If you’re new to 7th Son, I’m thrilled you’re here. You’ll find plenty of ways to subscribe — for free — to my podcast series: one-click iTunes access on your left; links to learn about my novels on your right; and several articles (found on the homepage or here) that explain what a podcast is … with even more ways to access 7th Son and 7th Son: OBSIDIAN.

Thank you for visiting 7thSonNovel.com. I hope you’ll join nearly 50,000 other listeners worldwide who have enjoyed my fiction.

Kilroy2.0 is everywhere,

–J.C.

Author J.C. Hutchins is a busy guy — and he wants to keep you in the loop about his current projects. In addition to releasing the 7th Son Audiofiction Experience, J.C. has written a supernatural thriller novel titled Personal Effects: Dark Art (due in U.S. bookstores June 2009), is editing the manuscript for 7th Son: Descent (which will also see print release in 2009), and is currently crafting another first-ever in podcast entertainment called The 33 (slated for online release early next year).

The best way to keep up with J.C. is to join his mailing list, below. You’ll score timely announcements about his upcoming projects — and you’ll get sneak peeks of cool content (like The 33) long before the rest of the world does. Signing up takes seconds … and if you want to help J.C. evangelize the 7th Son cause, kindly check the “Join the Street Team” box in the widget, too. Be a vociferous superfan and win 7th Son swag!

During 2006-2007, the 7th Son trilogy was released in two different versions: a version found at Podiobooks.com, and a version found at JCHutchins.net. The JCHutchins.net “Chatterbox Edition” featured content not heard in the Podiobooks.com version. The core content — the actual novels — was identical in both “flavors” of the trilogy.

7thSonNovel.com showcases the original Podiobooks.com episodes, as the Chatterbox Edition’s timely information (such as announcements, podcast promos and listener feedback) has grown dusty with age. However, J.C. will continue to provide this version to listeners, should they wish to experience the 7th Son saga as it was released week-to-week, and want to hear how it grew and succeeded during its original run.

Please subscribe by clicking the iTunes button to the left, or by pasting this URL into your podcatching program’s “add podcast” feature: http://feeds.feedburner.com/7thSonTrilogy

So begins 7th Son, the chart-topping, genre-blurring audiobook thriller trilogy by J.C. Hutchins. Called “the best thriller you’ve never read,” the series is renowned for its plot twists, everyman characters and cliffhangers.

The trilogy has entertained nearly 50,000 listeners worldwide, and its author has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post and on the cover of Blogger & Podcaster magazine.

This serialized audiobook series — and its trailblazing spinoff short story anthology, 7th Son: OBSIDIAN — is absolutely free.

7th Son chronicles the story of seven strangers who are assembled after the assassination of the U.S. president. They quickly discover they all appear to be the same man … with identical childhood memories.

Unwitting participants in a human cloning experiment, these “John Michael Smiths” have been gathered to catch the man who murdered the president. Their target? The man they were cloned from; the original John Michael Smith, code-named John Alpha. Take a sneak peek at the prologue from the series’ first novel:

Listen to the first episode of 7th Son here: (7th Son is intended for mature audiences.)

Evocative, action-packed, and brimming with conspiracies and mindbending technologies, 7th Son has made an indelible impact in online fiction. Positively reviewed by filmmakers, A-list bloggers, novelists and countless readers, 7th Son is widely considered one of the “must-listen” audiobooks in podcasting.

Obtaining the series is not only free; it’s effortless. If you’re new to podcasting and serialized podcast fiction, consider visiting this page to learn the basics of this innovative approach to storytelling. If you’re familiar with podcasting, visit the Download the Trilogy page for a one-stop shop to subscribe to the series.

You can also visit the books’ individual webpages to subscribe to the novels one at a time, or to manually download episodes: Book One: Descent … Book Two: Deceit … Book Three: Destruction … 7th Son: OBSIDIAN

If you’re like J.C. and like to “mainline” a good book series, you’re at the right place. Simply click on the “Subscribe in iTunes” buttons below (or the nearby linked text, if you’re using another podcatching program) to immediately begin your 7th Son experience. You’ll want to start with Book One: Descent — unlike some novel series, the books in 7th Son are not written as “stand-alones.”

If you’d like to learn more about 7th Son’s plot before listening, check out the 7th Son: Book One – Descent page, which provides an overview of that novel.  Happy listening!

Click the icon to subscribe in iTunes.

Book One: Descent
(Learn more about Book One; use this link for podcatchers other than iTunes)

Click the icon to subscribe in iTunes.

Book Two: Deceit
(Learn more about Book Two; use this link for podcatchers other than iTunes)

Click the icon to subscribe in iTunes.

Book Three: Destruction
(Learn more about Book Three; use this link for podcatchers other than iTunes.)

Click the icon to subscribe in iTunes.

7th Son: OBSIDIAN
(Learn more about OBSIDIAN; use this link for podcatchers other than iTunes.)

Learn about the plot of the 7th Son: Descent — and how you can obtain the novel in free serialized “try before you buy” audio and text form — at this page. Information about novel’s free prequel audio anthology 7th Son: 7 Days can be found here. Discover how you can support 7th Son’s print release at this page.

“(T)hriller readers seeking edge-of-your-seat action flavored with conspiracy and futuristic tech will love every page.”
–Publishers Weekly

“(C)ombines political conspiracy and tomorrow’s bioengineering to create an accessible package for fans of conspiracy theories and high-tech speculative fiction.”
–Library Journal

“(G)ood ideas and plenty of action.”
–Kirkus Reviews

“Hutchins’ high-tech nightmares leap off the page and lodge in your brain like a literary headshot. Raw, brilliant and detailed.”
–Scott Sigler, New York Times bestselling author of Infected and Contagious

“J.C. Hutchins takes the science thriller and pumps it full of rocket fuel in 7th Son: Descent. It has weird science, convoluted conspiracies, plenty of action, and a very creepy premise that will leave you paranoid and shaken.”
–Jonathan Maberry, multiple Bram Stoker Award–winning author of The Dragon Factory and Patient Zero

“7th Son is breakneck storytelling at its absolute best. … The book is relentless in its pace, brilliant in its execution, and just so damned entertaining.”
–Patrick Lussier, director of My Bloody Valentine 3D, White Noise 2 and film editor of Red Eye and the Scream trilogy

“Not only does J.C. Hutchins put together a great story with 7th Son, he’s successfully cracked the code of building a loyal following.”
–Michael A. Stackpole, New York Times bestselling science fiction/fantasy author

“7th Son is the first in a new age of thrillers: it combines the suspense and technical accuracy any adrenaline addict craves with the imagination and scope of the best science fiction.”
–Stephen Eley, editor of Escape Pod – The Science Fiction Podcast Magazine

“7th Son blends the verve of Philip K. Dick with the slick modern storytelling techniques of Lincoln Child.”
–Jesse Willis, editor for SFFAudio.com

“J.C. has done with tact, skill and sheer talent what others have done by banging drums, over-hyping and brute force. Always humble, he’s created a community of zealots not by whipping them into a frenzy, but by giving them what they want: an incredible, well-told story they can relate to —- and want to see grow.”
–Evo Terra, co-author of Podcasting for Dummies, co-founder of Podiobooks.com

“7th Son: Descent kicks about 187 different kinds of ass.”
–John C. Snider, editor for SciFi Dimensions

“J.C. Hutchins helped create an entirely new storytelling medium — he’s a true pioneer. The action and thrills of his 7th Son trilogy keep us glued to our earbuds, while his seven unwilling heroes capture our hearts.”
–Matthew Wayne Selznick, author of Brave Men Run

“J.C. Hutchins is carving a swath toward mainstream media — and he has the audience size to prove it.”
–Earl Newton, creator of Stranger Things, first science fiction anthology series shot and released in HD on the Internet

“7th Son elicits strange behavior in people. The attachment to characters makes people cry, the tension causes them to scream in frustration when the chapters end, and the action keeps them up at night. 7th Son does what every book should do — it makes the reader feel; it makes the reader care.”
–Mur Lafferty, co-author of Tricks of the Podcasting Masters, author of Playing for Keeps and the Heaven fantasy saga

“There will be copycat events popping up to emulate Hutchins‘ Obsidian ‘Blackout’ event… (Obsidian) will set a new standard in blog and multimedia integration.”
–Lorelle VanFossen, The Blog Herald

“I like the idea that ‘a panicked message’ from an excited fan could wind up in the pages of Hutchins’ next novel. (Obsidian’s ‘Blackout’ event) is like an ARG that actually means something.”
–Annalee Newitz, io9.com

In that novel, the United States fell victim to a coordinated terrorist attack. Power stations across the country were destroyed, and the U.S. plummeted into a country-wide blackout. In the timeline of the trilogy, this blackout occurred in mid-November 2007.

While this blackout was described in the trilogy, the story never focused on its true victims: average Americans. 7th Son: OBSIDIAN does just that.

In early 2008, J.C. Hutchins recruited the seven biggest names in podcast fiction to write seven short stories set during this national crisis:

• Scott Sigler (author of Infected, Earthcore, Ancestor, The Rookie)
• Michael A. Stackpole (New York Times bestselling author of Fortress Draconis)
• Tee Morris (author of MOREVI: The Chronicles of Rafe and Askana, and Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword)
• Mur Lafferty (author of Playing For Keeps, and the acclaimed Heaven audionovella series)
• Matt Wallace (award-winning author of The Failed Cities Monologues, and Variant Frequencies stories)
• Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff (author of Shadow Falls, Number One With A Bullet, Diary of a Madman and Transistor Rodeo)
• Christiana Ellis (author of Nina Kimberly the Merciless and Space Casey)

In addition, Hutchins invited other trailblazing podcast entertainers to contribute shorter stories that also take place during this “time of darkness”:

• Evo Terra
• Dan Klass
• Wichita Rutherford
• TD-0013
• Soccergirl
• The cast of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd
• George Hrab

Most notably, 7th Son: OBSIDIAN features more than 100 audio and video stories provided by 7th Son fans across the globe. Each storyteller brought a unique tales of survival, action, betrayal and hope to this history-making fiction project. Subscribe to OBSIDIAN — or download individual episodes — by visiting this page.

