David Barr Kirtley

Science fiction author and podcaster

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My Short Story “Red Road” to Appear on Intergalactic Medicine Show

February 19, 2008 by David Barr Kirtley Leave a Comment

I just got word that my short story “Red Road” will be appearing on Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show.

An illustration by David Barr Kirtley of his short story Red Road. The illustration depicts a sword-wielding mouse facing off against a huge and sinister owl.

“Red Road” is an animal quest fantasy / political allegory … with a twist. Think Lord of the Rings meets Animal Farm. Thanks to John Joseph Adams for inadvertently inspiring me to write this story. (He recommended a book to me, but cautioned that the book contained talking animals. I said, “No, that’s cool. I like talking animals.” Then later I thought: Hey, yeah, I do like talking animals … and yet I’ve never written about talking animals. I should write a story that has some talking animals. Then my mind flashed back to a joke I made involving talking animal stories years ago at the CSSF writing workshop, and I thought: You know what, I’m going to turn that joke into a story. It’s so crazy, it just might work. “Red Road” is the result.)

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Geeks Guide to the Galaxy

Geeks Guide to the Galaxy

Geek's Guide to the Galaxy is a podcast hosted by author David Barr Kirtley and produced by Lightspeed Magazine editor John Joseph Adams. The show features conversations about fantasy & science … Read more

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Geeks Guide to the Galaxy

Geeks Guide to the Galaxy

Geek's Guide to the Galaxy is a podcast hosted by author David Barr Kirtley and produced by Lightspeed Magazine editor John Joseph Adams. The show features conversations about fantasy & science … Read more

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My grandfather Roger Barr passed away early this morning at the age of 98. He was my mom’s father, and was my last surviving grandparent. He was being cared for by my uncle Steve (his son) and aunt Denice — both medical professionals — and was still sharp and good-humored in his final days. Yesterday […]

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David Barr Kirtley

David Barr Kirtley is the host of the Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast, for which he’s interviewed over four hundred guests, including George R. R. Martin, Richard Dawkins, Paul Krugman, Simon Pegg, Margaret Atwood, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Ursula K. Le Guin. His short fiction appears in the book Save Me Plz and Other Stories.
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