novel. I have only been coming here a couple of weeks, but in that time have already come to expect Haters complaining about a dearth of dragons or swords (or whatever they were looking for). I am a fan of great Story, wherever they come from, and Hats Off to the Editors for going out of their way to provide so many different takes on Fantasy. This was an unusual but delightful choice. “Anywhere There’s a Game” took me back to late nights at the park, under the lights, nothing better than waiting for Next. Greg Van Eekhout clearly knows his basketball, and I liked how the Fantasy aspects melted in without Pomp and Fizzle, like a Garcia Marquez novel.

I have only been coming here a couple of weeks, but in that time have already come to expect Haters complaining about a dearth of dragons or swords (or whatever they were looking for).

I am a fan of great Story, wherever they come from, and Hats Off to the Editors for going out of their way to provide so many different takes on Fantasy. This was an unusual but delightful choice.

]]> By: epilonious http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1254 epilonious Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:09:39 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1254 I really enjoyed this story. Mainly because the little surprises that occurred felt like they should have been predictable, but weren't until they were revealed. There was a perfect blend of foreshadowing without spoiling... I love it when a story can do that. Furthermore... each little arc was well contained. I felt like I was getting four stories instead of just one, and each had it's lessons and delights. Just wonderful. I really enjoyed this story. Mainly because the little surprises that occurred felt like they should have been predictable, but weren’t until they were revealed.

There was a perfect blend of foreshadowing without spoiling… I love it when a story can do that.

Furthermore… each little arc was well contained. I felt like I was getting four stories instead of just one, and each had it’s lessons and delights.

Just wonderful.

]]> By: Travis http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1253 Travis Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:47:43 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1253 The sound was echoing and in one place the same line was repeated 3 times before continuing on, but the story itself was interesting. I could definitely picture this story done as an episode of The Twighlight Zone or The Outter Limits or some other similar television show. The sound was echoing and in one place the same line was repeated 3 times before continuing on, but the story itself was interesting. I could definitely picture this story done as an episode of The Twighlight Zone or The Outter Limits or some other similar television show.

]]> By: David http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1245 David Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:13:53 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1245 Interesting main character; an excellent player cursed to stand with men and women more talented, determined and unusual than he could ever hope to be. Interesting main character; an excellent player cursed to stand with men and women more talented, determined and unusual than he could ever hope to be.

]]> By: David Barr Kirtley : Blog : Now on PodCastle: “Anywhere There’s a Game” by Greg Van Eekhout http://podcastle.org/2008/09/16/pc025-anwhere-theres-a-game/#comment-1244 David Barr Kirtley : Blog : Now on PodCastle: “Anywhere There’s a Game” by Greg Van Eekhout Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:24:18 +0000 http://podcastle.org/?p=53#comment-1244 [...] There’s a Game,” a medley of vignettes about very unusual basketball players, is now up on PodCastle. I really enjoyed this story when I read it in Realms of Fantasy, and the story made it onto my [...] [...] There’s a Game,” a medley of vignettes about very unusual basketball players, is now up on PodCastle. I really enjoyed this story when I read it in Realms of Fantasy, and the story made it onto my [...]

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