What is a podcast?
Podcasts are free audio and video files that can be automatically downloaded to your computer, thanks to a technology called RSS.

RSS connects audiences and content creators in an innovative and worry-free way. Using a computer program called a “podcatcher” (iTunes being the most popular), you can subscribe, for free, to episodic video and audio programs like the 7th Son trilogy. Downloading this content is easy, requiring a few mouseclicks.

This free content is stored on your PC, and you can experience it any way — and at any time — you wish: at your computer, on an MP3 player … you can also burn it to a CD. Better still, new content will automatcially download to your PC when the author releases it.

iTunes is J.C. Hutchins’ “podcatcher” of choice due to its ease of use. Download it here, and read on to learn more about podcast fiction.

What is podcast fiction?
If you’re familiar with audiobooks and the serialized radio plays of the 1950s, you’re already in the know. Podcast novels are free serialized audiobooks, recorded and released by their authors. Novel episodes are often released once a week; each episode features a chapter or two. The website Podiobooks.com features more than 200 such novels.

J.C. Hutchins’ 7th Son trilogy was also released in this way. The series — and an innovative spinoff short story anthology called 7th Son: OBSIDIAN — is complete, and available for immediate download. Learn more about 7th Son, and how it became the most popular podcast novel series in history, by visiting this page. Or start downloading 7th Son: Book One – Descent now by clicking here.

Photo by J.R. Blackwell

A former newspaperman, J.C. Hutchins left the journalism industry in 2002 to write his 7th Son thriller trilogy. 7th Son is the most popular podcast novel series in history, and has featured cameos by science fiction/horror icons Nathan Fillion, George Romero, Richard Hatch, Alan Dean Foster, Kevin J. Anderson and others. In March 2007, the novel was featured in The New York Times.

The first book in the series, Descent, will be released in bookstores everywhere in Fall/Winter 2009.

2009 will also see the release of Hutchins’ print debut, Personal Effects: Dark Art, a supernatural thriller featuring an innovative, immersive “out of book” narrative experience. Learn more about Personal Effects here.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

PROMOS:

• Jamie Jordan’s Second Life live standup comedy project
• Metamediocrity podiobook by Jay Lynn
• Cerulean’s Love of Music
• Dragon Page With Class

Today’s fantastic episode was created by Dan Woodward and friends. Check out their work here and here.

Welcome to the seventh video episode of “Voices From the Darkness,” where the stars and creators are 7th Son fans from across this globe. This is the second of a “triple play” of videos: tomorrow will see the release of the third — and likely final — “Voices From the Darkness” video episodes.

• Scene One: Les Zaldor
• Scene Two: Geoff Schaadt
• Scene Three: Jeremiah McCoy
• Scene Four: Rob Suarez

NOTE FROM J.C.: I had some serious issues with the video for this episode. In the process of troubleshooting, I swapped the order of two clips — Geoff Schaadt’s and Jeremiah McCoy’s — but neglected to change their order in the end credits. The credits list Jeremiah’s clip as being “Scene Two” and Geoff’s as “Scene Three.” The video is inaccurate; those credits should be reversed. The correct credits are listed here in the shownotes.

Please accept my apologies, Jeremiah, Geoff and 7th Son viewers.

• Scene One: Chooch, Viv and family
• Scene Two: Corwin
• Scene Three: Jett
• Scene Four: Micheal Bekemeyer

Wichita Rutherford is the world-renowned podcast celebrity. When Wichita first came on the podcasting scene, it was obvious he was something special. XM is now Wichita’s “satellite radio home” after his two-year run on SIRIUS. His new show, “The Grand Old Time Machine,” has an unprecedented fan base.

PROMOS:

• TreeMe.org

Christiana Ellis is the creator of Nina Kimberly the Merciless, and Space Casey, a ten-episode audiodrama miniseries about a con artist who steals the wrong spaceship. Last but not least, Christiana’s “Shallow Thoughts” has been running continuously since April, providing a daily dose of serene surrealism.

Find her online at ChristianaEllis.com.

PROMOS:

• The Prophet of Panamindorah podiobook
• The Naked Bootleg
• Collapse at Hidden Verse Three Three Two podiobook

Coming up on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: More “Voices from the Darkness” episodes … and Euscocial Networking, the two-part tale by Scott Sigler!

Obsidian: Blackout
Starring Matt Brooks, Holly Barker & Nic Barker
With support from Lachlan Brooks, Kathryn Brooks & Robert Mitchell

Excellent stuff, guys. Thanks so much for playing in my universe, from a half-world away.

PROMO:

• Star Wars: Codename Starkeeper audio drama

PROMOS:

• Jesus Geek
• Seth Harwood’s new Young Junius podiobook
• Adventures In Sci-Fi Publishing’s contest

PROMOS:

• “Double Trouble” promo with Tee Morris and Phillipa Ballantine
• Seth Harwood’s new CrimeWAV crime fiction anthology
• Celebrate Soccergirl’s 300th (and final!) episode
• J.F. Lewis’ Staked print novel promo
• 65 Below podiobook by Basil Sands

We take a slightly different look at the OBSIDIAN blackout in this episode, as we explore the (darkly) humorous side of things, and then wrap up the video with an epic machinima short film. This week’s content is both whimsical and ultra-creative, and J.C. Hutchins is proud to showcase it here.

Contributions by:

• Mur Lafferty
• Beth Case
• Montie Green and The Galactic Watchtower team

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: The conclusion to Nemesis, Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff’s two-part short story!

This week sees the release of Love Thy Neighbor, written by J.C.’s Myxer.com co-worker and friend Jeffrey Sass. Jeff has written and produced for both film and television, with projects ranging from nationally-syndicated childrens’ programming to classic Troma films such as Sgt. Kabukiman, NYPD. Jeff has also collaborated with William Shatner for a PC game based on Shatner’s TekWar novel series.

If you enjoyed this tale, send Jeff Sass and email at jwsass@gmail.com. You can also learn more about him at Sassholes.Blogspot.com and SocialNetworkingRehab.Blogspot.com.

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: The fourth episode in the “Voices From the Darkness” video series!

Dan Klass is the host and creator of “The Bitterest Pill,” an award-winning podcast in which he talks about his life on the outskirts of the entertainment industry while raising his kids under the flight path at LAX.  The show has been described by The New York Times as “intelligent,” “endearing,” and “sublime,” and has been featured on NPR, NBC 4, Fox News and in USAToday.com and The Christian Science Monitor.  He is also the co-author of Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Audio and Video Podcasting.

Please subscribe to The Bitterest Pill — and send Dan Klass a well-deserved appreciative email — by visiting TheBitterestPill.com.

J.C. also unleashes gobs of timely news in his “talky-talk” intro and outro, including:

• Parts One and Two of J.C.’s fun interview with Joe on the OnThePodcast podcast, featuring some delicious tidbits about J.C.’s next book, Personal Effects: Dark Art
• An opportunity to lend a helping hand to 7th Son superfan Gemini and her family by making a donation at the Time Well Wasted blog
• A mini-geekout update about Personal Effects: Dark Art, and its state of production
• The 7th Son T-shirt store at Geeklabel.com is closing on Aug. 15. If you want to snag a shirt or two (at less than $15 a pop), get crackin’
• The world premiere of a brand-new Celldweller song — this one is the ultra-intense, incredible “Birthright (Birthwrong Remix by Blue Stahli)”. The full song is available here in this episode; download the song for free at FixtOnline.com/FreeDownloads.html

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A very special “Voices From the Darkness” episode!

• Click here to listen to the OBSIDIAN-inspired Night Guy episode!

On to this week’s short story, titled Nemesis, written and narrated by Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff. This is the first part of an epic suspense-filled novellette; its conclusion will debut next week. If you like what you hear, be sure to email Mark and tell him so. You can find Mark’s contact information at MarkYoshimotoNemcoff.com.

In J.C.’s intro “talky talk,” he (doesn’t) pimp:

• John Alpha for President
• Cool deets about his new novel, Personal Effects: Dark Art, which can be heard in J.C.’s UltraCreatives interview with Matthew Wayne Selznick
• The easily-accessible blog post for the first installment in J.C.’s serialized text tale, 7th Son: Runner
• Two incredible must-read thrillers: Deep Storm by Lincoln Child and Hide by Lisa Gardner. He’s currently reading His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novick (good so far), and John Steakley’s Armor and Vampire$ are next in the queue

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: An incredible and poignant contribution from “The Bitterest Pill” creator Dan Klass, more “Voices from the Darkness” episodes, and — if J.C. can get his shit together — an OBSIDIAN Clone Line episode.

PROMOS:

• Guy David’s OBSIDIAN-themed Night Guy episode
• New World Orders podiobook
• Sci-Fi Dimensions podcast
• Interview for a Wizard podiobook

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

If you’re a contributor to this episode and want credit for your work, send J.C. an email using the link below.

FANS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Robert Gasperson

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

All contributions seen in this vidcast were created by 7th Son fans from across the globe.

Behold the 7th Son universe during the blackout, as witnessed by its victims … and captured for all the world to see.

Contributions by:

• Robin Hudson
• Kristina
• Michael Unquera
• Nathan Lowell
• Sam Chupp

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: this week’s “Voices From the Darkness” audio episode, quite possibly a Clone Line episode, and then the first part of novelist and screenwriter Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff’s short story.

7th Son: Runner chronicles the life of Dr. James DeFalco, a supporting (but long-lost) character from 7th Son, Book One: Descent. As you’ll learn in this first text installment, the man has many a secret … and while he doesn’t know it, it’s only a matter of time before he’s hunted for those secrets. It’s a story told in several parts; new installments drop every other week.

Next week will see the debut of the second episode in this serialized tale.

Visit those links above to get in on the action and receive immediate notifications when new 7th Son: Runner episodes are released. Blog announcements such as this one will come long after the most-recent episode has debuted, so if you want to be a part of the unfolding drama and action — and learn how 7th Son: Runner affects the 7th Son universe more than you could ever have imagined — sign up for the free “text blast” announcements (links above, natch), and read the episodes as they go live.

