LeVar Burton Reads (LeVar Burton and Stitcher)

A man begins a relationship with a woman who has fled from a disintegrating parallel universe.

For more from the author, check out his website www.timothymudie.com or find him on Twitter @timothy_mudie.

Content advisory: Discussion of death

LeVar Burton Reads is back November 1st with stories from Stephen Graham Jones, Kim Fu, Tobias Buckell and more, in our new immersive format!

A young couple tries to make sense of an influx of mythic creatures. This story was first published in THOSE WHO MAKE US: CANADIAN CREATURE, MYTH, AND MONSTER STORIES.

As a generation ship hurtles toward a distant star, one of its crew members receives a rare and precious opportunity. For more from Gregory Marlow, visit www.greganimates.com/writing.html.
 

Content advisory: illness, death

A waitress is jolted from her morning routine when she's visited by a mysterious child.

A chance encounter in a bar leads to an eventful Good Friday for a devout woman and a playboy.

An aging barbarian sets out to battle a bridge troll, mano a mano, and thus prove his mettle. “Troll Bridge” by Terry Pratchett, was first published in 1992. © Dunmanifestin Limited.

A teenage thief embarks on a mission to reclaim her people's sacred treasures. First published in A UNIVERSE OF WISHES in 2020 in the United States by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC, New York. Find more from Rebecca at www.rebeccaroanhorse.com.

A man questions his current existence -- and the life he remembers from before. Originally published in Asimov's Science Fiction, and reprinted in Lightspeed.

Content advisory: mention of mental illness

Only a few more days to enter the LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest! Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.

A dystopian society tackles fake news.

Content advisory: violence

A 200-year-old gnome desperately wants to become a father.

"Little Man" is from A WILD SWAN AND OTHER TALES by Michael Cunningham, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu.
Text copyright © 2015 by Mare Vaporum Corp. Used by permission of Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, © 2015 by Mare Vaporum Corp

A boy discovers his father's hidden kingdom.
 

This story appears in the anthology Small Odysseys: Selected Shorts Presents 35 New Stories, published by Algonquin Books. Find more from Luis Alberto Urrea at luisurrea.com.

A woman struggles to understand why her elderly father has begun to spontaneously teleport.

Content advisory: drug addiction, illness, death

LeVar announces a special three-part series featuring one of his favorite authors!

The self-proclaimed Graffiti King of Mexico brandishes his magical paintbrush, providing commentary on small-town sins. This story appears in the collection THE WATER MUSEUM. Find more from the author at luisurrea.com.
 

Content advisory: sexism, sexual harassment

LeVar Burton presents SOUND DETECTIVES – a funny, engaging, and thought-provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore the magic and mystery of sound.

Breaking News – Across the globe, sounds are mysteriously going missing! Waves aren’t crashing, crickets aren’t chirping, and the familiar jingle of the ice cream truck is a distant memory. Follow Detective Hunch (Vinny Thomas) and his new sidekick Audie the Ear (Jess McKenna) as they solve sound mysteries and track down the nefarious Sound Swindler … all with a little help from LeVar Burton himself!

Equal parts fun and informative, SOUND DETECTIVES encourages listeners to engage with the sound mysteries that surround us, while unlocking the door to people and cultures around the globe. Join the team on this semi-improvised comedy caper and help return the mystery sounds before the world falls silent!

Listen to SOUND DETECTIVES on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

On a long mission to search for a new home planet, an outfitter tries to protect the crewmembers' lives. But can she protect herself from the inevitable loss and heartbreak? This story first appeared in Uncanny Magazine. For more from the author, check out anamariacurtis.com. 

Content advisory: pandemic, death

A man remembers a supernatural force from his childhood.

Marty brings his family to his hometown of Lucban for the annual festival to witness a miracle: lab-grown, synthetic food made real.

This story appears in Isabel Yap's collection NEVER HAVE I EVER, published by Small Beer Press.

The sole survivor of a pandemic must determine the true intentions of a robot who arrives to save her. This story appears in RECLAIM THE STARS: 17 TALES ACROSS REALMS AND SPACE. For more of Lilliam Rivera's work, visit www.lilliamrivera.com.

Content advisory: mentions illness and death

In order to live an urban lifestyle as a father and husband, a domesticated vampire must suppress his darker urges. This story first appeared at Tor.com.

Content advisory: references to violence, death

An adventurer carried back spoils from a journey to the center of the earth. Now, his family joins him on a return trip, hoping to ensure their access to his fortune.

This story appears in the anthology LOST WORLDS AND MYTHOLOGICAL KINGDOMS, available now in hardback, e-book and audio.
 

Tobias Buckell's collection SHOGGOTHS IN TRAFFIC AND OTHER STORIES is available in paperback, e-book and audio.

Content advisory: Violence, death

A teenage girl is exiled to a penal colony on an icy, inhospitable island.

But the island contains secrets, and so does the girl.

Content Advisory: Death

Get a sneak peek of our our immersive sound! A cab driver spends an ordinary day ferrying passengers around Manhattan -- until an incident involving a wealthy alien tourist imperils his livelihood. Content advisory: alien death.

A scientist explores (and transcends) the limitations of the human body, using her daughter as a test subject. This story was first published by Tor.com. Find more from the author at www.taraisabellaburton.com.

Content advisory: Death

A young magician is given the opportunity to learn real magic, but it comes with consequences. This story appears in Sarah Pinsker's collection LOST PLACES, published by Small Beer Press.

Content advisory: brief sexual reference

A getaway driver and her crew are hired to steal a mysterious artifact, and inadvertently get locked into a time loop. Find more from Nicole Kornher-Stace at www.nicolekornherstace.com or on Twitter @wirewalking.

Content advisory: Gun violence, gore, death

A robot "sin eater" is called to perform a vital service for the last human on earth. This story appears in the author's collection, entitled RAGGED MAPS.

Content advisory: violence, death

An immigrant mother tries to bond with her American-born son by creating a magical paper menagerie. This story appears in Ken Liu's collection THE PAPER MENAGERIE AND OTHER STORIES, available now from Saga Press.

Ken Liu's forthcoming novel, THE VEILED THRONE, is the third installment of THE DANDELION DYNASTY and will be available November 2nd from Saga Press.

Content advisory: Hospitals, death of a parent

A group of mall Santas celebrating Christmas Eve discover that there is a stranger in their midst.

"The Usual Santas" appears in Mick Herron's collection DOLPHIN JUNCTION, published by Soho Press (US) and John Murray (UK), 2021.

A tabloid reporter sets out to investigate a fast-talking con man who may or may not be the trickster Coyote.

A tour guide leads virtual reality “experiences” for tourists who want to know what it’s like to be Native American. Think Black Mirror meets Westworld. For more great writing by Rebecca, check out her acclaimed debut novel TRAIL OF LIGHTNING, as well as BLACK SUN, the first installment of her 'Between Earth and Sky' series. You can preorder the next book, FEVERED STAR, right now. Check out rebeccaroanhorse.com for updates on her novels, comics, and television writing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A woman has her memories catalogued for the historical record, and must decide whether or not to divulge a painful and complicated moment from her past. Anjali Sachdeva's short fiction collection is ALL THE NAMES THEY USED FOR GOD.

Epigraph used by permission from How to Lie With Maps by Mark Monmonier, published by The University of Chicago Press. © 1991, 1996, 2018 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.

Content Advisory: Blood, intimation of assault/violence

A family in dire straits must share their new home with a different species. This story was published in Latinx Rising: An Anthology of Latinx Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Content advisory: violence, death/dying

Join us for the conclusion to Toni Morrison's tale. Twyla and Roberta's longstanding and complicated friendship becomes more challenging as they become adults.

Content advisory: archaic/derogatory language

What could it mean to reach into your pocket and pull out... something that wasn't there before? Find more from Amal El-Mohtar at www.amalelmohtar.com.

What if those spammy emails from princes about overseas banks were... real? An exiled prince teams up with the widow of a military general to recover their fortunes from the Bank of Burkina Faso.

This story appears in Ekaterina Sedia's collection MOSCOW BUT DREAMING.

Neighborhood kids help a curmudgeonly old man with a family curse. This story appears in The Essential Peter S. Beagle: Volume 2. For more of Peter S. Beagle's work, visit https://beagleverse.com.

Content advisory: mentions death

An artist works as a dream concierge, creating augmented dream packages for clients. For more from Violet Allen, visit her on Twitter @blipstress.

Content advisory: mind / body control

When an Instagram-famous rock climber comes to an untimely death, his friends and admirers gather to memorialize him.

This story appears in Kim Fu's collection LESSER KNOWN MONSTERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, published by Tin House.

