Inception Podfic - The Classics
All of these fics have been recced a million times before. If you've been in the Inception fandom for a long while, you've read them. If you've been in the Inception fandom for a few days, you've already heard of them.
So I'm not going to tell you that Presque Vu is basically the movie, or that Skin Deep is probably the best Tattoo shop AU that you'll ever read, or that you want to read everything that Weatherfront has written.
You know that.
What I'm going to tell you about is the podfics of those stories, the performances, the time, the love and the dedication that people put into recording them. That, and why you should take the time to listen.
I hope you enjoy :)
Alphabetical by Reader then Title
Skin Deep by Starlingthefool, read by Anatsuno
mp3 link here
A story that starts with a spiral, ends with a fire, and is stained with ink and blood in the middle. (In other words, a tattoo shop AU)
Okay, can I start with a generalisation: you loved this fic. This is fact. And then Anatsuno podficced it and it became like TEN TIMES BETTER! I still haven't figured out her accent, but I Don't Even Care, her voice is Perfection. The way she portrays emotion is just . . . lovely. Anatsuno is one of the most gifted and most prolific podficcers out there, and even if I'm not in a few of her fandoms, I can appreciate her in the ones I am a part of. Seriously guys, when I say gifted, I mean GIFTED. She's great.
audiobook size: 55MB | mp3 size: 77MB
1 hour, 51 minutes, 54 seconds long
Renovations by Joosetta, read by Anatsuno
mp3 link
In which Eames builds a nest and (accidentally) lures Arthur into it.
This fic is one of the sweetest things in fandom, this is well known, and once again Anatsuno has proven herself amazing. I don't really have much to say that I didn't already say above, but I love the way she read this fic. Is it weird to say that she managed to capture the sweetness in the fic, but also that subtle surprise at their lack of surprise that Arthur and Eames (but mostly Arthur) felt throughout the fic? Well, if it's weird, too bad. That's just my personal opinion
audiobook size: 32.11MB | mp3 size: 19MB
33 minutes, 22 seconds long
In Our Line Of Work by Fee, read by Cath and Crinklysolution
Arthur wakes up and realizes the last ten years of his life have been a dream. He is nineteen, and he can barely remember where he is. What he can remember is the ghost of Eames’ hands pressed down on his chest trying frantically to stop the blood flooding up around his fingers as Arthur died (as he woke up).
My ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE thing about this (apart from the fic itself) is the two voice collaboration. I don't think I've ever heard a collaboration sound as good as this one does. It really sounds as though they're on the same page, that the story they're telling is being told by the same person, at different stages in their lives. It really gives it that extra something, that distinction between Arthur-In-The-Dream and Arthur-Not-In-The-Dream that this fic needed in order to be a successful podfic. Usually, I'd say more about each podficcer's best bit, but to be honest, the whole thing is the best bit. It was really brave of them to take on a fic like this, and they pulled it off SO FUCKING WELL. The performance that they put on in this fic took my breath away, and I'll be on the lookout for anymore collabs between these two
audiobook size: 115.4MB | mp3 size: 95.3MB
1 hour, 45 minutes, 32 seconds long
Patience, A Steady Hand by Helenish, read by Chestnut_Filly
821 A.D. Arthur is in the nightmare business. Eames is a thief, a liar, and versatile with a pen.
This is that fic that nobody thought that they'd like but everybody loved. You know the one, the viking AU. Now, down to business. CHESTNUT_FILLY'S FUCKING VOICE OHMYGOD. It is actually so relaxing. With a lot of fics, I prefer to at least read them first, but with this one, I wish I hadn't. The way she balances her magnificent voice with timing and all that other stuff essential to good build up was just DELICIOUS.
Warning: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Rape/Noncon,
audiobook size: 128MB | mp3 size: 131MB
4 hours, 46 minutes, 20 seconds long
I Bet Nureyev Never Had To Deal With This Shit by Cobweb_Diamond, read by EmilianaDarling
mp3 link here
The Ballet AU
Emiliana's voice is Darling, okay? That's obviously where the username came from, OBVIOUSLY. When I first read this fic, I was hesitant about downloading the podfic, because the bit in the middle was on the wrong side of what I can handle, re: Stupid Miscommunications That Could Have Been Avoided With A Few Conversations But Then Became Major Dramas Because Everyone Is Allergic To Words (aka RomCom syndrome). But I did anyway, because the writing is like a hug, I figured that I could just skip the part I didn't like and BALLET AU. Then I came to the angsty bit and I . . . didn't skip forward. This is ENTIRELY due to Emilianadarling's ability to draw someone in with her voice, I knew what was coming, I knew that when I first read it I didn't really like that part, but I kept listening anyway. She kept me on the edge of my seat and she was just so ENGAGED with the story, it was like . . . I suppose, if Cobweb_Diamond's writing is like a hug, Emilianadarling's reading of that writing is like coming home out of a rainstorm after a long day of doing whatever it is you do, and getting that hug from a person you love quite a lot.
audiobook size: 66MB | mp3 size: 159MB
2 hours, 15 minutes, 51 seconds long
Wherever You Will Be, That's Where I'll Call Home [the domestic verse] by Gyzym, read by Fiercynn
part two here
People you kiss in an airport baggage claim and then don't talk to for thirteen months shouldn't be able to exist, let alone make your chest do the things Arthur's chest is doing. There are rules.
