Amplirecathon 2012: Podfic Big Bang 2012 Redux

[podcath]

I wanted to make a second rec post, but I had a difficult time trying to find a good organizing scheme. I like thematic lists, but I couldn't find a good theme. I wanted to spotlight several authors I admire, but I realized I'd end up leaving out many I enjoy just as much. So then I decided that I'd look at the most recent stories I've listened to, and to limit it easily, I chose only from the 2012 Podfic Big Bang to showcase different fandoms and readers.

(Mind you, these are the podfics I listened to and loved. Chances are that the ones I am not listing are in fandoms in which I don't listen or may have had aspects in the story that didn't appeal to me.)

I am sorting them by readers, and, stealing from argentumlupine, I'm adding side recs, i.e., other stories by the same author I've loved. 7 bandom, 5 Inception, 3 AI, 3 J2, 2 DS, 2 TSN, 2 DS, 1 XMFC, 1 SGA, 1 TPM, 1 H50, and 1 Teen Wolf rec under the cut:

Aphelant
is one of my go-to people in Inception, and her PBB didn't disappoint. Everything's Magic [2:09:16, 99.5 MB] is a lovely story that could have been too cute for me but never was--a feat that was accomplished, I think, in equal parts by Arthur's no nonsense attitude, the author's firm handle on the more whimsical aspects of the story (unicorns!), and aphelant's calm yet passionate reading.

My extra story for her is Inception as well, and it is one of three stories that pulled me headlong into Inception last year (the others being Ach des Knaben Augen, about which I already raved, and emilianadarling 's ballet!AU, I Bet Nureyev Never Had to Deal With This Shit): aphelant's we were once cinema gods in the night [1:56:15, 68.8 MB] is an actor!AU that draws interestingly from the filming of Inception but casts the main characters in such a way that we could never mistake the story for RPF. The characters are real if not necessarily likeable, and aphelant's control of the story keeps me glued to my ipod even at the 5th or 6th listen.

Argentumlupine
has easily become one of my favorite bandom readers. As I mentioned in my first rec post, she assigns individual voices to every character and carries them through consistently. Her reading is well paced, calm and articulate, and she pulls off longer stories with seeming ease, not losing the characters or shifting quality over time. For PBB, she recorded the MCR story Tints of Rainbow Hue [01:37:39, 23 MB], which I had read before and enjoyed a lot. Argentumlupine's reading made me love these characters and feel for them even more. A story dealing with clinical depression is always hard to do well, and I may have skimmed a lot of the Gerard sections. Listening to them, I had to stay with it, and argentumlupine made me want to! The conceit of the story is the mirroring of human emotions and plants: both need careful tending in order to grow. This could easily have become dorky, but in the hands of author and reader, it instead became meaningful and, at times, even joyful.

My extra story for argentumlupine is one I have on constant relisten. I can tell which fandom I'm most strongly invested in, by where I relisten the most, usually at night when I'm trying to slow my mind. I can't listen to stories that upset me nor do I want to listen to readers that are too expressionist or too fast, because I need to pay too much attention. Argentumlupine's reading of shoemaster's MCR story Hey Mr. DJ [0:33:18, 8 MB] is on my constant rotation at the moment. Just over 30 minutes, it is the perfect story to listen to and make me happy before I fall asleep. I like mixed-up identities, and this quick-paced little fic of a Gerard who falls for the night time DJ only to meet him without realizing who he is hits a lot of my plot kinks.

Fire_juggler
is one of those readers I keep on encountering in different places and again and again enjoying her work. For PBB, she read an AI story which, initially, didn't sound like something I'd be into. A knitting AU? While I could fathom Kris possibly having learned to knit, Adam!the knitter didn't strike me as all that enticing. But a good artist can make you believe just about anything, right? And so Jeyhawk and Fire_juggler did in Tightly Knit [3:08:49, 93.2 MB]. Within minutes of the story, I not only believed, I passionately rooted for Adam to knit his purple scarf. The knit shop, of course, is only the backdrop to a story that investigates the relationship between the two and examines Adam's inability to acknowledge his actual feelings. Fire_juggler pulled me into the story from the very beginning. For me one of the best ways to read is when I forget that I am listening to a recording, when I am fully pulled into the podfic, because it means that the reader and the story have become inextricably entwined. Also, please pay attention to the podcover, because it's amazing!!! (As in, the artist actually knitted the scarf in question to take a picture of it for the cover...)