Content advisory: Description of death 

A teenage thief embarks on a mission to reclaim her people's sacred treasures. First published in A UNIVERSE OF WISHES in 2020 in the United States by Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC, New York. Find more from Rebecca at www.rebeccaroanhorse.com.

An exploration of the depth of a father's love, and his attempts to keep his son happy, healthy and safe in a world rife with racism and violence. This story appears in Justin C. Key's collection THE WORLD WASN'T READY FOR YOU.

Content advisory: death, police brutality

Join us for the conclusion of this smart house story set in a future Nigeria. Will Anwuli and her child survive the storm?

Content advisory: blood

Robotics, quick machines, fugitives -- none are exactly what they seem on the surface. Find more from the author at https://lyndsiekay.wordpress.com. And find LeVar on Instagram Live on Monday, May 6th from 6:30-8pm Pacific, celebrating 13 seasons of LeVar Burton Reads! Join us for a Q&A and surprise guests. Follow @levar.burton on IG and mark your calendar!

Content advisory: warfare, death

A mysterious pub draws in lost souls on Christmas Eve. This story appears in the author's collection ADD CYANIDE TO TASTE: A COLLECTION OF DARK TALES WITH CULINARY TWISTS. 

A woman discovers her grandmother is being haunted by unearthly spirits. Find more of Ana Hurtado's work at www.anahurtadowrites.com.

Content Advisory: Death, discussion of suicide

A group of mall Santas celebrating Christmas Eve discover that there is a stranger in their midst.

"The Usual Santas" appears in Mick Herron's collection DOLPHIN JUNCTION, published by Soho Press (US) and John Murray (UK), 2021.

A reality TV show producer tries to make love happen, on- and off-screen. “The November Story” is from MUSIC FOR WARTIME by Rebecca Makkai, published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Find LeVar on Instagram Live on Monday, May 6th from 6:30-8pm Pacific, celebrating 13 seasons of LeVar Burton Reads! Join us for a Q&A and surprise guests. Follow @levar.burton on IG and sign up for reminders!

Two young girls, abandoned by the world, are drawn together.

Content advisory: archaic/derogatory language

A reporter travels to Miami to investigate the fringes of science and faith. This story appears in THE ASSIMILATED CUBAN'S GUIDE TO QUANTUM SANTERIA.

Adrift in a mysterious time and place, and with the ground roiling and churning beneath their feet, a brother and sister try to return home to 1970s London. Find more from the author at atgreenblatt.com.

Knick-knacks are tagged, life choices are interrogated, and secrets are revealed after the family matriarch passes away. This story appears in Shannon Sanders' collection COMPANY, published by Graywolf Press.
Content advisory: mentions death

A struggling college student gains new perspective on her studies from her classmate, who's come to study from another planet. Find more of the author's work at www.nickydrayden.com.

A chain-smoking psychic is ready to retire, but first, she's got to see one last client. Find more from the author at www.bradley-sides.com.

Content advisory: reference to child death

An asteroid miner on a solo space mission finds his sense of purpose.

This story appears in the anthology CONSOLATION SONGS.

You heard that correctly -- we're coming back for a new season starting August 11! So make sure to hit subscribe if you haven't already, and check out LeVar's recent conversation with James McBride, author of "Goat" from our very first live show.

This virtual book tour stop was presented by Linda McLoughlin Figel of {pages} a bookstore, and by Eso Won Books. We suggest ordering your copy of James McBride's new novel, DEACON KING KONG, online from either of these fine independent booksellers!
www.pagesabookstore.com
www.esowonbookstore.com

We champion the work of librarians at LeVar Burton Reads, not least because they preserve books and maintain archives of important information for generations to come. Today, we’re sharing a story from our friends over at Atlas Obscura. They'll introduce you to an altogether different species of librarians: The Mafra Palace Library Bats, who make sure the palace's rare book collection is well kept!

Atlas Obscura is an audio guide to the world’s strange, incredible, and wondrous places. Co-founder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters explore a wonder every day, Monday through Friday. In under 15 minutes, they’ll take you to an incredible place, and along the way, you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories.

Listen to Atlas Obscura wherever you get your podcasts.

LeVar talks to Africanfuturist Nnedi Okorafor about the visceral nature of her writing, writing a beautiful and green future for the Niger Delta, and how human-AI relationships can feel like parent-child relationships. Plus, she'll tell us what she thinks happens after those final tense moments in "Mother of Invention".

