Seeing Ear Theatre

was an online venture of the Sci-Fi Channel cable television station, produced solely for broadcast over the internet from 1997-2001. With major backing, SET was able to draw A-list actors and writers, and to maintain a consistently high level of quality audio engineering to bring their efforts to life. Shows varied in style, subject matter and length, with something for everyone. Sadly, it was not enough, and SET is no more.

Sources used to create my own log and double-check titles, dates and cast members: SFF Audio, Internet Speculative Fiction Database.

Currently this archive contains 11 of 76 plotlines and 18 reviews

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Alice in Wonderland

Year: 1998
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Lewis Carroll

Reviews:

Alpha and Omega of David Wells, The

Year: 2001
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

Who am I? David Wells has pondered this not just philosophically like so many of us, but literally. Quite literally. Allowing himself to be hypnotized into a past life regression of multiple lives and multiple deaths. But what of his question, was it ever answered?

From the SET sub-series City of Dreams.

Reviews:
Nicely done Bridey Murphy type tale. Writing, acting, production values, on the money. Nothing really original here, but a satisfying revisit of a familiar sub genre. --- Bruce Fisher

Bigger One, The

Year: 1998
Duration: 8 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Gregory Benford

Reviews:

Black Canoes

Year: 2000
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Tony Daniel

Reviews:

Breakaway, Backdown

Year: 19xx
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: James Patrick Kelly

Reviews:

By the Fright of the Silvery Moon

Year: 19xx
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Raquel Starace and Jack Wohl

From the SET sub-series Tales from the Crypt.

Reviews:
John Ritter is exceptional in this 'Alien' type story. Unlike many stories, this one actually takes you into the set and scenes; you feel like you are there. I could be biased, as this is a later recording of what we call OTR, but it was completely devoid of hisses and scratches. My understanding is that this radio play was produced after "Three's Company", toward the end of John Ritter's career... although he did make a few more movies after this. I listened to this episode several years ago on Seeing Ear Theatre. Somehow the episode was removed and I heard it again for the first time last evening and was taken aback. We need more audio drama like this! I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Plot Spot for providing this recording upon request. I would recommend to anyone who wants to get away from childish television episodes and all the junk which is broadcast today, to just step back into a time and place where real talent ruled and great entertainment was had by just listening! I expose my grandchildren every chance I get, and sites like www.otrplotspot.com make it possible. --- John in Oregon

Carrion Death

Year: 2000
Duration: 45 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: James Patrick Kelly

From the SET sub-series Tales from the Crypt.

Reviews:

Child's Play

Year: 19xx
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: William Tenn

Reviews:

Clean Escape, A

Year: 1998
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: John Kessel

A lady psychiatrist repeatedly interviews a male patient suffering from short term memory loss. However, he does recall he owns a computer company, has a big house and kids; it's 1998, and he's 35 - with a history like that, why should his memory be failing?

Reviews:
A compelling tale of guilt and what the mind can do to avoid responsibility and a threatening reality. Offbeat and unusual and well played and well written. Intriguing. --- Bruce Fisher

Come Hammering

Year: 1997
Duration: 25 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Brian Smith

Reviews:

Country Doctor, A

Year: 1997
Duration: 15 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Franz Kafka

Reviews:

Damned Are Playing at Godzilla's Tonight, The

Year: 2000
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

From the SET sub-series City of Dreams.

Reviews:

Daughter Earth

Year: 1999
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: James Morrow

Reviews:

Death of Captain Future, The

Year: 1998
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Allen Steele

A space jockey takes a contract on board a tramp hauler, unaware that the captain is a looney tune who fancies himself a hero out of some mid 20th century sci-fi pulp. Harmless enough - until the ship is compelled to answer a distress call from a rogue asteroid. Stars Marina Sirtis.

Reviews:
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, especially the contrasts between the hard-bitten Furland and the buffoon Captain McKinnon. Recommended. --- Jeff Dickson

Derelict

Year: 1998
Duration: ?
Genre: Interactive
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Matt Costello and F. Paul Wilson

I believe this was an interactive story/game that would have been played online.

Reviews:

Diary of a Mad Deity

Year: 19xx
Duration: 45 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: James Morrow

Gunter Black's psychiatrist discovers he possesses the penultimate multiple personality disorder. Nothing less then the world itself. 6,000,000,000 personalities cram his cranium engaging in a continuous spasm of dispute and conflict. Who could survive such a daily assault one's body and soul. Who indeed?

Reviews:
One of the best if not the best SET piece as was the series itself with respect to contemporary OTR. Very well written, performed, and directed etc. Surprising considering the source where it originated from, The Sci-Fi Channel. If you've ever seen any of their original Saturday night movies, you know what I mean. --- Bruce Fisher

Dry, Quiet War, A

Year: 2000
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Tony Daniel

Reviews:

Elevator and a Pole, An

Year: 19xx
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Tony Daniel

Reviews:

Emily 501

Year: 1999
Duration: 45 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Tamara Hladik ??

