LibriVox

[Cori]

Short Sci-Fi Story Collection 11

Complete! All audio files can be found on our catalog page:
http://librivox.org/short-science-fiction-collection-011/

1. How to claim a part, and 'how it all works' here
   This is a collection for complete stories shorter than 1 hour in reading time. Please be kind in your interpretations of "Sci-fi", and remember that we have collections for Horror, Ghosts, Mysteries and General Short Stories already. Aliens, spaceships and laser weaponry are good giveaways, though not exclusive indicators. Post below and ask, if you're not quite sure. Read points 6. to 8. below for what to do before, during and after your recording.
   
   
2. New to recording?
   Please read our Newbie Guide to Recording!
   
   
3. Is there a deadline?
   NO, no deadline. If the story you record is too late for this volume, it'll be used to start the next volume.
   
   
4. Where do I find the text?
   Sci-fi stories can either be chosen which were published before 1923, or which did not have their copyright renewed in later years. Project Gutenberg has cleared many such copyright non-renewals and is by far the best bet for finding legal material. There's more than 200 modern stories linked at http://librivox.org/wiki/moin.cgi/ScienceFictionShortStories which I'm predicting are under the 1 hour-recording limit. Pick anything from there you like! If you choose a story from another source, please be aware it is up to you to evidence its public domainness, it is suggested that you post here to confirm, before starting your recording. Note it needs to follow the basic LV requirements too, i.e. have been paper-published, almost always before 1977.
   
   
5. You do not need to claim stories before recording them. Duplicates are very welcome, but the second, third, etc. version of a story will need to wait for Vol. 12 of this set.
   
   MAGIC WINDOW:
   
   (admin link)
   Please note, stories will be entered in chronological order as we go, but will eventually be rearranged alphabetically for final cataloguing.
   
   
   
6. BEFORE recording:
   Please check the Recording Notes:
   http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6427#6430
   
   Set your recording software to:
   Bit Rate: 128 kbps
   Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
   
   
7. DURING recording:
   Make sure you add this to the beginning and end of your recording:
   Start of recording (Intro)
   • "[story title] This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit: librivox DOT org"
   • If you wish, say:
     "Recording by [your name]"
     
   • Say:
     "Title, by Author. [Translated by [translator]]."
   
   End of recording
   • At the end of the section, say:
     "End of Title, by Author. [Translated by [translator]]."
     
   • If you wish, say:
     "Recording by [your name], [city, your blog, podcast, web address]"
     Please leave 5 seconds silence at the end of your recording, or 10 seconds for files longer than 30 minutes!
   Also, please remember to check this thread frequently for updates!
   
   
8. AFTER recording:
   Need noise-cleaning?
   Listen to your file through headphones. If you can hear some constant background noise (a hiss or hum), you may want to clean it up a bit. The new (free) version 1.3.3. of Audacity (Mac/Win) has much improved noise-cleaning. See this LibriVox wiki page for a complete guide.
   
   Save files as
   128 kbps MP3
   titleinoneword_authorsurname_[yourinitials].mp3 (all lower-case). (e.g. breadoverhead_lieber_cs.mp3)
   ID3 V2 tags
   (To find out more about ID3 tags, go to our wiki: http://librivox.org/wiki/moin.cgi/WhatIsID3)
   Add the following tags to your .mp3 file (how you do this depends on which software you use – if you are unsure about ID3 tags, send me a message). Please mind upper and lower case!
   
   Title: Story title
   Artist: Author name (trans. by <name> if appropriate.)
   Album: Librivox Short Sci-fi Story Collection, vol. 011
   
   Please ignore tags for Genre and Track Number - these will be filled in automatically at the cataloguing stage. Please note that although 'Space' is a genre, we will not be using it for this collection. Please finally note that I'll update the Collection number if needed, so don't worry too much about getting that right if you post towards the end of this collection and start of the next.
   
