In 2018, science-fiction, fantasy, and horror continued to dominate the audio drama landscape. These are popular genres for audio, since creators can write all the supernatural and monstrous scenes they want without worrying about visual budget, but a familiar trend gained popularity last year — combining these genres with comedy. Most fictions continued to be from the United States, but indies from outside the usual English-speaking countries — like The Interview from Uganda and Spanish language productions like Guerra 3 and Informe Z — also started making an appearance.

At the beginning of 2018, I published a list of indie fiction podcasts that I thought needed attention and then, throughout the year, I published a series of monthly articles tracking the debuts of audio drama podcasts, both independent and networked. This has all been with the goal of heightening the visibility and discoverability of independent fiction audio, and helping to break down barriers that keep marginalized voices in podcasting from getting press coverage and support.

When I was selecting these 13 fiction podcasts for 2019, I focused on exemplary works that broke the mold or produced a spectacular season in 2018, foreshadowing continued impressive work in the year to come.

Vega Rex is a government-employed assassin, dedicated to eradicating society of its worst criminals. Her story is set in a futuristic and fantastical world and narrated by creator Ivuoma Okoro, who is hands down one of the best narrators I’ve ever listened to; she has incredible confidence, fluidity, and magnetism, and connects directly with the listener. Okoro draws in the listener as though they were an active participant, and then keeps them hooked with an incredible score and sound effects that color in the world brightly and with flair.

A Tinker is someone who has the ability and knowledge to hack into genetics and modify biology. Their work is often associated with biowarfare, and that’s what Tinker Jason Cawfield is in prison for. Is he guilty? What’s up with this dystopian prison he’s trapped in? The Glass Appeal answers these questions through Jason’s many visits from his friends, family, and interested parties. The show is a no-holds-barred commentary on our current societal ills from the perspective of a future that hasn’t solved them, and a slow-burn character study of a man whose rebellion is utterly relatable.

This Latinx-created young adult podcast is a time-traveling historical fiction, following Puerto Rican twins Alexa and Beni Ventura as they’re pulled into a mission: to witness, record, and remember the forgotten history of their ancestors. The show masterfully interweaves life in the modern day with a past that’s often overwritten; listeners experience both the lives of the Ventura family on the mainland while Hurricane Maria ravages Puerto Rico and the thoughtful stories of marginalized peoples — stories that scrap the lens of colonization, but never forget its effects, and celebrate Puerto Rican ancestral history.

Flyest Fables tracks the path of a magical book as it trades hands between children who may need an escape, an adventure, or support as they grow and make hard decisions. Creator Morgan Givens narrates the show and voices every character, and thanks to Givens’ wide and talented vocal range, the characters are distinct and natural. Givens also composes and sings original songs, making Flyest Fables a textured tapestry of music, sound design, and storytelling.

Joseph is a bounty hunter who’s setting out on a rescue mission, against the backdrop of a fully-fleshed out cyberpunk world and the nerve-wracking reality of facing down a terrorist who uses exo-skeleton technology. Joseph’s sound design is mind-blowing right out of the gate, a creative and novel use of audio techniques. Creator Mark Brooks is dedicated to building a world that feels and sounds real, like you could look out your window and there it is, and to a story that is gripping, tense, and hits high emotional notes exactly when necessary.

Between Paul Bae’s flawless scripting and Steve Jin’s subtle and resonant sound design, every episode of The Big Loop is a new, wild, risky experience. Since Bae casts his actors first and then fleshes out the monologue to fit their voice, every episode feels truly natural and immersive, and impossible to forget. These are all personal, intimate stories about being human in the face of the supernatural, weird, and magical, and you can’t ever expect what’s coming next.

Kane and Jason fall in love, discover they have magic, and build a safe queer community, all told through voicemails. Creator Erin Kyan has put all his queer power fantasies into this podcast, alongside co-producer Lee Davis-Thalbourne; Love and Luck remains committed to the goal of subverting the Bury Your Gays trope while still presenting life as a queer person in a realistic frame. There may be some strife and difficulties, but what triumphs is warmth, kindness, love, and the support of your friends and loved ones.

Super Ordinary interlaces real human problems — anxiety, mental health, and marginalization — together with superpowered crises in a way that feels both classic and perfectly suited to audio. Anika has powers, but they are tied to and activated by her panic attacks and anxiety, making them uncontrollable and unpredictable. Society has painted her a villain, and Anika struggles to be heard and understood in a time and place where it is difficult for people to see beyond the surface and offer genuine help.

What’s the Frequency broke every norm it could think of, and made some new ones just to break those, too. This experimental, psychedelic noir takes place in 1940s Los Angeles, and follows the adventures of Walter “Troubles” Mix and his partner Whitney as they track down a missing writer, while all of Los Angeles falls victim to a homicide-inducing radio broadcast. This podcast demands your attention and rewards you for it in a whole myriad of ways, from darkly satirical fake advertisements to genuinely surprising reveals.

A queer Latina witch opens up her new magical consulting business but must continuously fight against an anonymous saboteur. In between navigating her personal relationships and helping her clients in the most ethical and effective way possible, Kalila must also figure out what she needs to do for herself and her own healing. Writer, lead voice actor, and producer Lisette Alvarez has created a gorgeous universe with an engrossing lead. Season one is an astonishing audio journey that bears high hopes for season two.

Have you ever wondered what happens when the adventuring party of a D&D campaign settles down to rest at an inn? Inn Between takes a comedic and emotional look at a group of heroes whenever they come back from their quest, following them from their constant sniping to the moment when secrets are revealed and everything starts to click. This narrative design is ingeniously executed, and the meta-commentary is simply hilarious and never overplayed.

Six people witness Ella McCray’s disappearance on the eve of her wedding day, but all six see something entirely different. This weird, supernatural story is told from the viewpoint of these witnesses as they are interrogated and recorded by the overburdened Detective Larkin. Creator Jamie Killen’s talent for framework and character-focused audio fiction shines in Six Disappearances, where the frame falls away in the face of the sheer oddness of what’s happening to these people.

If you’ve been looking for something like David Attenborough, but supernatural plants, animals, and locations in a deep Southern accent, look no further. The Cryptonaturalist is delightfully strange, a poetic and curiously structured series of episodes about different types of flora and fauna — like The Constellation Turtle or The Half-Remembered Forest — with featured guests as special characters and peppered with hints towards interconnected storylines. Creator Jarod Anderson is dedicated to supporting his community; every episode features a segment that showcases a listener’s submitted writing, making this podcast a truly beautiful variety in sound and story.

The Bello Collective is a publication + newsletter about podcasts and the audio industry. Our goal is to bring together writers, journalists, and other voices who share a passion for the world of audio storytelling.

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