Four Fanworks I Would Have Missed If Not For Podfic (and One I Wouldn't Have Missed For the World)

[hardboiledbaby]

I usually stick to podfic in fandoms I already know and love. Sometimes, however, I have followed a podficcer into unfamiliar territory, with spectacular results. Here are four stories I would have completely missed if not for the wonderful folks who recorded them. In alphabetical order:


Jaws - Read by themusecalliope
Hawaii Five-0 | Steve McGarrett/Danny Williams | teen and up | 0:59:23
Written by JoeLawson | Author's Summary: Danny has a secret.

While I'm familiar with the show, I'm not really in the fandom, and I'm not usually into shapeshifter AUs anyway, so ordinarily I would have skipped this fic without a second thought. But Calliope had mentioned it when we were discussing the pronunciation of some Hawaiian words, so my interest was piqued. I'd always found Calliope to be a pleasure to listen to, and I was happy (though not at all surprised) to find that she continues to delight in this recording. I love her Danny voice especially, she delivers his dialogue and thoughts with great enthusiasm and such obvious enjoyment, the listener can't help but be drawn into the fun.


Life, Mid-Crisis - Read by lamardeuse
Live Free Or Die Hard | John McClane/Matt Farrell | explicit | 0:29:50
Written by lamardeuse | Author's Summary: When Matt bought the gym membership, he knew he was screwed.

I can't recall exactly how I came to find this gem. I'd seen the movie, but had no desire to read fic or anything. I think I must've just recognized Lamardeuse's name on the Audiofic Archive, since she wrote in the Starsky and Hutch fandom once upon a time. She's got a wry 'n dry delivery that's perfect for this story. Even though it's Matt's POV, I swear you can just see John's amused smirk as she reads his lines.


No Wealth and No Ruin - Read by lunchee
The Social Network/Dead Like Me | Mark Zuckerberg/Eduardo Saverin | mature | 8:25:22
Written by antistar_e | Author's Summary: In which Mark Zuckerberg gets a job, learns important life lessons, makes friends, finds the love of his life, and dies. Not necessarily in that order.

This is another story I found out about through discussing Hawaiian pronunciation, but unlike H50, I had practically zero knowledge of the source material. Still, Lunchee is a wonderful podficcer, so despite my unfamiliarity with the canon and the length of the recording, I decided to have a go. To say I was not disappointed is an understatement of epic proportions. There are lots of characters, old and young, male and female, yet all of them are voiced distinctively. I can't say enough about Lunchee's voice skills, really stellar work.


Run Program: DUM-E - Read by kalakirya
The Avengers | Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Dummy | mature | 2:13:57
Written by Amuly | Author's Summary: Taking care of Tony is a lot of work. Especially when you’ve only got one arm. And your code dates back to the 1980s.

Okay, I've been trying NOT to fall ass over teakettle into Avengers fandom (and that's been going about as well as you might expect), but it's still highly probable I wouldn't have given this fic more than a passing glance. It's written in large part as Dummy's program code, fer cryin' out loud. But... Dummy, you know? So I downloaded. O. M. G. Kalakirya did an amazing job. Inspired use of sound effects and the perfect Dummy "voice," if you will. I have all the robot feels now, and it's all her fault.


And one podfic I wouldn't have missed for the world:

Make Me an Offer - Read by elaineofshalott
Nero Wolfe | Archie Goodwin, Nero Wolfe, Fritz Brenner | general | 0:18:57
Written by stewardess | Author's Summary: Nero Wolfe prequel. Archie needs a job. Wolfe is going to give him one.

Elaineofshalott recorded this for me as part of the Informal Twitter Podfic Exchange, and it is marvelous. Her Archie has all the attitude, humor, and flair that Nero Wolfe fans have come to expect. But this is a hallmark of all her work. She not only gets the characters, she then turns around and gives them to us. I've listened to this talented lady read in several fandoms and enjoyed every single minute of it; a trend that will, I hope, continue for quite some time to come.

Comments

[glittertine]

Seconding the rec for Life, Mid-Crisis. God, it's so good. I've probably listened to it 25 times at least.

Thanks for the other recs! I will certainly go check them out!

[hardboiledbaby]

I know, right? It always has me grinning :D Thanks for stopping by!

[themusecalliope]

Thank you kindly! I'm glad you liked it. :D

[hardboiledbaby]

Entirely my (aural) pleasure :D *smooches*