Here’s the link to 7th Son: Runner’s first installment. Link goes to a simple .txt file, which you can read on-screen, print, or save to your computer. Enjoy … and be sure to sign up for the “text blast” list!

–J.C.

New media performance artist, skeptic, atheist, author, musician, (and super-spy, J.C. is convinced of it) and one of the first podcasters ever, Soccergirl has written, starred in and produced nearly 300 episodes of her popular audio and video podcast, “Soccergirl, Incorporated,” reaching an audience of up to 80,000 worldwide.

Soccergirl has also appeared on Sirius satellite radio, television and terrestrial radio, and in various print publications including The New York Times and Wired Magazine. Soccergirl wrote, directed and starred in “The Soccergirl Second,” a theatrical adaptation of her show (performed at The Brick Theater in New York City) and has just completed an absolutely brilliant book of short fiction and essays, forthcoming from Mevio Press.

If you enjoyed this small peek into the genius that is the “Soccergirl, Incorporated” experience, please visit SG’s website at SoccergirlIncorporated.com, send her an appreciative email, and check out her other work. (Photo by Chris Marquant.)

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: J.C. takes us out of the blackout for another UltraCreatives interview with J.R. Blackwell, and then we dive back in with audio and video “Voices From the Darkness” episodes.

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

If you enjoy Mur’s tale, please send a few gracious words her way. Her contact information can be found at her website, Murverse.com.

J.C. covers some fun, if familiar, ground in his “talky talk” segments, including:

• The popular John Alpha for President election campaign
• 7th Son: Runner, J.C.’s new serialized mobile phone text story, which is rolling out now. Find details here and here.

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A priceless video short-short by Soccergirl. A new UltraCreatives interview with J.R. Blackwell will drop after that, and we’ll close out the week with more audio and video “Voices From the Darkness” OBSIDIAN episodes!

PROMOS:

• The Takeover audio drama
• Short Cummings Audio podcast
• Aurora Hunter podcast novel

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

7th Son: Runner chronicles the story of James DeFalco, assistant director of the 7th Son facility. DeFalco was a small supporting character in 7th Son, Book One: Descent — but here, he takes center stage. Astute 7th Son fans may recall DeFalco, and Book One’s facility-wide evacuation that sent all “nonessential” 7th Son personnel topside until the John Alpha crisis had passed. DeFalco was one such employee, and Runner reveals much more about this nigh-anonymous doctor … and the 7th Son legacy … than you could have ever imagined.

This is the first time anyone, anywhere, can actually read J.C. Hutchins’ fiction.

Runner was written for, and is intended to be read on, cell phone screens. Users must have mobile Web access to download and read the Runner .txt files as they are released. But that doesn’t mean folks who don’t have a data plan (or a cell phone, for that matter) can’t enjoy the story. J.C. has made certain that anyone with Internet access can download this serialized text.

Visit this page to learn how to sign up to receive SMS “text blast” announcements when future Runner installments are released. If you’re just now learning about Runner, you won’t be able to receive the FIRST text blast — that’s already been sent into the wild — but you can receive the next blast by signing up today.

All readers — including those who sign up now, folks who do not have a data plan, or folks who are have a mobile carrier not supported by Myxer (the service J.C. is using to release this story), don’t worry: you can find the URLs linking to Runner‘s episodes in the “cell phone” graphic found at J.C.’s Myxer Artist page.

The story’s just started, so sign up — and get ready to run. By the time Runner concludes, the 7th Son universe will never be the same …

All contributions seen in this vidcast were created by 7th Son fans from across the globe.

Behold the 7th Son universe during the blackout, as witnessed by its victims … and captured for all the world to see.

Contributions by:

• Stewart Boyles
• Michael Bekemeyer
• Natalie Metzger
• Brent Weichsel

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A brief Clone Line episode, and then a short story by novelist Mur Lafferty.

This week’s masterpiece of audio, complete with authentic slang, created by 7th Son fan Mark Smith.

If you want to contribute to future episodes of “Voices from the Darkness,” time is growing short. You have until July 7, 2008 to call the National Blackout Emergency Hotline at 206-222-9158 and leave a message as if you are a victim in this blackout. Remember: J.C. is not looking for traditional short stories — your call must adhere to the conceit that the blackout is real, and you are experiencing it now.

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: The second episode of the video installment of “Voices From the Darkness.”

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

Evo is the man who coined the term “podiobooks,” and was instrumental in assembling the team of founders for the Podiobooks.com service. He is also the co-author of Podcasting for Dummies and Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies, and blogs at his site, FunAnymore.com.

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: Another amazing “Voices From the Darkness” audio episode, in which we learn all about the world of the blackout … from a ham radio operator’s perspective.

PROMOS:

• Tea and Chat podcast
• The Basics of the Game
• The Geek Spin

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

If you enjoyed Mike’s story, be sure to check out his other work — and send him an email — at StormWolf.com.

J.C. covers some important announcements in this episode’s “talky talk” intro and outro, including:

• An update on John Alpha’s presidential campaign
• Information about the OBSIDIAN “Voices From the Darkness” episodes, and how you can contribute. Call 206-222-9158 to leave your audio mark in the 7th Son universe, or record video footage and email it to J.C. Click here for submission guidelines. Deadline for this content is July 7, 2008.
• Find “sneak peek” video footage from “Voices From the Darkness” contributors at J.C.’s YouTube channel. (More will be released soon!)
• Information about 7th Son: Runner, J.C.’s serialized “cell phone-centric” text story that will debut next week. Click here to learn how to obtain this OBSIDIAN text-only story!

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: a short-short story by Evo Terra. After that, more “Voices From The Darkness” episodes, quite possibly a brief Clone Line episode, and next week’s short story, written by Mur Lafferty…

PROMOS:

• Archangel podcast novel
• PodioMedia Chat
• Notes From the Vault

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

This is first project of its kind in podcast fiction.

Witness the OBSIDIAN blackout victims’ stories … captured for all the world to see.

Contributions by:

• Arri Gaffer
• Martyn Casserly
• Susan Z

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A blood-chilling short story by New York Times bestselling novelist Michael A. Stackpole.

Turn out the lights and listen to what your friends and fellow fans have created. America has become a very dangerous place indeed.

FANS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Jon Rice
• Jeremiah McCoy
• Chip Burkhead
• Nick (aka FlippantMoniker)

Your orders for today: Check out the amazing “The Command Line” podcast by Thomas “Command Line” Gideon, and give a shoutout of appreciation to OBSIDIAN producer Shawn Bishop!

Do you want to contribute to future episodes of “Voices from the Darkness?” J.C. would love to have you play in his world. Call the National Blackout Emergency Hotline at 206-222-9158 and leave a message for him as if you are a victim in this blackout. J.C. isn’t looking for traditional short stories — your call must adhere to the conceit that the blackout is real, and you are experiencing it now.

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: The first episode of the video installment of “Voices From the Darkness!”

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

TD-0013′s “A Different Point of View” is a must-listen collection of essays told from a loyal stormtrooper’s perspective. Learn more about TD’s work — and send him an appreciative email — at www.ADPOV.net. This November, TD is participating in a walk across the Arizona desert to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research. Click the banner below to learn more!

Coming up next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: The debut of “Voices from the Darkness,” collections of fan-created audio content that chronicle the OBSIDIAN blackout as seen by its victims!

PROMOS:

• The Time Well Wasted blog
• Steampod steampunk fiction podcast magazine

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

If you enjoyed Tee’s OBSIDIAN story, be sure to check out his work at TeeMorris.com, and send him an appreciative email.

J.C. Hutchins promotes several items of interest in the “talky-talk” intro and outro chatter for this episode, including:

• An upcoming Ministry of Propaganda mission from Natasha
• JOHN ALPHA FOR PRESIDENT! Visit JohnAlphaForPresident.com to receive your free bumper sticker, and support 7th Son with this fun viral marketing experiment
• 7th Son fan Cactusnic’s UK bike ride to benefit the Alzheimer’s Society
• Snag the full version of “Birthright” — and 15 other songs — for free at FixtOnline.com/FreeDownloads

Coming next on 7th Son: OBSIDIAN: A story by Imperial Stormtrooper TD-0013, from the A Different Point Of View podcast. If only George Lucas could write such compelling ‘trooper tales…

PROMOS:

• Blind Access Journal blog and podcast
• Tale Chasing
• Milf and Cookies

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

Nearly 100 people have contributed to the OBSIDIAN experience. Tales from bestselling novelists, A-List podcast storytellers and 7th Son fans from around the globe will be featured in this anthology over the next 10 weeks. At least three episodes of content will be released each week, so prepare for full immersion into the OBSIDIAN blackout experience.

In the weeks ahead, you’ll hear stories from these podcast entertainers: Michael A. Stackpole, Scott Sigler, Mur Lafferty, Matt Wallace, Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff, Christiana Ellis, Evo Terra, Dan Klass, Wichita Rutherford, TD-0013, George Hrab, Soccergirl, and the cast of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd.

Today’s episode features the first half of the short story Miles To Go Before I Sleep, written and narrated by Tee Morris. Learn more about Tee’s work — and send him an appreciative email! — at TeeMorris.com.

There’s huge news in J.C.’s “talky talk” intro and outro segments, including:

• The big reveal about J.C.’s next novel, affectionately nicknamed CODE PHANTOM
• The world premiere of Celldweller’s instrumental version of “Birthright”
• How you can download a full album of Celldweller songs — including the full version of “Birthright” — for free at FixtOnline.com/FreeDownloads
• J.C.’s appearance on producer Shawn Bishop’s podcast, Behind The Lines #14
• The debut of J.C.’s text story, 7th Son: Runner, available as a mobile phone exclusive

Feedback about OBSIDIAN is welcome and appreciated! Send J.C. an email, leave a comment below, or call the Clone Line at 206-984-2566 (CLONE).

While the Beta clone “John Michael Smiths” look nearly identical and have the same childhood memories, they have very different personalities. Here’s your cheat sheet to keep track of the clones, and the other characters who share screen time with them in the first five chapters.