A woman exo-anthropologist is making a survey on a remote and icy planet. Accidentally, she damages her bio-filter exposing herself to the planet's atmosphere. At first she's delighted by the new discoveries she finds "Fantastic". But there are other surprises she'll also encounter.

Reviews:
Love the actress who was cast in this virtual one character play. She has just the right pitch, tone, and interpretation to play the young and brilliant, but somewhat acerbic scientist. Story itself is always interesting, intriguing, and suspenseful. Good One. --- Bruce Fisher

Interesting piece. I would've preferred more sound effects to accent the woman scientist's rambling. [5/10] --- Noelle

Facade

Year: 19xx
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Amanda Hopkins ??

Reviews:

Fare Tonight, Followed by Increasing Clottiness

Year: 19xx
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Andrew Joffe

From the SET sub-series Tales from the Crypt.

Reviews:

Feel the Zaz

Year: 1999
Duration: 65 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: James Patrick Kelly

Reviews:

Fight or Flight

See: "Oblivion Syndrome"

Fire Watch

Year: 2000
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Connie Willis

Reviews:

First and Last Musical on Mars, The

Year: 1998
Duration: 90 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: George Zarr

Reviews:

Flat Edge of the Earth, The

Year: 1998
Duration: 70 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Brian Smith and Terry Bisson

Reviews:

George and the Red Giant

aka: "George and the Comet"
Year: 1998
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Stephen Baxter

Based on the story "George and the Comet" by Stephen Baxter.

Reviews:

Good Knight's Work, A

Year: 19xx
Duration: 45 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Robert Bloch

Reviews:

Greedy Choke Puppy

Year: 1998
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Nalo Hopkinson

Reviews:

Herd Mentality

Year: 1998
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Kurt Roth

Reviews:

History of the Devil

aka: "The History of the Devil or Scenes from a Pretended Life"
Year: 1999
Duration: 3 hrs
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Clive Barker

Based on "The History of the Devil or Scenes from a Pretended Life" by Clive Barker.

Reviews:

In the Shade of the Slowboat Man

Year: 19xx
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Dean Wesley Smith

Reviews:

Into the Sun

Year: 1997
Duration: 20 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Brian Smith

On a mission to explore distant planets, Dr Freed awakens alone. Checking their system coordinates, he discovers their destination is Wolf 389. The computer assures him it's only to record solar flares, but Wolf 389 is a star.

Reviews:
I really wanted to like this story (Mark Hamill aka Luke Skywalker) plays Dr. Freed! But, somehow this story reminds me of the less description told by the narrator, the better. I just couldn't get into it. [4/10] --- Noelle 

Island of Death

Year: 19xx
Duration: 40 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: ??

Quinn and Bailey, major domo movie fans, plane crashes on a deserted island that's not very deserted. They meet Galatia, a beautiful TV producer of a reality show crafted exclusively for a very wealthy client. They soon discover that show is about them and the reality is about life or death. Theirs.

From the SET sub-series Tales from the Crypt.

Same as the Inner Sanctum episode ??

Reviews:
Another take on 'The Most Dangerous Game' and "Hell hath no fury". Done as a gallows humor "Battle of the Sexes" rumble. Where the two buddies slug it out with the homicidal honey by referencing scenes from famous action movies for inspiration. Good comic book yarn and not just a remake of a TV episode. --- Bruce Fisher

Jaguar Hunter, The

Year: 19xx
Duration: 65 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Lucius Shepard

Reviews:

Jumping Niagara Falls

Year: 1999
Duration: 40 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Brian Smith and George Zarr

A sequel to the radio horror classic "Sorry, Wrong Number".

Reviews:

Kindred

Year: 2001
Duration: 2 hr 40 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Octavia E. Butler

Reviews:

Knock

Year: 2000
Duration: 25 min
Genre: Aliens
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Fredric Brown

"The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock at the door." Aliens who have no concept of natural death have wiped out humanity, literally to the last man and woman, whom they put in a zoo as public curiosities.

With Lorna Raver (Grace), René Auberjonois (Walter), and Ira Burton (narrator; George).

Versions were produced for 2000x, Dimension X, Future Tense, Mindwebs, Seeing Ear Theatre, and X Minus One.