A hapless salesman flees the librarian hell-bent on retrieving her lost library book. This story appears in Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction, published by Tordotcom in hardcover and e-book, and by Recorded Books in audiobook format. For more from the author, visit tobiogundiran.com.

Content advisory: Explicit language, gore

A young girl explores her own power, and finds kinship with a bird of prey.

A young boy feuds with a muralist who has taken over a beloved hangout in his neighborhood.

Don't forget! The LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest opens for submissions on August 1st. Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.

Siblings try to jog their ailing father's memory through his sense of taste. They discover that as much as he's lost -- he's retained his sense of humor. Find more from the author at www.allisonjking.com.

Content advisory: person living with dementia

Get ready for Season 6! Get a peek behind the curtain as LeVar talks about story selection, vocal exercises, and finding characters' voices.

This season will feature stories by NK Jemisin, Elizabeth Bear, Max Gladstone, Ken Liu and many more of your favorite (or soon-to-be favorite!) authors.

An anthropologist copes with the passing of her beloved tía abuela, experimenting with her own method of honoring her. This story was first published in SPECULATIVE FICTION FOR DREAMERS.

Content advisory: Death, surgery

A superhero returns home for Thanksgiving. Find more from Aleksandra Hill at aleksandrahill.com and khoreomag.com. 

A woman helps to test the artificial intelligence based on the mind of her mother, a brilliant thinker. "The Regression Test" appears in Wole Talabi's collection INCOMPLETE SOLUTIONS from Luna Press.

A government contractor deals with everyday frustrations in a small town. "Alluvial Deposits" appears in Percival Everett's collection DAMNED IF I DO. Check out other titles from Graywolf Press, including WILD SWIMS and BRING ME THE HEAD OF QUENTIN TARANTINO, at graywolfpress.org.

Content advisory: racial slur, hateful language

William Andrews, an investment banker with Goldman Sachs, dies on September 23, 2012, and finds himself confronted with his life after death.

"Afterlife" appears in Stephen King's collection THE BAZAAR OF BAD DREAMS.

Content advisory: Descriptions of death, illness, sexual assault

A rideshare driver must spring into action when his passenger casts a dangerous and deadly spell.

Content advisory: explicit language, violence, terrorism

A recently widowed woman vanishes overnight.

Content advisory: violence, death

“The Story We Used to Tell” is from DARK TALES by Shirley Jackson, published by Penguin Classics, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

A family matriarch takes up residence in the Underworld.

A human street performer breaks out his boombox for an unauthorized and unwelcome performance on Planet Drx. For more from the author, visit https://culagovski.net.

Content advisory: references to ecocide

Public Enemy Number One, John Dillinger, looks to escape the feds with the help of a cunning wizard.

Content advisory: Gunfire

A family is both delighted and troubled by the visitation of a peculiar insect. "Cricket" was published in Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese Speculative Fiction Anthology.
Content advisory: violence

A girl visits a bazaar in Cairo, seeking a favor from a mysterious angelic being.

This story first appeared in the anthology Clockwork Cairo: Steampunk Tales of Egypt. For more from the author, visit pdjeliclark.com.

Content advisory: Fire, hospitalization

A tale of complicated family relationships and magical cooking. This story was first published in Uncanny Magazine.

As humanity tiptoes toward the Singularity, what happens to those who are left behind? This story appears in Ken Liu's new collection THE HIDDEN GIRL AND OTHER STORIES. It was first published in CLARKESWORLD in 2011.

Content advisory: death

A man becomes obsessed with quieting the thoughts and static in his brain. You can find this story in FOUNTAIN OF AGE by Nancy Kress.

A sentient house, haunted by its own loneliness, exercises its powers on a skeptic. This story was published by Diabolical Plots.

Content advisory: Brief discussion of death

LeVar Burton Reads is coming back! Plus, an immersive remix of Shirley Jackson's story about a recently widowed woman who vanishes overnight.

Content advisory: violence, death

“The Story We Used to Tell” is from DARK TALES by Shirley Jackson, published by Penguin Classics, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

In a small German village, an orphaned boy lives at a home for "displaced persons," and puzzles over where he belongs.

"D.P.” from the book WELCOME TO THE MONKEY HOUSE by Kurt Vonnegut. Copyright © 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.

A financial advisor meets his new client: a hardworking, unassuming man with a curious and potentially life-changing secret.

