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Escape Pod (podcast)
Encyclopedia
Escape Pod is a magazine-style podcast
launched on 12 May 2005 which presents stories in the genre of science fiction
. It has been called "the world's leading science fiction podcast". Until his retirement in May 2010, the podcast was hosted by founder Steve Eley
and edited by Jeremiah Tolbert. Since then, Mur Lafferty
has taken over both the producer and host roles at Escape Pod and at Escape Artists Inc., a company started by Steve Eley for the purpose of supporting and continuing the Escape Pod and its sister podcasts.
Escape Pod features several different types of content. The magazine offers a weekly story, usually between 2000 and 6000 words in length. It also releases flash fiction
pieces less than 2000 words in length on an irregular schedule. Occasionally, the podcast airs reviews of mainstream science fiction and fantasy media, most of which are presented by Jonathon Sullivan, Escape Pod's reviews editor. Annually Escape Pod publishes audio presentations the year's Hugo Award
nominees in the short story category. On rare occasions, other types of content have been made available on Escape Pod, such as metacasts (episodes discussing the achievements and future plans of the show itself), an interview, book and movie reviews, and PDFs for Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty and Infected by Scott Sigler
.
Escape Pod has a policy against allowing authors to read their own works. Many stories are read by people associated with Escape Pod (Steve Eley, Mur Lafferty, Jonathon Sullivan, and Anna Eley) as well as other members of the podcasting community.
In 2008, Escape Pod refocused its attention back to its science fiction roots, leaving the horror and fantasy stories to the sister podcasts, Pseudopod
and PodCastle. But Eley states that there are still no hard and fast rules on content, and Escape Pod may still feature the occasional horror or fantasy piece.
Escape Pod's music is provided by surf rock band Daikaiju with the band's permission. The opening theme is the instrumental song "The Final Phase," and the closing theme is "Choujikuu Mitsukai" ("Super-Dimensional Angels"). Both are from the album The Phasing Spider Menace.
attribution
non-commercial
no-derivatives
3.0 license. This means that Escape Pod episodes are available at no cost and can be redistributed but not sold or modified. Any of the show's episodes may be downloaded individually from Escape Pod's website or received via a podcatcher.
The fiction itself remains copyright
ed by its respective authors. Escape Pod contracts with the authors for non-exclusive audio rights, paying semi-professional rates.
Escape Pod now sells collections of their podcasts at PodDisc. There are currently five discs available. Disc one contains episodes 1 through 26. Disc two contains contains 27 through 52. Disc three contains episodes 53 through 78. Disc four contains episodes 79 through 104. Disc five contains episodes 105 through 130.
: a podcast dedicated to horror fiction, and PodCastle: a podcast dedicated to fantasy fiction.
Podcasting
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
launched on 12 May 2005 which presents stories in the genre of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. It has been called "the world's leading science fiction podcast". Until his retirement in May 2010, the podcast was hosted by founder Steve Eley
Steve Eley
Steve Eley is an American speculative fiction author and former podcaster. He edited and produced Escape Pod, a science fiction podcast, and produced Pseudopod, a horror podcast, and PodCastle, a fantasy fiction podcast that debuted on April 1, 2008...
and edited by Jeremiah Tolbert. Since then, Mur Lafferty
Mur Lafferty
Mur Lafferty is an American podcaster and writer based in Durham, North Carolina. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated with a degree in English. She is the editor and host of Escape Pod since 2010, when she took over from Steve Eley...
has taken over both the producer and host roles at Escape Pod and at Escape Artists Inc., a company started by Steve Eley for the purpose of supporting and continuing the Escape Pod and its sister podcasts.
Escape Pod features several different types of content. The magazine offers a weekly story, usually between 2000 and 6000 words in length. It also releases flash fiction
Flash fiction
Flash fiction is a style of fictional literature or fiction of extreme brevity. There is no widely accepted definition of the length of the category...
pieces less than 2000 words in length on an irregular schedule. Occasionally, the podcast airs reviews of mainstream science fiction and fantasy media, most of which are presented by Jonathon Sullivan, Escape Pod's reviews editor. Annually Escape Pod publishes audio presentations the year's Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
nominees in the short story category. On rare occasions, other types of content have been made available on Escape Pod, such as metacasts (episodes discussing the achievements and future plans of the show itself), an interview, book and movie reviews, and PDFs for Playing for Keeps by Mur Lafferty and Infected by Scott Sigler
Scott Sigler
Scott Carl Sigler is a contemporary American author of science fiction and horror as well as an avid podcaster. Originally from Michigan he now resides in San Francisco, California with his wife and their dog, Emma.-Biography:...
.
Escape Pod has a policy against allowing authors to read their own works. Many stories are read by people associated with Escape Pod (Steve Eley, Mur Lafferty, Jonathon Sullivan, and Anna Eley) as well as other members of the podcasting community.
In 2008, Escape Pod refocused its attention back to its science fiction roots, leaving the horror and fantasy stories to the sister podcasts, Pseudopod
Pseudopod (podcast)
Pseudopod is a podcast launched on 11 August 2006 which presents horror genre short stories. It is part of Escape Artists, Inc. which also podcasts Escape Pod and PodCastle. Pseudopod is currently edited by Shawn M. Garrett and hosted by Alasdair Stuart...
and PodCastle. But Eley states that there are still no hard and fast rules on content, and Escape Pod may still feature the occasional horror or fantasy piece.
Escape Pod's music is provided by surf rock band Daikaiju with the band's permission. The opening theme is the instrumental song "The Final Phase," and the closing theme is "Choujikuu Mitsukai" ("Super-Dimensional Angels"). Both are from the album The Phasing Spider Menace.
Distribution and rights
Escape Pod is distributed under the Creative CommonsCreative Commons
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization headquartered in Mountain View, California, United States devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has released several copyright-licenses known as Creative Commons...
attribution
Attribution
Attribution may refer to:Something, such as a quality or characteristic, that is related to a particular possessor; an attribute.*Attribution , concept in copyright law requiring an author to be credited...
non-commercial
Non-commercial
Non-commercial refers to an activity or entity that does not in some sense involve commerce, at least relative to similar activities that do have a commercial objective or emphasis...
no-derivatives
Derivative work
In United States copyright law, a derivative work is an expressive creation that includes major, copyright-protected elements of an original, previously created first work .-Definition:...
3.0 license. This means that Escape Pod episodes are available at no cost and can be redistributed but not sold or modified. Any of the show's episodes may be downloaded individually from Escape Pod's website or received via a podcatcher.
The fiction itself remains copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
ed by its respective authors. Escape Pod contracts with the authors for non-exclusive audio rights, paying semi-professional rates.
Escape Pod now sells collections of their podcasts at PodDisc. There are currently five discs available. Disc one contains episodes 1 through 26. Disc two contains contains 27 through 52. Disc three contains episodes 53 through 78. Disc four contains episodes 79 through 104. Disc five contains episodes 105 through 130.
Sister podcasts
Escape Pod has two sister projects: PseudopodPseudopod (podcast)
Pseudopod is a podcast launched on 11 August 2006 which presents horror genre short stories. It is part of Escape Artists, Inc. which also podcasts Escape Pod and PodCastle. Pseudopod is currently edited by Shawn M. Garrett and hosted by Alasdair Stuart...
: a podcast dedicated to horror fiction, and PodCastle: a podcast dedicated to fantasy fiction.