Amplirecathon 2012: Podfic to Keep Your Attention

[tinypinkmouse]

Lately I've had good reason to try and keep myself distracted from my own thoughts. Podfic is an excellent way of keeping my thoughts occupied while doing... well whatever it is that I need to be doing at the time. The thing is though, that the more I need to distract myself from something, the worse my ability concentrate seems to get. I need something truly riveting to keep my attention. Listening to new podfic, is always a bit of a gamble there, since you can't be sure of what you're getting. Under normal circumstances I rarely re-listen to podfics, but recently I've found myself going back to some of my favourites, as I know that they'll definitely keep my attention from wandering.

So, I'm going to be reccing some of the podfics that have gotten quite a few listens in the past month or so, as well as some of the new podfics I've dared to listen to and that have done more than admirable job of helping me not think of things. (I'm sorry if some of these have been recced already, I really haven't had the opportunity to look through the other posts yet.)



The National Service Series
Chronicles of Narnia | Gen | 55:08
Reader: croisstankatie | Author: burntcopper

I just have to start with one of my absolute favourite podfics. I know I've recced the first story in the series before, and that's definitely my favourite part still, but the rest of it is pretty amazing too.

This is a podfic where the story and reader are a perfect match for each other. I can't imagine anyone else reading it and while I like the story, it's croissantkatie's performance that really made me love the fic. I will say that there might be some issues with the sound quality, I guess depending on what you're listening to the podfic with, but that's barely noticeable compared to the brilliant performance.


Addicted
Transformers (movies) | Jazz/Prowl | 29:47
Reader: sly_hostetter | Author: snugsbunny

Summary: Addiction is not something exclusive to humans

I would possibly be excited just by the fact that there is Jazz/Prowl podfic, or just Transformers podfic in general, but this also happens to be quite a brilliant podfic and I couldn't be happier (even if it's not exactly a very happy story).


Run & Coda
Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Southern Vampire Mysteries | Eric Northman/Buffy Summers | 1:47:26
Reader: reena_jenkins | Author: ppfraith

Summary: You really should have known better than to have Giles call the Council and ask them for help getting rid of your aspect of the demon.

Have I ever mentioned that I remember when ppfraith started posting stories? I've been reading them ever since and I never read one I didn't like. I've also never listened to a single podfic by reena_jenkins that I didn't like. I'm very happy about the fact that these two amazing people seem to have found each other and I get to listen to podfic that I can't help but adore. Out of all of the resulting podfic, this is the one I've listened to the most.




in another country (people die)
Avengers (movie) | Loki/Tony Stark | 19:41
Reader: reena_jenkins | Author: ppfraith

Summary: “The world is not your playground, Stark!” Fury yells at him one time, after he maybe brings down a building or two and Tony just laughs because, seriously, yes it is.

Obviously I can't make a rec list without including at least a few of reena_jenkins' podfics, her reading is consistently great, and handily enough she keeps recording amazingly good stories, so there's more than enough to choose from. Since I've rather come to love Avengers podfic lately this seems the perfect choice. It's a slightly different look at both Tony Stark and Loki and, at least to me, it rings scarily true.


Be No Stranger (All Your Saints and Soldiers Remix)
Avengers (movie) | Steve Rogers/Tony Stark | 42:17
Readers: fire_juggler and paraka | Author: jibrailis

Summary: That's the twenty-first century love song, baby. Glitz and glamour and every one of us is a liar.

The performances are absolutely amazing. And I don't think I really know what else to say.


Arcane Asylum
Merlin (BBC) | Merlin/Arthur Pendragon | 12:42:34
Reader: sophinisba | Author: new_kate

Summary: Modern AU. For the last twenty two years Uther Pendragon has been waging war on magic. Now his son Arthur has been framed for a magical crime and sent to the prison for magic users. Arthur is instantly targeted by the inmates, but mysterious top dog Merlin takes him under his wing. They form a bond, and Merlin decides to help Arthur clear his name.

Merlin isn't a fandom I'm all that familiar with, which is why I very nearly didn't listen to this. But even though I haven't listened to all that much by sophinisba, from what I have heard I knew that I like listening to her, so... One of my better decisions as of late. I couldn't stop listening.

Comments

[dodificus]

I wanted so badly to listen to Arcane Asylum because I LOVE sophinisba but I was afraid it would be too dark for me. Usually I don't have a problem with dark fic but 12 hours is a long time to be in that mind set, could you give me some advice about how intense the story is?

And yes, I'm just like you. I don't relisten to things a lot but when I need to be distracted from what's going on in my head then revisiting old favourites is a tried and true method of giving me some relief.

[cybel]

Me, too! I'm hundreds of gigs behind in listening, yet I'm currently in the middle of the Die Hard Dying Is Easy Verse--again!

[dodificus]

Well, word on the street is that's a pretty awesome podfic, so good choice there. Although I do hope you're relistening because you like it so much and not, ya know, to distract you from the horror that is your life?

[cybel]

Like it so much. And an occasional bit of insomnia and restless brain syndrome. :-)

Yeah, it's not bad. The reader isn't horrible to listen to. Good choice of stories, too.

[tinypinkmouse]

Oh, I definitely have to listen to that again (actually I don't even remember if I actually listened to the story, or if I just read it back in the day). Thanks for reminding me!

[cybel]

It's my job. I'm Dodie's nemesis and publicity agent.

[tinypinkmouse]

Umm... I honestly didn't quite remember it was a dark fic until right now. Because I really don't remember it feeling that dark while listening to it, even though there was a lot of horrible things happening. I know I have a pretty high tolerance for some things though, so I don't know how much help that'll be, but in my opinion the mood definitely wasn't all dark all the time.

[erica_schall]

Hah, same here. On the one hand it's sophinisba, on the other hand I read the warnings coming with the fic and I go oh, no! I have had some bad experiences with fics where I did not heed the non-con warnings because dub-con usually doesn't bother me. Such a tough decision.

OMG!!!

[appleqb]

THANK YOU!!!! I was literally searching all over the place for a podfic of Arcane Asylum. I just knew it had to exist somewhere but I couldn't find it and then I practically gave up hope and then you totally had it sitting here for me to find one lazy Sunday morning! Thank you! You have totally made my day week Month INTERNETS!

These other podfics look great too I just haven't read them yet but I will!

Thanks3!

Re: OMG!!!

[tinypinkmouse]

Yay! I don't think I've ever made anyone's internets before. :) You're most welcome.

[podcath]

What a great rec post, ranging over different fandoms and authors and, for me, a lot of new fics. I've had Arcane Asylum on my ipod for a while now and though I love reader and enjoyed what I read of the fic, I was weary to commit that amount of time. Your rec definitely puts it back as frontrunner :)

[tinypinkmouse]

Thanks. And Arcane Asylum is definitely worth the time (in my opinion at least).

[croissantkatie]

Thank you so much for the rec, it really made my day. Thank you.

I'm part way through listening to Arcane Asylum and it's so good. I love it and can't wait to finish it.

I've also downloaded a couple of your other recs and am looking forward to listening to those!

[tinypinkmouse]

I'm glad to hear that. And really, thank you for the awesome podfic.

Hopefully the others will be enjoyable too. :)

[fire_juggler]

I'm finally getting to actually read through all the Amplirecathon posts after a really long, hectic couple of weeks. I also use podfics to distract me from my thoughts and I was so thrilled to see this list!! I don't think I've heard any of these, in spite of the fact that some of my favorite readers are highlighted. It's really an honor to be listed among them!!! Thank you so very much for the rec and the recs!!!! ♥

[keitorin]

These look great, I've downloaded most of them! Thanks for the recs. :D