Top 10 Fantasy Fiction Audiobook Titles

Top 10 Fantasy Fiction Audiobook Titles Listening to a Top 10 fantasy fiction audiobook is like being handed the key to an otherworldly treasure chest. As the narrator’s voice weaves a tapestry of vivid descriptions and immersive storytelling, you’ll find yourself transported to distant realms where anything is possible. The rustle of leaves, the clash of swords, the hushed whispers of ancient…

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What Never Happened by Rachel Howzell Hall #AmazonFirstReads #August2023Books #BookReview #mystery #thriller #ThomasandMercer #BrillianceAudio

Another winner from the #AmazonFirstReads program, where #AmazonPrime members can read a new ebook for free. #WhatNeverHappened #RachelHowzell #BookReview #mystery #thriller #thomasandmercer #brillianceaudio #panademicfiction #audiobookreview

Colette “Coco” Weber has relocated to her Catalina Island home, where, twenty years before, she was the sole survivor of a deadly home invasion. All Coco wants is to see her aunt Gwen, get as far away from her ex as possible, and get back to her craft—writing obituaries. Thankfully, her college best friend, Maddy, owns the local paper and has a job sure to keep Coco busy, considering the number…

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Novel Nuggets - All About Audiobooks (Part III)

Novel Nuggets – All About Audiobooks (Part III)

A continuation of the many audiobooks I finished since my last bout of reviews in January. I like John Scalzi’s novels. I find them so much fun in a crazy science fiction way. You can tell in them that Mr. Scalzi does not take himself too seriously and loves what he does. His joy at creating such absurd yet highly entertaining and intense stories seeps through each sentence. In The Android’s…

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When She Returned by Lucinda Berry (Audiobook)

When She Returned by Lucinda Berry (Audiobook)

Brilliance Audio Audible Release: October 15, 2019 Listening Length: 8 hours 22 minutes Narrators: Coleen Marlo, Lauren Ezzo, Amy McFadden Genre: Psychological Thriller KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I purchased this audiobook on Audible. Dr. Lucinda Berry is a former clinical psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. Now, she spends her days writing full-time, where she uses…

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Go listen to Jar of Rebuke, right now.

please

it is so good

     Working for a Nuclear Free City is, to me, the most heart wrenching modern example of a group with infinite potentiality and technical talents… that will likely and sadly slip through the cracks of time without a proper mention for their understated greatness. Well, goddamit, I remember WFANFC, and I’m going to use my limited sphere of influence on Tumblr to make damn sure you remember them as well! This is an act from Manchester, England who haven’t released an album in over half a decade, and some of their core members have scattered to do solo projects since then. While this group is still technically active, they do meet the classical definition of an ‘indie band’, i.e.- a band that is very much into a DIY style of music production and isn’t represented by a big label. While this may partially explain their recent musical sabbatical, I will direct your attention to their wonderful 2007 album Businessmen and Ghosts. While I can’t claim every single track from this album is completely sublime, everything feels cohesive from start to finish, and its one hell of a slice of melodic/melancholic psychedelia that everyone should experience at least once in its entirety. It’s probably my current favorite album, I’m listening to it every day lately because its creative flow is nearly flawless in terms of its overall technical craftsmanship. I was first introduced to WFANFC through a little AMC show called Breaking Bad, which for what little my two cents are worth is probably the greatest television show of all-time. Go ahead and disagree with me, you have the right to your own opinion. During the show Breaking Bad, there would be these little chemistry sequences where you, as the viewing audience, were introduced to the process of chemically manufacturing methamphetamine only with the COOLEST MUSIC ON EARTH as an audio guide alongside of it. This was the first time I heard this track, Dead Fingers Talking, and the very first I’d heard of this group as well. If you’re into electronic music, shoegaze, or just music that leaves you in a haunting and escapist mood, smash play and enjoy! For those who like even harder music… I’m planning two weeks of ass-pounding metal entries, dear listener. Stay tuned!

