Podside Picnic: Recent Episodes
Pete and Connor
Pete and Connor are exploring the universe of science fiction together. We hope you'll join them! Check us out on Patreon.com/PodsidePicnic for premium content.
This time around, we talk about a grimy little number that combines prison exploitation films, The Most Dangerous Game, and a smidgen of carnival sideshow
We get back together to catch up. We vaguely (and not so vaguely) recommend some stuff, too!
Jacob and Aysha from Workers' Lit swing by to talk all things Sekiro - both the game, the upcoming anime.
It's the future, and LAPD needs mega-serial killer Sid 6.7 for training purposes - at least until he slips containment and ends up thrill-killing irl :(
This time we talk about Brian Trenchard-Smith's 1986 post-apocalypse nightmare, Dead End Drive-In.
Guests Sam Reader and Eden Kupermintz join us to talk about the operatic fever-dream that is Hiron Ennes's The Works of Vermin.
Yoyo. Ever hear about good cop, bad cop? How about not-so-great cop and awkward robot cop?
This time we discuss the Gothic-to-Cosmic Horror pipeline that is FromSoftware's Bloodborne. Writer and editor, John WM Thompson, as well as Worker's Lit podcast comrades, Lenore Olson and Aysha U. Farah join us in fearing the old blood.
This time, we talk about another example of Twohy excellence, The Arrival (1996). Charlie Sheen, our hero, uncovers a nefarious alien conspiracy to change Earth's climate
Twin Cities-area writers Naomi Kritzer, Lydah Morehouse, Marissa Lingen, and J.R. Dawson join us to talk about how the presence of ICE during Operation Metro Surge and beyond has affected them, and how their activism has informed their writing.Preorder Naomi Kritzer's novella, ObstetrixCheck out J.R.'s book, The Lighthouse at the Edge of the WorldMarissa Lingen's novella, A Dubious Clamor is forthcoming from Horned Lark Press; andLydah Morehouse's Welcome to Boy.Net is available via Wizard's Tower Press
This time around, we discuss some genre bits and bobs from around the internet. First up, we talk about Mike Jittlov's The Wizard of Speed and Time, a stop-motion extravaganza.Then, we discuss Juliana Maité's horror short, Agon. From there, we also cover Antediluvian (Mario Lanzas), Mallet! (Aidan Hughes a.k.a. BRUTE!), and R'ha (Kaleb Lechowski)Enjoy!
This time, we talk about Mamoru Hosoda's Summer Wars (2009), a wacky almost-cataclysm involving an everything app, a Love Machine, country gentry weirdos, and Japan's second-best math guy
Jacob from Worker's Lit podcast returns - this time to talk about Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Chris and I get together to talk about Phillip K. Dick's original novella and Steven Spielberg's lean, mean actioner that has managed to remain prescient 24 years later.
This time we return to the oeuvre of U.S. mythologist and professional dinner guest, Washington Irving to talk about his most Goof-coded character: Rip Van Winkle
Ready to . . . fall into what appears to have been Tarsem Singh's passion project? That's right, we discuss The Fall (2006) and how beautiful a man Lee Pace is
Join us for Robot and Frank (2012), a charming little film about loneliness, aging, and getting the robot gang together for one last job
We talk about The Truman Show (1998) this time, and Peter Weir's amazing filmography and how Thomas Kincaid wished he'd grown up in Seahaven
This time, we discuss the Frank Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz collaboration, Elektra: Assassin. It really does end up feeling like Fear and Loathing in the MCU.
We got together to talk about Ryan Coogler's blockbuster hit, Sinners (2025) before it got a billion nominations at the Oscars
We return to the works of John Carpenter with Starman (1984), where an alien visitor incarnates as a pre-Dude Jeff Bridges for recently widowed Karen Allen and they go on a road trip
You will be visited by three versions of the Dickens classic. Spoiler: A Muppet Christmas Carol is not one of them, but it haunts the ones we talk about like a lonely old miser on Xmas Eve
This time we talk about Sneakers (1992), an odd bookend to our previous episode, Hackers. Our world-weary team of cybersneaks and ne'er do wells don't want to hack the planet at all
We go all the way back to 1995 to talk about the stylish Hackers. Hack the planet, man!
Well. . . have you? We get together to talk about and - of course - riff on what's made us happy this Thankful SeasonNote: sadly, after quoting from it, I completely forgot to mention the title of the essay (link to follow): The Claims of Close Reading by Johanna Winanthttps://www.bostonreview.net/articles/the-claims-of-close-reading/
We discuss Zach Creggers' Weapons (2025). Part parental nightmare, part (sub)urban legend, and very unnerving.
