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 Burton (Roots, Reading Rainbow, Star Trek) invites you to take a break from your daily life, and dive into a great story. LeVar’s narration blends with gorgeous soundscapes to bring stories by Stephen King, Toni Morrison, Nnedi Okorafor, Kurt Vonnegut, Ken Liu and more to life. So, if you’re ready, let’s take a deep breath...

Our immersive audio is best with headphones! If you'd prefer to listen without immersive audio, visit levarburtonpodcast.com/mono.

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191 episodes
Updated May 7, 2024
Explicit

Episodes191

Newest first

Feb 1, 2022 · 32 min
"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 Plots. Content advisory: Brief discussion of death
Jan 25, 2022 · 48 min
"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 adds something new to his act. This story was originally published in AVATARS INC edited by Ann VanderMeer, and collected in THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, VOL. 2 edited by Jonathan Strahan. PLUS! With FIYAH Literary Magazine and Tor.com, we announce the winners of the LeVar Burton Reads writing contest! Content advisory: hospice setting, death
Jan 18, 2022 · 42 min
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 -- until an incident involving a wealthy alien tourist imperils his livelihood. Content advisory: alien death.
Jan 11, 2022 · 40 min
"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 IN TRAFFIC AND OTHER STORIES, published by Fairwood Press. Content advisory: some discussion of murder/death
Jan 4, 2022 · 32 min
"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 story, check out Stephen Graham Jones' novel, MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW, published by Saga Press. Content advisory: death
Dec 28, 2021 · 43 min
"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.
Dec 21, 2021 · 38 min
"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 in Mick Herron's collection DOLPHIN JUNCTION, published by Soho Press (US) and John Murray (UK), 2021.
Dec 14, 2021 · 49 min
"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 author, check out his website www.timothymudie.com or find him on Twitter @timothy_mudie. Content advisory: Discussion of death
Dec 7, 2021 · 43 min
"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 mysterious powers. For more from Tananarive, check out her works at tananarivedue.com and look for her new novel THE REFORMATORY and graphic novel THE KEEPER, both due out in 2022. Content advisory: Depiction of dementia/illness, brief mention of death
Nov 30, 2021 · 9 min
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 story, the winning entry of the LBR Writing Contest and much more! Plus LeVar answers some of your questions about making the podcast and gives out some tips to up your "reading aloud" game. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 26, 2021 · 49 min
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 WONDERS. Find more of Ellen's writing for adults and middle grade readers at ellenklages.com. Content advisory: disappearance of a child See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 19, 2021 · 56 min
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. Think Black Mirror meets Westworld. For more great writing by Rebecca, check out her acclaimed debut novel TRAIL OF LIGHTNING, as well as BLACK SUN, the first installment of her 'Between Earth and Sky' series. You can preorder the next book, FEVERED STAR, right now. Check out rebeccaroanhorse.com for updates on her novels, comics, and television writing. See omnystudio.com/listen
Oct 12, 2021 · 49 min
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 Ken Liu's collection THE PAPER MENAGERIE AND OTHER STORIES, available now from Saga Press. Ken Liu's forthcoming novel, THE VEILED THRONE, is the third installment of THE DANDELION DYNASTY and will be available November 2nd from Saga Press. Content advisory: Hospitals, death of a parent
Sep 7, 2021 · 39 min
"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 live in an old house by the sea. Find more from Silvia Moreno-Garcia at silviamoreno-garcia.com.
Aug 31, 2021 · 34 min
"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 story was first published in SPECULATIVE FICTION FOR DREAMERS. Content advisory: Death, surgery
Aug 24, 2021 · 39 min
"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, and reprinted in Lightspeed. Content advisory: mention of mental illness Only a few more days to enter the LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest! Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.
Aug 17, 2021 · 49 min
"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 the LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest! Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.
Aug 10, 2021 · 46 min
"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 questions the strange presence she has felt with her since childhood. Louise Erdrich's novel THE SENTENCE will be published by Harper on November 9th. Content advisory: Adoption, medical issues, ableist language Submissions are now open for the LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest! Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.
Aug 3, 2021 · 40 min
"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 open for the LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest! Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.
Jul 27, 2021 · 32 min
"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 Reads Writing Contest opens for submissions on August 1st. Check out www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest for details.

LeVar Burton Reads

"Open House on Haunted Hill" by John Wiswell

"The Final Performance of the Amazing Ralphie" by Pat Cadigan

Immersive Remix: "The Galactic Tourist Industrial Complex" by Tobias S. Buckell

"The Placement Agency" by Tobias Buckell

"To Jump is to Fall" by Stephen Graham Jones

"Drones to Ploughshares" by Sarah Gailey

"The Usual Santas" by Mick Herron

"Different People" by Timothy Mudie

"The Wishing Pool" by Tananarive Due

Season 10 Announcement and a Q&A!

Revisited (Halloween Edition!): "Singing on a Star" by Ellen Klages

Revisited: "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience TM" by Rebecca Roanhorse

Revisited: "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Liu

"On the Lonely Shore" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

"Tía Abuela's Face, Ten Ways" by Lisa M. Bradley

"Shock of Birth" by Cadwell Turnbull

"Words We Say Instead" by Brit E. B. Hvide

"The Years of My Birth" by Louise Erdrich

"You Perfect, Broken Thing" by C.L. Clark

"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara