LeVar Burton Reads

Stitcher Podcasts

The best short fiction, handpicked by the best voice in podcasting. In every episode, host LeVar Burton (Roots, Reading Rainbow, Star Trek) invites you to take a break from your daily life, and dive into a great story. LeVar’s narration blends with gorgeous soundscapes to bring stories by Neil Gaiman, Haruki Murakami, Octavia Butler, Ray Bradbury and more to life. So, if you’re ready, let’s take a deep breath...

The best short fiction, handpicked by the best voice in podcasting. In every episode, host LeVar Burton (Roots, Reading Rainbow, Star Trek) invites you to take a break from your daily life, and dive into a great story. LeVar’s narration blends with gorgeous soundscapes to bring stories by Neil Gaiman, Haruki Murakami, Octavia Butler, Ray Bradbury and more to life. So, if you’re ready, let’s take a deep breath...

Location:

United States

Genres:

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Storytelling Podcasts

Networks:

Stitcher Podcasts

Description:

Language:

English

Episodes

"The Final Performance of the Amazing Ralphie" by Pat Cadigan

1/25/2022

An AI-controlled avatar built to entertain patients in deep space performs innocuous magic tricks for patients... until one day, he adds something new to his act. This story was originally published in AVATARS INC edited by Ann VanderMeer, and collected in THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, VOL. 2 edited by Jonathan Strahan. PLUS! With FIYAH Literary Magazine and Tor.com, we announce the winners of the LeVar Burton Reads writing contest! Content advisory: hospice setting, death

Duration:00:48:58

Immersive Remix: "The Galactic Tourist Industrial Complex" by Tobias S. Buckell

1/18/2022

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.

Duration:00:43:23

"The Placement Agency" by Tobias Buckell

1/11/2022

What's the weirdest temp job you can imagine? One outside time and space... This story appears in Tobias Buckell's collection SHOGGOTHS IN TRAFFIC AND OTHER STORIES, published by Fairwood Press. Content advisory: some discussion of murder/death

Duration:00:43:04

"To Jump is to Fall" by Stephen Graham Jones

1/4/2022

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

Duration:00:34:53

"Drones to Ploughshares" by Sarah Gailey

12/28/2021

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

Duration:00:44:53

"The Usual Santas" by Mick Herron

12/21/2021

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.

Duration:00:40:08

"Different People" by Timothy Mudie

12/14/2021

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

Duration:00:53:55

"The Wishing Pool" by Tananarive Due

12/7/2021

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

Duration:00:46:36

Season 10 Announcement and a Q&A!

11/30/2021

LeVar Burton Reads is back December 7th, featuring work from Tananarive Due, Stephen Graham Jones and Sarah Gailey, a winter holiday story, the winning entry of the LBR Writing Contest and much more! Plus LeVar answers some of your questions about making the podcast and gives out some tips to up your "reading aloud" game. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:09:42

Revisited (Halloween Edition!): "Singing on a Star" by Ellen Klages

10/26/2021

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.

Duration:00:51:32

Revisited: "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience TM" by Rebecca Roanhorse

10/19/2021

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...

Duration:00:57:55

Revisited: "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu

10/12/2021

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

Duration:00:52:08

"On the Lonely Shore" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

9/7/2021

A young woman is hired to look after an ailing man who's been ostracized by his family and sent to live in an old house by the sea. Find more from Silvia Moreno-Garcia at silviamoreno-garcia.com.

Duration:00:45:11

"Tía Abuela's Face, Ten Ways" by Lisa M. Bradley

8/31/2021

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

Duration:00:35:16

"Shock of Birth" by Cadwell Turnbull

8/24/2021

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.

Duration:00:40:59

"Words We Say Instead" by Brit E. B. Hvide

8/17/2021

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.

Duration:00:51:46

"The Years of My Birth" by Louise Erdrich

8/10/2021

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.

Duration:00:49:49

"You Perfect, Broken Thing" by C.L. Clark

8/3/2021

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.

Duration:00:40:07

"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara

7/27/2021

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.

Duration:00:35:13

"The Angel of Khan El-Khalili" by P. Djèlí Clark

7/20/2021

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

Duration:00:54:51