I don't think you understand how much I love the reading of this story. The recording may not be as clean as some of the other fics in this section, but there is a reason that this is one of the most played fics in my collection. And that reason is passion. Fiercynn's enjoyment of the fic comes through loud and clear in each word of this, transforming what could have been pretty ordinary (had someone who liked the fic a little less than Fiercynn) into something FUCKING AMAZING. Really, she just communicates her feelings really well through the characters (my favourite bit was the bit with the car). Another thing is, since domestic wasn't my thing before Inception ate my brain, I really have to thank Fiercynn for getting me started on this series in the first place, seeing as I almost skipped over it (THANK YOU FIERCYNN I REALLY LOVE YOUR READING OF THIS PODFIC YOU ROCK MY SOCKS AND I REALLY HOPE YOU READ THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY REALLY AWESOME!!!!)
between my reflex and my resolve (part 1) size: 25.9MB 29 minutes, 4 seconds long
this life looks good on you (part 2) size: 22.1MB 25 minutes, 3 seconds long
54 minutes, 7 seconds long when put together
Just A Little Touch by Avacado_Love, read by Kansouame
mp3 here
"You’re having me on. You expect me to believe you’re not interested at all in finding your mate? The dom to your sub? The one who holds the key to your frozen, black heart?"
Ususally, soul-bonding, especially of the dom/sub or alpha/beta/omega type are not my cup of tea (outside of the XMFC fandom I mean shut up), but I listen to as much of Kansouame's podfic as I can. My favourite thing about her work (all of her work) is her Arthur Voice. Yes, capitals are necessary. And while this is my favourite bit, there are SO MANY other awesome things about her reading. Just so you know, the only reason I'm not singing her praises until my voice gives out is because I'm waiting until the post where I officially rec laying claim.
Also, just a small note, avacado_love no longer has this story up on the internet. If you would like to READ it, please take a look at this post, and love Kansouame a lot because not only does she do some of the best podfic in the Inception fandom, she is also, quite clearly, the kind and generous type of person that you would give hugs and also your undying worship to.
audiobook size: 19.6MB | mp3 size: 153.2MB
2 hours, 48 minutes, 2 seconds long
I've Got Nothing To Do Today But Smile by Gyzym, read by Pennyplainknits
mp3 link here
Arthur's a corporate lawyer, Eames owns the coffee shop across the street, and all good love stories start with a quadruple shot latte.
Okay, first of all Penny is synonymous with GREAT FUCKING PODFIC where I come from. Look it up in the dictionary, it's there, with a footnote for exceptional performances in This^^ and also the one below this. I like her accent. As much as I appreciate the American accents of a lot of people in the podficcing game have, English and Australian accents are my favourite (English because it's the closest you can come to an Aussie accent without it actually being Aussie). But it's much more than her accent. It's her ACTING. Voice acting. She does it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE HER EAMES AND YUSUF OMG THEY ARE SO AWESOME! Even with Yusuf's comparatively few scenes in this fic, Penny really made me remember him. Her delivery of his character was just so in tune with what was going on in my head, it was uncanny!
audiobook size: 52.7MB | mp3 size: 100MB
1 hour, 50 minutes, 3 seconds long
The Waking Years by Weatherfront, read by Pennyplainknits
mp3 link here
After the Fischer inception, Eames goes back to work as an extractor, and Arthur joins his team. Due to circumstances involving a guy who may or may not be from Greenland, pop astrology, someone's broken limb, hormones, and convenience, they end up learning that love is what starts down below (and makes its way up your spine).
We all know Weatherfront, right? Yes? Good, I was just checking. So now that we know that this fic is genius, we will move onto Penny's OUTRAGEOUSLY AMAZING PODFIC OF AWESOMENESS!!! First of all: her Eames. You know how I mentioned Kansouames's Arthur Voice? Well, Penny has an Eames Voice, and she REALLY REALLY shows it in this fic. She's just really in tune with the Eames bit of the story, his lightheartedness that disguises his seriousness, his lightheartedness that disguises more lightheartedness (it's hard to know with Eames), you know the deal. I feel like the only way this could have been a better portrayal of Eames was if Tom Hardy was reading it. Second of all: asdfghjkl the team omg THE TEAM WHEN A AND E WERE LIKE TALKING ON THE PHONE AND E WAS IN THE BATHROOM OHMYGOD THAT CRACKED ME UP ALMOST AS HARD AS THIS BITS WITH THE MAGAZINE!
audiobook size: 69MB | mp3 size: 129MB
2 hours, 22 minutes, 45 seconds long
Presque Vu by Rageprufrock, read by Seussian
Or, "on the tip of the tongue." Arthur meets Mal first. He inherits Dom, after. Everything else is on him.
I love the way Seussian read this. Okay, Seussian's pretty great anyway, but this . . . this was just WOW. She took Rageprufrock's already pretty perf writing and added another layer to it. I loved the way she did the accents, they sounded really comfortable coming off her tongue and the way that the character's emotions could be heard through her voice. I applaud her.
audiobook size: 336MB | mp3 size: 399MB
7 hours, 14 minutes, 20 seconds long
We Can Do This Until We Pass Out [chav verse] by Delires, read by Seaussian
link to text
The one where Eames is a Chav.
Okay, so. Seussian. First I would like to acknowledge that she is one of my favourite podficcers of all time. Next, I would like to share the reasons why. First of all, she recorded both this and Presque Vu. Okay? Second, She does accents (GOOD ACCENTS!). Third, her Cobb is the funniest thing to walk this earth. Fourth, HER TAKE ON ARTHUR IS BREATH TAKING. Fifth, her username. Sixth, I JUST LOVE HER WORK.
audiobook size: 93MB (note: the link leads to the audiobook containing both We Can Do This Until We Pass Out and When Life Sucks Put On Some Glitter)
3 hours, 9 minutes, 2 seconds long
People, I love podfic as much as the next person, and I am, sadly, guilty of not letting the Podficcers know that their work is appreciated, loved and respected. I am trying, with both this blog and every time I listen to something new, to change that. Please, if you have the time, leave a couple of words to the podficcer :)