Circa 2009 or so, image source: https://www.last.fm/music/Working+For+A+Nuclear+Free+City/+images/c3e4f63b09034f50a1aa760a7cdaad54

A Brilliance, Yet Obtained Audio Drama || Theme Song, "Counting the Rain (Off Vocal)"

作词：南案@正版南案qyq 作曲：七小节 编曲：张亦钧@FSStudio 歌手：瑞司白@瑞司白R 分轨混音：添二添 -制作组-

i love my job but it does keep me from enjoying things sometimes

Apollo Parx makes his entry with "Get Ready" [Video]

Posted on https://www.thewordisbond.com/apollo-parx-makes-his-entry-with-get-ready-video/

Apollo Parx makes his entry with "Get Ready" [Video]

California-born artist Apollo ParX is a multi-faceted artist who is also a songwriter/fashion model and singer. His debut song was released in 2017 but he started recording music at age 5. His latest release is the visual for his song "Get Ready", a hard-hitting track that showcases his stylish

TGCF audio drama episode 9: Pei Xiu and his family were exiled simply because Pei Xiu outshone the general's son at the martial arts contest at the royal palace. Pei Xiu was sent to the army as punishment and worked really hard there in order to win a chance to rescue his family; his decision to massacre the people of Banyue was motivated by this - if he could achieve a military victory, he might be promoted and get his family back. However, many years before Pei Xiu's ascension, his family had already died during their exile.

Pei Xiu's backstory echoes some pre-existing themes of TGCF: 1) the brighter you shine, the harder the fall - brilliance won't always be met with appreciation, others might be more interested in pulling you down for their own benefit; 2) even the most powerful people will be defeated by the futility of their effort; they will fail to save those they love and care about because they're limited and vulnerable just like any other mortal.

Todays rip: 15/09/2023

THIS. IS. SOLEANNA.

Season 4 Episode 2 Featured on: SiIvaGunner's Highest Quality Rips: Volume for Wii U

Ripped by Mitchell

I've made no secret that I have a very particular affection for the various old-internet jokes that Unregistered Hypercam 2 brought to the channel through his KFAD1 win. Be it Paralyzer as featured in YACKER TOILET, or Dreamscape as featured in Unregistered CyberSpace 4-5: Arrow of 2009 - these anthems of a time far gone resonate a lot with me as someone who was near the perfect age to have grown up with these anthems. Yet, amidst the Caramelldansens and Numa Numa's, there's one more piece of old internet history that's brought up almost as frequently as the two aforementioned anthems.

The "Sparta Remix" is a trend I feel like I kind of missed as a kid. It started off with a guy in 2007, using audio from the movie "300", mainly with the iconic "THIS IS SPARTA!"-shout, to create a high-tempo remix song simply titled 300 This is Sparta. It, somehow, awoke something in the internet of the time, and a trend began to recreate the song as used in the remix but using audio other than that from 300, such as from well-known cartoons or video games. And while its a fascinating phenomenon and kind of a crucially important piece of audio shitposting history, it...was never a song I liked all that much. But today, we have an exception on our hands!

THIS. IS. SOLEANNA., even despite my lack of affection for the meme used, is pure brilliance. The sound of the Sparta Remix is an uncannily perfect fit for the instrumentation and overall sound of Crisis City ~The Flame~ ~Skyscraper~, a song that in general uses a lot of electronic music and occasional intentional stuttering and glitch effects in the music itself. The voice and synth samples merge perfectly with everything on offer in the original track, and real effort was put in to ensure it all syncs up perfectly - this is no drag-and-drop mashup! The vocal sample of the "THIS IS SPARTA" shout is used in so many different ways as the track escalates, either as a repeating chant, a parroting back-and-forth, or even as a kind of percussion underscoring the main melody. Its nuts, I find it hard to find the true words for just how much is done with this three-word voiceline. And Crisis City ~The Flame~ ~Skyscraper~ is a pretty long track - for the entire 3-and-a-half minute runtime the song never settles into a groove, and constantly changes into different segments of the song. Yet Mitchell keeps up with all of it in absolutely spectacular fashion - its given me affection for a meme I otherwise kind of just disregarded.