"The Foster Portfolio" is from WELCOME TO THE MONKEY HOUSE by Kurt Vonnegut. Copyright © 1968 by Kurt Vonnegut, used by permission of The Wylie Agency LLC.

An athlete trains to win a prize that would ensure her survival.

Content advisory: Discussion of degenerative illness, death

Submissions are now open for the LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest! Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.

A misanthropic B&B owner is unsettled by an encounter with one of his guests. Follow Savannah Burney on Twitter @savannahburney.

A veteran pilot revisits memories, and searches for remnants of her old experimental smartship.

Content advisory: War

Submissions are now open for the LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest! Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.

A story about the bond between father and daughter, cities both big and small, clocks, trees, and hope in a society designed to squash all hope. Find more from the author at www.tobiogundiran.com.

Content advisory: violence, death

A spy narrates his thoughts as he jumps from an airplane and freefalls toward his government target.

If you enjoyed this story, check out Stephen Graham Jones' novel, MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW, published by Saga Press.

Content advisory: death

A young girl must negotiate her own path out of a strict community in a post-disaster desertland. Visit www.suyidavies.com for more information on Suyi's work, including his novel DAVID MOGO, GODHUNTER.

Content Advisory: physical violence

A smart, stubborn high school student sets her own rules in a near-future dystopia. This story appears in N.K. Jemisin's collection HOW LONG 'TIL BLACK FUTURE MONTH?

Content advisory: language

A young Black girl in 1880s New Mexico territory seeks vengeance, risking life and love in the process.

Content Advisory: violence, death

If you’ve been listening to LeVar's new podcast Sound Detectives, you know there's something irresistible about a missing sound. That’s why we teamed up with our friends at 99% Invisible to tell the story of the first music streaming service, a 200-ton instrument called the Telharmonium whose sound has been lost to history.

99% Invisible is a podcast about the unnoticed design that shapes the world we live in. This is their latest episode, a collection of mini-stories that weren’t quite big enough for a whole episode. You’ll hear about time measured in decimals, a rogue unlicensed Italian architect, and the ghost kitchens that power food delivery apps. And then yours truly, telling the story of the Telharmonium.

Listen to 99% Invisible wherever you get your podcasts and visit 99pi.org for more.

Adolescent boys are faced with the reality of friendships, old and new, as they work on plans to build their own airplane.

"Flyboys" appears in Tobias Wolff's collection OUR STORY BEGINS, published by Vintage Books, and is available in audio from Blackstone Audio.

Content advisory: discussion of death

A man dies and finds himself reincarnated as a parrot.

This story appears in Robert Olen Butler's collection TABLOID DREAMS. His forthcoming novel, LATE CITY, will be published in September.

Content advisory: use of a slur

LeVar Burton Reads is back September 19th! We've got stories from Peter S. Beagle, Sarah Pinsker, Tobi Ogundiran and more. It's good to be back, y'all.

A woman recounts the story of her birth as a surprise twin and adoption by a Native American couple, and questions the strange presence she has felt with her since childhood.

Louise Erdrich's novel THE SENTENCE will be published by Harper on November 9th.

Content advisory: Adoption, medical issues, ableist language

Submissions are now open for the LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest! Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.

LeVar Burton Reads is back with all-new episodes starting February 20th, but if you don't want to wait, you can get a taste right here! Look out for stories from Rebecca Makkai, Luis Alberto Urrea, Justin C. Key and more. We think 13 might be our lucky number...

When Joy revisits her family's old cabin, she's reminded of childhood memories of a pond in the woods and its mysterious powers. 

For more from Tananarive, check out her works at tananarivedue.com and look for her new novel THE REFORMATORY and graphic novel THE KEEPER, both due out in 2022.

Content advisory: Depiction of dementia/illness, brief mention of death

A young boy puzzles over the behavior of his mysterious elderly neighbor, his parents, and his older brother, a budding civil rights activist.

This story appears in the collection entitled NEIGHBORS AND OTHER STORIES by Diane Oliver, published by Grove Press.

Content advisory: racial slur, racism

A kindergartner travels through a portal to a fantastic and eerie new world. This story appears in Ellen's collection WICKED WONDERS. Find more of Ellen's writing for adults and middle grade readers at ellenklages.com.
Content advisory: disappearance of a child

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sentient government surveillance drone is ensnared, and must determine his captor's motives. For more from Sarah Gailey, visit www.sarahgailey.com.