18 Comments
User's avatar
Benjamin's avatar

Burn the Heretic! Kill the Mutant! Purge the...Flurge? Long live the Pax 'Rionica!

Expand full comment
Lindsey L.C. Crow's avatar

So many amazing features to rave about here, you’ve outdone yourself again Mr. Wheatley!

And you’ve got me really considering returning to an old sci-fi story of my own… been considering it anyway but you really got me hyped with this content.

I’m looking forward to the next and I hope many find this and follow and get your works popular! Spread the good news that a sane man can make exciting, engaging stories!

Expand full comment
Gregory McCann's avatar

I would comment, but I would need to put it through a committee first... :P

Expand full comment
Mark's avatar

I hope to hear more I enjoyed it

Expand full comment
Scorpion_Strike's avatar

Quite a nice start! A compelling portrait of what seems to me a rather decadent and hubristic civilization facing an existential threat, presented, at least in this episode, through the eyes of a character fully committed to the greatness of their people (or at least his own greatness). Yet they are forced to admit the threat has so far been handled poorly. As with the old podcasts, your voice is on point. I look forward to what happens next with the Rionites and Pax Rionica!

To critique: the writing is a little on the nose in how Tan sometimes lapses into describing the Rionites more as an object of sociological study ("the basic unit of social organization among our people...") than as a peer group. Maybe that's on purpose given Tan considers themselves to be a "galaxy brain" and might therefore be partial to overly academic language, but with in the context of just this episode it feels more like exposition shoved rather ham-fistedly into the dialogue. The rest of the episode does much better in this regard; I laughed out loud at Tan's description of the initial impression of the Flurj (Fleurg? Phlurgh?). Something that bugs me a bit is that I can't gauge Tan's actual disposition towards the committees. The latter's actions as described by Tan render them contemptable, and there's a sarcastic undertone when describing "our best committees", but I'm not sure if that's meant to be coming from someone who is disillusioned with the governing structure or someone who still believes in it. Knowing where Tan stands would, for me, do wonders in terms of giving a more empathetic understanding of the Rionites' situation at their level. If Tan no longer believes (and the sarcasm is genuine), then the stress on society by the Flurj is already breaking the power structure, and vice versa if the faith is holding. Maybe that's nitpicking a bit, and maybe, if future episodes feature Tan again, their position will become clearer by context.

Expand full comment
Hannah Mae's avatar

Incredibly well read/performed

Expand full comment
Di Dinx's avatar

I'd be interested to know who was the leader of the Flurge.....

Expand full comment
Maureen Peters's avatar

Not what I was expecting, but very welcome nonetheless. I enjoyed the distinct character voices, also, kind of kafkaesque while humorous? I did not know which feeling to focus on half the time so I just went with several simultaniously, which was kind of wierd.

Anyway, I certainly feel inspired to watch some Cosmos now.

Expand full comment
TheCheerfulCynic's avatar

It's alright. But the narration style makes it a bit too on the nose and even slightly condescending. I think a more ground level take like two characters discussing the Flurge would be a bit more entertaining and better parody.

Expand full comment
tinkering's avatar

Missed your voice so I decided to try to find you. Imagine the joy of being presented with radio play on first try.

Expand full comment
Ellie Elwine's avatar

This is great! So excited about this new space here, keep it coming! 👍

Expand full comment
Sneaky Hermit's avatar

This is what I have been wishing someone would create for a while and I’m excited it has arrived. Love the open, abstract, & experimental nature of the overall concept. And as for this specific piece…yes! More of this please!

Expand full comment
Paul Ackermann's avatar

the flurge! lol. oh god, i really should have taken the time to listen to this stuff earlier- but work- oh work gets in the way......

Expand full comment
Paul Ackermann's avatar

the flurge! lol. oh god, i really should have taken the time to listen to this stuff earlier- but work- oh work gets in the way......

Expand full comment
Paul Ackermann's avatar

the flurge! lol. oh god, i really should have taken the time to listen to this stuff earlier- but work- oh work gets in the way......

Expand full comment
Paul Ackermann's avatar

the flurge! lol. oh god, i really should have taken the time to listen to this stuff earlier- but work- oh work gets in the way......

Expand full comment