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LeVar Burton Reads
LeVar Burton Reads
LeVar Burton and Stitcher

The best short fiction, handpicked by the best voice in podcasting and presented in 3D immersive audio. In every episode, host LeVar... more

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Episodes

"The Toynbee Convector" by Ray Bradbury

The world's only time traveler finally reveals his secrets. "The Toynbee Convector" © 1983 by Ray Bradbury Content advisory: suicide

07 May 2024 · 43 minutes
"The November Story" by Rebecca Makkai

A reality TV show producer tries to make love happen, on- and off-screen. “The November Story” is from MUSIC FOR WARTIME... more

30 Apr 2024 · 49 minutes
"She Builds Quick Machines" by Lyndsie Manusos

Robotics, quick machines, fugitives -- none are exactly what they seem on the surface. Find more from the author at https://lyndsiekay.wordpress.com.... more

23 Apr 2024 · 38 minutes
"When the Apples are Ripe" by Diane Oliver

A young boy puzzles over the behavior of his mysterious elderly neighbor, his parents, and his older brother, a budding... more

16 Apr 2024 · 44 minutes
"The Coffin Maker" by AnaMaria Curtis

On a long mission to search for a new home planet, an outfitter tries to protect the crewmembers' lives. But... more

09 Apr 2024 · 49 minutes
"The Appropriation of Cultures" by Percival Everett

A young Black musician is heckled by a group of white fraternity brothers, asking him to play "Dixie." His response... more

02 Apr 2024 · 33 minutes
"The Hidden Forests of Earth and Mars" by Anna Zumbro

A young woman must decide her future: planting seeds and forging civilization on Mars, or caretaking for future generations on... more

26 Mar 2024 · 43 minutes
"Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush" by Luis Alberto Urrea

The self-proclaimed Graffiti King of Mexico brandishes his magical paintbrush, providing commentary on small-town sins. This story appears in the... more

19 Mar 2024 · 39 minutes
"The World Wasn't Ready for You" by Justin C. Key

An exploration of the depth of a father's love, and his attempts to keep his son happy, healthy and safe... more

12 Mar 2024 · 57 minutes
"Quarropts Can't Dance" by Rodrigo Culagovski

A human street performer breaks out his boombox for an unauthorized and unwelcome performance on Planet Drx. For more from... more

05 Mar 2024 · 33 minutes
"Folk Hero Motifs in Tales Told by the Dead" by KT Bryski

A trickster storyteller brings camaraderie and hope to the land of the dead. Find more from the author at ktbryski.com. Content advisory: Death... more

27 Feb 2024 · 46 minutes
"The Destroyer" by Tara Isabella Burton

A scientist explores (and transcends) the limitations of the human body, using her daughter as a test subject. This story... more

20 Feb 2024 · 53 minutes
Watch Out, Lucky Season 13 is Coming!

LeVar Burton Reads is back with all-new episodes starting February 20th, but if you don't want to wait, you can get... more

13 Feb 2024 · 3 minutes
Atlas Obscura presents: Mafra Palace Library Bats

We champion the work of librarians at LeVar Burton Reads, not least because they preserve books and maintain archives of... more

06 Feb 2024 · 15 minutes
A 99% Invisible / LeVar Burton Crossover!

If you’ve been listening to LeVar's new podcast Sound Detectives, you know there's something irresistible about a missing sound. That’s... more

19 Dec 2023 · 49 minutes
"Waystation City" by A.T. Greenblatt

Adrift in a mysterious time and place, and with the ground roiling and churning beneath their feet, a brother and... more

12 Dec 2023 · 45 minutes
"Three Roses" by Karmen Špiljak

A mysterious pub draws in lost souls on Christmas Eve. This story appears in the author's collection ADD CYANIDE TO... more

05 Dec 2023 · 44 minutes
"The Pilgrim and the Angel" by E. Lily Yu

An angel surprises a humble coffee shop owner in Cairo. This story appears in E. Lily Yu's collection JEWEL BOX, published... more

28 Nov 2023 · 41 minutes
Immersive Remix: "The Takeback Tango" by Rebecca Roanhorse

A teenage thief embarks on a mission to reclaim her people's sacred treasures. First published in A UNIVERSE OF WISHES in 2020 in the United States... more

21 Nov 2023 · 41 minutes
Sound Detectives! Episode 2

Enjoy more LeVar, more Detective Hunch, and more Audie with Episode #2 of LeVar's new podcast, SOUND DETECTIVES! SOUND DETECTIVES is... more

20 Nov 2023 · 32 minutes
"Galaxy Girl and the November Monstrosity" by Aleksandra Hill

A superhero returns home for Thanksgiving. Find more from Aleksandra Hill at aleksandrahill.com and khoreomag.com.

