10 Comments

1. Suzanne  wrote on April 3rd, 2011 at 7:01 am:

   Heard this on April 3rd. THIRD! While I wouldn't begrudge you your dream job, I would gripe selfishly at losing your unique podcasts. Here was another - just the right amount of poignancy in the cadence to suit this exquisite story.
   [fans self down and heads for a dose of restorative caffeine[

2. Sam  wrote on April 5th, 2011 at 3:31 pm:

   GREAT April Fools intro!!

   While I was taken in, my sorrow and delight expanding right up to the denouement, I must say I was also aghast at what I did *not* hear ... the dreamy intro music that I'd come to associate so closely with Clarkesworld podcasts.

   I realize change happens, however if someone would be so kind as to tell me who the artist was that used to opened the podcasts, I would greatly appreciate it.

   That said, the allegorical nature of the story was compelling; the rise and fall of empires played out through the eyes of insects entertaining; the deus ex machina of controlling forces both from within and without ingenious. I'm sure I'll listen to this one more than once.

3. Kate Baker  wrote on April 6th, 2011 at 7:40 am:

   Hey Suzanne,

   Muhahaha! I think even if I did get a dream job with Bioware, I'd still do podcasts for Clarkesworld. So again, I'm around until Neil gets sick of me.

   Sam,

   I've been playing around with music for the intro. No one has ever mentioned whether or not they like the piece in the beginning, so I thought I'd change it up a bit. They are actually original compositions by me. You can find them (for free) on my website at http://www.katebaker.net/music

   Let me know which one it was that you liked so much and I'll most likely add it back into the show.

4. Walter  wrote on April 6th, 2011 at 4:37 pm:

   My first thoughts of your retirement were selfish also. Please don’t abandon us Kate. Would it help if we said we love you?

   On The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees: Like Animal Farm, this story seems to be a warning towards our own plottings. When the natural order of a society is disturbed, factions rise up. But without the pressure of those disturbances, those factions die off. I can’t help but think about our military presence around the world having these same effects. On the ending: The queen bee was maybe less happy than the workers because she was privileged and her only job was to lead, which the wasps were doing. So if anything she was the only bee to gain work when the wasps left.

5. Stephen Gideon  wrote on April 12th, 2011 at 4:18 pm:

   Well, I was having a beautiful April 12, and then hearing the news I was extremely depressed. Not hearing Kate Baker read to me any more. I second the others, while I wouldn't want you to miss out on your dream job, you and your voice would be sorely missed...

6. Neil Clarke  wrote on April 12th, 2011 at 5:08 pm:

   Fortunately, Kate was just playing a little April Fool's prank on everyone. She isn't really leaving.

7. Jimmy Rogers  wrote on April 12th, 2011 at 9:18 pm:

   Late comment, I know, but wanted to acknowledge that I was TOTALLY taken in by your prank. It was the only one that got me that day! I think I just wasn't expecting a podcast to be playing the game...

   Also, wonderful story. I remember liking Animal Farm when we read it in school years ago, and this kind of follows the same "animals and political archetypes" pattern.

8. Sam  wrote on April 19th, 2011 at 7:41 pm:

   Ms. Baker, the range of your talents never ceases to amaze!

   I realize now that I'm enamored of *two* of your pieces previously showcased in the podcasts:

   Fighting Solo (the one I most closely associate with Clarkesworld)
   &
   Stealing the Sun

   ATM, I'm enjoying Emollercoastah Ride. : )

   Thank you for the link and may your compositional efforts be as appreciated as your narrative skills

9. Carlos  wrote on April 23rd, 2011 at 11:11 am:

   Just popping in for the first time to say I second Sam's distress. Having come back from a long trip to where there ain't no internet downloads and finding the previous intro music gone, I miss it (thrilled, however, to discover it was an original composition and can be accessed at Kate's blog).

   And also to say that Kate's voice has become an indispensable part of my weekly afternoon walks/Clarkesworld podcast listening. Many thanks and congratulations all around.

10. craigr1971  wrote on June 8th, 2011 at 10:16 pm:

    Very very imaginative story, marvelously so. What the story lacked in cohesiveness was well off set by the imagination exhibited. The characters of the wasps were especially well done - love the evil queen. Having the bugs adopt so many human ways, having genetic anarchism, having those industrious wasps fail in the end were elements I had trouble with. And the nature, intent, and fate of the anarchist segment of bees was under developed and left me lacking. Perfectly read. I look forward to greatness from E Lily!

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