{"id":466,"date":"2013-04-04T13:22:57","date_gmt":"2013-04-04T20:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/?p=466"},"modified":"2013-04-04T13:30:52","modified_gmt":"2013-04-04T20:30:52","slug":"radio-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/?p=466","title":{"rendered":"Radio Play"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was a quiet winter here on the blog, but I’m back. I’ve been typing away at the sequel to Crystal Promise<\/em> (yes, I’m still juggling alternate titles in my head…unsure about Crystal Empire<\/em>) and setting up book signings and new consignment venues for the spring\/summer.<\/p>\n

The most exciting bit of news, however, is that my girlfriend Kim<\/a> is going to be on the radio this afternoon! Tune in to The Zone 91.3 in Victoria<\/a> to hear her talk about\u00a0Crystal Promise, <\/em>musical influences\u00a0and being a teacher, and listen very carefully for the subtext of how cool and awesome she is.<\/p>\n

I’m also doing a book giveaway for the month of May, so if you’re interested you can sign up on goodreads.com<\/a> and enter for a chance to win a free signed copy of Crystal Promise here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I have a book signing scheduled for the 18th of May at Chapters Chinook in Calgary. Stay tuned for information about prizes I’ll be giving away, as well as a special sneak preview reading of\u00a0Crystal Empire\u00a0<\/em>(working title)!<\/p>\n

In the meantime, here’s another sneak preview of some of the work I’ve been doing. As you may or may not know, the world of\u00a0Crystal Promise\u00a0<\/em>is loosely based on early 20th-century Europe, but some of the technology is different. Back in the days before television, radio plays were a very popular form of entertainment, and the family would gather around the radio to listen to an episode of\u00a0The Shadow<\/em> much in the same way that we get together to catch our favourite HBO and AMC dramas (minus those who download, of course). I’ve been working on some pieces to weave into the narrative of\u00a0Crystal Empire.\u00a0<\/em>Inspired by radio plays, science fiction and WW1 dogfighting, I give you\u00a0Crystal Captain<\/em>:<\/p>\n

Excerpt from the radio drama \u2018Crystal Captain\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Episode 10 \u2013 \u2018Rescue from Stormspeaker Station\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Narrator: Welcome back for another thrilling episode of \u2018Crystal Captain\u2019, the adventures of sky-speaker Captain Corvelius and his daring crew of skyship fliers. I\u2019m your host with the most, Marius Ghost, here to bring you the next hair-raising, mind-shattering chapter.<\/em><\/p>\n

Narrator: Episode Ten \u2013 \u2018Rescue from Sky Station Alpha\u2019. Tension condenses in the skies above the downtrodden nation of Neonovus. An uneasy ceasefire has been called between Neonovus and the Alliance of Kingdoms, but as the prime minister of Neonovus negotiates with the power-hungry kings for a lasting peace, many mercenary fliers have turned pirate and joined with the most nefarious pirate of them all \u2013 Captain Belzegor!<\/em><\/p>\n

Narrator: Captain Corvelius, eager to keep his brigade\u2019s skills shiny and protect the innocent from piracy, led a daring raid against Captain Belzegor\u2019s hideout, the infamous Stormspeaker Station. However, a trap had been set for the First Sky Brigade, and Alliance fliers, disguised as pirates, assisted the roguish Belzegor. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, our hero and his friends fought bravely, but just as the good captain radioed to retreat and regroup, his skycraft was hit by scattershot. The last his brigade saw of him, he and his wrecked ship were hurtling toward the dock of Belzegor\u2019s nimbus-fortress.<\/em><\/p>\n

Narrator: Our scene opens in a stone jail cell with no windows. The bars are cold skyiron, harder than any steel we know of today. When we last left our hero, the dashing, handsome and capable Captain Caius Corvelius of the First Sky Brigade, he had been taken prisoner by the nefarious leader of the Storm Pirates, Captain Belzegor.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Urgh…these bars…stuck tight. No way out. Curse you, Belzegor! You\u2019ll pay for this. All I can do now is wait and trust that my men will come and rescue me. But wait…the lock. It appears to be supercrystal. I\u2019ll just get my amulet, and…<\/em><\/p>\n

(Cue dramatic music)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Shards! My father\u2019s amulet! It\u2019s gone!<\/em><\/p>\n

(Cue Belzegor\u2019s theme. Sound of marching feet.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Belzegor. You fiend!<\/em><\/p>\n

Belzegor: Fiend? My dear captain, you were defeated, true as Tybal. There is no cause to throw insults, though I can certainly understand your shame, ha-ha-ha! How it must shatter you, to know that your proud airship was scattershot down by the very man who slew your father.<\/em><\/p>\n

(Cue dramatic music)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Spare me your lies, pirate. Commander Cassius, my father, is on a mission of secrecy for the republic. And speaking of my father, what have you done with his crystal amulet, you dirty thief?<\/em><\/p>\n

(Sound of a heavy metal chain)<\/em><\/p>\n

Belzegor: Oh, you mean this amulet? I think it is becoming on me, don\u2019t you, captain? You poor wretch. It seems as though there is nothing that I cannot take away from you. Your skycraft, your father, your family heirloom which is the secret to your power…<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: I tell you my father is alive!<\/em><\/p>\n

Belzegor: Oh, but I just love being the bearer of bad news. I know all about the commander\u2019s secret rendezvous with the king of Moonpeak Mountain. But I\u2019m afraid he may have been…waylaid. Ah-ha! Ha-ha-ha-haaaa…<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: You lie!<\/em><\/p>\n

Belzegor: Do I, captain? Then tell me, why would I have…this?<\/em><\/p>\n

(Cue dramatic music)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: But…it cannot be! My mother\u2019s ring, companion to the amulet. Where did you get that?<\/em><\/p>\n

