<strong>By Heather Shaw</strong>
<br>Originally published in: <a href="http://turbulence.org/Works/tumbarumba/" target="_blank">Tumbarumba</a>

<em>It wasn't that Em disapproved of drug use, you just had to be savvy about which drugs you took. Back before she had to get a day job, she was a M@tch girl, much to the delight of the guys on the club scene. M@tch wasn't a wimpy drug, but it didn't turn you into a murderous street zombie either. It was also expensive -- a designer "where it's @!" drug -- that the Tweakers couldn't afford anyway.</em>

<strong>Rated R for one sexual scene and drug use.</strong>

<strong>Show Notes:</strong>
<ul>
    <li>We're back, we hope you liked our Hugo offering! Be sure to vote before July 31!</li>
</ul>
<strong>Next week…</strong> Escape Pod ventures into the world of novellas.

<strong>By Will McIntosh</strong>
<br>Read by: Amy H. Sturgis of <a href="http://www.starshipsofa.com/20100309/aural-delights-no-124-will-mcintosh/">StarShipSofa</a></br>
<br>Originally published in: <a href="http://www.asimovs.com/201007/index.shtml" target="_blank">Asimov's</a> -- <a href="http://www.asimovs.com/_issue_1003/art/bridesicle.pdf">Download and read the text</a></br>
<br>Guest Host: Ben Phillips of <a href="http://www.pseudopod.org" target="_blank">Pseudopod</a></br>

<em>“Aw, I know you’re awake by now. Come on, sleeping beauty. Talk to me.” The last was a whisper, a lover’s words, and Mira felt that she had to come awake and open her eyes. She tried to sigh, but no breath came. Her eyes flew open in alarm. </em>

<em>An old man was leaning over her, smiling, but Mira barely saw him, because when she opened her mouth to inhale, her jaw squealed like a sea bird’s cry, and no breath came, and she wanted to press her hands to the sides of her face, but her hands wouldn’t come either. Nothing would move except her face. </em>

<strong>Rated PG</strong>

<strong>Show Notes:</strong>
<ul>
    <li>Starship Sofa is the first podcast <strong>ever</strong> to be nominated for a Hugo award, in the "Best Fanzine" category. If you're eligible to vote in the Hugos, you have less than a month left to put in your vote! Please consider Starship Sofa - it's a fantastic show on its own merit, and it's a HUGE credibility booster for all podcasts if it wins!</li>
    <li>The <a href="http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=3429.0">Escape Pod Flash Contest</a> ends soon! It runs June 1- July 4, stories must be under 500 words. More information at the link.</li>
    <li><strong>Editor's note: </strong>Thanks so much to Dave Thompson and Peter Wood for taking on this project of securing all five Hugo stories during the hiatus of Escape Pod. Most of the work was done before I joined, and this wouldn't have happened without them stepping up.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Next week…</strong> Our final Hugo-nominated story!