For the Glory of Urth

The cover for this story really puts me off it and makes me go ah when I have to relisten to it

Have you ever been to a party from a family member, where you were completely surrounded by absolute nutcases that spend too much time on facebook? This story is that party.

This story takes place on a lone sattelite where humans live under a dictator. The people here (Or at least, the people in charge) believe themselves to be the last true humans in the universe, while the rest has gone off and "danced" with every alien under the sun. This has led to a secluded society, where every outsider is treated like a criminal.

As far as setup goes, we're on the right track. But it focuses on all the wrong parts. This story could be fun if the people saw the light when they see what the outside world can bring, or even if they refused to see the light and gave up their  existence instead. Not being able to live without their beliefs. And to be fair, the story gets there. At the end, this conclusion is reached. But why only at the end?

This story is 90% dealing with the most annoying surroundings and cast I've heard in ages. All of them are loudmouthed screamers. Which is fine, portray your characters like that if they are like that. But I have to listen to this for 2 hours, and all the focus is on them. It's like a baby screaming in your ear. It just breaks the entire thing down.

The rest of the story is fine. The idea is solid. The alien character is likeable and very interesting as a species. The way the cast is split is pretty good (although at this point, I wish they stuck together every now and again). It all hangs together in an organized manner. It's just that the focus is off. By focusing on the annoying environment. The ending does not get the chance it deserved. It makes the story feel pointless. In the end, nothing was learned, and nothing was lost.

It could have been better. Some of the notes it hits could have worked. The life of a dictator is an interesting point of view and, as I'm typing this, is as relevant as ever. The focus on working together to deal with a disease could work too as, again, that topic is more actual than it has been in the last 100 years. But instead it hangs around with annoying people, and calls it a day. That can work too, but make sure your story has a viewpoint or opinion about it.