The Clones

JOHN: A zero-bullshit college dropout who pours shots at a Miami nightclub and works construction to keep food on his table. A gifted musician, John writes rock songs in his downtime and pines for a recording contract to whisk him away from this life of sixty-hour work weeks. He has a girlfriend named Sarah, with whom he enjoys “Saturday sex.”

Physical description: Standing at 5’11″, John has a lean, almost lanky physique. His fashion tastes match his no-frills attitude — he’s a jeans and T-shirt man. His shoulder-length hair is almost always pulled back in a ponytail.

MICHAEL: A Marine with Force Recon training and natural leadership abilities. Proficient in reconnaissance and weaponry, Michael’s very classified missions have taken him all over the globe. He is gay, and has a lover named Gabriel.

Physical description: Michael’s body is a study in endurance and physical perfection, aside from the (presumably) combat-related scars on his back and arms. He sports a USMC tattoo on his right bicep, and a meticulously maintained crew cut.

JACK: Married with twin daughters. Lives the contented life in Tucson, where he supervises a genetic research lab at the University of Arizona. Ever the scientist, Jack hails from a world where skepticism is more important than evidence. And the only thing more important than that is Jack’s family.

Physical description: Jack is one of the best-fed of the bunch. He has a sweet tooth … and a healthy paunch to show for it. Jack has a beard (which he is fond of scratching when he’s concentrating), and wears wirerim glasses.

FR. THOMAS: As head priest of St. James Church in Stanton, Oklahoma, Fr. Thomas has spearheaded several outreach programs for his community, including a rehab center for drug addicts. A man who holds his faith in God above all things, Thomas is a devout Catholic priest whose personal views stray very little from his Catechism. He thinks often about the death of his parents, which (he thinks) occurred sixteen years ago.

Physical description: Although Fr. Thomas is a karate black belt, his physique now reflects a slower-paced, priestly life. He has a slight beer gut, and a humble combover hairstyle. His hairline is beginning to recede.

JONATHAN: A cautious, timid man, despite his job as a field agent for the United Nations’ human rights division. Jonathan lives in Manhattan’s East Village with his wife. He’s a rising star at the U.N., politely declining promotions that would take him out of the field. But his travels have made Jonathan a cynic who embraces rationality over emotion.

Physical description: Jonathan’s appearance is nearly identical to Fr. Thomas’ — the same humble wardrobe, the same slightly-receding hairline, the same combover. Jonathan appears about fifteen pounds lighter than the priest, however. Jonathan’s complexion is often pale, sickly.

DR. MIKE: A man who is about to hit the big time … and boy, is he smug about it. As a freelance criminal psychologist for the L.A.P.D., Dr. Mike has been the driving force behind the capture of Los Angeles’ most notorious criminals, including the Three Ring Circus killer. Dr. Mike’s recently-published book chronicling his exploits–Hunting the Hunters–is about to begin a major media push.

Physical description: The vainest of the clones, Dr. Mike dresses to the nines whenever he can. His hair is often coiffed in a camera-freindly blow-dried style. His fingernails are always clipped and cleaned. He wants his appearance to personify his excellent reputation as a criminal profiler.

KILROY2.0: The madman among the group, Kilroy2.0 is a Washington, D.C.-based computer hacker who posts governmental conspiracy theories on his websites. An obese trainwreck of a man, Kilroy talks to walls, abhors authority and sees himself as a quasi-religious figure.

Physical description: Weighing in at 320 pounds, Kilroy2.0 cares little for personal appearance — after all, who can see him online? He sports a wildman’s beard and thick-rimmed glasses, and his hair is often a shaggy, greasy mess. Kilroy2.0′s wardrobe is as chaotic as his mind.

The 7th Son Staff

DR. KLEINMAN: The chief scientist at the 7th Son facility. He’s been with the project for decades, and knows its secrets. At 83, Kenneth Kleinman also the oldest staffer at 7th Son.

GEN. HILL: Brigadier General Orlando Hill is head of operations and security at the facility. He was assigned this task fifteen years ago. A tall, imposing man, Hill is not one for chit-chat.

The Villains

JESSE FOWLER: The four-year-old boy who recently assassinated U.S. President Hank “Gator” Griffin. The reason for the child’s murderous behavior is a mystery, as are the strange circumstances surrounding his own death.

JOHN ALPHA: At this point in the story, nothing is known about the “alpha” John Michael Smith, other than he’s the apparent source of the Beta clones’ bodies and childhood memories. He is also the reason behind the clones’ unexpected family reunion at 7th Son.

The Womb cloning chambers
Project 7th Son was created nearly 60 years ago. Through the decades, the 7th Son staff perfected biological cloning, and eventually used it on an unwitting test subject: John Michael Smith, code-named “John Alpha.” Samples of his DNA were placed in a complex machine with seven cloning chambers. This machine, housed in a subterranean level of the 7th Son facility called “The Womb,” successfully cloned John Alpha, and — using a growth accelerant — grew these clones to mid-teen maturity in just two years. The monstrous, seven-armed machine used electrical impulses to assist in the growth process, and employed audio stimulation to simulate the in utero experience for the clones.

Memory Totality
“Memory Totality” is Project 7th Son’s in-house name for the entirety of a person’s memories. Every memory, emotion and dream that a person experiences — even events that are seemingly forgotten — are forever stored in the hippocampus, the brain’s first stop for stimuli that will eventually become memories. The hippocampus stores all of this stimuli, in case the need arises for future recollection. This “all-term memory” is a unique brainwave that operates at all times.

MemR/I recording technology
Using sophisticated equipment, Project 7th Son discovered that the hippocampus’ unique brainwave can be detected and recorded; in essence, allowing a human’s lifetime of memories to be copied and “uploaded” into a computer system. This process is called “MemR/I” — Memory Recording/Installation — and is the key to creating intellectually and emotionally identical clones.

MemR/I Hypercomputer Array
Deeper still in the underground 7th Son facility resides a mammoth “hypercomputer” array, in which the Memory Totality of John Alpha is stored. Designed and built in the 1980s, this “MemR/I Array” is actually a self-sufficient network of two thousand supercomputers. These machines, based on the iconic horseshoe design of the Cray-1 supercomputer, are cooled by a complex system beneath the MemR/I array. All told, the field of “Q-Crays” can store an exabyte of digital information, apparently more than enough to contain John Alpha’s Memory Totality.

NEPTH-charge
During the creation of the MemR/I technology, several technological “dead ends” were discovered and abandoned. One such technology created a bioelectrical “hiccup” that could completely erase a host brain’s Memory Totality, effectively leaving a vacant brain. This mistake was nicknamed “NEPTH-charge” (NEPTH: Neural Erasure Pulse Technology Hardware) by the 7th Son staff.

It was later discovered that this “brain erasure” process could be easily re-created. While this technology was abandoned by the 7th Son project, it was later taken to the Department of Defense by Dania Sheridan, one of the 7th Son staffers.

As the clones have recently discovered, NEPTH-charge can be used to erase a person’s Memory Totality … and then, using MemR/I technology, that person’s vacant brain can be filled with a new Totality altogether. There is a horrifying side-effect to this technological combo: NEPTH victims live for only three weeks. It appears as if John Alpha has access to both technologies, and is be using them.

Recap: Book One, Descent

Three weeks ago, President Hank “Gator” Griffin was assassinated at a political rally by a four year old boy. The child, Jesse Fowler, said only one sentence during his week-long confinement in a psychiatric facility. It was an obscenity-filled phrase no four-year-old should know.

Jesse Fowler’s abrupt death while in custody was equally inexplicable. A nosebleed — and eyes so bloodshot the whites were completely red — were the only clues to the boy’s demise.

Two days ago, seven men living in different regions of the United States were kidnapped and brought to a “beyond Top Secret” government facility in rural Virginia. What they saw there was unbelievable, yet undeniable.

Despite slight physical differences, these seven strangers appeared to be the same man, the same age. Each man remembered growing up as an only child in Indiana, and each recalled a tragedy from their past: The death of their parents in a car accident sixteen years ago.

It was clear these seven “John Michael Smiths” had identical childhood memories.

Unwitting participants in an experiment called “Project 7th Son,” the men learned from two project staffers — Dr. Kleinman and Gen. Hill — that they were assembled to stop the man behind the President’s murder. Their target: A man code-named “John Alpha.” He was the man they were cloned from; the man whose childhood memories they share.

While the clones were genetically and — to a degree — emotionally identical, their personalities and professions were very different.

John: college dropout and no-nonsense musician and carpenter. Michael: a captain in the Marine Corps’ elite Force Recon division. Jack: a pudgy, bespectacled, genetics expert … and father of twin daughters. Thomas: a devout Catholic priest. Jonathan: a timid U.N. employee; Dr. Mike: a cocky criminal profiler. Kilroy2.0: an infamous computer hacker with a messiah complex who claims the walls speak to him.

The next morning, Dr. Kleinman and Gen. Hill gave the clones a tour of the 7th Son facility. The clones stared in horror at their birthplace, a monstrous cloning machine. They also learned about “MemR/I” (Memory Retrieval/Installation) technology, which allowed the 7th Son scientists to record John Alpha’s childhood memories, store those memories as digital data, and download them into the clones’ vacant brains.

Kleinman tells John, Kilroy2.0, Dr. Mike and the others that the 7th Son project began six decades ago as a grand “nature versus nurture” experiment. The men’s most vivid childhood memory — the car accident in which their parents were killed — was a ruse. Hugh and Dania Sheridan, the people the clones remember as their father and mother, were actually still alive.

It was then revealed that the Sheridans were actually scientists working for Project 7th Son, paid to raise and observe John Alpha.

After the car accident sixteen years ago — and after John Alpha’s memories were recorded — the boy became a willing participant in the 7th Son project. He learned all he could about the experiment. But four years ago, John Alpha mysteriously vanished from the 7th Son facility … and turned up dead not long after.