   Transfer of files (completed recordings)
   Please always post in this forum thread when you've sent a file.
   • If you have your own server space, post the link here. Please leave the file in this location until the project is catalogued. Even better, upload the file to the LibriVox Uploader, see below.
   • If you don't have your own server space, please upload with the LibriVox Uploader (please be sure to post the link you receive after your upload, in this thread):
     http://upload.librivox.org
     
     (If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin)
     Folder: cs - Cori
     If this doesn't work, or you have questions, please check our How To Send Your Recording wiki page.
   
   I'll need the following information from you when you submit a recording:
   
   • your name/pseudonym as you want to appear in the LibriVox catalog, and your website URL if you like. These are only necessary if this is your first LibriVox recording.
     
   • the duration of the recording.
     
   • the URL from the uploader.
     
   • the URL of the online version of the story.

Any questions?
Please post below or PM me. The only stoopid question is an unasked one.
_________________
Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing: Aristotle. . . My Saying--Doing--Being

[Celita]

Hello,
Where can I find the text ?

[Cori]

Anything you like that's listed on this page, Celita: http://librivox.org/wiki/moin.cgi/ScienceFictionShortStories
_________________
Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing: Aristotle. . . My Saying--Doing--Being

[Celita]

Hi Cori,
I'd like to take Vanishing Point by CC Beck, is it fine ?

[Cori]

Great -- looking forward to hearing you!
_________________
Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing: Aristotle. . . My Saying--Doing--Being

[River7122]

Yeah, I've never recorded for you guys before, but I would really like to. I just would like to know if "The Shunned House" by HP Lovecraft is (a) in the public domain (First published in 1927) and (b) fits with this collection. Thanks!

[Cori]

Hi River! I'm afraid it's no on both counts ... Lovecraft, often first publishing in the UK, isn't subject to the same US copyright whimsy that lets us read so many science fiction stories. Less importantly, if he was, he'd be a better fit for the Ghosts and Horror collection (where Vol. 1 is full, but Vol. 2 will be opening shortly.)

Now ... I hope that hasn't put you off too much ... because <rooting around> we do have a list somewhere of which of his stories are fair game <digs down the back of the sofa> ah! http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12722 - you'd be most welcome to record any of these. Hope you find something you like the look of (or have a rummage around the Sci-fi list linked above, mebbe, there's lots of good stuff there too.)
_________________
Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing: Aristotle. . . My Saying--Doing--Being

[Janet Moursund]

I found "Vanishing Point" by C.C. Beck on the list you provide -- it's Gutenberg, so I assume it's public domain. Is anybody else reading it, and if not is it okay for me to go ahead with it?
Jan

[Cori]

Celita mentions an interest in recording Vanishing Point above, Jan ... the policy here is always that we don't mind duplication at all, so if both of you choose to record it, I'll put one in this Volume and the other in the next.

The Sci-Fi collections started out after three of us had recorded the same single story, independently of each other, and needed somewhere to put it. So there's a lot of precedent for not worrying too much about who else is recording what, and just reading what you enjoy most.

* * *

In the first two or three volumes, I allowed people to "claim" stories, and kept an up-to-date list of who wanted to read what in the first post. I quickly found that people didn't always have time to do what they wanted, and that stories were being claimed and never read. Now I just ask people to show up with their recorded story done, and if someone else has done it too, that's fine. Choice of Voice.

Hope this all makes sense (to everyone reading.)
_________________
Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing: Aristotle. . . My Saying--Doing--Being

[Janet Moursund]

No sense duplicating stuff on purpose, when there's so much out there -- how about I read "A Choice of Miracles" by James Cox?
Jan

[GreggMargarite]

I have uploaded a story:

Title: The Good Neighbors
Author: Edgar Pangborn
File: http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/cs/thegoodneighbors_pangborn_gam.mp3
Source: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/26536
Length: 12:21
Size: 11.3 MB

Thanks;

Gregg Margarite

[Brian Edwards]

[Corazon McQueen]

Hi.

I'm new!

Just wanted to ask about Harrison's "Toy Shop" and "Repairman". I've downloaded them and would like to read these for the project.

Thanks

[Cori]

[Janet Moursund]

I've uploaded "A Choice of Miracles." Do let me know if it uploaded okay, and if the recording quality is okay --

Am I supposed to paste this here?
http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/cs/ChoiceofMiracles.mp3

Jan