Escape Pod, Episode, Episode, Episode

Episode 625 Flashback Friday, Heard Mentality, by Jake Asleburg. I'm going to do it. Hello everyone, Alistair here.

Welcome to the first flashback for a day. Hello everyone, Alister here.

Welcome to the first flashback Fridays.

This is going to be a monthly series of episodes dedicated to doing one thing,

going deep into the decade-plus long escape pod story archive

and showing you one of the great stories from our past in the new light of the present day.

The original narrations will be in place,

the end caps will be brand new, as I take a look at these stories,

how time has changed them and how we see them, and why they're still amongst some of the best science fiction there is.

First off, we have heard mentality by Jay Castleburg. This is the very first escape poll I have a clear memory of and it's

wrapped up in some of my favorite narrative tropes. You want to rate this week is, as it was back then, the

great Steve, now Sarah Eelie. So, get ready, because it's story time, and everything old is new again.

Heard mentality by Jay Kaysalberg.

I saw another Einstein today just pedaling down Sycamore Avenue on a bicycle.

As if we didn't have enough, and here was another one, Large His Life.

I knew for sure it was another one because ours doesn't ride a bike. He gets around in a chauffeur limo. Not that he comes around our town much anyway except for big corporate dues. I stood there watching the Einstein whirring clank past in no particular hurry, and I felt that sinking feeling grow inside me.

I waited, hefting my rucksack on one shoulder, chewing at my bottom lip, and I watched his old guy form disappear into the distance.

What on earth he was doing in our neck of the woods?

I didn't know, but I could speculate.

There had to be an opportunity there somewhere. Wherever there was opportunity, you'd find an Einstein. Briefly, I wondered what he might be looking for in our little town, but there was no way I could even really guess. Usually we had some warning if another one was going to turn up.

Still, we'd find out soon enough, Mary and me.

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