But evidence found during the autopsy of Jesse Fowler, the child Presidential assassin, indicated that John Alpha was alive, and apparently armed with a dangerous technology that was accidentally created at the 7th Son facility. Called “NEPTH-charge,” this technology erases a person’s memories completely. When combined with “MemR/I” technology, another recorded psyche can be downloaded into the damaged brain. This explained the four-year-old’s murderous behavior; a killer’s mind was lurking behind the child’s eyes.

Worse still, John Alpha kidnapped a former 7th Son staffer two weeks ago: Dania Sheridan, the clones’ “mother.” Hugh Sheridan, their “father,” was brought to the 7th Son facility for his protection.

John Alpha left a clue for the clones to decipher at the scene of Dania Sheridan’s kidnapping. With their combined expertise, Fr. Thomas, Jonathan, Michael and the others decrypted the Morse Code clue, and deduced that Alpha was probably laying low at an abandoned night club in Los Angeles.

Michael, Dr. Mike and Fr. Thomas volunteered to lead a cadre of 7th Son security personnel on a mission to rescue Dania Sheridan. John, Jack, Kilroy2.0 and Jonathan chose to remain at the 7th Son complex, vowing to learn more about Alpha’s conspiracy.

During this, each clone coped with the recent revelations in his own way. While Jack the geneticist raged against the experiment’s ethical violations, a terrified Fr. Thomas became convinced that he was a manufactured thing, a soulless being. Jonathan wondered about the childhood he never had, and realized he never actually experienced the awkward courtship of his high-school sweetheart (who would, many years later, become his wife).

Meanwhile, it became clear that John Alpha’s conspiracy was much larger than the clones knew. The U.S. Vice President fell victim to the villainous plot when he unwittingly received a download of Alpha’s psyche into his mind. Alpha was now riding shotgun in the VP’s brain.

John Alpha also contacted billionaire oil tycoon A.U. Rookman, whose reputation for political prowess, ruthlessness and greed was legendary. While no clear details of their relationship were revealed, Alpha promised the elderly Rookman that he would soon be cured of his cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Additionally, more than forty men at a Russian military post were recently NEPTH-charged. The psyche that was downloaded into these victims’ minds was that of Doug Devlin, a remorseless government-trained contract killer, now in the employ of John Alpha. The Devlins controlled nine intercontinental nuclear missiles, and would soon prep them for launch.

Back at the 7th Son facility, John, Jack, Jonathan and Kilroy2.0 recalled the peculiar physical side-effects of the NEPTH-charge procedure, as seen in the four-year-old assassin’s autopsy. Convinced John Alpha may have created more NEPTH-charge killers, they hacked into the Centers for Disease Control’s website. Surely the CDC would have recorded such strange deaths, they reasoned.

In Los Angeles, Michael, Dr. Mike, Fr. Thomas and the other 7th Son soldiers infiltrated the abandoned night club — only to discover that it wasn’t abandoned at all. Enemy soldiers wearing ultra-high tech “Vaporwear” invisibility camouflage began to slaughter the team.

Meanwhile at the 7th Son facility, John searched for his father, Hugh Sheridan. As he chatted with the bitter man, John learned the true purpose of the cloning project. It was not a “nature versus nurture” experiment, as Dr. Kleinman had said. 7th Son was created to grow special teams of experts, all linked by common childhood and biology. These well-oiled teams of clones would be brought together to apply their respective, yet complementary, expertise in times of crises. John and his fellow clones were the “dry run,” the first steps toward the this new breed of team creation.

Hugh Sheridan also revealed that Project 7th Son’s roots could be traced back to World War II, and the horrific experiments perpetrated by Nazi doctors. One of these doctors, a geneticist named Klaus Bregner, was brought to the U.S. after the war, and — in exchange for his life — was ordered to head the then-new 7th Son project.

Meanwhile, Kilroy2.0, Jack and Jonathan’s hacking into the Center for Disease Control’s website revealed successful … and terrifying … results. Dozens of deaths were recorded in the CDC database, all matching the symptoms of NEPTH-charge. One such report chronicled the deaths of ten men in Arkansas. These men had left behind more mysterious encrypted messages for the clones.

In Los Angeles, the battle against John Alpha’s invisible soldiers became a bloodbath. Nearly all of the 7th Son soldiers were killed in the firefight, and Dr. Mike and Father Thomas were captured. As they were held at gunpoint, the “Vaporwear” soldiers taunted Michael and the surviving soldiers. Finally, John Alpha emerged from the shadows, clearly taking pleasure in the clones’ misery and recent revelations.

Fr. Thomas was able to create a distraction, with explosively successful results. The tide turned, and Alpha fled to the basement level of the night club. Michael pursued the villain while Thomas rescued Dania Sheridan. She had been severely beaten. Alpha had cut off two of her fingers.

Although Fr. Thomas, Dr. Mike and Dania Sheridan escaped the nightclub, Michael was killed when John Alpha activated a large bomb beneath the building. Alpha also died in the explosion.

As the battered rescue team traveled back to Virginia … and as the clones at the 7th Son facility mourned Michael’s death … Hugh Sheridan revealed to John one final, critical piece of 7th Son history. It involved the dangerous brain-erasing NEPTH-charge technology. It had connections to the Department of Defense. It explained why John Alpha kidnapped Dania Sheridan two weeks ago.

It was a mysterious technology called Psyjack.

I was honored to have so many talented storytellers contribute to the Book One: Descent recap, found in the first episode of Book Two: Deceit. I want to thank these 25 writers for making the time to assist me in realizing this ambitious audio project.

Hey 7th Son listeners: Learn more about these gifted writers by clicking the links below. And if you’re feeling particularly generous, please support them buy purchasing, reading or listening to their work.

Aram Schefrin, author of Marwan, Consider the Elephant, The Tenth Cow

Scott Sigler, author of Earthcore, Ancestor, Infection, The Rookie

Tee Morris, author/host of Morevi, Podcasting for Dummies, The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy

Jeph Loeb, producer/author of Heroes, Lost, Smallville, Superman for All Seasons, Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Hush

Walter Hunt, author of The Dark Wing, The Dark Path, The Dark Ascent, The Dark Crusade

Mark Waid, author of 52, Legion of Superheroes, Superman: Birthright, John Doe

Robert J. Sawyer, author of Mindscan and more

Steve Eley, editor of Escape Pod

Philipa Ballantine, author/host of Weaver’s Web, Chasing the Bard, Whispers at the Edge

Matthew Wayne Selznick, author of Brave Men Run, Light of the Outsider

Rick Stringer, producer of Variant Frequencies

Mark Jeffrey, author of The Pocket and the Pendant

Jack Mangan, author/host of: Spherical Tomi, Deadpan

Tracy Hickman, author/host of Dragonlance Chronicles, The Bronze Canticles, DragonHearth

Michael Lund, author of Route 66 series, including Route 66 to Vietnam

Mur Lafferty, author/co-author of Heaven, Tricks of the Podcasting Masters

Bill DeSmedt, author of Singularity, Dualism

Myke Bartlett, author of How to Disappear Completely (The Terrible Business of Salmon and Dusk)

Mike Resnick, author of Santiago, Kirinyaga, Starship series and more

James Patrick Kelly, author/host of Burn and more, Free Reads

Paul S. Jenkins, author/host of The Plitone Revisionist, Rev Up Review

Steven H. Wilson, author/creator of Taken Liberty, The Arbiter Chronicles

J. Scott Garibay, author of AmerIndian 2192, Gamer’s Gate

Russell Burt, author of Come, Let Me Whisper

Christiana Ellis, author of Nina Kimberly the Merciless

M.H. Bonham, author of Prophecy of Swords, Runestone of Teiwas, Lachlei

Wil Radcliffe, author of Noggle Stones

In the fourth chapter of Deceit, the Beta clones examine ten encrypted clues left by John Alpha. They quickly discover the clues are encoded in a cryptogram — a word puzzle that substitutes one letter of the alphabet for another.

While the clones decoded the messages by the end of the chapter, this page is for 7th Son fans who’d like to see the encrypted clues (and the dog tag glyph that contained the cipher) and solve the puzzles themselves.

The ten clues

Below are the ten encrypted clues, as they appear in the manuscript of Deceit:

The clones discovered the cipher letters in the “vaguely Satanic” glyph, found on the bodies of the NEPTH-charge victims. They first viewed the glyph rightside-up … and then upside-down … to unlock the messages’ secrets.

Special thanks to Sarah and Tim for catching a few typos in the encrypted messages! 7th Son fans rock!

Three days ago, seven strangers — all named “John Michael Smith” — were torn away from their normal lives and brought to a “Beyond Top Secret” facility in rural Virginia. There, they learned a horrifying truth about their past: These men were human clones, unwitting participants in a decades-old experiment called “7th Son.”

These seven men not only shared the same DNA — they also had identical childhood memories. This biological and emotional information hailed from their progenitor, the original John Michael Smith — code-named “John Alpha.” Alpha had once been a key member of the 7th Son experiment, but escaped several years ago — and was found dead not long after.

But the recent assassination of the U.S. President — and clues left behind at the kidnapping of the clones’ mother, Dania Sheridan — indicated that John Alpha was still alive, and was planning more destruction and chaos. The seven clones — Michael, Jonathan, Dr. Mike, Kilroy2.0, Jack, Father Thomas and John — had been assembled by 7th Son staffers Dr. Kleinman and General Hill to stop Alpha before the villain could realize his plans.

Over the next day, the Beta clones split into two groups. One group, armed with clues gleaned from a Morse code riddle left by John Alpha, traveled to West Hollywood, California, to rescue their kidnapped mother. The other team remained at the 7th Son facility. With help from Kilroy2.0′s flock of conspiracy theorist followers — and the mysterious hacker Binary_Fairy — they hacked into governmental websites and followed a trail of reports that led to even more encrypted clues left by the villain.

But the clones were unaware of John Alpha’s full plans. Using stolen brain-erasing NEPTH-charge technology, Alpha had commandeered a nuclear missile outpost in Russia. His NEPTH-charged army — all possessed by the mind of former government-spook-turned-assassin Doug Devlin — was prepping the missiles for launch. In addition, John Alpha’s own psyche was now residing in the mind of U.S. Vice President Charles Caine. Unlike the NEPTH-charge used for Alpha’s army (the side effect of which is a neural liquification weeks after the procedure), Alpha used the upgrade of this technology, a system called Psyjack. Alpha had full access to the VP’s memories and mannerisms.

