The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine

This is the last output that will come from the Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine. It's the fabled final episode that we recorded in 2011 just in case we needed it. We never wanted to podfade, but in the end we did anyway. So, it's time to give the Dunesteef the ending that it deserves, and here it is, the last episode that Rish and Big will release under the name The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine. Get ready for an emotional look back at...well, the first three years of the fourteen year run of the Dunesteef. Get ready for some lost content that hearkens back to the early days of the Dunesteef when Big and Rish were so eager and excited, before the dark times, before the empire. Hopefully you enjoy this final look back at the Dunesteef, before we forge ahead with our new goals and futures. Here's to the good times we had, and to the good times we will continue to have from here on out. We're going to be young forever!

The day has finally come, folks. It's the final new episode of the Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine. We've been at this for fourteen years, but our production has flagged considerably as the years have gone by. Rather than let the Dunesteef fade away slowly, we thought it would be best to give the old girl a proper burial. So, here we are. First, we bring you a story from Rish Outfield called, "Know When to Walk Away, Know When to Run." An emotionally unstable man goes to a casino with his best friend to soothe his pain from the anniversary of being left at the altar. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned, because not everyone at the poker table is who they seem. After the story is over, Rish and Big talk about a number of things, from the happy things that the podcast brought to their lives, to the future of what you can expect from the two of them. We're going to miss you all, but it doesn't have to be the end. Don't say goodbye, say good journey. Special thanks to Julie Hoverson, Tena Kolokowski, and Bryan Lincoln for lending their voices to the story.

Rish and Big don't have a story for this one, but they always have a Christmas episode, so they got together and had a quick conversation about Christmas songs, and talked about their favorites.

It's Jason Sanford month everybody! So put on your ugly Jason Sanford Month sweaters; make yourself a mug of The Ships Like Clouds, Risen By Their Rain tea, and gather around the table for the roast Plague Birds. It's time to enjoy some more Jason Sanford! Today, we have a vintage Dunesteef production of Jason's story, When Thorns Are The Tips Of Trees, originally produced for the StarShipSofa podcast back in 2009. Miles and his father care for the local memorial grove, but the job has become a more dangerous as gangs of deteriorating thorn die, almost zombie-like people driven mad by the phage that is rewriting their DNA, have begun attacking the groves all around the area. Can they survive, or will they become thorn die themselves? Afterward, Rish and Big talk about how much of a formative moment this story was in the history of the podcast, and look back at the production process for putting it all together.

Jason Sanford recently published his first novel, and it has a title that might sound familiar to long time listeners of the Dunesteef. His new book is called "Plague Birds." That's right, the book is the further and expanded adventures of Crista and her AI symbiote that we first brought to you back in episode 92 and then continued their story in episodes 125 and 126 with Jason's sequel. Now you can buy the novel length story which further explores the detailed and fascinating world the characters occupied, expands the story of Crista, and uncovers an extremely personal conspiracy that threatens the lives of millions. We got the amazing opportunity to sit down and talk with Jason about his novel, his process, and pitfalls of the industry. Listen to (or watch) the interview, and be sure to support Jason by buying the book. P.S. - Sorry about Big's microphone. He thought he was getting the sound from the nice mic you can see in the shot, but he was actually getting his sound from the built-in mic on his computer, recording all the echoes bouncing around that big study he is sitting in.

So, this is an episode that was recorded just about two years ago (the last week of February 2019) with Rish, Big, and Marshal Latham, in preparation for the release of AVENGERS: ENDGAME later that year. Rish really wanted to talk about the monumental achievement that was AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, and that, for a year, the world was stuck with the unhappy ending of all unhappy endings. Of course, we talk about THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and also speculate a bit about where the fourth Avengers film might go. And then Rish lost the file. But he found it again when it was far too late to be even remotely relevant, but if you've missed us and our conversations, here it is, in all its . . . glory?

It's another episode of the Anklecast. I'm going to do one every month, and, well...I barely made it in time, but here we are. Today's story is "Party Girl." It's one that I wrote just last year as I was working my way towards 300,000 words. After the story, I made a sort of vlog of my experiences in the Arctic Blast that froze Texas last week. It was an interesting month for sure, especially that week. If you're interested in that stuff, stick around after the story to hear all about it. To see the video elements, go to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDPrbMMyCaE

That's right, it's another Anklecast. Today, I bring you a story called "Active Shooter Training" and a second little drabble-esque story called "Date Night". I hope you enjoy them.

Franklin has a huge crush on Jillian, but up until now she hasn't returned his affection at all. Surprisingly, this Christmas Eve she changed her tune, and suddenly asking him back to her house for Christmas Eve dinner with her family. Turns out that the meal was not what Franklin was expecting... Afterwards, Rish and Big talk about the story, Broken Mirror contests, and the joys and hassles of Christmas music.

Six Christmas stories on the Dunesteef just wasn't enough, so I decided that I would give y'all one more. It's a story I wrote earlier this year about James, a guy whose Christmas plans get ruined, so he volunteers to work someone's shift at his job to give them a chance at having a merry Christmas. He thinks he knows how his night will end, but someone has a different idea, and it's going to take a left turn before the night is through.

Declan's boyfriend, Brooks, is taking him to meet the parents for the first time today at Christmas dinner. He's a little nervous, but it couldn't be as bad as it was when Brooks met Declan's parents at Thanksgiving, could it? Could it? Afterward, Big and Rish talk about the story, the year we've had, and about having hope for the future.

Zane and Delanna don't come from similar backgrounds. Zane is a run-of-the-mill Lunar who's had to pull himself by his bootstraps everywhere he went. Delanna, on the other hand, comes from one of the richest families on Mars. Somehow, the two came together as a couple, and have hit it off amazingly ever since, but Delanna's family has never approved, and now the two of them are going home for Christmas with the folks... Afterward, Big and Rish talk about beefalopes, the rite of passage that is meeting the parents, and Santa Claus III. This is going to be delightful.

Damien meets a girl named Lynn who wants to know all about sci-fi, and since she's cute, he does his best to help her learn. Soon, they're dating, and then comes the invite to meet the folks at Christmas dinner, but, as you might have grown accustomed to during this Christmas extravaganza, the meal isn't what he was expecting. Afterwards, Rish and Big talk about what aliens might think of our sci-fi films, Ian syndrome, and whether Marshal needs to make this story into a novel.

Sam is having a really hard time getting over the loss of his dearly departed pet cat, Boots. His girlfriend, Beth, hopes that bringing him home to the family for Christmas dinner might help him overcome his loss. Afterward, Big and Rish go off the farm talking about all the weird stuff you might guess they would, however, I won't mention it here, so as to not spoil the story.

It's the first installment in our 2020 Christmas Extravaganza! We'll be bringing you several stories from our Broken Mirror Story Event, the first being "Service with a Smile" by Rob Broughton. When Tommy gets a mysterious invitation to his girlfriend's parents' house for the holidays, he finds that not everyone is acting of their own accord. Afterward, Rish and Big talk about Shamong, meeting the parents, and eating worms and insects...really? Actually, why am I surprised, of course they do.

Something is going wrong at the space outpost that Captain Seymour just docked at. Things seem to be deteriorating quickly. Luckily for him, someone grabbed him, and pulled him into a hiding place. Or was it lucky for him? Now he's trapped in here with two strangers, and it seems as though one of them is not who he seems after all. Afterward, Big and Rish talk about the process of adapting a story from one format to another. What does it take? How do you go about it? What sacrifices to dark gods of chaos and evil must be made? Whose name appears first on the byline? We answer none of those questions, coming up!

In Jason Sanford's "What Is Sand But Earth Purified?" New widower Anchor is approached by TV personalities to be their guide into the living sandstorm out in the ocean, the same sandstorm that killed his wife. Afterward, Big and Rish talk about Jason's various possible futures, and what makes a body human.

It's the Rish Outcast/That Gets My Goat crossover! Continuing their discussion about the writers conference Rish went to. Big and Rish talk about cover art, not giving up, being inspired, and the Four Yorkshiremen.

So, February came and went, with an extra day thrown in for good measure. Did Big and Rish sweep? Did you?

When Mike Resnick passed away on January 9th, Rish and Big knew they had to make one of his stories their next episode. Years ago, he'd sent them out a huge batch of Catastrophe Baker stories so that they could continue the series on the show. What better way to remember him than to put one of his creations out for fans to enjoy? Catastrophe Baker makes a trip to Silverstrike and while he's there, he attends a carnival. It's pretty ho-hum until he gets summoned to the tent of the Siren of Silverstrike to see the show that everyone is talking about. Afterward, Rish and Big talk about Mike Resnick and what he has meant to the science fiction community, the podcast community, and the Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine. We'll miss you, Mike.

So, Big has been writing like his life depends on it, and in the month of February, Rish is going to accept the challenge to write every single day. In this episode, they put it in writing. Well, not in writing, exactly, since it's a podcast. They make their announcement official. Well, not official, exactly, since I don't know that a notary was present, but hey, wish Big 'n Rish luck anyway.

Hey, kids, do you like Hard Rock? Do you like our Guess-The-List episodes? Would you like to waste an hour or so of your day? Then join Rish Outfield and Big Anklevich as Big tries to identify VH1's list of 100 Best Hard Rock Songs! And if you liked this one (which I doubt), let us know. It could always be Rish's turn to guess!

