LeVar Burton Reads

"She Builds Quick Machines" by Lyndsie Manusos

April 23, 2024 04:05 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MB

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

"When the Apples are Ripe" by Diane Oliver

April 16, 2024 04:05 - 44 minutes - 41.2 MB

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

"The Coffin Maker" by AnaMaria Curtis

April 09, 2024 04:05 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MB

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

"The Appropriation of Cultures" by Percival Everett

April 02, 2024 04:05 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MB

A young Black musician is heckled by a group of white fraternity brothers, asking him to play "Dixie." His response surprises everyone, including himself. This story appears in the collection DAMNED IF I DO, published by Graywolf Press.

"The Hidden Forests of Earth and Mars" by Anna Zumbro

March 26, 2024 04:05 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MB

A young woman must decide her future: planting seeds and forging civilization on Mars, or caretaking for future generations on Earth. This story originally appeared in Cast of Wonders. Find more from the author at annazumbro.com. Content advisory: climate change and ecological collapse

"Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush" by Luis Alberto Urrea

March 19, 2024 04:05 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MB

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

"The World Wasn't Ready for You" by Justin C. Key

March 12, 2024 04:05 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MB

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

"Quarropts Can't Dance" by Rodrigo Culagovski

March 05, 2024 05:05 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MB

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

"Folk Hero Motifs in Tales Told by the Dead" by KT Bryski

February 27, 2024 05:05 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MB

A trickster storyteller brings camaraderie and hope to the land of the dead. Find more from the author at ktbryski.com. Content advisory: Death and dying; references to the death of a child

"The Destroyer" by Tara Isabella Burton

February 20, 2024 05:05 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MB

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

Watch Out, Lucky Season 13 is Coming!

February 13, 2024 05:05 - 3 minutes - 2.98 MB

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...

Atlas Obscura presents: Mafra Palace Library Bats

February 06, 2024 08:05 - 15 minutes - 14 MB

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. C...

A 99% Invisible / LeVar Burton Crossover!

December 19, 2023 05:05 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MB

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...

"Waystation City" by A.T. Greenblatt

December 12, 2023 05:05 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MB

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.

"Three Roses" by Karmen Špiljak

December 05, 2023 05:05 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MB

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.

"The Pilgrim and the Angel" by E. Lily Yu

November 28, 2023 05:05 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MB

An angel surprises a humble coffee shop owner in Cairo. This story appears in E. Lily Yu's collection JEWEL BOX, published by Erewhon Books.

Immersive Remix: "The Takeback Tango" by Rebecca Roanhorse

November 21, 2023 05:05 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MB

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.

Sound Detectives! Episode 2

November 20, 2023 05:05 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MB

Enjoy more LeVar, more Detective Hunch, and more Audie with Episode #2 of LeVar's new podcast, SOUND DETECTIVES! SOUND DETECTIVES is a funny, engaging, and thought-provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore the magic and mystery of sound. In this episode, the Sound Swindler is still at large, and LeVar is anxious for help! Audie is a-buzz about the mystery sound, but Hunch insists that she needs some detective training first. Hunch knows just the thing: Detective...

"Galaxy Girl and the November Monstrosity" by Aleksandra Hill

November 14, 2023 05:05 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MB

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

Introducing: Sound Detectives!

November 13, 2023 19:55 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MB

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 dow...

"The Many Taste Grooves of the Chang Family" by Allison King

November 07, 2023 05:05 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

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

"Sin Eater" by Ian R. MacLeod

October 31, 2023 04:05 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MB

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

"Those Fantastic Lives" by Bradley Sides

October 24, 2023 04:05 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MB

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

"The Clockmaker and His Daughter" by Tobi Ogundiran

October 17, 2023 04:05 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MB

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

"The Court Magician" by Sarah Pinsker

October 10, 2023 04:05 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MB

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

"Dragonflies" by Shannon Sanders

October 03, 2023 04:05 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MB

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

"Mr. McCaslin" by Peter S. Beagle

September 26, 2023 04:05 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MB

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

"The Tin Man" by Lilliam Rivera

September 19, 2023 04:05 - 45 minutes - 41.2 MB

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

Season 12, Here We Come!

September 12, 2023 04:05 - 1 minute - 981 KB

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.

Immersive Remix: "An Equal Share of the Bone" by Karen Osborne

April 04, 2023 04:05 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MB

Hoping to make their fortune (or at least climb out of debt), a trio of space traders travel on a dangerous hunt for a space whale. "An Equal Share of the Bone" was originally published at Escape Pod. Find more of Karen Osborne's work at www.karenosborne.com. Content Advisory: Animal death. Our immersive audio is best with headphones! If you'd prefer to listen without immersive audio, visit levarburtonpodcast.com/mono.

"D.P." by Kurt Vonnegut

February 28, 2023 05:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MB

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.

"The Destination Star" by Gregory Marlow

February 21, 2023 05:00 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MB

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

"Mister Dawn, How Can You Be So Cruel?" by Violet Allen

February 14, 2023 05:00 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MB

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

"The Golden Hour" by Jeffrey Ford

February 07, 2023 05:00 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MB

A time traveler is stranded in a small town. This story appears in SOMEONE IN TIME: TALES OF TIME-CROSSED ROMANCE, published by Solaris. Find more from Jeffrey Ford at well-builtcity.com. Content advisory: suicide

"The Lady of the Yellow-Painted Library" by Tobi Ogundiran

January 31, 2023 05:00 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MB

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

"Wok Hei St" by Guan Un

January 24, 2023 05:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MB

A story of a stolen wok, magic, and manipulation. This story was originally published in Strange Horizons. You can find more of the author's work at guanun.com.

Immersive Remix: "The Foster Portfolio" by Kurt Vonnegut

January 17, 2023 05:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MB

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

Immersive Remix: "Silver Door Diner" by Bishop Garrison

January 10, 2023 05:00 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MB

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

Immersive Remix: "The Simplest Equation" by Nicky Drayden

January 03, 2023 05:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MB

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.

Immersive Remix: "The Truth About Owls" by Amal El-Mohtar

December 27, 2022 05:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MB

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

Immersive Remix: "The Last Cheng Beng Gift" by Jaymee Goh

December 20, 2022 05:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MB

A family matriarch takes up residence in the Underworld.

Immersive Remix: "The Usual Santas" by Mick Herron

December 13, 2022 05:00 - 39 minutes - 35.7 MB

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.

"River's Giving" by Heather Shaw, Tim Pratt, and River Shaw

December 06, 2022 05:00 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MB

A mystical phenomenon brightens the dreary days of winter — until one year, when it suddenly stops.

"The King of Bread" by Luis Alberto Urrea

November 29, 2022 05:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MB

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.

"Family Cooking" by Ana Maria Curtis

November 22, 2022 05:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MB

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

"Down in the Dim Kingdoms" by Tobias Buckell

November 15, 2022 05:00 - 44 minutes - 41.2 MB

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

"#ClimbingNation" by Kim Fu

November 08, 2022 05:00 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MB

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

LeVar Burton Reads

Episodes

Guests