My extra for her is even more recent and also a BB story, this time from the bandom BB. Inlovewithnight's In Your Passport [1:52:11, 55.9 MB] is a lovely Mikey/Pete AU, in which Pete doesn't found FOB but instead becomes a soccer player. The two randomly meet and then not so randomly meet again and again. The story plays out fuck buddies becoming lovers in the best way, because neither Pete nor Mikey comprehend (or want) this to happen, but the story shows its inevitability. Fire_juggler's love for the story comes through in every line, and I adore her dry Mikey voice and her randomly frantic Pete thoughts.

Flyingthesky
took on a difficult project with TSN story In Webs and Knots [8:16:27, 229MB]. Not only is it long, it also shifts between past and present, which the reader doesn't signpost but which is easily understood nevertheless. I'm not into TSN (well, I ended up listening and reading quite a bit after this podfic :), but the story retells a lot of the film plot with the slant of a hidden BDSM relationship. I was more interested in the present day happenings, but the two create a lovely balance and flyingthesky's calm and constant voice kept me going back again and again to the story. Also really liked the music used.

I don't have an extra rec for her, but I do have her H50 story Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea [03:40:32, 99.37MB] sitting on my ipod, so I figure I should mention this one instead. I am waiting for a lull after all the big bangs for stories in my own fandoms, and then I'll give this one it a try :)

Helens78
picked a DS story for PBB: Long Road (Long Ride Home) [5:26:20, 157.76 MB] by brooklinegirl. Every once in a while I'm in the mood for Ray/Ray/Fraser, and the author all but guarantees great storytelling and emotional depth. The story is quiet and calm with a lot of thoughts and feelings, and Helens78 reads this type of introspection perfectly. It's not a story I'd pick for every mood, but when you're looking for something slow-paced and full of feelings, this is a great one.

For my extra, then, I want to pick another oldie but goodie that she recently recorded, Anne Carr and Emrin Alexander's Twenty Questions [47:09, 43.2MB]. It's a classic TPM story with Qui-Gon and Obi Wan stuck on a planet and working through their feelings (in general and for one another). The writing is experienced and so is Helens78's reading of it, calm yet emotional as would be appropriate for Jedi knights :).

Jenepod
is another one of those readers I always enjoy encountering and wishing she did more, more, more... Her reading of pennyplainknits's Panic! story Graham Need Not Apply [1:04:33, 37.84 MB] is a lovely little piece that features an AU in which Spencer joins the band in college. He ends up falling hard for Brendon and trying to follow unspoken band rules that clearly turn out not to be what he assumes. Some members from other bands make appearances, but it's mostly a tight story, well told and really well read about Spencer's love (and various attempts to not feel that way).

My extra story for jenepod is another Panic! big bang story, this one for BBB. Frankie_ann's Floating our Way Out [2:17:13, 66 MB] was a story I thought really cute when I read it and fell even more in love with when listening. Brendon is a ghost who ends up in the band and with Spencer, and the quirky humor and moving desperation of the story really come through in Jenepod's reading.

Kansouame
quickly became a known (and loved) quantity once I started reading Inception. While her tonal melodies and emphases are often more extreme than I usually prefer, they remain contained enough to never throw me out of a story and work beautifully when presenting Arthur's spite and frustration and Eames's humor. Her PBB All Is Violent, All Is Bright [3:13, 174MB] by sparrow_hubris is a post-apocalyptic AU where the two (as teenagers) meet while scavenging in the city. Given the setting, it's not a happy story, but it is hopeful, and the two characters both grow with and through each other, a change Kansouame presents beautifully.

For my extra I picked Kansouame's most recent Just a Little Touch [2:48:00, 19.95 MB] by avocado_love. Avocado_love is a wonderfully imaginative Inception author, and this story is no exception. Set in a dom/sub verse, Arthur keeps himself from becoming part of a bonded pair until he accidentally realizes Eames is *his* dom and breaks off all contact. I'm assuming the rest of the story should be clear? :) Kansouame's Eames and Arthur are excellent as always, and she brings across both Arthur's doubts and anxieties and Eames's needs and desires.

Kisahawklin
is a new to me author (and thus sadly with no extra, though I'm looking forward to what she'll post next). eye_queue's Strangers on a Six Train [1:23:57, 77.2 MB] is a pleasant reminder of the height of earth-only SGA: Rodney's a prof in New York and runs into John repeatedly on the subway. It's a sweet story and while one might wonder just what Sheppard sees in McKay, I was enough of a hardcore fan to just love John's gentle prodding and Rodney's obtuse ignorance. Kisahawklin is a lovely reader whose voice, pacing, and intonation left me to enjoy the story without distraction, to fall into the sweetness of their love, so to speak.

