Darkness, embryos, and a big bug?

Sorry for the delay in getting this post up, work gets in the way sometimes. In this episode, JC Hutchins' Obsidian, Scott Sigler's Ancestor, and Scott Sigler's Bloodcast, Season 1. Links to all these at the end of the post.

An update on Cast-A-Line, all is going well. There is so much more interest that I could have hoped. It will still be a little while before this really begins to take shape. The project was really about finding out if there was any interest in this in the first place. Since it seems there is tremendous interest, I have to start thinking about the next step. While I won't say what the project is, I will say it is the first step towards making this a real podcast, and will hopefully get the word out more, and drive traffic this way. The next step is figuring out how I want to record a podcast, getting the headset for it, and finding time to do this. I'm in the middle of a move right now, so it probably will be about a month before anything tangible shows up.

Yesterday I heard the first of JC Hutchins' "Voices from the Darkness" Obsidian episodes. If you recall, Obsidian is an anthology of stories from a variety of authors, including listeners. The listeners were invited to record their own voicemails, "cloverfield style", and let JC know what it is/was like to live through the chaos after the nationwide blackout. These voicemails, MP3s, and videos were put into the "Voices from the Darkness" episodes. Let me just say, that was creepy. And amazing, but creepy. I heard the first one on the bus yesterday, and listening to those calls, I started looking at the others on the bus, wondering if they were going to start looting or rioting, and if I was going to have to make one of those calls myself (which I can't, the deadline for Obsidian submissions was yesterday, I think).

Another anthology I've started listening to is Scott Sigler's Bloodcast, Season 1. Now, let's make a note here, Season 2 has been tentatively scheduled for 09, and Season 1 is dated back in 04-05. Maybe Sigler just got busy, what with book deals, movie talks, a trilogy to finish, etc. (way to go Sigler, on a roll, don't stop now). I can't go into a summary of all the stories in this series, but I can say, the stories all seem to start out innocently enough. But soon, they get their first, seemingly unbelievable, twist. Further on, the twist, which you couldn't believe was true, was too outrageous to be true, turns out to be just that, true. From there, in true Sigler style, the action ensues. Then, before it can really hit you that it all really did just happen, he throws another twist at you to wrap things up nice and neat. Sigler is an awesome writer, with some incredible ideas. I'd like to recommend at least Episode 4 of Bloodcast, and you'll hear why in the next episode.

Over the past week, while waiting for the next episode of Infected to come out (note to Sigler, I'm still waiting), I've started listening to Ancestor, again by the Future Dark Overlord Scott Sigler. (Is there too much Sigler this week, I don't know. If I start chanting for Pope Siglericus XXX, take cover, hide your children, and ... paint lambs blood on your door frame)

Ancestor, at it's core, is about the quest for growing human transplantable organs in animals. Some companies are trying to grow these organs in existing animals, pigs, monkeys. The risk with that is the possibility of a transgenetic virus. A virus that existed in the animal, and with the introduction of human DNA, mutated to a form that could infect humans...humans with no natural defense. Result, epidemic and death. This is how the book starts out, and the outbreak is contained and destroyed quickly. The CIA begins trying to shut down other companies doing the same sort of research. One company, however, is trying to build a new animal, combining DNA from mammals all over the world in an attempt to build the great-granddaddy of all mammals, with human organ traits. They succeed, and the new animal, aptly named the Ancestor, is born.

This book is peppered with Sigler's great ideas, the suspense we've grown to love from him, and, of course, his horrific style. Between the genetics company, the CIA tying to stop them, and trying to keep knowledge from the general public, this book has enough sci-fi, politics, black-ops, and intrigue to keep most readers happy. I should note here, that even Sigler adds a warning that this podiobook might not be suitable for youngsters, with all the violence, language, and blood. My only vice with this book, from what I've heard so far (I'm only a quarter of the way through it), is that it almost seems predictable. Almost. But I trust Sigler to come to these points with his usual twists and turns, throwing anything I think might happen out the window on the lawn.
Update on Ancestor, The Truth

Click the links below to check out these podiobooks.
Obsidian
Bloodcast, Season 1
"Pick-of-the-Week" Ancestor

Next week, Stranger Things, TD-0013, and, hopefully, a new Infected episode.