Doug was rushing to get to his sister's house on Christmas Eve, when he happened upon the most pathetic looking old couple broken down on the side of the road. They needed his help. They had to be somewhere, somewhere very special, before midnight. It was a matter of life or death. Couldn't he possibly help them out? Afterward, Rish and Big talk about Christmas songs on the radio for a surprisingly long time, then eventually mention the writing of the story "What You Deserve", and what moved Rish to write such a tale.

Brand and Macee were trying to have a nice Christmas together, but their shelf elf seems to be possibly possessed and on the attack. What do they do? Find out in the exciting conclusion to The Christmas Creature. Afterward, Rish and Big talk about several things...including the challenge of making something like a child's plaything into a viable antagonist.

Brand is watching his daughter, Macee, for Christmas. Rose, the girl's mother, wasn't happy about it, but it was her only choice when grandma got sick at the last minute. Brand is going to make up for his failures of the past, though. He even got Macee a cute little Elf on the Shelf to make it the perfect holiday...or did he? Afterward, Rish and Big go through all the story prompt suggestions provided by the listeners, and decide on what they will use to write their Christmas story this year.

Best friends, Scott and Brian, loved their job working together at Little Caesars, but one day, Brian died in a car crash...but he still came to work. Afterward, Rish and Big talk about their own experiences working behind the counter at their own respective Little Caesars restaurants, and other surprising similarities that made them destined to be eventual friends.

"On the go!" - Big Anklevich "This is the worst episode we've ever done." - Rish Outfield In March of 2017, Big and I recorded this episode during a road trip, and I thought it turned out so poorly that I never released it.* But at the same time, I never deleted the file. Well, I decided to listen to it the last time I went camping, and after the first ten minutes or so, I decided it might be entertaining, at least to me and Big. So, here is Big and me discussing the books that shaped America. At least, the books after the most important ones. Whether you agree with the list, and our thoughts about the books on it, I'm sure we can all agree . . . that the sound DEFINITELY makes the episode unlistenable. *Also, the audio quality is slightly worse than terrible.

Radio hosts Ben and Ricky need to talk about their career. Unfortunately, they choose Charburger on State Street to meet for lunch. It's Rish Outfield's "Last Lunch at Charburger" Afterward, Rish talks about why he wrote the story, and the ever-present danger of putting the people you know in your writing.

When Rish went into a bookstore and saw Orson Scott Card's new book "Lost and Found" on the shelf, he thought, "Hey, I wrote a story called that once." But when he read the description of the book, he thought, "Hey, I wrote a story with that plot once." Just that week, he had started work on a sequel, but now he wondered what the point was. What does Big say? What do you say? What might Orson Scott Card say?

In David Erik Nelson's story, adjunct professor James Hodge is approached after a lecture concerning the mythical Slender Men, by a young woman who is absolutely convinced they are not a myth. Afterward, Rish and Big talk about belief in the supernatural and, I dunno, probably say something offensive along the way. Special thanks to Tena Kolokowski for lending her voice to today's story.

Yeah, it happened. Rish broke down and saw a Bayverse Transformers movie. But don't worry, Big Anklevich still has his integrity.

Oscar and Simi now know what's causing the problem in their home, but what can they do about it? How can they fix it? Or is it something that they just have to ride out and hope for the best? Find out in part two of Fireflies written by show host B.D. (Big) Anklevich. After the (finale of) the story, Big and Rish talk about the story, how big feels about it now that it's in the rear view mirror, and whether he would write a story like that today.

Uh oh, Mommy and Daddy are fighting again. What will poor Peter Parker do? Sony and Disney have failed to come to an agreement on Spider-man, and now Sony says it's going to walk away, take their ball and go home, and Spider-man will no longer be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What does that mean? Can things possibly still work out? And if they don't, is there any hope for Spider-man? We talk about those questions and more on Today's That Gets My Goat.

This may be our longest--and latest?--episode yet, wherein we discuss SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME, its spoilers, and its implications. It should have been done long ago (and perhaps split into multiple shows), but Rish wasn't able to get to it until now. We assure you he'll be much quicker in getting you their review of the recent LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT, starring Lon Chaney and Marceline Day.

Weird things have started happening to Oscar and Simi. Are they visions? Dreams? Hauntings? Are they just going crazy? And how bad could it get? Find out in part one of Fireflies written by show host B.D. (Big) Anklevich. After the (first part of) the story, Big and Rish talk about some of the worries, anxieties, and joys of being responsible for children who rely on you to shelter, nurture, and protect them.

