Top 10 Audio Dramas of 2019

Going Lowbrow is a gay screwball comedy/romance musical following a queen and prince that are forced into exile after some pesky peasants overthrow the monarchy. Unfortunately, they go into hiding in the middle of those very peasants, and the prince somehow finds himself both falling in love with the leader of the rebellion and in charge of hunting down… himself? The humor fit me perfectly, the romance is adorable, and the musical numbers are catchy. The only reason this show isn’t higher up is that there are only three episodes available and I have no idea if the creators are planning to continue the show or not.

I will always be a sucker for superpower stories, especially when they stray away from the End of the World stakes and heroes wearing tights. The Van follows a group of superpowered teens raised out of a van by an abusive parental figure. The story starts so zoomed in on these kids’ lives that you have no idea if its set in the past, modern times, or some distant post-apocalyptic future. Isn’t all of that just a backdrop to the characters’ struggles anyway? The Van cuts away all the irrelevant details and centers around some heavy themes. For a story following kids with superpowers, it gets pretty bleak at times, but never to the point of overpowering the hopeful nature of the kids’ relationships to each other. The poems in each episode are a beautiful addition, grounding the lead character through difficult times.

This is one of the shows I find myself recommending the most often. It’s short, with the entire story taking place over roughly the length of a movie. It’s an excellent example for how audio shows can take advantage of a unique medium without overpowering listeners with excessive or clashing sound effects. And it contrasts a familiar setup (man stuck on a spaceship by himself for years as it travels to a new planet) with a powerfully emotional impact.

If you’ve ever imagined that Amelia Earheart elaborately faked her own death/disappearance rather than crashing her plane, this story will scratch that conspiracy itch… and then some. The Amelia Project is an organization that helps its customers escape their lives through increasingly absurd and unnecessarily detailed plans. The mastermind behind it all is very particular about his cocoa and always up for a challenge. The story is a collection of mostly standalone episodes throughout the first season, with an overarching plot gradually revealed. And if you’ve ever wanted an audio drama crossover between several popular shows, or an episode that goes full meta and has a fictional character want to escape dull writing, this is for you.

My standard pitch for this show is “Becky Chambers writes Firefly.” It follows a quirky group of underdogs in a spaceship pitted against a much larger, more powerful enemy. It also has an incredibly diverse cast of characters that fits into the Wholesome AF Found Family brand I love in speculative fiction. The story also has a lot to say about propaganda, surveillance, and fascism, which is unfortunately highly relevant in today’s times.

Okay, bear with me a moment… Gay Future is set in a dystopian future where the Gay Agenda rules supreme under the iron first of an evil dictator. Our plucky young protagonist, Mikey Pence, has a dark secret: he’s straight. If this sounds completely batshit bonkers, it is. But it’s also an #OwnVoices story with remarkable internal consistency, amazing sound design, and a knack for shining a light on just how absurd many of society’s prejudices are. And you didn’t misread the hero’s name; the frame story is that Gay Future is actually a YA fantasy novel written secretly by Mike Pence, in which he makes a surprising discovery about his sexuality. OUR REVIEW

I absolutely adore audio dramas that take a slower, more thoughtful approach to storytelling. Audio is an intimate medium, and The Far Meridian takes advantage of this to approach heavy topics like anxiety and agoraphobia with sensitivity and care. The story follows a young woman named Peri as she travels around in a lighthouse that transports her across space and time every night. No matter how bizarre these destinations are, the emphasis is always on Peri’s growth and interactions with the people around her. It’s beautiful, emotional, and moving, though be warned that binge listening may leave you in a raw emotional state. OUR REVIEW

One of the primary draws of audio drama for me is, well, the audio. Rose Drive is a modern day mystery about a man looking to get revenge at a 10-year high school reunion, and a masterclass in how to keep listeners invested with as little information as possible. Though the story is compelling, the original score is incredible. It often feels like the story is structured to show off the music, and when the show creator can call the legendary Hans Zimmer a colleague, that shouldn’t be a surprise. Rose Drive almost doesn’t feel like genre fiction, but when you get there… hot damn.

Wooden Overcoats reminds me of John Cleese’s Fawlty Towers, but with rival funeral directors instead of hotel management. The trademark dry British humor and subtle wit never lags, and the story is all narrated by a mouse with dreams of becoming a famous writer. It took a couple episodes for me to be fully invested, but from there every episode was consistently excellent. The ending of season three was one of the most beautifully perfect endings I’ve ever seen, but I’ll admit I did a happy dance of joy when the creators announced a fourth and final season for 2020. OUR REVIEW

I don’t think I’ve ever found a story that improves in quality as quickly as Once and Future Nerd. It’s epic fantasy full of orcs and elves and rogues and political intrigue, but done in a way that just feels fresh. At its best, the story gives off a “Terry Pratchett writes Lord of the Rings” vibe, with original music, immersive sound design, and heaps of humor and heart. If you’re looking for something that reminds you of the fantasy genre’s roots in popular culture, but with enough trope subversions and heartwarming character arcs to keep even the most seasoned fantasy fan invested, look no further. OUR REVIEW