The clones’ mission in California was a disaster. Although they rescued a severely-beaten Dania Sheridan from the abandoned building, Beta Clone Michael and John Alpha himself were killed when a bomb beneath the night club exploded. At the 7th Son facility, Clone John learned the dark past of the 7th Son project from his father, Hugh Sheridan. 7th Son was the brainchild of Nazi doctor Klaus Bregner. In exchange for his life, Bregner brought his cloning research to the States, and helped create 7th Son.

As the second day of the clones’ adventure concluded, Vice President Caine — or more appropriately, Caine-Alpha — contacted his other Psyjacked “selves,” and confirmed that his scheme to hijack nuclear weapons in Russia was still going as planned. While speaking to a computer hacker in his employ named Special(k), Alpha also learned the recent activities of the Beta clones.

On their flight from California to Virginia, Dr. Mike and Father Thomas mourned the death of their brother Michael, the first-born of the Beta Clones. They spoke to Dania Sheridan about Psyjack, and how Alpha could have obtained its secrets. She didn’t know.

At the 7th Son facility, the clones reviewed the data they’d recently stolen from the government sites. According to reports, ninety men and women across the U.S. had died in the past five months — all from “brainrot,” NEPTH-charge’s horrifying side-effect.

The mystery deepened as Kilroy realized Alpha’s likely delivery method for NEPTH-charge and Psyjack: special ultra-high capacity prototype DNACs — DNA computers.

The men decoded some of the messages, finally understanding that the sequence of the riddles was based on the birth order of the clones themselves. The clones must split into two groups — one heading “north,” the other, “south.”

Dr. Mike, Father Thomas and Dania Sheridan returned from California. The clones were ordered back to the Common Room, and the injured Dr. Mike and Dania were sent to the facility’s infirmary.

Meanwhile in Houston, megalomaniacal oil tycoon A.U. Rookman – the man bankrolling Alpha’s conspiracy – hosted a meeting with the villain– a version of Alpha lurking in the brain of Mira Sanjah, the nurse who had Psyjacked Vice President Caine. Rookman’s incompetent son Lionel was brought in, and became the latest victim of Psyjack. A.U.’s consciousness was now in his son’s brain … and elderly Rookman (who suffered from Alzheimer’s and cancer) was killed by Sanjah not long after.

As the third day of the Beta clones’ adventure began, the men solved a critical puzzle and discovered a locale that Alpha apparently wanted them to visit: a Texas ghost town called Prophecy. They also discovered the identity of Alpha’s NEPTH-charge assassin, Doug Devlin. Jonathan left the clones’ Common Room to visit his mother, still in the infirmary. There, Dania Sheridan murdered her son. She had been Psyjacked by John Alpha.

The 7th Son facility was put on high alert, not because of Jonathan’s death – but because of the launch of the Russian nuclear missiles. The nukes struck their targets: Saudi Arabia.

Alpha’s takeover forced John, Jack, General Hill and Dr. Kleinman to visit a room well beneath the facility, called the Proto-Womb. The project’s first cloning experiments were performed here – and it is where John Alpha cloned himself twice before escaping the facility in 2003. He had stolen disk space from the mammoth MemR/I Hypercomputer Array to record and store his memories for his Alpha clones. Those clones were now dead, the most-recent perishing in the showdown at the West Hollywood nightclub.

The Betas and their allies stopped Alpha’s takeover of the facility, but not without a price: Hugh Sheridan murdered Dania-Alpha, and was left to wander the halls of the facility in a booze-fueled depression. The already-depleted 7th Son security force was reduced, due to Dania-Alpha’s killing spree. Jonathan was dead. And Alpha had stolen – and transmitted — special protected information using Dania Sheridan’s Code Phantom access privilege. Her keystrokes had been scrambled and the transmissions encrypted. Several OPS computers were damaged during the re-takeover, as well.

As the clones regrouped, the world reeled from the recent nuclear attack. The planet’s largest supply of oil reserves was destroyed. A global economic collapse was imminent. The international community screamed for sanctions against the attacking nation, Russia. A nuclear winter may be imminent.

While the world outside was in chaos, the immediate crisis in 7th Son was over. Dr. Kleinman began an autopsy on Dania Sheridan, searching for clues about Psyjack. The Betas solved another critical element of Alpha’s clues, learning that John and Dr. Mike must travel to Arctic Village, the tiny Alaskan community from which Doug Devlin was born. There, they learned, Devlin’s mother would reveal a “secret.” The duo vowed to leave that day for Arctic Villlage. The other clones chose to head to Prophecy, Texas.

Using Top Secret “Aurora” hypersonic aircraft – commandeered from Area 51, thanks to General Hill’s Code Phantom security clearance – the groups quickly arrived at their destinations. Father Thomas, Kilroy2.0 and Jack cracked a final piece of Alpha’s puzzle – “Find the A in Main” – which led them to John Alpha’s secret lair: the high-tech renovated interior of Prophecy’s water tower.

The headquarters were abandoned, save for a computer monitor with a live video feed of hacker Special(k), a former understudy of Kilroy2.0, now in the employ of John Alpha.

Special(k) promised to reveal Alpha’s location via GPS coordinates… but only if Jack remained at the water tower. Thomas vehemently resisted this, but eventually acquiesced. Special(k) gave them the coordinates of Alpha’s location. But as Thomas and Kilroy2.0 were about depart from the tower, the evil hacker revealed a double-cross: the town of Prophecy – and Jack – were to be destroyed by a network of explosives.

As Thomas and Kilroy departed, Jack gleaned important clues from Special(k)’s taunts, and plotted his escape from the lair. In a spectacular race against time, Jack leaped from the top of the water tower, smashed through a tree canopy, and successfully piloted his car through the streets of the exploding town.

Jack reunited with the others. They deduced that John Alpha had lured them away from his true conspiracy — and, in the process, was murdering the Beta clones in the order in which they were born. As the jet was prepped for departure to Alaska – after all, Dr. Mike and John were heading into a deathtrap — Kilroy2.0 researched the GPS coordinates he’d received from Special(k). These coordinates matched the location of a Texas-based private airstrip – the perfect locale at which to murder Kilroy and Father Thomas, were they to travel there.

Meanwhile in Alaska. John and Dr. Mike learned that Devlin’s mother was dead, but connected with Josephine, the killer’s sister. Based on a riddle left at Devlin’s mother’s gravesite, the duo flew to Brownlow Point, in the northern-most region of the state, just west of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. ANWR is a federally-protected nature preserve known for its vast supply of untapped oil reserves.

There, they discovered a vast Rookman Oil drilling camp. The employees there were apparently awaiting orders to roll into ANWR to begin extraction. The clones’ Aurora jet landed – and then a monstrous Komatsu dump truck rolled onto the camp’s airstrip, accelerated, and barreled toward the jet. Dr. Mike and John escaped before the house-sized truck slammed into the aircraft. Both smashed vehicles rolled onto the frozen surface of Camden Bay… and then, as the ice cracked, sunk into the water.

The clones were soon held at gunpoint by a NEPTH-charged Devlin soldier. During a brief interrogation, Mike accidentally identified himself by name … and was murdered for his misstep. John was severely beaten, and abandoned in the wilderness to freeze to death.

John awoke sometime later, and trudged to the drilling camp, determined to find a way to communicate with General Hill and the other Beta clones. On the way, he spotted two NEPTH-charge soldiers. Eavesdropping on the killers, John learned of the Alpha-Rookman connection, and that the psyche of A.U. Rookman had been downloaded into his son’s mind. He was soon spotted by the Devlins. John stole a fuel tanker truck to escape them.

The story then shifted to the villains. In Washington D.C.’s Pentagon command center, Vice President Charles Caine chatted with the United Nations’ Secretary General via telephone. John Alpha — whose psyche was still in Charles Caine’s mind — learned that world leaders would soon convene at the U.N. headquarters in New York to discuss the planet’s fate.

In Texas, the Psyjacked Lionel Rookman convinced U.S. President Vincent Hale to urge politicians to begin drilling in ANWR, to alleviate the world’s new oil shortage.

Finally, the “bona-fide” John Alpha and hacker Special(k) flew eastward in a private jet. They discussed the final stage of their scheme. Hidden bunkers containing stolen low-yield “Red Mercury” nukes had been built five months ago … and now thanks to a new crop of NEPTH-charged Devlins, the endgame would begin. At 10:07 tomorrow morning, the Devlins would attack.

Meanwhile, the Aurora jet containing Jack, Father Thomas and Jack red-lined it to Alaska. As the aircraft screamed northward, the clones pieced together clues from the past day. They realized that John Alpha’s original plan at the 7th Son facility was to flood the complex with poison gas, killing nearly everyone inside. Alpha may have wanted to clear the facility for a later return.

They shared this information with Gen. Hill, but the General said that Alpha’s biometric security clearance — his retina scan — has been purged from the 7th Son security system. No one can enter the complex now, not even the clones. Hill then reported that Dr. Kleinman was creating a diagnostic brain scan to identify Psyjack victims. And Hill himself was supervising the decryption of the valuable data Dania-Alpha had transmitted during her takeover that morning. If successfully decrypted, that data would help to finally reveal Alpha’s real plans.

In Alaska, John’s fight for survival continued. Thanks to some resourceful – and lucky –driving of his fuel tanker, John narrowly escaped collision after collision from two pursuing Rookmail Oil semi-trucks, each piloted by a Devlin. But the killers corralled his vehicle past the relative safety of the drilling camp, and out into the wilderness beyond.

The two Devlin rigs behind John were gaining. Inspired by a plan, John drove toward the nearby airstrip. As he turned onto the runway, John activated the semi-truck’s decoupling device, separating the fuel tanker from his rig. During this, John lost control of his truck. It screamed off the runway, into a field of snow, and crashed.

