An audiobook review of Gravity Pulls Through

Gravity Pulls Through is the first offering from Big Pilot, a collaboration between writer James Hitchens and musician Alvine Spetz, who hope to revive the sci-fi short story in audiobook form. The project is certainly putting its best foot forward, getting veteran British actor Keith Allen (of Shallow Grave and Trainspotting fame) to more than ably narrate the tale of mega-rich tycoon Newmeyer’s trip to space.

Newmeyer, along with his artificially intelligent computer companion CCA, has set off into the cosmos in the not-too-distant future after a UN treaty that allows people to claim planets – along with all their resources – if they can get there and circle it. Smelling a hefty profit, Newmeyer hires a team of experts to get him on one of the first manned missions outside the Solar System so he can stick his company’s flag on a new world. However, naturally, things don’t really go according to plan. Without giving too much away, the story twists in a rather enjoyable manner, turning events thus far on their head and delivering a clever moral lesson while it’s at it.

Interspersed with Newmeyer’s interior monologue and his witty exchanges with CCA, which seems to be a cross between HAL and Marvin the Android, are comical musical interludes from Spetz dealing with topics as diverse as Pluko hair pomade and the stock exchange. The songs provided a nice counterpoint to the story, keeping the same irreverent tone, but there might be just a touch too many of them. Particularly at the end of the story, the last song felt more like an interruption than an interlude, although previous songs had slotted in nicely.

The story is far from the most original sci-fi tale that’s ever been spun, but Keith Allen’s smooth delivery makes it very entertaining to listen to. The audiobook format is a terrific idea for short stories, making them fit neatly into a day’s commuting or a short drive. It’s also kind of like a longer form podcast and with podcast dramas like fake small town radio broadcast Welcome to Night Vale gaining in popularity, short stories could find a whole new audience in audio form, especially if they come in this kind of quality.

Find out more about the Big Pilot project here.