The Voice of Free Earth
The Voice of Free Earth began life as a novel by Michael Klein, a book of stories published in 1992 to critical acclaim, and remains in print to this day, including both Kindle and Google Play ebook editions. Thirty years later, these stories have been rewritten for the spoken word and given voice by the aging author himself in weekly, thirty-minute episodes—set in Free Earth, a farming community in California’s rural San Joaquin Valley. They are the stories of Christopher Beale—something of a chronicle of his life as the son of a larger-than-life country doctor, Doc Beale. Doc Beale is the main character, as seen through the lens of Christopher. It is a gripping and epic ten-hour tale filled with humor, joy, and the overriding feeling that danger and violence is always imminent—Christopher always in denial struggling to normalize the madness.
Listen on:
Episodes
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
The Voice of Free Earth: Episode One opens with a sweeping panorama of this place called Free Earth; then on to "It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas" as Doc Beale, the central character, prepares a ritual end to his life. Without resolution, the listener is transported back in time with "Of Rockets and Rocket Scientists" and introduced to Christopher's world as his life unfolds in the 1950's and early 1960’s as this epic serial begins.
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
"Of Rockets and Rocket Scientists" concludes, but had Martin really intended to kill Christopher? Christopher's zone grows by the minute, and Martin has a new engineering project. They are going to build a fort! What a joy; interrupted only by Christopher's first police drama, with Mr. Carson in a world of hurt at Doc Beale's doorstep. Then it's back to "Orland Boa’s Barn" and a whole new story begins, miles up in the barn's loft with a Lucky Strike.
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
"Orland Boa's Barn” continues and a hay loft drama ensues with Orland Boa to the rescue, all kept secret from Doc Beale. Then a short school story titled "Scratchy Mendota,” and on to "The Big Dinner” as Christopher is out to kill Martin and everyone thought he was dead.
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
"The Big Dinner” continues, and shocked by Doc Beale’s praise, Christopher has changed. “The Grilled Cheese Menagerie” begins and the Beale’s are moving, and what a grand move it is. But daily lists and Gopher Patrol dominate life and Doc Beale seeks the ultimate solution with fire and brimstone to prove it.
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
First Blood. “The Grilled Cheese Menagerie” concludes, and it is on to "Useless as Tits On A Boar” where Christopher faces the dreaded garage with terrible consequences and is off to his dad's office for stitches. “The Three Minute Warning” begins, the new Zenith dominates between the Wednesday Night Fights, endless Gopher Patrol, and time for The Three Stooges.
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Ford vs. Porsche! The “Three Minute Warning” continues as Christopher prepares for the sound of that Ford Police Interceptor V8, and a almost nightly dinner table drama. Doc Beale is not a happy man. Then an amazing event as “Saturday Normal 356” begins and Christopher is invited to join his dad to have a look at a brand new Porsche 356. High anxiety about his first experience with a car salesman, but he fit perfectly into the little back bucket seat of that red torpedo and was ready for anything—including a new truth. The shortest distance between two points is not always a straight line, and so the Crooked Mile was born.
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
Tuesday Oct 25, 2022
GERMAN TO THE BONE! “Saturday Normal 356” winds down, but the Crooked Mile is forever. "Very Odd Fellows” begins in a very German VW Mircobus, and Doc Beale learns the significance of language in Free Earth. “Can’t practice medicine if you don’t know the damned language,” some hard-earned wisdom from Doc Beale. Then we are introduced to "Calvin Grange" for the first time, a prime example of good genes and one heck of a boxing lesson gone awry.
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
GENETICALLY SUPERIOR! "Calvin Grange” continues, and though Calvin's boxing career ends, life on the Beale Ranch goes on. Christopher and Calvin hatch a great plan with Willy, about the biggest Gopher Snake anybody had ever seen, and a chance to scare Chesapeake half to death. Christopher imagines that Chesapeake actually has noticed him, and preps for an afternoon at the Granges pool with plans to impress her. The genetically superior Calvin is center stage as usual, but gets a shock and says, “I don’t feel good."
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
Tuesday Nov 08, 2022
CHRISTOPHER WAS TREADING WATER—CALVIN WAS TURNING BLUE! "Calvin Grange” continues as Christopher recognizes that something is very wrong, time for an emergency call to Doc Beale. The Porsche is fired up and Doc Beale is on his way, around the Crooked Mile that screaming engine wailed for Calvin. Doc Beale and Nurse Beaver start a poolside intervention, a shocking open heart surgery as an ambulance is on its way from Modesto. Hours later at the hospital, Doc Beale tells the Granges what they already knew. In denial Christopher reflects on stories about Spears Newton and Hooker Able, but Mission Beale stands firm with Christopher and the planned fishing trip to Mexico Trip is on.
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
A PISTOL TO HIS HEART! "Calvin Grange” concludes. Calvin is dead. Christopher recalls finding a dead frogman at Jade Cove. Death is everywhere. "A Pistol To His Heart” begins as Doc Beale, Martin, and Christopher head to Mexico the night of Calvin’s death. Doc Beale is beat-up, hurting, but at peace with himself and takes an earthen stage with “A Pistol to His Heart.” Back at the Beale Ranch, Christopher and Malika wait for the school bus hoping to be rescued by Mr. Grange in one of his Thunderbirds. "Of Words and Wasps” begins as Chris and Malika head for the Barn in the rain to feed the horses. Christopher teaches Malika "Mares Eat Oats," and uses the moment to offer to sell her some of his used clothes. Then Christopher is back To the Zenith waiting for “The Three Minute Warning.”