Pluto: Netflix’s anime masterpiece explores how robots ‘feel’ when humans exploit them

by Thi Gammon, Research Associate in Culture, Media and Creative Industries Education at King's College London

There have been many TV shows and films inspired by the dual fear and excitement surrounding advances in artificial intelligence (AI). But not many exhibit such masterful craft and profound humanity as the new Netflix anime miniseries, Pluto.

Pluto is adapted from a manga series of the same title (2003-2009), created by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki. The manga version – considered a comic masterpiece for its beautiful art and sophisticated storyline – incorporated fundamental elements from Osamu Tezuka’s celebrated manga series Astro Boy (1952-1968), including the beloved android adolescent who was the titular character.

Pluto is set in a futuristic world in which humans and robots coexist, albeit within a hierarchy in favour of humans. Robots excel in various jobs ranging from nannies and butlers to architects and detectives, but they are treated as second-class citizens.

Although robots gradually gain their own rights codified into law, they are still exploited by humans, who downplay their worth and emotional intelligence. As much as humans depend on AI, they also feel threatened by it.

An AI murder mystery

Pluto, which has both Japanese and English audio versions, follows German robot detective Gesicht (Shinshū Fuji/Jason Vande Brake) as he traces the mysterious killings of robots and humans. The world’s seven most advanced robots (including Gesicht himself) and robot-friendly humans (including his creator) are the targets of this assassination scheme.

What’s most perplexing is that the murders appear untraceable. This suggests that the killer might be a very advanced robot, challenging the belief that robots can’t ever kill humans due to their programmed constraints.

This enigmatic case echoes the cautionary message found in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – beware of human beings’ ambitious dreams and creations. While the story begins as a murder mystery, it evolves into a thoughtful drama about the conflicted relationships between humans and androids.

While Pluto draws on many familiar sci-fi concepts, it distinguishes itself through its meticulous character development and the depth of its micro-stories. Every character is complex, and the audience is able to get to know them and become invested in their fates. The anime’s unhurried pace also allows viewers ample time to contemplate its philosophical questions about consciousness evolution and the powerful impacts of emotions.

Despite all its brilliance, however, the series is not without flaws. It has a dated representation of gender roles, with no female characters – whether human or robot – playing an important part. None of them break free from the stereotypical role of nurturing, stay-behind support for their exceptionally capable and powerful male partners.

Animation of the year

Pluto maintains a melancholic tone throughout – but despite this overarching dark ambience, it is at times romantic and moving. It exalts love, friendship and compassion without falling into sentimentality, evoking an emotional resonance reminiscent of Blade Runner (1982).

The series emphasises that life, or the process of living, imparts character and humanity, transcending biological organs and blood. Androids may initially be devoid of complex emotions, but they develop sentience through everyday experiences and interactions with fellow robots and humans.

Robots can even learn to appreciate music, as manifested by the charismatic North No.2 (Koichi Yamadera/Patrick Seitz), who was designed for intense combat but grows weary of warfare. The narrative underscores the simultaneous beauty and danger of emotions – particularly the destructive force of wrath.

With great technological advancements and comfort, this futuristic world is still torn by war. It poses the question: “Will war ever end?” – reminding us of the conflicts and tragedies happening in the real world. The anime suggests that an end to war is unlikely as long as hatred persists.

For me, with its beautiful art and riveting narrative, Pluto stands out as one of the best Netflix productions of all time. It’s certainly the best animated work of the year.

