rom the mid-1930s through much of the 1950s, science fiction fans could often listen to adaptations of well-known speculative stories on the radio. While Orson Welles' legendary presentation of The War of the Worlds is certainly the most famous example, ongoing programs such as Dimension X, Escape, Exploring Tomorrow and X Minus One also featured audio versions of tales by authors like Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein and Stanley G. Weinbaum.
The Sci-Fi Channel's Seeing Ear Theatre is attempting to recreate that Golden Age of SF radio using contemporary works of fiction. Originally presented on the Internet in RealAudio format, the two audiotapes in this anthology spotlight eight stories, including Gregory Benford's "The Bigger One," John Kessel's "A Clean Escape," and a trio of tales by Terry Bisson collectively dubbed "Three Odd Comedies." The collection even features adaptations of two recent Hugo Award-winning adventures: Allen Steele's novella "The Death of Captain Future" and James Patrick Kelly's novelette "Think Like a Dinosaur."
Produced and directed by Brian Smith, who also contributes a piece titled "Into the Sun," the selections are performed by an ensemble cast with guest appearances by famous SF actors such as Mark Hamill, Michael O'Hare, Marina Sirtis and Peter Coyote. Each work is introduced by Harlan Ellison, and the back of the package sports a brief testimonial from Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski.
Vintage radio revisited
Before television became the predominant medium for popular science fiction, pulp magazines and radio were frequently the only consistent means of experiencing speculative storytelling. Though well-known companies such as Alien Voices currently offer similar versions of classic tales, by presenting contemporary creations Seeing Ear Theatre has ironically succeeded in capturing the genuine tenor and tone of vintage SF radio broadcasts.
The centerpiece story of the collection is undoubtedly "The Death of Captain Future," which marvelously lends itself to an aural adaptation since it harks back to the pulp era. The narrative creatively intermingles modern sensibilities with good, old-fashioned "theater of the mind," and even features dramatic dialogue lifted from Edmond Hamilton's original 1940s Captain Future literary space operas. Other standout selections include "They're Made Out of Meat," one of Bisson's bizarre yarns (the other two are "The Toxic Donut" and "Next"), and the life-and-death drama of "Think Like a Dinosaur."
Another way in which this anthology evokes the Golden Age of radio is through the use of a relatively sparse ensemble cast with occasional, non-obtrusive guest stars. Although there are a couple of weak spots in the overall production, like an occasional flat line reading in "Next" and minor script problems on "Into the Sun," this debut volume of Seeing Ear Theatre is remarkably enjoyable and incredibly engaging.
