The Drabblecast Audio Fiction Podcast · Norm Sherman

Drabblecast 472 – The Hard Problem of Consciousness

·19 min·1 clip

Norm Sherman introduces a story where rain reeks of communication and chemical signals trail behind scurrying figures.

This episode features the audio fiction story "The Hard Problem of Consciousness" by author Andrew Giffen, presented by host Norm Sherman. Giffen is a high school English teacher whose work has appeared in publications like Cosmic Horror Monthly and Planet Scum. The story follows a character named Pat, a veteran adjusting to civilian life two years after a war has ended. Pat navigates a city where rain falls and the air carries chemical signals from scurrying, segmented creatures. She operates a vehicle described as a "cab beetle" that follows pheromone trails through streets of brown, rounded buildings. These structures are noted as being built from chewed-up dirt and saliva, illuminated by bioluminescent city lighting. Pat experiences traumatic memories, waking from dreams of tunnels and dead friends, and she had resigned from armed service following an unspecified incident. The setting blends elements of a bug-like ecology with human technology, as Pat uses a scent translator to detect communications. Her deep-seated hatred of bugs, stemming from childhood, contrasts with her reliance on insectoid transport and systems. The world-building suggests a society where biological and technological systems are deeply intertwined, using pheromones and bioluminescence for infrastructure. A central tension arises from Pat's psychological trauma as a veteran juxtaposed against her immersion in this alien, insect-dominated environment. The story's title directly references the philosophical dilemma of explaining subjective experience, hinting at thematic explorations of consciousness. The narrative style immerses the listener in a sensory-rich, slightly grotesque landscape that redefines familiar concepts like cities and communication. The tone is atmospheric and introspective, blending psychological realism with surreal, biological science fiction. The style is narrative-driven and descriptive, prioritizing mood and internal character experience over fast-paced action. Listeners who enjoy literary, concept-driven speculative fiction with a focus on world-building and post-traumatic stress will find this episode compelling. Those preferring straightforward plots or traditional human-centric sci-fi might find the abstract, insectile setting less engaging.

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