Latest Podcast Episodes

In this episode, I read email feedback and review the Sylvester McCoy story, Battlefield.

In this episode, I read email feedback and review the Sylvester McCoy story, Battlefield.

Welcome to the resurrected Staggering Stories Audio Musings.A I’m Adam Purcell, and I’ll be your host for this musing.

This doesn’t replace the proper Staggering Stories Podcast feed but is instead a VERY irregular (in more ones than one!) outlet for individual members of the Staggering Stories team to vent and generally spew forth…

This is the first of a group of three musings (actually recycled MP3 comments…) about Herd Nurdles.A Herd Nurdles, do I hear you ask?A Probably not.A It’s a term introduced by the fabulous people over at the Box Room podcast, used to represent Science Fiction that one person really likes but few others do.A It’s the opposite of Nerd Hurdles… seek out Box Room Podcast 29 and onwards if you want to know more.

Without further ado, here’s my justification for liking the 1987 BBC 2 Sci-Fi/detective series Star Cops – my first Herd Nurdle.

You don’t know Star Cops?A Where were you in the late 80s?!A BBC 2, 1987.A A science fiction crime drama, devised and mainly written by none other than Chris Boucher, of Doctor Who and Blake’s 7.

Okay, the production values… leave a little to be desired.A Let’s not even talk about the zero-G acting…A There’s some great model work, though… By I’m drifting.

It’s basically Hard SF – It’s set in 2027 and there’s no magic tech, it’s all plausible.A There’s no anti-gravity, no faster than light travel, no transporters and NO aliens.A It’s real people policing a realistic Earth orbital stations and lunar colony universe.

There’s some really great writing, some fantastic dialogue, clever ideas about the sort of crime that near future environment might encourage.A Some great performances too, especially, for my money, by David Calder and Trevor Cooper.

It’s not for everybody – a lot of people probably won’t even get past the awful theme tune.

Star Cops is something people seem to either love or hate.A It’s in my top 4 favourite TV series, along with Doctor Who, Babylon 5 and Firefly.A Give it a go – you might just love it!A You probably won’t, most people hate it but you never know… Sadly the DVDs are long since deleted but no doubt it is available via alternative means..!
I can’t defend that cast photo on Wikipedia, though.A I think they must have just eaten from the BBC canteen or, perhaps, just been fired…

Doctor Who: Podshock - Episode 157
Running Time: 1:26:39

Quasi-live coverage of San Diego Comic Con 2009, 11th Doctor's New Threads and New TARDIS, Special Reports from Tara Wheeler at SDCC, Jarrod Cooper of Hurricane Who interviewed, and more.

Hosted by Ken Deep, James Naughton, and Louis Trapani.

Pay attention to the SPOILER ALERTS in this episode.

Brought to you by the Gallifreyan Embassy and presented by Outpost Gallifrey.

Worth Godwin offers computer help in plain english

Do you want the Enhanced Podcast AAC file format? Get our Enhanced Podcast version of this episode using our feed at http://www.gallifreyanembassy.org/podshock/podshock.xml.

Star Wars In the Shadows. On this special mini waffle on i talk about a fantastic new audio drama coming out soon called Star wars in The Shadows, it is written, directed and produced by Dany Pepin (37y/o) a French-Canadian born in Quebec, now living in Ottawa, Ontario. SWITS is Dany's first original story of any type in his second language (English) and only second audio drama project following the surprising adaptation of Karen Traviss' short story Omega Squad: Targets. Dany was mostly known in Star Wars fandom by his implication in the French community and his Star Wars radio show Star Wars en Direct, both in French (since 2001) and English (2003-2006). SWITS is a classic Star Wars space opera not unlike "A New Hope". I would describe it as a light fugitive/adventure type of story with some mature theme inserted within. SWITS has obviously been inspired by the Star Wars movies but also its Expanded Universe (EU) like the media giant Shadows of the Empire and The Force Unleashed. There are many small EU references that will appeal to the fans of the genre, but most importantly the participation of Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Xizor, Guri and Mon Mothma in the actual story plot. head to www.creativeaudioscape.com for more info.