Reviews:
Knock was produced for: 2000x, Dimension X (DX), Future Tense (FT), Mindwebs (MW), Seeing Ear Theatre (SET), and X Minus One (X-1). The plot is very simple and the success of each adaptation depends strongly on its actors. It's hard to choose a favourite because all versions were well-made and each production has its strengths and weaknesses. I rate all of them [7/10]. --- zM

The 2000x and SET versions are identical productions, except 2000x includes an introduction by Harlan Ellison and SET includes more closing music. The DX, FT, and X-1 versions share the same script, but have different casts. MW is a reading for two people with incidental music and sound effects.
Script
MW tops my list, because it is a reading of the original Fredric Brown story. SET is a close second because it closely follows the Brown story and modifies it only for dramatic effect. The DX/FT/X-1 versions introduce torture as a plot element, seemingly so Grace can fall in love with Walter's physical courage. (In the other versions she seems content to fall in love with his subtle and perceptive mind.)
Narrator
You just can't beat Norman Rose in the DX version. Wonderful tone, inflection, and pacing. But Ira Burton in the SET version is not bad and Michael Hanson in MW follows as a close third. Fred Collins in the X-1 version sounds like he should be selling ice cream, not introducing a horror story
Walter
By far the best is René Auberjonois in the SET version. His air of amused tolerance contrasts nicely with Grace's frustration with him not acting like a MAN! Luis Van Rooten is next best in X-1.
Grace
Best is Lori March in the X-1 version. Mary Armentrout (MW) has a beautiful, innocent/blushing voice, but lacks the intensity required by Grace's character. Lorna Raver is very good in SET, but the microphone is too close and it picks up every swallow and cluck in her throat. Very distracting.
Zan (George)
Best is Greg Moody in the Future Tense version. Followed closely by Luis Van Rooten in DX and X-1. The weakest is Hanson's character voice in MW. I found it distracting. Also distracting is Ira Burton's robotic-sounding voice in SET.
Sound Quality
SET, followed closely by DX and X-1. MW is also good. FT is garbled, but tolerable.

Little Stranger, A

Year: 2000
Duration: 15 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Greg Cox

From the SET sub-series Tales from the Crypt.

Reviews:

Lucky Strike, The

Year: 19xx
Duration: 2 hrs
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Kim Stanley Robinson

Reviews:

Man Who Could Work Miracles, The

Year: 19xx
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: H.G. Wells

Based on the short story by H.G. Wells; Suggested by a script by David Gold; Adapted by Andrew Joffe.

Reviews:

Marilyn or the Monster

aka: "Marilyn"
Year: 1999
Duration: 45 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Jack Dann

Based on the short story "Marilyn" by Jack Dann.

Reviews:

Martian Crown Jewels, The

Year: 1998
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Poul Anderson

A satire of Sherlock Holmes, with a squawking avian Martian sitting in for the venerable detective, and the stolen Martian Royal gems igniting an interplanetary incident should he fail to locate them. Based on a story by Poul Anderson.

Reviews:
I found the Martian's cawing just a little too annoying to let me enjoy this one. Not one of SET's more stellar efforts. --- Jeff Dickson

MCSD 00121J

Year: 2000
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

From the SET sub-series City of Dreams.

Reviews:

Meet the Neighbor

Year: 1999
Duration: 15 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: George Zarr

An astronaut in a space ship is attacked by a hungry creature. Soon they're happily sharing the spaceman's rations and even singing about "brisket of beef". Later the rest of the creatures arrive, also singing the same cheerful ditty. But is their enthusiasm for his rations or for him?

Reviews:
Cute idea. And it works. The creature even carries a tune, in this virtually dialogue free light comedy mini-monster tale. Kind of different and funny. --- Bruce Fisher

Monkey's Paw, The

Year: 1998
Duration: 25 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: W.W. Jacobs

Reviews:

Moon Moth, The

Year: 2000
Duration: 75 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Jack Vance

Reviews:

Murder Mysteries

Year: 2000
Duration: 75 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Neil Gaiman

Reviews:

Next

Year: 1998
Duration: 15 min
Genre: Humour
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Terry Bisson

A young black couple in a Dystopian future aren't allowed to marry because of an ozone emergency. Only interracial couples that produce interracial babies that could survive the scorching effects of today's unprotected sun are permitted wedlock. Both are expected to do their patriotic duty.

Aired as part of "Three Odd Comedies".

Reviews:
Good social satire on the damn if they do, damn if they don't corrosiveness of racism and the opportunism it affords. Only 15 minutes long, but it works, is complete, and makes cogent barbs. Well written and acted except for the young couple. --- Bruce Fisher

Night Calls

Year: 2000
Duration: 10 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

From the SET sub-series City of Dreams.

Reviews:

Nostalginauts, The

Year: 2000
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: S.N. Dyer

Reviews:

Oblivion Syndrome, The

aka: "Fight or Flight"
Year: 19xx
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Benjamin Wach

Reviews:

Orson the Alien

Year: 1998
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Terry Bisson, Brian Smith and George Zarr

Inspired by "War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells and the Mercury Theatre on the Air broadcast of Howard Koch's classic script.