Big and Rish get together in the flesh(!) to talk about TOY STORY 4. Which one didn't want to go see it? Which one hates the Disney live-action remakes more? Which one actually liked one of them? Which one can do a Keanu Reeves impression? Which one brings up STAR WARS first? Which one actually likes sequels? Which one can remember the name of the next Pixar film? Which one is sick of the MCU's box office record-breaking? Which one is upset by the LITTLE MERMAID remake's casting? And which one was made terribly sad by the ending of TOY STORY 4?

In a throwback episode to when these shows were used to complain, Rish bends Big's ear about Pop Vinyls (or Funko Pops). Does Rish compare Pop collectors to Star Wars collectors? Does Big own any Pop Vinyls? Does Rish? If so, does that make him a hypocrite? You be the judge.  

Join Big, Marshal Latham, and Renee Chambliss as they perform Rish's sketch "Positive Spin," about finding good movie reviews in hard-to-reach places. Afterward, Rish and Big discuss writing something bad . . . and what to do when it turns out not-so-good. Was this sketch as bad as New Mutants (2018), The Room, or Troll 2? Special thanks to Renee Chambliss and Marshal Latham for providing their voice talents for the story.

Continuing where we left off, Big, Rish, and Renee discuss AVENGERS: ENDGAME, and its ramifications (and spoilers). It's the episode that totally burned out Renee Chambliss's voice, kids!

Rish 'n Big get together to talk about (and spoil) AVENGERS: ENDGAME. It's the discussion too big for one episode . . . and too big for just us to talk about! Meaning, Renee Chambliss joins us to chat about the film as well. Who's your favorite Avenger?

Big and Rish talk about the newest DC Comics film adaptation SHAZAM! Was it too silly? Was it too horrifying? Where did he get that frilly cape? And how many times can Gomer Pyle say the magic word?

Big's vagabond shoes are longing to stray, so he regales Rish (and you) with details of his recent trip to New York City. He checks out the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Ellis Island, the Flatiron Building, the Place Where They Keep The CHUDs, the subway (oops already said that), the Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial, and Broadway (twice!). *No, Big doesn't spell his name with an extra g, as I'm well aware. But thanks for reminding me. Oh, and while you've got me in a bad mood, sit down and listen to this episode like a lady or gentleman. We've worked damned hard for you over the years, providing entertainment that's, for all intents and purposes, free . . . you owe us this one. Unless you've donated to the show or support me on Patreon. In which case, you're off the hook. Just barely.

It's time for more Marvel Studios, kids. This time Big 'n Rish saw CAPTAIN MARVEL. Was it Crap(tain)? Or was it Marvel(ous)? Okay, that wasn't great. But you try naming these things, week after week. See what it does to you.

So, not content with the first hour, Big and Rish ask about more franchises, like Terminator, Universal Monsters, Highlander, John Carter, and the DCEU. Can they be fixed, Bob?

Remember Bob the Builder asking, "Can we fix it?" in every episode? Well, today Rish and Big ask the same musical question, regarding the Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Transformers franchises. Watch (in horror) as Rish says something positive about the Prequels and Big refuses to take his own daughter to the movies. Oh wait, it's a podcast, guess you won't be watching anything. Can you fix it?

Tom Mathers hasn't finished his book, despite the deadlines. What he needs is a muse...a magical muse...a dragon muse? Afterwards, Big and Rish sympathize with him. Special thanks to Bria Burton for providing her voice talents for the story. Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Episode art was from Pat Pilon on Flickr. It was resized and the background smudged for effect. https://www.flickr.com/photos/pat00139/6678883669

or "The Cautionary Tale of M. Night Shyamalan." Big and Rish talk about--spoilers!--GLASS, the sequel(ish) of UNBREAKABLE and SPLIT. But Rish doesn't even care if you see it. Do you?

Rish Outfield, world's biggest Spider-man fan (or maybe it's world's biggest Bossk fan, maybe you should just ignore that statement), and Big Anklevich, world's biggest waist, got together (virtually) to talk about the new Spider-man animated feature film called SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE. Did they like the film? Did they like the animation style? Did Big Anklevich continually use annoying phrases like, "second verse, same as the first," over and over again? Find out by...you know, listening to the show.

Big and Rish talk about the newest "Wizarding World" installment, The Crimes of Grindelwald. How does it measure up to other famous spin-off series? See how many times they bring up the Prequels, just for a laugh.

Gregg Chamberlain tells us the funnest tale involving a Satanist since Harry Potter, in "Bunnies of the Apocalyse!" Afterward, Big and Rish talk about the story, about the Four Horsemen, and a recent difficulty in the Outfield home.

It was with sadness that we heard about the passing of Stan Lee, the father of Marvel Comics. So, Big and I got together with fellow comics fan Marshal Latham, to talk about the late, great writer and creator. Excelsior!