The BCS Audio Vault

Classic episodes of the Beneath Ceaseless Skies Audio Fiction Podcast, the World Fantasy and Hugo Award finalist online magazine of literary adventure fantasy, with a new introduction by the author or narrator about the story. For sixteen years of literary adventure fantasy and over 350 podcast episodes, visit our website at beneath-ceaseless-skies.com.

BCS Audio Vault 041: A Nickel For The Burlap Man

By Patty Templeton, from Issue #370 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, detailing the feel and inspirations for the story’s world of Shady Grove.The trestle bridge caught fire in 1911. The train dropped. The ravine caught it.More info »

12-01
13:33

BCS Audio Vault 040: Portrait of the Artist

By K.J. Parker, from Issue #369 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by narrator Carla Kissane, who narrated the original BCS Audio Fiction Podcast of the story.“I paint by the inner light,” I said. I tried to make it sound like I was being facetious.More info »

11-17
01:19:13

BCS Audio Vault 039: The Thought That Counts

By K.J. Parker, from Issue #368 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by audiobook and podcast narrator Heath Miller, who narrated the original BCS Audio Fiction Podcast of the story.For once in my life, I could walk down the street without looking for places to run to if I heard someone yell my name.More info »

11-03
01:09:46

BCS Audio Vault 038: A Portrait of the Desert in Personages of Power

By R.B. Lemberg, from Issue #364 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, explaining elements of the Birdverse world and culture and characters that appear in the novella and how one of the characters connects with the new Birdverse novel The Unbalancing.Across great distances I hear her voice rolling over the sand, traipsing gently above bones of impossible beasts that perhaps had one day populated the desert.More info »

09-08
05:06:15

BCS Audio Vault 037: What the River Brings, and What It Takes Away

By Natalia Theodoridou, from Issue #362 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineWith an introduction from the author, explaining their beliefs on the story’s theme of individual freedom and autonomy.The fawn is still in its mother's belly. Sapo kneels by the doe and feels for the outlines of the little one with her fingers. A gasp escapes her when it moves under the dead doe's skin.More info »

08-11
21:07

BCS Audio Vault 036: Two Bodies in Basting Stitch

By A.J. Lucy, from Issue #357 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, in an interview conducted and engineered by M.K. Hobson, discussing the story’s inspirations in complicity with institutional systems and activism risking that status for beliefs or people you believe in.It burns like dust in Sere’s eyes to hear Tashet take her name back, to keep for herself.More info »

06-02
42:28

BCS Audio Vault 035: The Angel Azrael Delivers Small Mercies

By Peter Darbyshire, from Issue #351 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, explaining the genesis of the Angel Azrael character, his horror-influenced Weird Western world, and the personal bibles in that world.The angel Azrael surveyed the remains of the town. The place was as dead as the horse he sat on. More info »

03-10
36:14

BCS Audio Vault 034: Gennesaret

By Phoenix Alexander, from Issue #350 – Science-Fantasy Month 6 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, in an interview conducted and engineered by M.K. Hobson, discussing the story’s inspirations from inter-generational political attitudes in families of immigrants and patriarchal culture and how its use of science-fantasy elements shaped its presentation.She says instead: "because he isn’t coming."More info »

03-03
36:54

BCS Audio Vault 033: The Three Feats of Agani

By Christie Yant, from Issue #347 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, posing questions as to who stories belong to and whether they matter.I had hoped to tell you the first story in the summers to come. It is my sorrowful task to tell you all three, instead.More info »

01-13
35:37

BCS Audio Vault 032: As Tight As Any Knot

By M.A. Carrick, from Issue #344 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, the two authors behind the M.A. Carrick pen name, in an interview conducted and engineered by M.K. Hobson.Ondrakja chose her approach and her moment with care.More info »

12-02
40:44

BCS Audio Vault 031: Undercurrents

By Charles Payseur, from Issue #343 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, in an interview conducted and engineered by M.K. Hobson, explaining the story’s take on resistance and cooperation.Rory nods. The bullets are Lutean-made, salt and iron and whatever special magic they use to make them potent against rivers.More info »

11-18
42:52

BCS Audio Vault 030: Rivers Run Free

By Charles Payseur, from Issue #342 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, in an interview conducted and engineered by M.K. Hobson, explaining the story’s element that oppression can link people together and can tear people apart.We ride stolen horses over the choked earth.More info »

11-11
40:29

BCS Audio Vault 029: Every Tiny Tooth and Claw (or, Letters from the First Month of the New Directorate)

By Marissa Lingen, from Issue #341 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, discussing the story’s approach to characters and politics and to political systems.I don't want to make all our letters about shrews, love, but... I've attached a table I'd like to see filled out with different properties of the shrews and their venom. Thank you!More info »

10-28
27:45

BCS Audio Vault 028: The Mermaid Astronaut

By Yoon Ha Lee, from Issue #340, Thirteenth Anniversary Double-Issue of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author, explaining the inspiration for the story and its ending note.This particular mermaid had named herself Essarala, which means seeks the stars in the language of tide and foam.More info »

10-08
43:49

BCS Audio Vault 027: Bent the Wing, Dark the Cloud

By Fran Wilde, from Issue #233 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author.Liras tried to remain at his workbench and finish the customer's wings, but the pain grew too much.More info »

08-31
55:32

BCS Audio Vault 026: Everything Beneath You

By Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam, from Issue #214 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author.I wanted to ask her more questions, about the way the world was made, about death and dreams, but did not want to know the answers.More info »

12-08
36:22

BCS Audio Vault 025: And Blow Them at the Moon

By Marie Brennan, from Issue #207 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author.Magrat was right. This man stood at the heart of it.More info »

08-25
01:06:13

BCS Audio Vault 024: The Topaz Marquise

By Fran Wilde, from Issue #199 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author.I could not answer her. I had no memory of doing anything besides preparing the topaz.More info »

05-05
34:38

BCS Audio Vault 023: No Sweeter Art

By Tony Pi, from Issue #197 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by audiobook and podcast narrator John Meagher.My soul sunk beneath the platform planks and into a sturdy ox figurine with wisps of cooled caramel for its horns.More info »

04-07
38:54

BCS Audio Vault 022: The Breath of War

By Aliette de Bodard, from Issue #195 - Science-Fantasy Month 3 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online MagazineIntroduced by the author.She would have run, but her legs betrayed her—a contraction, locking her in place, as frozen as the baby within her womb.More info »

03-24
47:33

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