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This week the Dead Robots’ get a chance to settle in and talk with honorary co-host of the show, Tracy Hickman, (who also hosts his own podcast, DragonHearth) about the creation of social systems for fantasy and sci-fi stories. What are social systems, you ask? We’re talking about governments, economies, and religions. It is a lengthy and informative discussion.

But wait, that’s not all! We also get to learn about Tracy’s new endeavor, “X-treme Dungeon Mastery,” which is a book that lays out how everyone can become a great DM who leads their players through amazing adventures. This is something for all the role-players out there!

Enjoy!

Promo – The Chronic Rift Podcast

I just saw that the DRS podcast has been made a finalist for the Parsec Awards. Our category is, of course, Best Writing-Related Podcast. Thanks go out to those who nominated us in the first place, and further thanks go out to the steering committee who placed us in the finalist column. That means a great deal.

[sally field]You like us! You really really like us![/sally field]

Terry here. Allow me to add my congratulations to all the finalists and to wish them the very best of luck. Special congratulations to our very own P.G. Holyfield for his success with Murder at Avedon Hill in the selection process. The same goes to those who have been guests on our show at one time or another. To all, well done. 

I’m also adding the complete list of finalists for the 2009 Parsec Awards to Justin’s announcement. Here it is.

Parsec Award 2009 Finalists

Best Speculative Fiction Story (Short Form)

• Best in Class by Jonathan C. Gillespie, Variant Frequencies
• Eusocial Networking by Scott Sigler, 7th Son: Obsidian
• Gestalt by J. C. Hutchins, Playing For Keeps
• The Goodbye Party by Christiana Ellis, 7th Son: Obsidian
• St. Darwin’s Spirituals by D.K. Thompson, Variant Frequencies
• Under The Bed by Michael Natale, Variant Frequencies

Best Speculative Fiction Story (Novella Form)

• Eden by Phil Rossi
• The End of Flesh by Matt Wallace, Variant Frequencies
• Nemesis by Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff, 7th Son: Obsidian
• Pallas & Stan by Matt Wallace, Playing For Keeps
• Prophet of Panamindorah Book3: Fire and Flood by Abigail Hilton

Best Speculative Fiction Story (Novel)

• Contagious by Scott Sigler
• Double Share by Nathan Lowell
• FETIDUS – The Foundation for the Ethical Treatment of the Innocently Damned, Undead and Supernatural by James Durham
• Fractured Horizon by H.E. Roulo
• Metamor City: Making the Cut by Chris Lester

Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Short Form including Independents)

• Age of the Zombies
• The Dixie Stenberg and Brassy Battalion Adventure Theater – Pendant Productions
• Dr Who – BrokenSea
• Star Wars, Codename: Starkeeper – The Adventures of Indiana Jim
• The Radio Adventures Of Dr. Floyd

Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Long Form including Independents)

• Amazing Pulp Adventures Starring Mister Adventure
• Metamor City: Making the Cut
• Murder at Avedon Hill
• The Leviathan Chronicles
• The Takeover – Mur Lafferty

Best Speculative Fiction Video Podcast

• 7th Son: Obsidian
• MODSonline
• Stranger Things
• The Totally Rad Show
• The Underdevelopment Podcast

Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast

• Bloodcast, Season 2
• Erotica a la carte
• 19 Nocturne Boulevard
• Pseudopod
• Variant Frequencies

Best Speculative Fiction Comedy/Parody Podcast

• Bell’s in the Batfry
• Christiana’s Shallow Thoughts
• comedy4cast – Comedy Podcast
• Geek Pantheon and Your Moment of Kim
• Geek Survival Guide

Best Speculative Fiction Fan Podcast

• The 9th – A Heroes Podcast
• The Babylon Podcast
• The ScapeCast
• The Signal
• Tuning Into SciFi TV

Best Speculative Fiction News Podcast

• (Cool) Shite on the Tube
• Dial P For Pulp!
• Galactica Quorum
• Rangercast
• Skepticality

Best Writing-related Podcast

• The Dead Robots’ Society
• I Should Be Writing
• Irrevent Muse “Get Published”
• Movie Mantras
• Writing Excuses

Best “Infotainment” Cast

• The 365 Days of Astronomy, the daily podcast of the International Year of Astronomy 2009
• Geek Survival Guide
• Geologic Podcast
• Movie Mantras
• Tuning in to SciFi TV

Best Gaming Podcast

• All Games Considered
• Brilliant Gameologists
• City of Heros Podcast
• The Game Kennel
• The Podge Cast

Best Anime Podcast

• Anime 3000 Panel with Sean Russell
• Anime Diet
• Anime Roundtable
• Anime World Order
• Star Rabbit Tracks

Best New Speculative Fiction Podcaster/Team

• Antithesis, Book 1: Predestination and Other Games of Chance
• FETIDUS – The Foundation for the Ethical Treatment of the Innocently Damned, Undead and Supernatural
• Gypsy Audio
• The House of Grey
• 19 Nocturne Boulevard

Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast

• FETIDUS – The Foundation for the Ethical Treatment of the Innocently Damned, Undead and Supernatural
• The FuMP
• The GeekSpin
• Radio Free Hipster
• Wander Radio

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This week the Dead Robots, and by that we mean just Justin, sits down to interview bestselling author Kevin J Anderson. His time was limited, but we tried to get in as much good info as we could. Enjoy.

Kevin J. Anderson’s Website

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This week the Dead Robots (sans PG) finally catch up on all the feedback that has been piling up. We love getting it, and we try to respond to it as soon as we get it, but sometimes we can’t. This is the week we make up for it. Send us more!

Abbie Hilton’s Prophet of Panamindorah

Mark Morehead’s Blogspot Article

John Mierau’s Serving World’s Podcast

This week’s promo – Philippa Ballantine’s “Weather Child”

This is just a heads up to our listeners that a great podcast that delves into the happenings of the sci-fi publishing world is back! Host Shaun Farrell and his amazing sidekick, Sam Wynns, have given us some great interviews over the years and tons of news, so I am very excited to see the show return. Maybe this year Sam will finally take over!

To mark their return, they features Greg Van Eekhout, the author of Norse Code. Everyone should check it out.

http://www.adventuresinscifipublishing.com/2009/07/aisfp-78-greg-van-eekhout/

Hey, everyone. I just wanted to drop a line letting you know that I’ve put the text of my erotica story “Little Mysteries” up on my website. I think the story takes on a whole new life through Pip’s spoken words, but the text ain’t bad on its own either (if I do say so myself), so if you want to read it, head on over HERE and do so. And please, if you do, leave me a message letting me know what you think. A writer grows through criticism, not silence.

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This week the Dead Robots, joined by special minion J Daniel Sawyer, discuss the in’s and out’s of characters. What makes for a good character, how do you give them a voice, and when can stereotypes work for you? Sit with us and enjoy.