Reviews:

Other Worlds

Year: 1999
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Charles Potter ??

Reviews:

Propagation of Light in a Vacuum, The

Year: 1999
Duration: 45 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: James Patrick Kelly

Reviews:

Rolling Thunder

Year: 2000
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

From the SET sub-series City of Dreams.

Reviews:

Samuel Beckett, Your Ride Is Here

Year: 2000
Duration: 25 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: J. Michael Straczynski

From the SET sub-series City of Dreams.

Reviews:

Signal-Man, The

Year: 1998
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Charles Dickens

Reviews:

Sleepy Hollow, The Legend

Year: 1997
Duration: 20 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Washington Irving

Adapted from the story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow".

Reviews:
Generally, I like adaptations of this story. In this case, I found myself wondering when the horseman would put an end to the unfortunate Mr. Crane, sooner rather than later. [3/10] --- Noelle 

Snow, Glass, Apples

Year: 2002
Duration: 45 min
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Neil Gaiman

A well-to-do mother tries to earn the love of her recalcitrant step-daughter. And, failing that, to discipline her.

Reviews:
Historically, what we think of today as 'fairy tales' were often dark tales which dealt with incest, rape, dismemberment, murder and cannibalism. They were not the cutesy, whitewashed stories we have been sold by Disney. So when I hear a modern telling of a classic fairy tale, I often wonder what the other side of the story really was. Neil Gaiman tells us. This is a dark tale full of rich imagery: some erotic, some nauseating, some fantastic. The simple musical accompaniment of guitar, violin, cello, harpsichord, and recorder suggest a simpler time when everyone got along with everyone else. Or maybe not. Beautiful music, excellent acting and sound quality, gripping story. Not for children or the squeamish. [9/10] --- zM

One of the best audio dramas I've heard in a while. [9/10] --- Noelle

Sorry, Wrong Number

Year: 1999
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Lucille Fletcher

Reviews:

Tell-Tale Heart, The

Year: 1997
Duration: 16 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Edgar Allan Poe

Reviews:

They're Made out of Meat

Year: 1998
Duration: 5 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Terry Bisson

Aired as part of "Three Odd Comedies".

Reviews:

Think like a Dinosaur

Year: 19xx
Duration: 50 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: James Patrick Kelly

A translator on an interstellar relay station in Earth orbit is responsible to see that individuals who volunteer to be 'transmitted' to the distant reaches of the galaxy by an alien transluminal engineer are eased into the process without undue distress. The program has gone well, until his latest subject puts humanity's future among the stars in jeopardy. Stars Michael O'Hare.

Reviews:
Intelligent and a very unique story, handling the problem of overcoming interstellar distances in a fresh way. Recommended. --- Jeff Dickson

This Trick'll Kill Ya

Year: 19xx
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: ??

From the SET sub-series Tales from the Crypt.

Reviews:

Three Odd Comedies

Year: 1998
Duration: 30 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Terry Bisson

Comprising: "They're Made out of Meat"; "The Toxic Donut"; "Next"

Reviews:

Tight Grip

Year: 19xx
Duration: 45 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: ??

From the SET sub-series Tales from the Crypt.

Reviews:

Time Machine, The

Year: 19xx
Duration: 60 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: H.G. Wells

Reviews:

Time's Arrow, Time's Spiral

Year: 1998
Duration: 35 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: George Zarr

Reviews:

Titanic Dreams

Year: 2000
Duration: 45 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Robert Olen Butler

Inspired by two Robert Butler short stories: "Titantic Victim Speaks Through Waterbed" and "Titanic Survivors Found in Bermuda Triangle".

Reviews:
I wanted to like this one. Plot seemed drawn out, characters were forgettable, romance - meh. Maybe I was too impatient for the end. Another listening might bump up the rating. [4/10] --- Noelle

Too Late, an Experiment in Sound Theatre

Year: 1998
Duration: 10 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Brian Smith, George Zarr and Rick Bradley

Reviews:

Toxic Donut, The

Year: 1998
Duration: 10 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Terry Bisson

Aired as part of "Three Odd Comedies".

Reviews:

Treks Not Taken

Year: 1997
Duration: 12 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Brian Smith

Reviews:

Tripping Astral

Year: 1997
Duration: 100 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: ??

Reviews:

Wanted in Surgery

Year: 1998
Duration: 25 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Harlan Ellison

Reviews:

Wheel, The

Year: 1999
Duration: 50 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: Jeff Kraus and Sue Zizza

Reviews:

Zombie

Year: 19xx
Duration: 45 min
Genre:
Available for Listening Booth: Y
Story by: ??

From the SET sub-series Tales from the Crypt.

Reviews: