Gardner Goldsmith

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Gardner Goldsmith is a television and radio script writer, journalist and author whose work has appeared in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He is also the host of "Against the Grain", and creator of The Liberty Conspiracy [1].

Named "Libertarian of the Year" by the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire in 2006, Goldsmith has spent time in the script departments of "Star Trek: Voyager" and "The Outer Limits". He is also the creator of, and voice for, the radio character "Mitsu Hitachi, Master of Feng Shui", who, along with his new apprentice "Oragami" (played by his niece), predicts the future by moving furniture.

Goldsmith's sketch comedy radio work has also inspired the sub-series "Caveman Radio", on which a character named Og introduces guests such as "Evolved Girl" (again played by Goldsmith's niece), who continually frightens Og with her intelligence (or "magic in head", as Og calls it). The other recurring character of the series is "Grumpy Old Caveman", who complains about how nice things were when he was a kid back in the Paleolithic. Quote: "Eh! You and your progress! You know, when I was a kid, it was beautiful, nothin' but ice-flows as far as the eye could see, mammoth traipsing across the tundra. Now what do you have? Nothing but STRIP CAVES everywhere! Stupid progress."

The character of Grumpy has also spent time being the Chairman of the "Caveman Congress", at which other Cavemen (take-offs of contemporary US politicians) grill innocent people about their inventions and positions on things like evolution.

Goldsmith's first book, "Live Free or Die", was released at the beginning of November. It includes his articles on economics, politics and culture, as well as an unproduced script and short stories. Material his deceased father wrote is also included, as introductory pieces to his own.

He is also featured in the new release, "Serenity Found", a series of essays by him (and others such as Jane Espenson, Orson Scott Card and Nathan Fillion) about the television series "Firefly" and the movie "Serenity", created by Joss Whedon. SmartPop Books is the publishing company.

Goldsmith recently introduced a new character named "Frank Narcolepto" to his radio series. Narcolepto is a state politician (played by Goldsmith) who proposes insane legislation such as "Month Awareness Month" and "The Borders Protection Initiative", which would outlaw the operation of all Barnes and Nobles bookstores in America, the Philippines, and Guam. In a recent episode, it was revealed that Narcolepto is good friends with Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Goldsmith's listeners seem iconoclastic. Someone in Utah just let his children name their dog Gardner Goldsmith, who replied that it was a great honor. When they call the animal to dinner, the father shouts out "Gardner" and the kids, in a mimic of the "Marco Polo" swimming game, shout "Goldsmith".

In addition to his weekly appearances on the syndicated radio program Free Talk Live, he has recently appeared on national broadcasts such as the Jim Bohanan Show, and The Jay Thomas Show on satellite radio.

There is now a Facebook Fanclub for his work.