#IntheLikelyEvent #RebeccaYarros #AmazonFirstReads #KindleDeal #BookReview #Thriller #Romance #NewBooks #August2023Books #Montlake #BrillianceAudio

#Militaryfiction is not usually my bag, but #Inthelikelyevent is really a #contemporaryromance. #Amazonfirstreads #kindledeal #rebeccayarros #bookreview #newbooks #august2023books #montlake #brillianceaudio #thriller #afghanistan #ladyhawke

When Izzy Astor gets on a plane to go home, she isn’t expecting much. It’s the usual holiday travel experience: busy, crowded, stressful. Then she spots her seatmate, who is anything but ordinary. Nate Phelan sports dark hair, blue eyes, and a deliciously rugged charm that Izzy can’t resist. Their connection is undeniable. Izzy never believed in destiny before, but she does now. Just ninety…

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Novel Nuggets - All About Audiobooks (Part II)

Novel Nuggets – All About Audiobooks (Part II)

One of the ways I discovered that I might not be handling the stress of the past few months is that no matter how often I tried, I could never summon the energy or desire to sit down and write reviews. At first, I didn’t think anything of it, knowing I would eventually write them. Then a week became a month. A month became five months. One overdue review became five. Five outstanding reviews…

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Watching Granada Holmes: On David Burke as Dr Watson

Okay so before I watch the next Granada episode, Empty House, I need to say goodbye to David Burke as Dr John Watson. David Burke couldn’t continue with Granada’s adaptation after FINA due to scheduling conflicts, which led to him helping them find his replacement, Edward Hardwicke. 

This post is me processing that in the hope that I can learn to love Edward Hardwicke as Watson without feeling too disappointed he’s not David Burke.

You see, going into Granada Holmes, I’d already been informed that Jeremy Brett is the Sherlock Holmes. This is definitely true. However, at this moment, all I can say that for me, David Burke will be the Dr John Watson. 

My tag for David Burke is “he smiles with his whole face”. Right from the start, his expressiveness intrigued me, and made it very easy to feel like I was part of the story. His openness invited me as the audience in. It also doesn’t hurt that he has a very fine voice - I’ve memorised the way he says “Holmes” and other words like “black moods”. They’re very fun to say in his accent! 

Watching the Granada Holmes series has felt very personal. For starters, watching TV shows or movies are always immersive experiences for me, due to the way my brain processes information. I get “sucked in” to the story very easily - it feels like I’m another character, almost, observing. It’s also hard because I’m having to process the audio-visual information, the language, the social information, the emotional contexts - and anything they trigger in me from past experiences - all at once. 

Granada Holmes is a very safe way to do that, because most of the time, the bad guys get their comeuppance in the end, and the client of the week has resolution, and perhaps catharsis. 

It also feels very safe because Holmes and Watson guide me through it. I’ll say more about Jeremy Brett at the end of my entire watch through, but for David Burke, my “oh, you’re my Watson” journey really took flight with the end of Solitary Cyclist. 

See, the thing about David Burke’s Watson isn’t just that he’s very expressive. He’s very reassuring. Steady and dependable, but also openly delighted in Holmes’s brilliance. A perfect foil for the audience. 

He’s the one who instinctively knows how to handle clients (see: any Woman in Need episode), and takes care of Holmes almost before Holmes knows he needs it (see: Norwood Builder) - and when he’s protecting you/ the client, by goodness do you feel it. 

You’ll recall that I had plenty to say about Solitary Cyclist, so much so that I wrote two posts for it. One about the episode recap, and another, which I wrote first, of my feelings about the episode’s context. Look, the Woman In Need episodes always strike a little close to home for me for various reasons. And after my first experience of that in Solitary Cyclist, one of the things that comforted me after was remembering, well, this moment: 

[Image description: Watson holds the drugged Violet Smith to him protectively with one hand while holding his gun with the other, a very serious look on his face. /end image description.]

Followed by this one: 

Watson: “You may call that love. I call it selfishness.”

[Image description: Holmes and Watson sit side-by-side, staring in disgust at one of the baddies of the story. /end image description.]