14 Nov 2023 · 44 minutes
Introducing: Sound Detectives!

LeVar Burton presents SOUND DETECTIVES – a funny, engaging, and thought-provoking podcast that invites elementary school-aged kids to explore the... more

13 Nov 2023 · 38 minutes
"The Many Taste Grooves of the Chang Family" by Allison King

Siblings try to jog their ailing father's memory through his sense of taste. They discover that as much as he's... more

07 Nov 2023 · 35 minutes
"Sin Eater" by Ian R. MacLeod

A robot "sin eater" is called to perform a vital service for the last human on earth. This story appears... more

31 Oct 2023 · 53 minutes
"Those Fantastic Lives" by Bradley Sides

A chain-smoking psychic is ready to retire, but first, she's got to see one last client. Find more from the... more

24 Oct 2023 · 38 minutes
"The Clockmaker and His Daughter" by Tobi Ogundiran

A story about the bond between father and daughter, cities both big and small, clocks, trees, and hope in a... more

17 Oct 2023 · 45 minutes
"The Court Magician" by Sarah Pinsker

A young magician is given the opportunity to learn real magic, but it comes with consequences. This story appears in Sarah... more

10 Oct 2023 · 38 minutes
"Dragonflies" by Shannon Sanders

Knick-knacks are tagged, life choices are interrogated, and secrets are revealed after the family matriarch passes away. This story appears... more

03 Oct 2023 · 45 minutes
"Mr. McCaslin" by Peter S. Beagle

Neighborhood kids help a curmudgeonly old man with a family curse. This story appears in The Essential Peter S. Beagle:... more

26 Sep 2023 · 42 minutes
"The Tin Man" by Lilliam Rivera

The sole survivor of a pandemic must determine the true intentions of a robot who arrives to save her. This... more

19 Sep 2023 · 45 minutes
Season 12, Here We Come!

LeVar Burton Reads is back September 19th! We've got stories from Peter S. Beagle, Sarah Pinsker, Tobi Ogundiran and more.... more

12 Sep 2023 · 1 minute
Immersive Remix: "An Equal Share of the Bone" by Karen Osborne

Hoping to make their fortune (or at least climb out of debt), a trio of space traders travel on a... more

04 Apr 2023 · 39 minutes
"D.P." by Kurt Vonnegut

In a small German village, an orphaned boy lives at a home for "displaced persons," and puzzles over where he... more

28 Feb 2023 · 37 minutes
"The Destination Star" by Gregory Marlow

As a generation ship hurtles toward a distant star, one of its crew members receives a rare and precious opportunity.... more

21 Feb 2023 · 49 minutes
"Mister Dawn, How Can You Be So Cruel?" by Violet Allen

An artist works as a dream concierge, creating augmented dream packages for clients. For more from Violet Allen, visit her... more

14 Feb 2023 · 53 minutes
"The Golden Hour" by Jeffrey Ford

A time traveler is stranded in a small town. This story appears in SOMEONE IN TIME: TALES OF TIME-CROSSED ROMANCE,... more

07 Feb 2023 · 57 minutes
"The Lady of the Yellow-Painted Library" by Tobi Ogundiran

A hapless salesman flees the librarian hell-bent on retrieving her lost library book. This story appears in Africa Risen: A... more

31 Jan 2023 · 50 minutes
"Wok Hei St" by Guan Un

A story of a stolen wok, magic, and manipulation. This story was originally published in Strange Horizons. You can find... more

24 Jan 2023 · 42 minutes
Immersive Remix: "The Foster Portfolio" by Kurt Vonnegut

A financial advisor meets his new client: a hardworking, unassuming man with a curious and potentially life-changing secret.

17 Jan 2023 · 46 minutes
Immersive Remix: "Silver Door Diner" by Bishop Garrison

A waitress is jolted from her morning routine when she's visited by a mysterious child.