Belzegor: Where else but from your father\u2019s cold finger. Mua-ha-ha-haaaa…<\/em><\/p>\n

(Cue dramatic music)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Nooooooo! It cannot be!<\/em><\/p>\n

Belzegor: Well, I have gloated enough. There is plenty enough for me to do…hunt down your sky brigade to the last man, use the power of the amulet and the ring together to control the kingdoms and destroy your petty republic once and for all, that kind of thing. After that perhaps I\u2019ll conquer the stars, who knows? Goodbye, captain. I\u2019d let you join your mother and father in the abyss, but it\u2019s so much better to watch you suffer. Ah-ha! Ha-ha-ha-haaaa…<\/em><\/p>\n

(Sound of footsteps)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Jova curse you! Father…can it be true? I cannot believe that Belzegor would ever best you in a sky-tilt, but sure enough, there was the ring. I have failed you, father. The sky-amulet and earth-ring were bequeathed to mother and father so that lesser hearts would not be tempted by their power…and now they have both fallen into the hands of the worst kind of power-monger. But how did he ever discover father\u2019s mission?<\/em><\/p>\n

A woman\u2019s voice: Are you going to talk to yourself all day? Some of us are trying to rot away in peace and quiet.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Who said that?<\/em><\/p>\n

A woman\u2019s voice: You\u2019re brave, captain, but not too bright and clear, are you? I\u2019m in the next cell over. My name\u2019s Marquela.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Well, my lady Marquela, at least I\u2019ll have some company while I wait for a rescue from the First Sky Brigade.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: You\u2019re going to wait for a rescue? But Belzegor is surely setting a trap for any fliers who approach the station.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: We already fell into a trap. They will not hesitate to rescue their captain.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: Well some of us can\u2019t wait that long. Don\u2019t you have a hidden crystal somewhere that can open the lock?<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: I did. It shattered when I used it to replace the seventh sky seal of Samalus.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: I heard once that you have a crystal button on your coat.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Ah, yes. I used it to defeat a moon-beast last year.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: And?<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: The beast swallowed it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: I see. Well, I suppose I\u2019ll have to do everything, then. If I toss something in front of your cell, can you reach through the bars and get it?<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Yes, I believe so. What is it?<\/em><\/p>\n

(Sound of a crystal falling on the ground)<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: This.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: A crystal earring? Why didn\u2019t you say so?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: I just did, captain. Try not to shatter it; it was a gift.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Such a gift! Who are you, my lady, to receive such adornment?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: Can we just worry about escaping first? Gods, captain, less talking and more speaking.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Just a moment, my lady. And…there!<\/em><\/p>\n

(Sound of rusty hinges)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: And now, your cell.<\/em><\/p>\n

(Sound of rusty hinges)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: You are free!<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: Please, announce it to the entire station.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: My lady, some gratitude may be in order.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: Yes, you are very brave, captain. Those crystal locks didn\u2019t stand a chance.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: They were supercrystal, I\u2019ll have you know.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: Ah, a mighty foe, then, for the captain of the First Sky Brigade. My earring, if you please.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: My lady, I still have need of it. Otherwise we are defenceless.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: (Sigh) Lead on, then, captain.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: I was unconscious when I was brought here. Do you know the way out?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: I suppose I must do everything. Follow me.<\/em><\/p>\n

Narrator: And so, our hero and the saucy but beautiful prisoner Marquela traversed the cold, damp dungeon of Belzegor\u2019s sky fortress. Dear listeners, let us pray that the captain\u2019s wits hold out longer than his luck, for he is armed with only a tiny crystal from an earring…<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: Look out! Guards!<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Ignatio!<\/em><\/p>\n

(Crystal sound effect. Sound of fire. Guards screaming.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Quickly, now. I think they may be alerted to our presence.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: Unless screaming in agony is commonplace here. Take this wand and I\u2019ll take the other. I think this is the dock. Where is your ship, captain?<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Grievously damaged, my lady.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: We must take one of their ships, then.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: What? Steal a ship? Why, I\u2019d be no better than they are!<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: You fliers and your honour. We don\u2019t have much choice, captain.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: But I…look out!<\/em><\/p>\n

(Sound of explosions)<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: Look! Fliers! They\u2019re firing at the dock!<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: My lady! Take cover here!<\/em><\/p>\n

(Sound of explosions)<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: It is my brigade. Come, we must join the fight. The pirates are taking to the skies.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: But if you take one of their ships, your brigade will fire upon you, thinking you to be a pirate.<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: We cannot remain here, the dock is ablaze!<\/em><\/p>\n

(Cue Belzegor\u2019s theme)<\/em><\/p>\n

Belzegor: Not so fast, captain!<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Quickly, Marquela. Into the flier, go! I shall hold him off.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marquela: But…<\/em><\/p>\n

Corvelius: Go!<\/em><\/p>\n

Narrator: As Marquela climbs into a ship, Captain Corvelius holds a tiny crystal in his hand, preparing to face off with his nemesis, who now wields the greatest power on earth and in the sky! Can Marquela survive against the First Sky Brigade? Will Corvelius avenge his father\u2019s murder? Tune in next Joveday, same time, for the next thrilling chapter of Crystal Captain! I\u2019m your host with the most, Marius Ghost, bidding you a pleasant evening, listeners…<\/em><\/p>\n

(Cue Crystal Captain theme)<\/em><\/p>\n

httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jknfiEBZdRw<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was a quiet winter here on the blog, but I’m back. I’ve been typing away at the sequel to Crystal Promise (yes, I’m still juggling alternate titles in my head…unsure about Crystal Empire) and setting up book signings and new consignment venues for the spring\/summer. The most exciting bit of news, however, is that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-crystal-promise","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=466"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":472,"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466\/revisions\/472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jamesfunfer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}