In the first scene, Watson was Violet Smith’s physical protector at a time when she couldn’t defend herself. His words afterward, a delightful castigation of the villain. As a woman, hearing someone say those things (and keep saying them in other episodes), whether to the perpetrator as a scold, to the client/ victim in comfort, or to Holmes about how very serious the situation is, has been good. 

It helps that Burke’s Watson also has this “softness with a core of steel” energy. The sort of energy that makes one think, if I was in trouble, I would very much like to have Burke’s Watson protect me and tell me it wasn’t my fault and such (while Brett’s Holmes solved the problem that had trapped me in the first place). 

Basically, I would very much like to be their friend. Or their honourary relation (which is what they are to the Women In Need). 

We see the Sherlock Holmes stories through Watson’s eyes, as he is the Narrator. (A fact brought home by Granada’s adaptation of The Final Problem.) Having David Burke in the role has been very comforting - and fun. We experience his emotions with him, and I have deeply enjoyed it. 

Sup, Tumblr! We're Realms of Peril & Glory! (RPG geddit?)

We're an actual play with slick production, short episodes, new systems and all👏the👏drama👏you can eat.

🦷(9/10 dentists recommend as part of a healthy diet)

Our core cast of seven supremely talented roleplayers is ready to whisk you away on daring adventures and thrilling journeys. Zack, Maddy, James, Naomi, Pip, Liz and Laura bring the light and joy of a group of friends playing at the table with the pure brilliance of practiced performers and storytellers crafting a tale just for you.

Meet pristine goth @maddyisabstract 🕸️ known for everyone’s favourite nervous student necromancer Isadora, they’re a soft spoken scot with a heart for the underdog and has never been successfully convicted of raising the dead 💀 You probably know Maddy from their astounding work as GM on Chapter & Multiverse or their prolific work on streams like Girls Run These Worlds and Actual Play UK!

You know her as the sad girl under your bed, it’s @naomithinksit! Her infamous chicken nugget wizard from the estate Monty is the boy everyone loves to hate! 🍗

She always top level jokes, london facts and makes choices that punch you in the gut when you least expect it. 🤜 She's the Secret of St. Kilda's killer writer ready to bring the action!

Head lad @zackfg is GM, Scheduler and Technician - is there anything he can’t do?? (Yes– whisper🤫)

He writes mad intricate mysteries that will keep you guessing, wonderful world building and twists that will knock your tits/socks clean off! 🫥 You might know Zack from his work on audio dramas like the sci-fi EPIC The Orphans, or as the producer for Dob, Merilwen, Corazon, and Prudence along with Everyone Else in the World in Oxventure!

It’s the most lovable grump Pip Gladwin. 🥰Crack through his hard shell and meet the gooey charismatic guy within, a versatile player who can bring light and humour to the darkest of characters. His withering looks can kill at 100ft. 😨

You'll know Pip from his stellar voice acting work in Wooden Overcoats, Doctor Who Redacted and more!

What happens when an immovable object meets and unstoppable force? Laura. 💣💥

Laura Girling is the master of playing the most chaotic characters absolutely straight, while everyone else loses their goddam minds. 🤫 Her hair is so big because it’s full of secrets.

It’s our musical maestro James Barbarossa! Co-creator with Zack and genius composer.

He writes amazing original music that give realms it’s trademark ~vibes~ 🎷 If that wasn’t enough he does voices, gm’s and plays with a talent for turning the absurd into the sublime.

James is a voice actor and composer whose work has been featured on podcasts like The Orphans and the Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program!

No table is complete without @LizxCampbell🎲She’s the chameleon player every GM dreams of, finding the keys to move the story, making gorgeous exciting characters and actually taking notes. Real notes. 📝

There’s no sharper mind and no-one more collaborative than Liz.🎉

All together we are Realms of Peril & Glory, your next Actual Play obsession!

What are you waiting for?! 💫 Grab your dice and let’s go explore the Realms of Peril & Glory together! We’ll see you there! 🥰🔗Just go to RealmsPod.com/about to find out more!