The pursuing Devlin trucks, unable to turn, smashed into the rolling tanker trailer. The trailer detonated, vaporizing one of the rigs. The second truck rocketed through the flames, and — despite its damage — pulled up to John’s destroyed ride.

John climbed out of his truck, dazed and exhausted. The Devlin assassin strode across the snowscape and aimed his pistol at the clone. John was finished.

But strange scarlet light suddenly appeared near the killer. The lights became bullets … red tracer fire screaming from the Aurora overhead, the jet containing the other Beta clones.

As the Devlin evaporated in a gore-filled mist, John collapsed onto the snow, and wept.

This world’s-first marketing experiment — and its incredible success — could not have been possible without the generosity of these amazing podcasters. (Many of these shows are not yet listed on this page. Check back regularly for updates!) J.C. thanks them for their help, and encourages you to check out their work.

	Alabama
	The Spartacus Roosevelt Hour The Spartacus Roosevelt Hour is a twice monthly music podcast featuring obscure noise, glitchy electropop, fake nostalgia, bastardized exotica, tweaky lounge, creepy ambient and musical non sequiturs. Described as the “soundtrack to the movie you don’t know you are in,” the SRH features acoustic, electric and electronic music. This show is recommended for aging Goths, dada-ists, Stockhausen freaks, ex-ravers with sizzling synapses, fetishists, beat revivalists, moody hip hoppers, record store geeks, recreational drug users, pagans, subgenius, former hardcore kids, hippie burnouts, the intellectually pretentious, the partially deaf, doom metallers, people who have their genitals pierced, and lovers of machine noises. Website: http://www.spartacusroosevelt.com
	Arizona
	Love Long and Prosper Dan and CJ, new parents from Arizona talk about life, the universe, and everything. Middle class living can be a drag, but the Love Long and Prosper Podcast places a humorous spin on the mundane. Segments such as “Private Quarters” (a look inside the life of a married couple on the Enterprise), and “FoodCast” (They love their food) are the meat of the Podcast, but the mindless banter and witty criticisms are the perfect condiments. Hungry for some Star Trek? Website: http://www.lovelongandprosper.com
	Truthseekers Coming to you from her spiderhole in Arizona, Dani brings you a little truth (at least the way she interprets it) every other week. Covering everything from US news to world politics, sex and societal issues, Dani is sure to make you think a little bit more about your world. That way we can all work to make it a little better place to co-exist. Website: http://www.truthseekerscast.com
	Arkansas
	OxCast OxCast is a Podcast hosted by Ox. OxCast is broadcast from a small town in Northwest Arkansas. Any number of topics are discussed on OxCast, everything from Poker to Paradise, and Reviews to Complaints. There are many special sections to OxCast. Sound Studio (local music), Movie Review, Book Review, and the famed OxPiss where Ox blows his top talking about some horrible customer service, or maybe just stupid people. Give us a listen and let us know what you like, what you’d like to hear, or what you hate. We do this solely for fun, nothing more. We only hope that this will be an entertaining view inside the mind of Ox. Website: http://oxcast.com
	California
	Adventures in Scifi Publishing About the show: From the Singularity Audio studios in San Diego, California, Adventures in Scifi Publishing brings science fiction authors and editors to your ears one podcast at a time. We examine the speculative fiction publishing industry, talk about writing, and discuss books and industry trends. Past guest include Hugo Award winning authors Robert J. Sawyer, Kim Stanley Robinson, Dan Simmons and Timothy Zahn along with SF heavy-hitters Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Tad Williams, Kay Kenyon, John Ringo, David Weber and more. Website: www.adventuresinscifipublishing.com
	Geek Cred Geek Cred is the podcast that does interviews, gives you the inside scoop on everything geek–from tech, to sci-fi, to games, you name it, we geek it! Are you geek enough? Website: http://www.geekcred.net
	Insomnia Radio Insomnia Radio is more than just a show, it’s a huge family of dedicated music freaks. Voted one of the Top 3 Podcasts in the world by Business Week Online, our weekly music shows consistently deliver indie rock’s unsung heroes straight to your ears, in a tightly produced and passionate package. Welcome to the best music you’ve never heard. Website: www.insomniaradio.net
	PodioMedia Chat PodioMedia Chat is an interview podcast where I interview authors of books that have been podcasted, as well as people who are creating audiocinema. I will also occasionally throw in other interviews for exceptional video and podcasts. Website: http://podiomediachat.chrismoody.net
	Strangely Literal Fanfic is a time honored tradition among the ardent enthusiasts who just can’t stop telling stories about their favorite characters and universes. We here at Strangely Literal can’t get enough of it either. Each podcast we bring you a story or stories from Buffy, Angel, Firefly or another Jossverse in an attempt to satisfy your need for more stories… this is Strangely Literal… Website: www.strangelyliteral.com
	Writers Talking Based in Hesperia, California, Writers Talking is a live roundtable podcast featuring independent and small-press fiction authors talking shop and answering your questions. Every episode, host Matthew Wayne Selznick and guests like J.C. Hutchins, Mur Lafferty, James Patrick Kelly, Scott Sigler, Tee Morris, and other tackle a specific question on the writing life and craft in a relaxed, conversational style. Listen as it happens, subscribe to the podcast (rss), and join the forums at Writers Talking. Website: http://www.writerstalking.com
	Connecticut / North Carolina
	Answers For Freelancers Answers for Freelancers is a pod-cast dedicated to helping independent artists and designers build their client base, grow their business, re-invigorate their passion and discuss the unique challenges of balancing work and life. Illustrator Bob Ostrom and multimedia designer Chris Wilson team up to bring you the helpful insight you need to compete in the world of creative independence. Website: http://www.answersforfreelancers.com
	Florida
	Comics Radar Over 100 comic books are released every Wednesday. It can be hard for New Readers and old fans alike to tell what good and what isn’t. Comics Radar gives you news, reviews, and interviews to arm yourself with information to find the best new comics out there. Website: http://comicsradar.com
	Ink ‘n Doodles Creative Workshop Ink ‘n Doodles Creative Workshop is an online blog, podcast, resource, and community that encourages everyone to “Go Create Something!” At Ink ‘n Doodles Creative Workshop we believe that everyone has superpowers – we can all create, contribute, and collaborate – and by fostering each other’s creative spirit we can accomplish great things. We are a “League of Doodlers”! Rob Suarez is the founder of Ink ‘n Doodles Creative Workshop. He hosts the podcast and is a “Creativity Evangelist”. Rob’s audio novels can be found here. Website: http://www.inkndoodles.com
	ScatterPod ScatterPod is a podcast created by filmmaker Michael Bekemeyer to explore the many facets of podcast audio fiction and entertainment. There are several types of audio experiments released through this podcast, such as short and long form narrative fiction, guest readers and interviews. ScatterPod is also home to the increasingly popular SF/Noir/Horror series “The Dead Light District”, which has been described as a genre blurring, mix between The Twilight Zone and Sin City. Website: http://scatterpod.2bpictures.com
	Georgia
	Heart of the Hunter Heart of the Hunter is the podcast recording of a serialized fantasy novel written by Sam Chupp, the co-designer of the roleplaying games Changeling: the Dreaming and Wraith: the Oblivion. The story is about a small company of mercenaries who find themselves enmeshed in webs of intrigue and power as they try to simply earn a living and get a small caravan from the center of civilization to the edge of the frozen wasteland and survive. (J.C. Hutchins’s interview appeared on Chupp’s other podcast, The Bear’s Grove.) Website: http://heartofthehunter.com
	Hawaii
	HawaiiUP HawaiiUP – Podcasting in paradise! A father, husband, and web geek in Hawaii spreads the aloha spirit online. Latest island headlines, music by local artists, interviews and tours… plus pop culture talk with the wife. Website: http://hawaiiup.com
	Idaho
	Phibble Radio Phibble helps promote independent musicians from around the world. We offer 7 music shows to listen to, 3 music video shows to watch and you can search the site for new bands and look at their profiles. Soon you will be able to buy from each band including songs and merchandise. We also have Phibble Radio Specials where you can listen to our interview with Howard Jones. We believe the world is full of talented artistic people and we plan on having each one our site sooner or later! Phibble, it’s Where Independence Lives! Website: http://phibble.com
	Indiana
	Tvindy Time Tvindy Time is a podcast about all sorts of things. Kinsey talks about his life, tells harrowing stories of his travels to other lands, interviews interesting people (like J. C. Hutchins), and reads stories from his childhood. He even podcasted his marriage proposal! (That was far more interesting than the time he podcasted himself eating cereal.) Also, Kilroy 2.0 has listened to every episode dozens of times. Website: http://www.tvindytime.com
	Illinois
	Barely Podcasting Barely Podcasting is a show about the unusual events that happen in everyday life of a dork. Nothing is safe from making the host, Barely, look like a dork. Co-workers, his wife, people on the road during his long commute, and even his 3 year old daughter all seem to make Barely look adorkable. Are you adorkable enough to listen? Website: http://barelypodcasting.com
	Kansas
	We Are Not Cool We Are Not Cool (aka WANC) is a one hour(ish) bi-weekly podcast by and for nerds and geeks. Topics range from sci-fi, fantasy, and comics to science, technology, related politics, and nerd culture. Content includes our thoughts and rants on these topics, interviews, and skits. Hopefully we will make you think, but we are bound to make you laugh. Failing that we will make you feel a whole lot better about your own life. Website: http://wearenotcool.org
	Kentucky
	PodCulture What do you get when you cross, two guys, one girl and an entire planet full of geek TV, video games, food, music and the occasional dash of real life? Well in the podcast realm you get PodCulture. Join Brad, Glenn and Christina each week as they chat what’s going on in their geek-worlds.From A+ shows to grade Z movies, and everything else in between (like comics and video games) the equal opportunity geeks of PodCulture cover it all. Website: www.PodCulture.net
	Maryland
