Agent 13 and the Invisible Empire: Part I

By: Deniz Cordell, Flint Dille, David Marconi

Narrated by: Tom Berry, J. T. Turner, Jerry Robbins, The Colonial Radio Players

Length: 3 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

As a child, you were abducted from your home by an organization known only as "The Brotherhood". Your past was taken from you. Your name, erased. The Brotherhood trained you in the arts of power and deception, and you seemed destined to become one of their finest operatives.

Then you learned the truth. The Brotherhood planned not to guide mankind along the paths of enlightenment, but instead to remake the world in their own image. So you fled, and swore to stop them by any means necessary.

In the fall of 1937, the Brotherhood emerged from its sinister shadows, plotting a debilitating global war. And only you stand in their way.

You're Agent 13: The Midnight Avenger. A master of disguise, your quest will take you from the streets of Istanbul to the underbelly of Chinatown, and bring you face to face with new friends and old enemies, devilish death-traps and fatal femmes, and a conspiracy as old as civilization itself.Bursting forth from the pages of the exciting and popular novels written by Flint Dille (The Transfomers Animated Series, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West) and David Marconi (Enemy of the State, Live Free or Die Hard), the award-winning Colonial RadioTheatre on the Air presents the next step in thrills and suspense. Filledwith vivid performances, immersive sound effects and an exciting original musicscore, Agent 13 and The Invisible Empire: Part One is a nail-biting production overflowing with action, mystery, adventure, romance and wit thatnever comes up for breath. Dramatized for radio by Deniz Cordell, Music by Jeffrey Gage, Produced by Rich Matheson, Directed by Jerry Robbins. Cover art by Jeff Hayes. Contains mild adult language and violence. Parental discretion is advised.

©2013 The Colonial Radio Theatre on the Air (P)2013 2013

An Homage to Classic Radio

A solid adaptation of the two Agent 13 novels from the mid-1980a, done in style befitting the classic era of radio drama in the 1930s. It captures the pulp-inspired atmosphere of the Flint Dille-David Marconi novels.

Agent 13 - a ride of nostalgia and adventure!

If you could sum up Agent 13 and the Invisible Empire: Part I in three words, what would they be?

Adventure Nostalgia imagination

What was one of the most memorable moments of Agent 13 and the Invisible Empire: Part I?

Not a single moment as much as the pace, writing and music transports the listener to a different time

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Big fan of Colonial Radio Theater - I look forward to serial stories by CRT, I have the sense that Agent 13 has the potential of other great series of this genre!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The mix of narration, music, and effects created an atmosphere as if it were the days when you would wait for the weekly radio serial. It closely compares in my mind of listening to old radio recordings of The Shadow or Sherlock Holmes - CRT has captured this essence with a mastery of suspense and bottled it up as Agent 13!

Attention Please! Agent 13 code breakers...

Would you listen to Agent 13 and the Invisible Empire: Part I again? Why?

I'd listen to CRT's production of Agent 13 again due to the excellent writing and dialogue. This is a many layered story masquerading as a pulp tale. Allusions to literary works, famous lines from movies and radio, and other pop culture from the 1930s all exist in this radio show.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the story because it's full of everything a pulp tale contains. Biblical references, G-men, lost races, diabolical scientists, talismans and can do characters facing the forces of evil.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Agent 13 of course, but followed close by Jack Spade. Combined all the radio actor performances demand a listener listen more than once. If you're a fan of old time radio then your ears are in for a treat.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No I didn't have an extreme reaction, but I did enjoy some chuckles over dialogue. It's not every day a group can pull off a comedic adventure pulp tale. The fine line between camp and action, once crossed, usually loses integrity in both genres. CRT pulls it off and I'm not surprised.

Any additional comments?

Everything the Colonial Radio Theater does is genuine. I think that's why Mr. Bradbury took a chance, and we all enjoyed the benefit. CRT's production of Agent 13 captures that same quality. Relistenability equals a 5 out of 5 and I'm looking forward to part two.