Off the bat I have two things to say:

1 – I wish someone had said “Don’t listen to the last available episode until the Hiatus is ending.”

2 – Please keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times.

Good gods this story is about as wild, rolling and wicked as the biggest rollercoaster you’ve ever been on.  One minute you’re going straight and then you’re whipped around left and right in split second intervals before you’re taken into a calm chugging line leading up the massive hill.  You peak for a split second, able to see into the horizon and then WHAM down the hill, through the loop-d-loop where everything it turned completely upside down before you’re sent scattering through the turns again.  I don’t think we’ll even get the pause of the terminal when it’s all over with and we’ll be left with the permanent “Holy cow that was an amazing story,” right before we turn it back on because it IS just that good and you KNOW you missed something.

I only wish I had started listening to Metamor long before I did.  I’d heard ads for it everywhere and it always tickled my curiosity, but I only recently got the break from some of the other podcasts I listen to and this filled the gap nicely.  It’s also become one of those permanent places on my mp3 player.  Chris Lester has created a world that is so beautifully described that it’s easily envisioned in the mind.  He doesn’t get so heavy handed in the world and character description that it bogs down the story, but gives us just enough words to make it perfect and believable.

It’s the sense of believability that makes it the amazing story that it is.  True, we’re no where near Androgens and the like, yet, but there’s enough reality blended with fantasy to make it realistic.  The bulk of it reminds of the Shadowrun and Cyberpunk pen and paper role-playing games with some very excellent character growth and definition.  Metamor embodies the spirit of character driven storytelling while utilizing an amazing plot about Telepath named Daniel and many of his friends.

There are… two different ways to begin Metamor City.  Chris has a number of short stories that he released first, some of them involving characters you’ll meet in Metamor City – Making the Cut.  Making the Cut is the second place to begin the story.  It might be easier to begin with the first episode of Making the Cut then to begin with the short stories like I did.  But then I’m notorious for starting at Episode One and moving up from there.  Even if it’s a bit Pulp Fiction like with the short stories, Chris is an amazing writer and his progression in talent shows clearly as you work you way through the whole of the Metamor City podcast.

Even if you decide to start with Chapter One of Making the Cut I urge you to listen to two of the short stories that proceeds it.  The Huntress is the second episode released on the site, it’s voiced by the delightful Leann Mabry, and well, to quote the site “Take a walk on the night side! In this week’s episode we take a look at Metamor City through the eyes of Lieutenant Dr. Morgan Elizabeth Drauling, vampire medical examiner for the MCPD’s Forensic Investigation Division. Tonight, though, Morgan’s adventures have little to do with work, as a typical Friday night on the town soon leads her to a young woman in desperate need of help…”

The second is called Troubled Minds and features lots of voices.  This story will require a few tissues at the end of it’s two parts and is so skillfully written that you’re left wondering what the truth behind it all is and why these Telepaths are so important.  Again, to quote the site - “Students are dying at St. Theresa’s, a school and halfway house for wayward girls on the Street of Metamor City. Abbey Preston is visiting the school, seeking relief from the terrifying visions that have been plaguing her. Is something supernatural at work, or is it all in Abbey’s head?”

Right now, I’m just chomping at the bit and waiting for Chris to get settled into his new job, which takes precedence over the podcast, and get back to the podcast.  I don’t think I’ve been this anxious for the next piece of the story since Mur cliffhangered us in Earth.

A word of advice.  Don’t skip the chatter!  The cast calls in, particularly Nobilis, and it offers some interesting insight about the PSI Collective.  You learn some interesting things from the episode chatter, other than the fact that lots of people think Chris is brilliant.  I suddenly understand why Uber Nemesis Tee Morris is always barking at Chris about raising the bar.

And don’t skip the ads.  Even if you get to this after the Parsec Awards are over you’ll kick yourself if you miss the advertisement done by Darth Sigler and Emperor Hutchins.

If I had six penguins, this would get it.  Since I don’t….

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