Knight_tracer
has become one of my favorite readers lately, which is quite amusing, because her reading used to frustrate me a bit. In her early stories, she would pause often, and while I loved her voice and we seemed to share a brain where our story tastes were concerned, I so badly wanted her to speed up just a little bit. And she did! And I told her how happy that made me. And then ended up betaing some of her stuff. Anyway, Arsenicjade's Home is a Name [5:05:08 , 140.55 MB] is an AU where all the MCR boys work in a Free Clinic. Arsenic has a thing for h/c, and while the physical stuff is in the past mostly, if that's not your thing, you might want to skip it. If, like me, you love h/c, however, the slow and torturous falling in love with all its difficulties is just perfect, only improved by knight_tracer's well-paced and expressive reading.

There are so many extras I could pick, including her bandom big bang (time travel!), but instead I want to jump fandoms and rec her TSN story, Best Practices in Workplace Relationships [2:26:34, 67.1 MB]. Eduardo doesn't meet Mark until he applies for a job, and I love all kinds of road not taken where our protagonists meet nevertheless under different circumstances. Knight_tracer's reading is wonderful, and her disaffected Mark and passionate Eduardo are great.

Reena Jenkins
Her reading of herlovewasajoke's Screaming Down the Starlit Sky [32:15:33 , huge] is an amazing tour de force (32 hours!!!), gorgeously read and beautifully paced! I fell in love with the fandom and this story at about the same time, not even realizing that it was a video AU but loving the sprawling plots and innumerable characters that constantly forced me to look up yet another Fueled By Ramen band. And while I might have wished for a podfic, I didn't think anyone would ever take that on. But Reena did. Under time pressure! And she finished! There are no words! So if you like bandom (and even if you don't) and have a thing for epic fic and can abide vampires: do yourself a favor and give this a try. Oh, and if nothing else, listen to the awesome soundtrack Reena created.

For my Reena extra there were so many to pick from, but one that I listen to repeatedly and that has really stuck with me is her reading of Pprfaith's XMFC/SVM crossover (or would it rather be a fusion?). Old Metal [1:09:32, 76.9 MB], Deep Sea [0:42:44, 49MB], , and Bright Nights [0:42:35, 48.7] are three installments in this seemingly insane and yet utterly gorgeous series where Erik is...Erik. And Charles is Sookie. Beyond that, the two are so clearly themselves, and their dynamic, while complicated by the supernatural, is pitch perfect. Reena's reading is emotional without becoming excessive, and I love the humor and the depth she showcases here.

Seussian
I think I may have squeed loudly when I saw this podfic submission for PBB. Denise Raymond's All the Comforts of Home [4:39:54, 159.25 MB] is one of my comfort DS fics, and I don't even know why. I think the outsider point of view where Ray Vecchio slowly comes to understand Ray and Fraser's relationship is a big part of it as are the beautifully drawn original characters and the entire setting of their new hometown. And clearly I wasn't the only one, if seussian's desire to podfic a decade old story is anything to go by. And a great podfic it is! Seussian captures Vecchio's confusion, Kowalski's anger, Fraser's attempt at mediation and everyone else's compassion yet amusement beautifully. It was one of those stories where, when done, I wanted to start again just because I didn't want to leave behind these characters nor the voice telling me the story. Also, check our Bessyboo's cool podfic art!

Seussian first appeared on my radar earlier this year with her ambitious Inception project of podficcing We Can Do This Until We Pass Out [3:09:02, 93 MB], or the so-called chav!verse. Taking Eames' persona of the working class rogue literally, this story keeps Arthur and Cobbs in the dream business but makes Eames a small time crook. Their initial sexual attraction becomes more (against both their wills it all but seems), and Seussian handles the long story with a range of emotions beautifully.

Takola
has recently shot into the top segment of my favorite readers. She started with HP, and while I listened and loved her readings, the fandom didn't hold enough sway over me in general. When she started recording in other fandoms, however, I was sure not to miss a single one. Her PBB was yet another werewolf story (and how many were there this year, half a dozen or more?). Insane_songbird's In the Company of Wolves [3:56:25, 110.64 MB] creates a society where werewolves and humans have been fighting for ages, both cultures marked by the war. Jensen is one of the front warriors for the humans, Jared the son of the alpha, and both meet first on the battlefield, then during peace negotiations. The world building in this story is gorgeous, and the wolf society is fundamentally other in interesting ways, often shown through Jensen's outsider eyes. Takola's reading is pitch perfect, and I ended up listening to the entire piece in one sitting, because I just would not stop.

I want to recommend Takola's reading of Jerakeen's AI story, Take my hand (and show me where we're going) [2:49:37, 80.91 MB]. Jerakeen is one of those can do no wrong authors for me, always giving plot, emotions, and characterization in equal parts, and this story is no different--except with added scifi and bonding. Kris and Adam bond accidentally, and Adam begins to realize that his plans for life may have been premature when he is beginning to get to know Kris better. It's classic AI, but nothing in the story feels old or overused--instead, the reading is beautiful, and Takola makes you want to kick Adam and just give Kris a hug.

Weimar27
reads Zuben_eschamali's The Winchester Identity [11:18:24, 354MB] for PBB, a J2 fusion of The Bourne Identity with Jensen as the amnesiac on the run and Jared his unlikely and, initially, unwilling companion. The story is fast paced and plot heavy, and Weimar27's calm and firm reading complements the turmoil without being pulled into it. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story and recommend it highly (as is often the case, this J2AU welcomes but does not require canon knowledge).

For weimar27's extra I picked her reading of raina_at's sweet and funny Eat Drink Love [0:44:12, 40.5 MB], in which Jensen is a disenchanted waiter and Jared a serial dater who keeps on getting taken to Jensen's restaurant. The story is fun and weimar27's reading even more so, making us love and lovingly mock Jared while secretly admiring him for his persistence in looking for love--which he clearly just has to recognize is Jensen :)

And a non Podfic Big Bang for the Road:

Paraka
posted a big bang story in the middle of PBB, and I initially thought it was for PBB (turns out it was for Werewolf BB), so I figured I might as well include it here. Shakespeare's Girl Moonpath [1:43:50, 106 MB] is a fantastic story where unicorn meets werewolf (we've had both separately here already, but not together :) and it changes both their lives. Kris, the wolf, rescues Adam, the wounded fae/unicorn, and as they are both fighting again ossified rules and their friends' prejudices, they develop feelings for one another. Paraka is a seasoned reader, who is always in control of her emotional output and delivers this story in a way that is nearly fairy tale like, yet never not fully aware of the weight of these lives.

And for Paraka's extra, I have to go with a Teen Wolf story, my favorite little podfic fandom at the moment with some lovely stories that come out nearly daily. Given that the show (and the fandom?) seesaws between overemoting angst and near ridicule, I'll end with some levity and a celebration of an often overlooked character. In GoddessofBirth's Nothing Gets By a Stilinski AKA Stiles Had to Get His Awesome From Somewhere [0:39:37, 44 MB], Stiles's father demands a sit-down breakfast with his son and Derek, and we see this disastrous meal slowly proceed through Stiles's eyes. Paraka's reading is wonderfully funny without ignoring the emotional depth that still is there throughout the story.

Comments

[pennyplainknits]

I love jenepod's reading of Graham Need Not Apply, but I'm actually the author? I know the author is TOTALLY not the point of a podfic rec post, but it is a story I'm kind of proud of...

She did an amazing job of Ghost!Brendon too. I particularly love the way she reads Ryan, she gets the deadpan humour without being at all monotone

[podcath]

Argh! I copied it straight from the podficbigbang DW post. I was surprised at the name, but I figured it was just someone i'd never heard of. Sorry!

and you should be proud of it :) It's a lovely story! I love how making Ryan and Brendon friends changes Ryan quite a bit, having to be the supportive one in the relationship.

Anyway, changed, and maybe you want to tell eosrose to fix it in the entry I linked?

[themusecalliope]

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is fab, just FYI. :)

[podcath]

Yes, it looked great and is seriously just waiting for all the bandom to dry up :)

Thanks for reccing it though!!!

[luzula]

I've been in a place with limited internet for a week, and I have a window full of tabs with podfics I mean to download when I finally get a proper connection yet. Amplirecathon, yay! *opens some more tabs*

[podcath]

Oh, i know how that feels. On vacation I minimized my DL and had a bunch waiting when I got home. Enjoy when you get to it! <3

[regonym]

This is a great recs post - I've been looking around for some great long podfics to help battle the Boring Work Task monster. :P

[podcath]

Oh, Reena's alone should do quite a nice job there :) But thank you so much for commenting! I really tried to rec as much as I could but then I looked back on the PBB and realized I'd hardly recced half of what was submitted. Still some listening to do...

[croissantkatie]

I think I have most of these that I'm tangentially in the fandom for, because I basically downlaoded everything from PBB. I'm currently part way through In Webs and Knots and it's really good! The reader does a fantastic job dealing with the past/present aspects of that fic.

[keitorin]

Thank you for the recs, I downloaded several of the podfics to try!