10 Jan 2023 · 48 minutes
Immersive Remix: "The Simplest Equation" by Nicky Drayden

A struggling college student gains new perspective on her studies from her classmate, who's come to study from another planet.... more

03 Jan 2023 · 34 minutes
Immersive Remix: "The Truth About Owls" by Amal El-Mohtar

A young girl explores her own power, and finds kinship with a bird of prey.

27 Dec 2022 · 46 minutes
Immersive Remix: "The Last Cheng Beng Gift" by Jaymee Goh

A family matriarch takes up residence in the Underworld.

20 Dec 2022 · 34 minutes
Immersive Remix: "The Usual Santas" by Mick Herron

A group of mall Santas celebrating Christmas Eve discover that there is a stranger in their midst. "The Usual Santas" appears... more

13 Dec 2022 · 39 minutes
"River's Giving" by Heather Shaw, Tim Pratt, and River Shaw

A mystical phenomenon brightens the dreary days of winter — until one year, when it suddenly stops.

06 Dec 2022 · 37 minutes
"The King of Bread" by Luis Alberto Urrea

A boy discovers his father's hidden kingdom. This story appears in the anthology Small Odysseys: Selected Shorts Presents 35 New Stories,... more

29 Nov 2022 · 48 minutes
"Family Cooking" by Ana Maria Curtis

A tale of complicated family relationships and magical cooking. This story was first published in Uncanny Magazine.

22 Nov 2022 · 45 minutes
"Down in the Dim Kingdoms" by Tobias Buckell

An adventurer carried back spoils from a journey to the center of the earth. Now, his family joins him on... more

15 Nov 2022 · 44 minutes
"#ClimbingNation" by Kim Fu

When an Instagram-famous rock climber comes to an untimely death, his friends and admirers gather to memorialize him. This story appears... more

08 Nov 2022 · 49 minutes
"I Was a Teenage Space Jockey" by Stephen Graham Jones

While on a quest to beat the high score at his local arcade, a sixth grader has an unusual, life-altering... more

01 Nov 2022 · 43 minutes
We're Back for Season 11!

LeVar Burton Reads is back November 1st with stories from Stephen Graham Jones, Kim Fu, Tobias Buckell and more, in... more

25 Oct 2022 · 3 minutes
Immersive Remix: "Multo" by Samuel Marzioli

A man remembers a supernatural force from his childhood.

25 Oct 2022 · 39 minutes
Immersive Remix: "Fantaisie Impromptu No. 4 in C#min, Op. 66” by Carlos Hernandez

A reporter travels to Miami to investigate the fringes of science and faith. This story appears in THE ASSIMILATED CUBAN'S... more

18 Oct 2022 · 49 minutes
Immersive Remix: "Your Rover is Here" by LP Kindred

A rideshare driver must spring into action when his passenger casts a dangerous and deadly spell. Content advisory: explicit language,... more

11 Oct 2022 · 39 minutes
An Update! Plus Immersive Remix: "The Story We Used to Tell" by Shirley Jackson

LeVar Burton Reads is coming back! Plus, an immersive remix of Shirley Jackson's story about a recently widowed woman who... more

04 Oct 2022 · 34 minutes
Immersive Remix: "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu

A new immersive remix of a season one classic. An immigrant mother tries to bond with her American-born son by... more

12 Apr 2022 · 53 minutes
"Afterlife" by Stephen King

William Andrews, an investment banker with Goldman Sachs, dies on September 23, 2012, and finds himself confronted with his life... more

01 Mar 2022 · 47 minutes
"The Last Truth" by AnaMaria Curtis

This week: the first place winner of the LeVar Burton Reads writing contest, as co-presented by FIYAH Literary Magazine and... more

22 Feb 2022 · 57 minutes
"Troll Bridge" by Terry Pratchett

An aging barbarian sets out to battle a bridge troll, mano a mano, and thus prove his mettle. “Troll Bridge”... more

15 Feb 2022 · 38 minutes
"John Dillinger and the Blind Magician" by Allison M. Dickson

Public Enemy Number One, John Dillinger, looks to escape the feds with the help of a cunning wizard. Content advisory: Gunfire