	The Balticon Podcast Welcome to The Balticon Podcast. We are all about the authors, fans and scientists who make Science Fiction happen. You’ll find interviews and discussions with great guests as well as author readings, panels, convention events and other items recorded at and about Balticon, The Maryland Regional Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention. After both attending and volunteering at Balticon for many years, we wanted very much to share our favorite convention with the rest of the world. So much happens at a Balticon, however, that it is impossible to capture all of it. So, at Balticon 39, May 2005, we began podcasting as a way to let the people behind Science Fiction talk about their passion for it. We’ve recorded interviews with the Balticon Guests of Honor, scientists, authors and fans and have even managed to add in a few great convention events as well. We hope you enjoy all of it as much as we did! Website: http://balticonpodcast.org
	One-Minute How To The One Minute How-To podcast gives the guest up to 60 seconds to explain how to do something. This means that they need to get right to the point, but isn’t that a good thing? Website: http://OneMinuteHowTo.com
	Skunk Smells Marcus Noble the anthro/furry skunk hosts the skunk smells podcast. Every week he lets out a different rant or “skunk smell” about something that pisses him off. Also every week he has a different mystery special segment and some podsafe music. So take a listen, hold your nose, and subscribe. Website: http://skunk.podshow.com
	Massachusetts
	Managing the Gray C.C. Chapman is a New Media Maven who lives, works and plays in the metaverse. If you are an individual looking to embrace new media or a business that wants to try and stay on top of the ever changing landscape to survive then Managing the Gray is the podcast to listen to. Covering topics as diverse as personal development, Second Life, cool new web tools and marketing strategies the goal is to help you. Listen in to hear how YOU hold the keys to success. And how YOU can make a difference in this new world of consumer generated content, no control PR and new marketing. Website: http://www.managingthegray.com
	Minnesota
	Mike’s Hotdish Mike’s Hotdish is a music podcast that plays a variety of music. On any given show you will never know what you are going to get. The language in this show is no worse than what kids hear in high school and I never sensor the music. Website: http://mikeshotdish.com
	New York
	Moldawer in the Morning Moldawer in the Morning is a comedy podcast released every Monday morning. Each week, book editor and podcaster David Moldawer discusses three stories of the day in science, technology, or pop culture with a special guest. Expect a medium amount of bullshit. Website: http://www.moldawer.com
	Nebraska
	The Tome The Tome is a D&D News and Review Podcast. Interested in finding out what is going on in the world of Dungeons and Dragons? Want to hear if that book you’ve been thinking of sinking your hard earned cash into is worth the cover price? Just can’t get enough of role-playing in your life? Check out The Tome! Website: http://www.thetomeshow.com
	New Jersey
	The Multi-Dimensional Ninja Network Are you into Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Podcast Novels, but also love Anime? If so, then you should listen to the Multi Dimensional Ninja Network Podcast, where I, The Supreme Narutard and my co-hosts The Grim One and The Un-Man review sci-fi/fantasy (and some anime for good measure), give rants, do disscusions, host interviews with podcast novelists, preform comedy skits, and report on big ticket anime news items. Plus, we bring you special episodes every once in a while with music thats so bad you just have to laugh at it. The Multi Dimensional Ninja Network is looking for members: will you join? Website: http://www.mdnn.blogspot.com
	Whole Lot of Nonsense Social action doesn’t have to be boring. Join the crew from a Whole Lot of Nonsense PodCast as we talk about and with people who are doing what they can to make changes in the world around them. Since April 2005, we’ve talked to local Presidents of United Way organizations, about local homeless shelter networks and showed you how to make a difference in your own gas consumption. The show is usually put out every fortnight, or as often as I can get some time to do editing and fit in time with my wonderful family. Website: http://www.wholelotofnonsense.org
	The Rantings of an Advertising Lunatic Sometimes I just have to scratch my head at some of the marketing decisions companies make. Then sometimes fall between verystupiditis and headupmyassitosis. Join me, Mike Bellina, as I explore the wacky world of marketing on the podcast, the Rantings of an Advertising Lunatic. Each week I take a look at the good, the bad and the ridiculous of all things marketing. No one is safe and I certainly take no prisoners. Website: www.theadvertisinglunatic.com
	North Carolina
	Murder at Avedon Hill by P.G. Holyfield Lord Avedon has a problem. Gretta Platt, Housemistress of Avedon Manor, has been murdered. Only a handful of people live at Avedon Hill, and most are suspects. Arames Kragen, retired Aarronic Advisor and scholar of prophecy, arrives at the gates of Avedon Hill, hoping to gain access to the mountain pass. Lord Avedon is not in a giving mood, however… Murder at Avedon Hill is the fantasy/mystery podcast novel by P.G. Holyfield. Website: http://pgholyfield.com/maah
	Oklahoma
	Wander Radio Jack Hosley’s Wander Radio is a unique combination of old-time radio meets modern variety show, with music, audio dramas, humor and parodies melded together to be the best show “almost on your radio dial”. Website: http://wanderradio.com
	Oregon / Illinois / Massachusetts / Kentucky / Georgia / UK
	The Signal The Signal is a biweekly podcast dedicated to Joss Whedon’s Firefly and Serenity. Co-hosted by Les Howard and Kari Haley, the ultimate goal of The Signal is to see the universe and characters Joss Whedon created continue to live on, in future television or movie endeavors. We feel that the best way to do this is to recruit new fans, and keep them motivated and engaged with fan-produced content. Website: http://www.serenityfirefly.com
	Pennsylvania
	Better Late Than Never Better Late Than Never is a podcast about a single mom who has decided that is was time to get out in the world, to start meeting new people, and start doing new things. MA talks about what steps she’s taking to change her life, as well as her favorite geeky passions, while taking time to laugh at herself. With essays, media reviews, and various guest hosts, MA makes her life take a new direction. And it’s Better Late Than Never! Website: http://www.bl8tn.net
	Rhode Island
	Muse With Me Mrs. B, best known as the podcasting Patriots Super Fan, of Mrs. B’s Patriot World Podcast has launched a brand new podcast. The inaugural episode of Muse with Me features the interview with JC as part of the 50/50/50 tour. Muse with Me is a podcast about life, motherhood, education, literature, new media and more. So Muse with Me and enjoy commentary, interviews, soundseeing tours and some great podsafe music along the way. Website: http://musewithme.com
	South Carolina / Wisconsin
	Technorama Technorama is best described as a “Geek Morning Show.” Chuck and Kreg bring all the zaniness of a terrestrial morning show with topics YOU the geek are sure to enjoy. Whether it is tech, science, sci-fi, movies, books, or many other topics, you’ll love the show. This isn’t the same old Microsoft, Google, and Apple news all the other tech news shows do. Technorama takes a light hearted look at the off-beat news out there. The show also includes periodic special interviews with notable geeks like Adam Savage and Grant Imahara from Discovery Channel’s “Mythbusters”, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler from The History Channel’s “Deep Sea Detectives”, Steve Wozniak co-founder of Apple Computer, Leo Laporte of TechTV and “TWiT”, and many others. Website: http://www.chuckchat.com
	Tennessee
	The Basics of the Game We first learn to play as children. We refine our skills and games, as we grow older. As with all things we do we can excel at games. Excellence comes from starting at the basics. The Basics of the Game is the show where we discuss games, gaming and concepts in role playing and larp gaming. The Basics of the Game. Experience in gaming. Website: http://thebasicsofthegame.blogspot.com
	Tennessee / Ontario, Canada
	The Darcy and Holly Show The Darcy and Holly show is a show done by a couple who live in two different countries. Darcy is in Canada and Holly is in the United States. Their show is a general chat show. They talk about whatever comes to mind. Website: http://www.darcyandholly.com
	Texas
	The Morning BrewCast Two coffee loving, java jumping, caffeine crazy sisters who love to chit chat after a cup or two or three of the morning brew. Grab your cup of brew and join the fun! Website: http://morningbrewcast.com
	Disability411 Disability411 provides audio workshops, interviews and information on disability-related topics for those who work with individuals with disabilities, including college disability counselors, rehabilitation counselors, K-12 special education teachers, employers, or anyone who works in the disability field. Information is also of interest for individuals with disabilities and their families. Hosted by Beth Case, a disability counselor with more than 10 years of experience in postsecondary disability services. Website: http://disability411.jinkle.com
	Wisconsin
	TechnoFodder TechnoFodder is a high-energy podcast about podcasting. We cover tech and podcast news, we do interviews, and give quick tutorials. We also have a special Promo Exchange segment. If you play my promo, I’ll play yours. Tune in for more, and use our contact page to send us feedback. Website: http://www.technofodder.com
	Wisconsin (and Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois….)
	The Wandering Geek Podcast The Wandering Geek Podcast is dedicated to helping folks get their “Geek On” while traveling away from home for business, pleasure, or that family vacation to Aunt Bertie’s house for the summer. Hosted by Curt the Camera Guy, who spends 270 days a year out on the road, the Wandering Geek explores a feature topic every episode that will make living the “traveling geek” life-style a little bit easier. He also interviews the people that make it all possible. Every episode there is DVD release news, a report on MMOs including betas, new releases and free trials, general geeky news in the Geek Buzz, and slice of road-life stories in Skid Marks. Sprinkle in some listener feedback, show news and the occasional funny “bit” involving the “voices in his head” and you have the recipe for this 74 minute bi-weekly podcast. You can find it on iTunes by searching for “Wandering Geek”. Website: http://wanderinggeek.podbean.com
	Outside the U.S. – AUSTRALIA
	The Podshow About Nothing The Podshow About Nothing (TPAN) is a podcast from Sydney, Australia, that doesn’t require you to think. Just do nothing. Listen to nothing. And, most importantly, laugh at nothing. Giddy up! Website: http://teepan.com
	The Sci Phi Show If you want a podcast that looks at questions of science fiction and philosophy and how the two go together then The Sci Phi Show is the podcast for you. The Sci Phi Show has discussions of science fiction books, movies and TV shows, interviews with authors, philosophers and other interesting people. What more could you want? Website: http://thesciphishow.com
	Outside the U.S. – TAIWAN
	Second Life Notes Second Life’s podcast covering music and culture. Hosted by Chill Moksung (Mark Forman in RL). Featuring interviews and music from the people who are building Second Life culture. Website: http://slnotes.com