Episode 120: Ass-Hat Magic Spider by Scott Westerfeld
All that stands in a young man’s way of getting on a colony ship bound for a new world and a better life is a few grams of extra weight, and Charlotte, of course. outtakes
Also, Big tells the tale of the tale, Rish talks about Secret Santas, and both wish you a happy holiday season. Oh, and singing. Lots of annoying singing.
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http://traffic.libsyn.com/dunesteef/Dunesteef_120_Ass-Hat_Magic_Spider_by_Scott_Westerfeld.mp3%20Related Links:
Scott Westerfeld’s Site
Reading Is Fundamental
What’s Your Favorite Matthew Broderick Movie?
The Podcast Community’s Reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Journey Into… Podcast
Picture by Marcelo Tourne
Music was A Warm Place by Frozen Silence.
Some sound effects were provided by freesound.org.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine 
December 22, 2011 at 7:55 am
Ass-Hat Magic Spidaaah!
December 23, 2011 at 1:12 pm
click at your own risk:
December 22, 2011 at 11:10 am
Okay, technically haven’t finished the story yet. But I can tell it’s coming down now (denouement). It’s late so wanted to type this before falling out.
This episode rocked. The writing rocked. That ‘asshat’ tech talking to the protagonist had the feel of a golden-age SF character from Asimov or one of those authors’ work. That sort of really direct 1930s or 1940s way of thinking and expressing himself.
Rish’s acting kicked ass. Again with that same character. You were able to make him seem gruff, obnoxious, and really wonderful at the same time.
Big must have rocked too. But when I heard the protagonist speaking I didn’t remember that it was an actor. I just thought it was that person.
Great job, you guys. Thanks for a wonderful episode.
Nigel
December 22, 2011 at 12:47 pm
For fear of sounding like a ridiculous fangirl…OMG, I love Scott Westerfeld! I’ve already made a fool of myself over the Leviathan series (even wrote a song), and this did not disappoint! Wonderful!
December 24, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Until you started talking about the seventies soul harmonies, I was sure the theme song was inspired by this: http://youtu.be/q0YkXmebAGM
December 24, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Sorry, that was intended to be a reply to the episode…. I haven’t heard your Leviathan song!
January 11, 2012 at 5:40 pm
I was not expecting such an emotional story after this title and the introduction. A great surprise! I loved it!
April 3, 2012 at 6:45 pm
By some happy accident of fate, this was the first story I listened to on this podcast, and I am glad it was. What a great hook! It is still one of my all-time favorites. So much to it, so well performed. Now that I have listened to more, I wanted to come back and give proper appreciation to this story.
April 10, 2012 at 4:19 pm
First off, I’ll admit that I don’t comment on stories as often as I should, despite enjoying a great many of them. This is one of those moments when I honestly feel moved to comment. I’ve listened to every story up to this point, and it’s the second I’ve taken the time to comment on (I should be finishing the dishes right now).
Your story was lovely. Deep and moving in ways that I understand too well. The kindness of strangers is a powerful thing, and I share the main character’s devotion to E. B. White’s novel. You captured all of the best things about people in that story, and I just wanted to say thank you for it.
Even if it’s got me feeling bittersweet and throat-tight with tears. Perhaps not the response you were looking for, but don’t worry. It’s the happy sort of sad. Perfect for today, because three years ago I said goodbye to a dear friend in a way that was a blessing and a curse.
I wish I’d have my own ass-hat magic spider to make things better.
September 24, 2012 at 12:06 pm
I was that little kid who always had a book in her hand and who believed fervently in the magic of stories. So I made an instant connection with this boy and his most-prized possession. The ending was poignant, yet sweet, making this one of my all-time favorite short stories!