08 Feb 2022 · 49 minutes
"Open House on Haunted Hill" by John Wiswell

A sentient house, haunted by its own loneliness, exercises its powers on a skeptic. This story was published by Diabolical... more

01 Feb 2022 · 32 minutes
"The Final Performance of the Amazing Ralphie" by Pat Cadigan

An AI-controlled avatar built to entertain patients in deep space performs innocuous magic tricks for patients... until one day, he... more

25 Jan 2022 · 48 minutes
Immersive Remix: "The Galactic Tourist Industrial Complex" by Tobias S. Buckell

Get a sneak peek of our immersive sound! A cab driver spends an ordinary day ferrying passengers around Manhattan --... more

18 Jan 2022 · 42 minutes
"The Placement Agency" by Tobias Buckell

What's the weirdest temp job you can imagine? One outside time and space... This story appears in Tobias Buckell's collection SHOGGOTHS... more

11 Jan 2022 · 40 minutes
"To Jump is to Fall" by Stephen Graham Jones

A spy narrates his thoughts as he jumps from an airplane and freefalls toward his government target. If you enjoyed this... more

04 Jan 2022 · 32 minutes
"Drones to Ploughshares" by Sarah Gailey

A sentient government surveillance drone is ensnared, and must determine his captor's motives. For more from Sarah Gailey, visit www.sarahgailey.com.

28 Dec 2021 · 43 minutes
"The Usual Santas" by Mick Herron

A group of mall Santas celebrating Christmas Eve discover that there is a stranger in their midst. "The Usual Santas" appears... more

21 Dec 2021 · 38 minutes
"Different People" by Timothy Mudie

A man begins a relationship with a woman who has fled from a disintegrating parallel universe. For more from the... more

14 Dec 2021 · 49 minutes
"The Wishing Pool" by Tananarive Due

When Joy revisits her family's old cabin, she's reminded of childhood memories of a pond in the woods and its... more

07 Dec 2021 · 43 minutes
Season 10 Announcement and a Q&A!

LeVar Burton Reads is back December 7th, featuring work from Tananarive Due, Stephen Graham Jones and Sarah Gailey, a winter holiday... more

30 Nov 2021 · 9 minutes
Revisited (Halloween Edition!): "Singing on a Star" by Ellen Klages

A kindergartner travels through a portal to a fantastic and eerie new world. This story appears in Ellen's collection WICKED... more

26 Oct 2021 · 49 minutes
Revisited: "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience TM" by Rebecca Roanhorse

A tour guide leads virtual reality “experiences” for tourists who want to know what it’s like to be Native American.... more

19 Oct 2021 · 56 minutes
Revisited: "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu

An immigrant mother tries to bond with her American-born son by creating a magical paper menagerie. This story appears in... more

12 Oct 2021 · 49 minutes
"On the Lonely Shore" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A young woman is hired to look after an ailing man who's been ostracized by his family and sent to... more

07 Sep 2021 · 39 minutes
"Tía Abuela's Face, Ten Ways" by Lisa M. Bradley

An anthropologist copes with the passing of her beloved tía abuela, experimenting with her own method of honoring her. This... more

31 Aug 2021 · 34 minutes
"Shock of Birth" by Cadwell Turnbull

A man questions his current existence -- and the life he remembers from before. Originally published in Asimov's Science Fiction,... more

24 Aug 2021 · 39 minutes
"Words We Say Instead" by Brit E. B. Hvide

A veteran pilot revisits memories, and searches for remnants of her old experimental smartship.   Content advisory: War Submissions are now open for... more

17 Aug 2021 · 49 minutes
"The Years of My Birth" by Louise Erdrich

A woman recounts the story of her birth as a surprise twin and adoption by a Native American couple, and... more

10 Aug 2021 · 46 minutes
"You Perfect, Broken Thing" by C.L. Clark

An athlete trains to win a prize that would ensure her survival. Content advisory: Discussion of degenerative illness, death Submissions are now... more

03 Aug 2021 · 40 minutes
"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara

A young boy feuds with a muralist who has taken over a beloved hangout in his neighborhood.   Don't forget! The LeVar Burton... more

27 Jul 2021 · 32 minutes
"The Angel of Khan El-Khalili" by P. Djèlí Clark

A girl visits a bazaar in Cairo, seeking a favor from a mysterious angelic being. This story first appeared in the... more