John Ryan.

Cartoonist John Ryan, creator of the Captain Pugwash TV series, has died in hospital in Rye, East Sussex, aged 88. The BBC commissioned the first series in 1957 after spotting potential in Ryan's books about the tales of Pugwash and his nemesis Cut Throat Jake. His agent, Jane Gregory, said there was "a huge amount of love" for the childish pirate and his shipmates, who included Tom the Cabin Boy and Willy. Captain Horatio Pugwash was created in 1950 while Ryan was an art teacher at Harrow School, shortly after he got married to fellow artist Priscilla. It was published, in the same year, in the first edition of the Eagle comic. A book deal followed, before it was adapted for TV by the BBC in 1957, with black-and-white episodes being made until 1967. Colour episodes were shown on the BBC in a mid-1970s revival. Ms Gregory told BBC News he was "always enthusiastic, always charming". "A lot of the character of Captain Pugwash was John, which is probably why we loved him as much. We devote this mini waffle on to the memory of John Ryan.

Star Wars In the Shadows. On this special mini waffle on i talk about a fantastic new audio drama coming out soon called Star wars in The Shadows, it is written, directed and produced by Dany Pepin (37y/o) a French-Canadian born in Quebec, now living in Ottawa, Ontario. SWITS is Dany's first original story of any type in his second language (English) and only second audio drama project following the surprising adaptation of Karen Traviss' short story Omega Squad: Targets. Dany was mostly known in Star Wars fandom by his implication in the French community and his Star Wars radio show Star Wars en Direct, both in French (since 2001) and English (2003-2006). SWITS is a classic Star Wars space opera not unlike "A New Hope". I would describe it as a light fugitive/adventure type of story with some mature theme inserted within. SWITS has obviously been inspired by the Star Wars movies but also its Expanded Universe (EU) like the media giant Shadows of the Empire and The Force Unleashed. There are many small EU references that will appeal to the fans of the genre, but most importantly the participation of Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Xizor, Guri and Mon Mothma in the actual story plot. head to www.creativeaudioscape.com for more info.

John Ryan.

Cartoonist John Ryan, creator of the Captain Pugwash TV series, has died in hospital in Rye, East Sussex, aged 88. The BBC commissioned the first series in 1957 after spotting potential in Ryan’s books about the tales of Pugwash and his nemesis Cut Throat Jake. His agent, Jane Gregory, said there was “a huge amount of love” for the childish pirate and his shipmates, who included Tom the Cabin Boy and Willy. Captain Horatio Pugwash was created in 1950 while Ryan was an art teacher at Harrow School, shortly after he got married to fellow artist Priscilla. It was published, in the same year, in the first edition of the Eagle comic. A book deal followed, before it was adapted for TV by the BBC in 1957, with black-and-white episodes being made until 1967. Colour episodes were shown on the BBC in a mid-1970s revival. Ms Gregory told BBC News he was “always enthusiastic, always charming”. “A lot of the character of Captain Pugwash was John, which is probably why we loved him as much. We devote this mini waffle on to the memory of John Ryan.

Welcome to another 55 minutes of Geek Entertainment blasting it's way onto your mp3 player.

News: Lobster Johnson the novel is coming, Star Trek DVD and Blu - Ray details and we announce an idea for our Halloween Special.

Week That Was: Blackest Night and The Eighth Doctor's Audio Adventures - Season Two

Welcome to another 55 minutes of Geek Entertainment blasting it's way onto your mp3 player.

News: Lobster Johnson the novel is coming, Star Trek DVD and Blu - Ray details and we announce an idea for our Halloween Special.

Week That Was: Blackest Night and The Eighth Doctor's Audio Adventures - Season Two