The Silent Universe Podcast

"The Wheel Never Stops" - Episode 6 of the Silent Universe Released!

Suspicion and intrigue take center stage as a member of Serendipity starts to show his true colors... Listen Now.

A special treat this time, the FREE version is in 64kbps stereo! As usual, you can either subscribe (FREE) via iTunes or XML/RSS. Or, you can also hook up with the High Definition version for just $2.49 (individual episode) or $1.49 (if you subscribe for the season).

This episode of the Silent Universe is brought to you in part by Audible.com, who's offering a FREE AudioBook download to S/U listeners! Want to support the future of the podcast? You can, and it won't cost you any money! Just click over to audible.com/silentuniverse and claim your free download.

Lastly, don't forget to Rate Episode 6 once you get a listen!

Thanks, folks.

Send shout-outs, comments, questions (or flames) at jmx@silentuniverse.com, or Skype me at jmarcusxavier.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 11:26 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

"Eternity, Part 2" - Episode 5 of the Silent Universe has been posted!

Kostya Abramov's plans unfold, sweeping the unwitting members of Serendipity into a conspiracy larger than any of them can yet imagine.

Listen Now (Direct Download)

As usual, to get the episode, you can either subscribe (free) via iTunes, Yahoo or whatever RSS podcatcher you use. You can also hook up with the CD-quality stereo version for just $2.49 (individual episode) or $1.49 (if you subscribe for the season).

In case the whole RSS/Podcatching thing has you confused, you can also download the episode directly to your computer. And dont forget to Rate Episode 5 once you get a listen!

Send me shout-outs, comments, questions or flames at jmx@silentuniverse.com, or Skype me at jmarcusxavier.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 12:56 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

"Eternity, Part 1" - Episode 4 of the Silent Universe has been released!

Several weeks have passed since Emmeline Kaley's harrowing encounter with the PRC, and SERENDIPITY is now facing a new, mysterious enemy--or are they?

Listen Now (Direct Download)

As usual, to get the episode, you can either subscribe (free) via iTunes, Yahoo or whatever RSS podcatcher you use. You can also hook up with the CD-quality stereo version for just $2.49 (individual episode) or $1.49 (if you subscribe for the season).

In case the whole RSS/Podcatching thing has you confused, you can also download the episode directly to your computer. And dont forget to Rate Episode 4 once you get a listen!

As an aside:

Please fill out our short Kiptrionic survey!

Send me shout-outs, comments, questions or flames at jmx@silentuniverse.com, or Skype me at jmarcusxavier.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 03:43 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

I got so wrapped up in getting the promo up last night, I forgot to mention that Silent Universe was recently covered in Upon Further Review. You can listen here, we're towards the end.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 10:08 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Hey folks, been working hard on getting together Episode 4 of the Silent Universe, and I just wanted to toss up a preview for folks to get a listen. This is a free release preview of the hi-def version, so you'll get to hear the scene in all it's high quality stereo glory. For folks who want to upgrade to the better listening experience permanently, check out the Episode Listing.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 10:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Memetherapy recently posted another bit of an interview I did with them, about Science Fiction’s Ethical Dilemmas. In it, I bring up the ugly specter of Racism in a . . . shall we say creative context. Here's a bit:

"The point is that people are very averse to discussing issues revolving around race, because it almost always turns into a 'blame game' or a powder keg. Science Fiction allows writers to bypass a lot of the automatic dismissals that are wired into people’s minds, by turning into aliens from another planet. Nobody is going to call the NAACP if you complain about those 'damn green-blooded Vulcans' or generalize that all Wookies are a bunch of angry 'walking carpets.' Nobody cares. But the fact that we don’t question why Wookies and Vulcans are not offended should speak to our own political ultra-sensitivity on the topic."

Read the full piece, and other commentary by Mindy Klasky of The Glasswright Series and Juliet McKenna of The Write Fantastic.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 12:43 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Tim Byatt at Podcast Reviews was kind enough do a write up about the Silent Universe on Podcastrev.com. He gives us props for good production quality and solid voice acting, but pulls no punches about areas where we've fallen short, such as lagging episode frequency (we're working on it!). The article is balanced, pointing out both what we do well and what we could do better, but overall gives us a positive once-over. Check out the full write up here.