20 Jul 2021 · 52 minutes
"Milagroso" by Isabel Yap

Marty brings his family to his hometown of Lucban for the annual festival to witness a miracle: lab-grown, synthetic food... more

13 Jul 2021 · 46 minutes
"Dark Spaces on the Map" by Anjali Sachdeva

A woman has her memories catalogued for the historical record, and must decide whether or not to divulge a painful... more

06 Jul 2021 · 48 minutes
"Jealous Husband Returns in Form of Parrot" by Robert Olen Butler

A man dies and finds himself reincarnated as a parrot.   This story appears in Robert Olen Butler's collection TABLOID DREAMS. His... more

29 Jun 2021 · 35 minutes
"The Bank of Burkina Faso" by Ekaterina Sedia

What if those spammy emails from princes about overseas banks were... real? An exiled prince teams up with the widow... more

22 Jun 2021 · 41 minutes
Season 9 is Almost Here!

LeVar Burton Reads is back June 22nd, featuring stories from P Djeli Clark, Anjali Sachdeva, Ekaterina Sedia, Isabel Yap and more.... more

15 Jun 2021 · 4 minutes
"St. Valentine, St. Abigail, St. Brigid" by C.L. Polk

Theresa Anne has spent years watching her mother tell fortunes and work magical spells. But when she asks to protect... more

20 Apr 2021 · 53 minutes
"Vaccine Season" by Hannu Rajaniemi

In a post-pandemic future where scientists have made great strides in eliminating disease, a young boy faces his fears and... more

13 Apr 2021 · 54 minutes
"Getaway" by Nicole Kornher-Stace

A getaway driver and her crew are hired to steal a mysterious artifact, and inadvertently get locked into a time... more

06 Apr 2021 · 49 minutes
"Salt" by Rosemary Melchior

A teenage girl is exiled to a penal colony on an icy, inhospitable island.  But the island contains secrets, and so... more

30 Mar 2021 · 34 minutes
"An Equal Share of the Bone" by Karen Osborne

Hoping to make their fortune (or at least climb out of debt), a trio of space traders travel on a... more

23 Mar 2021 · 38 minutes
"Killer of Kings" by Anjali Sachdeva

Guided by an angel, a writer pens his greatest -- and perhaps most dangerous -- work.   "Killer of Kings" appears in Anjali... more

16 Mar 2021 · 45 minutes
"Flyboys" by Tobias Wolff

Adolescent boys are faced with the reality of friendships, old and new, as they work on plans to build their... more

09 Mar 2021 · 56 minutes
"The Regression Test" by Wole Talabi

A woman helps to test the artificial intelligence based on the mind of her mother, a brilliant thinker. "The Regression... more

02 Mar 2021 · 41 minutes
"Alluvial Deposits" by Percival Everett

A government contractor deals with everyday frustrations in a small town. "Alluvial Deposits" appears in Percival Everett's collection DAMNED IF... more

23 Feb 2021 · 50 minutes
"Daddy" by Damion Wilson

A woman struggles to understand why her elderly father has begun to spontaneously teleport.    Content advisory: drug addiction, illness, death

16 Feb 2021 · 37 minutes
"The Takeback Tango" by Rebecca Roanhorse

A teenage thief embarks on a mission to reclaim her people's sacred treasures. First published in A UNIVERSE OF WISHES in 2020 in the United States... more

09 Feb 2021 · 41 minutes
"Silver Door Diner" by Bishop Garrison

A waitress is jolted from her morning routine when she's visited by a mysterious child.

02 Feb 2021 · 49 minutes
Season 8... Coming Soon!

The wait is nearly over! Join us for Season 8 of LeVar Burton Reads, beginning next week and featuring stories... more

26 Jan 2021 · 2 minutes
Nnedi Okorafor, Author of "Mother of Invention", Part 3

LeVar talks to Africanfuturist Nnedi Okorafor about the visceral nature of her writing, writing a beautiful and green future for... more

01 Dec 2020 · 51 minutes
LeVar Burton Reads
"Alluvial Deposits" by Percival Everett
LeVar Burton Reads
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Description

A government contractor deals with everyday frustrations in a small town. "Alluvial Deposits" appears in Percival Everett's collection DAMNED IF I DO.... more