Metatropolis Preorder and Details
Posted on October 7, 2008 Posted by John Scalzi 23 Comments
Audible has finally given us the go-ahead to spill some more beans about Metatropolis, the audiobook “future cities” anthology I edited, and contributed a story for along with Elizabeth Bear, Toby Buckell, Jay Lake and Schroeder. So here are some details, including details how to preorder the anthology (and in doing so, get the first novella in the anthology).
First, if you are a Battlestar Galactica fan, prepare to squee yourself silly, because three of the stories in this collection are read by BSG stars. Second, of you’re an audiobook fan, you may also engage in squee, because the two other stories are read by two of the top audiobook readers in the business. Basically, you should just default to squee.
Here are the stories in the order of their appearance in the anthology, along with author and reader:
1. “In the Forests of the Night” by Jay Lake, read by Michael Hogan (Col. Tigh on BSG)
2. “Stochasti-city” by Tobias Buckell, read by Scott Brick (2008 Audie Award winner, for Dune)
3. “The Red in the Sky is Our Blood” by Elizabeth Bear, read by Kandyse McClure ( Anastasia “Dee” Dualla on BSG)
4. “Utere Nihil Non Extra Quiritationem Suis” by John Scalzi, read by Alessandro Juliani (Lt. Felix Gaeta on BSG)
5. “To Hie From Far Cilenia” by Karl Schroeder, read by Stefan Rudnicki (reader of the Ender’s Game series)
Audible sent me the audio files for these last week, and I have to say they all sound excellent; Bear, Jay, Toby, Karl and I wrote them for the purpose of being read, and each of the voice actors did a really fine job with their interpretations. I’m very happy with how this anthology sounds.
The full anthology will be released on the 21st, but you can pre-order now through Audible, and if you do, Audible will serve up “In the Forests of the Night” to you right now, with the rest of the anthology to come on the 21st. Perfect for those “instant gratification” types. Jay’s story is really great (and Hogan’s reading pretty much rocks, too), so it’s a good way to keep you hanging for two weeks.
I’ll mention more about Metatropolis as we get closer to the actual release date, to be sure. But it’s good to finally be able to tell you a little more about it. It was a lot of fun to do, and I think that comes through.
Squeee!!!
See?
Will there be a print version for those of us who prefer to imbibe that way?
Oooh, and I even have (er, had) an unused Audible credit. Happy day indeed.
Pam Adams:
No news on that end. The audio version is currently the only version.
Do you write in a different style when the intention is for the story to be read aloud? I tend to be very distracted by the “he said,” “she said,” etc. that goes along with print books that are read. Just curious …
I’ll be happy to buy it as soon as Audible starts selling it. I’ve no interest in renting (even at a fixed fee) for an unspecified period of time (until Audible decides to shut down their DRM servers, they way MSN Music, Yahoo, and WalMart did earlier this year).
Jon R:
It is possible, of course, to burn Audible stuff to CD, so you don’t lose it in the event the DRM shuts off. As it’s spoken word, there’s no real significant loss of quality in the transfer to CD. Which is to say it’s easily ownable as you would wish to own it.
I peed myself a little in excitement.
BTW< sure you know this, but the site is muy pokey today.
I’m not a fan of audiobooks in general, but this may just be the kind of news that gets me to buy it in audiobook form. and then buy it again when/if it comes out in print, but man.
That’s Michael Hogan, man!
I just peed myself again, reading who’s going to be reading these. Or who has. Even though it’s full of black mustachioed, devious Canadians, this will be quite something.
Hey, I baked you a delicious pizza! Only problem, it has thumbtacks in it. Don’t worry, if you spend a bit of time and effort, you can take the thumbtacks out and have it just the way you like it!
I ran the latin through an on-line translator and got:
“Utere Nihil Non Extra Quiritationem Suis”=
Either of the two Nothing Not Outside A scream Suis
Other versions welcome. Please!!
Jon R:
Eh. I find the process of creating a personal physical copy of Audible work trivially simple, personally.
That said, this conversation is already boring, so let’s not have it any further.
I’m personally looking forward to the one read by Alessandro Juliani, and not (exactly) because it’s the Scalzi story.
Mmm, Felix Gaeta.
Alright, looks like a great place to put an Audible credit. I have two left… any suggestions? I’ve been having a hard time finding things to add, lately.
What is with the Squeee stuff? You sound like that Phil Plait guy!
Kandyse McClure ??? SQUEEEEE!!!!!
Oh! Squee Squared!!!
Am I the only one who keeps reading this as Meatropolis? (And who kinda wants to hear THOSE stories, too?)
“They’re made out of bacon!”
Soylent Green is made out of… pork? Oh, ok, then.
I was hanging out with Karl the day he received his comp copy, and his excitement was enough to get me excited, even before I knew who else was on the bill, and who was reading what. The squee, it is contagious.