Also, the folks over at Decoder Ring Theater also did short blurb about us, too. Thanks, guys!

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 07:01 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The old iTunes logo we had setup for Silent Universe was looking kind of bland, so I decided to spice things up a little. The image to the right is the result, Earth in a shiny blue "eclipse" of sorts, with a white-lettered (IE, easier-to-read) "Silent Universe" in the middle. Check out Design by Chris to see where the eclipse effect came from. Also, our new iTunes blurb helps better describe the series than the shameless references to Battlestar Galactica and 24:

The future changes ... but mankind stays the same. There were those who thought that the dawn of the Second Space Age would unite humanity in a common cause. Dreams of grand utopia's fevered the minds of visionaries and futurists, who proclaimed that the stars would save us from ourselves ... they couldn't have been more wrong. An edgy scifi audio drama that draws you into a future where "Star Trek" style utopia has fallen flat on it's face.

In other news, we've been working feverishly on the script for Episode 4, tentatively named "Eternity" for reasons which should become clear over the course of the next two episodes. Expect to learn more about Isaac Walker's background during this short adventure, and perhaps see a glimpse or two of the character's possible future...

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 08:36 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

"Counterpoint" - Episode 3 of the Silent Universe has been released!

To get the episode, you can either subscribe (free) via iTunes, Yahoo or whatever RSS podcatcher you use. You can also hook up with the CD-quality stereo version for just $2.49 (individual episode) or $1.49 (if you subscribe for the season).

Time is running out for Emmeline Kaley and Ben Hernandez, trapped aboard a ship bound for the very heart of Red China. Determined to save them, SERENDIPITY mounts a rescue mission, but who are the true heroes and villains of this story? The answer may surprise you.

In case the whole RSS/Podcatching thing has you confused, you can also download the episode directly to your computer. And dont forget to Rate Episode 3 once you get a listen!

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 11:44 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The AlienSkin Magazine®, a bi-monthly online publication, recently did a write up on the Silent Universe. Here's a taste:

"The subscription is well worth it. Our staff had a blast listening to both episodes and we loved them! Many of us are die-hard Battlestar Galactica fans, both of the original series and the new one, as well as Star Wars junkies, so listening to Silent Universe was a real treat.
...
The episodes are fast paced. The characters come alive through your speakers and ear buds as if the action were going on all around you. It kept us captivated. And it had our families asking us 'what are you listening too, dad? What is that?'"

Take a swing by AlienSkin's "News from the Outer Rim" for the full write-up. Special thanks to Kay for the coverage!

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 07:40 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Tonite's Show Notes are now available for download. Also, I recently posted a poll in the forums, asking listeners to please rate Episode 2 of the Silent Universe. Love it? Hate it? Let us know.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 08:43 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Just recently, we received an in-depth review by Ted and "Bub" over at RocketJones. A well thought-out and honest piece, handling both some of the positive and negative aspects of the series so far. Definitely worth a read. Here's an excerpt:

"The episodes are fast paced and seem logical within the framework of the story. I absolutely love Emmeline’s accent (she claims Scot, but there’s some debate on that in the forums, which bothers me not)....I also like the bad guys so far. They don’t seem evil just for evil’s sake as there is an underlying rationale for their actions."

Read the full article.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 10:15 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Our friends over at "children of the gods" have recently updated their podcast, releasing "Chapter 5 : The Killing Fields." COTG is a scifi podcast drama, not unlike the Silent Universe, envisioning a future shaped through the centuries after the events of the movie Independence Day. Here's the report from their site:

After many delays and false starts, we are proud to announce the release of Chapter 5!
In an interesting coincidence, the story that was inspired by the Independence Day movie is resumed on Independence Day! Nice.

Head on over to the Archives to check out the latest release!

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 08:06 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Episode 2 of the Silent Universe podcast is now available to download. Our fast-paced sci-fi adventure picks up where the previous episode left off, letting us know the fate of Emmeline Kaley and her companion Ben Hernandez. Did they survive the accident? Will SERENDIPITY's risky nuclear plan be successful, or will the 300,000 citizens of Mars pay for their recklessness? Will Gill Frye ever get a clue? The answers to those questions and more all wait inside the latest installment. Download it!

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 06:27 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Silent Universe is now available in two formats: as a (free) lo-fi mono podcast, and in CD-quality stereo ($2.49 to download, $1.49 per episode to subscribe). Listen and Compare!

If you've already subscribed during the Silent Universe's premiere, you will continue to receive the podcast through your iTunes, Yahoo, or generic RSS account as the lo-fi free version. If you'd like to upgrade, just select the download, or subscription link and pay with a credit card or PayPal.

In other news, as we draw closer to the middle of the month, production on Episode 2 of the Silent Universe continues. RL often takes priority over online endeavors, so we've not gotten the episode produced as fast as we would have liked, but I would rather take more time than planned than publish a sub-par product.

Please stay tuned for updates as they come across the line...

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 08:04 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The premiere episode of the Silent Universe podcast has registered over 2000 downloads since February 15th! Again, thanks to everyone who is downloading the podcast, if you like it, be sure to tell your friends. We've got more than enough bandwidth to handle the downstream, and the more people who listen and participate in the forums the better!

Keep your eyes (and ears) peeled this month for Episode 2!

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 10:06 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Kevin Lau, the primary musical composer behind the Silent Universe podcast, has recently updated his website to include links to some of the music he composed for the premiere episode. Kevin Lau is currently pursuing a master’s degree in music composition at the University of Toronto. He is active as both a pianist and composer of contemporary classical music. His first complete composition, "Empire of Paradise", was arranged and performed by the Albertan drum corps Allegiance Elite throughout Canada and the United States. Since then, he has had music commissioned and performed by the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, the University of Calgary Brass Choir, the University of Toronto Opera Division, and the Canadian Composers' Quartet. In addition to his work with the Silent Universe, Kevin has also composed the music to several student films, documentaries, a radio drama, and a feature-length production. This year he is reprising his role as the first "composer in residence" for UTS, a school affiliated with the University of Toronto. He aspires to a career in both concert and film music.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 11:58 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

In the 6 days since the release of Episode 1 of the Silent Universe, we completely went through all of our bandwidth. As a result, we've switched hosts, and the Silent Universe is now being served up by Globat.com. (If you're looking for a host that provides alot of bandwidth at a good price, check them out. If you purchase, please mention silentuniverse.com as the referral).

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 06:38 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The folks over at Slice of SciFi were kind enough to give us a plug for the premiere of our podcast. Special thanks to Sam, Summer, Mike, Evo and the gang for helping us get off the ground!

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 10:27 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The premiere episode of the Silent Universe podcast has registered over 300 downloads in the first 24 hours since it's release. Thanks to everyone who is downloading the podcast, and I hope you all are enjoying it!

Please visit our forums to leave feedback about the episode.

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 12:14 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Episode 1 of the Silent Universe - "Mission 256" is now posted and available for download!.

To subscribe to the podcast, choose either iTunes or your XML podcast reader.

A special thanks goes out to everyone who was involved in the production of this premiere episode, and a double-dose of thanks to the excellent Voice Cast and Scoring Artist, without whom we wouldn't have such a great production.

Hope you enjoy the episode! If you like it, please be sure to tell your friends about it, and post your thoughts and feedback on the forums!

With a style of drama that mixes elements of “24� and the new “Battlestar Galactica,� each episode of the Silent Universe reveals layers of suspense and intrigue that leaves audiences guessing at what twists its plot will take next. Its motley cast of characters includes weapons specialists, a computer hacker, an ex-mercenary and even a casino tycoon, all forced to go to extreme lengths to prevent tragedy from striking the solar system. In a world where nuclear weapons are common to even the poorest countries and the United Nations is nothing but a quaint historical footnote, even the smallest conflict between powers can threaten to plunge mankind into Armageddon.

Continue reading "Episode 1 of 'Silent Universe' now posted!" »

Posted by J. Marcus Xavier at 12:00 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)