The Alien in My Headphones

A young woman becomes increasingly convinced that the radio receiver in her bargain headphones is picking up an alien transmission.

Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction

Excerpt: And I, as always, am Glormynx. As you know, this week, I’m interviewing citizens at all levels of society—soldiers, politicians, bakers, mongrel-walkers, scientists, and of course, poets. And I’m asking what they think about the planned invasion of Earth.

What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on.

This week I am revisiting an idea and a story title. The idea is mysterious voices coming from headphones. The story title and the episode that inspired this one is “The Lady in My Headphones.”

But fun fact, I make (very) offhand references to events or characters from the following episodes: “The Piecemeal Cake” and “Humans: A Blorgnathian Delicacy?”

MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for updated info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE

MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I’ve gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer’s Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories.

It’s now available as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover.

The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon.

Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE

The Store page has a sign-up form for my email newsletters. Fictioneering mischief and writing tips. Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)

CREDITSStory: “The Alien in my Headphones” Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel

Music: “Space Discoveries” by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro and Outro) “Abstract Vision #5” by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)

Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)* “Another World” “Abstract Vision #6” “Stars Talk” “Abstract Vision #7” “Dark Side” “Abstract Vision #1” “Abstract Vision #9” “Space Discoveries” “A Long Way” “Freedom”

*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.

Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, and GameDevMarket Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.

Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com

Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Overview of a wooden desktop. Clockwise from top right corner, most of a cup filled with a brown liquid. A cell phone displaying a checklist with a few items checked off.  A hand with a bracelet visible, holding a pen perched over a folded-over notebook.  A crumpled sticky note.  A pair of over-ear headphones.  A cylindrical container filled with colored pencils.  A partial view of a pair of glasses folded up. A folded-over notebook with notes written on the top half lying over a document affixed with a binder clip holding a note where the sentences are partially visible under the headphones. Some of the readable words include, “Glormynx” and “Sunday,” and a note that reads “check manual for chip (can Joe help?). Watermark of “Storyfeather” along outside edge of notebook. Rectangular image made square with top and bottom borders that display blurred grayscale portions of the main image.