What if was Conan the Barbarian. . .s? And both of him were lunkheads? We discuss this fascinating approach in this one
We cover both the Washington Irving story and Tim Burton's 1999 adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - a story about the ghost of a Highlander terrorizing a small community
Who knows what evil lurks under Alec Baldwin's prosthetic nose? Beats me, but we certainly talk a lot about The Shadow on this final (for now) Pulpside episode
This time around, we dig into the pulpy origins of one paranormal investigator by the name of HellboyNOTE: We had some issues with the audio on this one, so please bear with us (and with many thanks to our sound wizard, Adam)
This time around we talk about The Rocketeer (1991), a movie that asserts that a jetpack future can be scary. . . if it's not in service to the old Stars and Stripes, that is!
We kick off Pulptember with the recent classic of the pulp form with Raiders of the Lost Ark. You too could follow along. . . if only you spoke Jovitos
We get together to work out what exactly Miyazaki's going for in this dreamlike journey to the underworld story and wonder how DO you live?
We talk about Real Genius (1985), and the cool factor Val Kilmer brought to the whole thing. Safe travels, king
This time around, we talk about the absences that make up John Darnielle's Midwestern Weird novel
From Highlander animation to Highlander anime in this one. Directed by Ninja Scroll's Yoshiaki Kawajiri, one might expect it to be Highlander sleaze, but sadly no
More Highlander! A future and post-apocalyptic Highlander who goes by the name of . . . Quentin
We're fare-jumpers on Milo's journey through Dictionopolis, Digitopia and points beyond
It's finally time. Time for Terry Brooks' exceedingly strange Tolkien knock-off (by way of MTV)
Join us as we talk about the baffling follow-up to Highlander, and just how many versions of them are there anyway?
Aaron Thorpe returns to talk about Season 3 of the Apple TV series. Houston, do you copy?
It's just us fellas again, talking about what we've been up to. There might even be a SFF reference here and there!
We return to Dante's Inferno with Joe Dante's Matinee, starring John Goodman in the most John Goodman role ever, B-Movie auteur Lawrence Woolsey
Kyle Winkler, writer and host of Left Hand of Le Guin joins us to talk about the latter books of Earthsea.Check out Kyle's work: https://kylewinkler.net/
Aaron Thorpe returns to talk about For All Mankind Season 2 and some of the ways space wants to kill you
Be of good cheer, Podsiders! We talk about Satoshi Kon's humane and incredibly funny Tokyo Godfathers (2003) this time around, and Chris and I agree: it's a Christmas movie classic
Join us for the RPG isekai adventure to end all RPG isekai adventures, where our hero uses facts and logic to save magic!
It's Friday the 13th and time to move our dead bones to the musical (and scientific) stylings of one Herbert West
R.S. Benedict returns for this classic of investigative reporting. Fun for the whole family, they said. . .
What says Thanksgiving more than Puritans starving in The New World? Mattie Lewis returns to be thankful for Robert Egger's debut, The VVitch (2015)
Welcome to Violence Concerto #1, where we make a slight detour through the Albert Pyuniverse and discuss The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982). One of many Conan the Barbarian rip-offs of the time, sure - but possessed of a sweaty earnestness
Happy Pumpkin Hangover to all those who celebrate! This time, we're abducted by the most recent entry into the VHS series
Tai Black returns to Graveside for the Velvet Underground of gialli: Mario Bava's Blood and Black Lace (1964)
Oh to be young again. . .and play with all your creepy little toys who are your bestest most bloodthirsty friends! Good to have them on your side when your abusive dad breaks out of prison after a meteor strike . . .
We slip into our Graveside era and chat a bit about what will be haunting our airwaves this spooky season
We are late to the party (or wake, as the case may be) on the new and recently canceled Star Wars. Alas poor Acolyte, we knew it well
The Pringles man's back at it - this time with an American Isekai. J.T. Greathouse returns to explain what the hell is going on
The glorious return of none other than our own Kurt! We ply him with questions about his recent travels
We get together to discuss three episodes of the BBC dark humor series, Inside Number 9:Mr King; S:7, E:2To Have And To Hold; S:4. E:4A Quiet Night In, S:1, E:2
Some rascally critters painted a podcasting studio on the side of a wall, tricking us into talking about the live-action Looney Tunes that is Hundreds of Beavers (2022)
Aaron from the amazing podcast Hit Factory joins our limited series, The Chronicles of the Chronicles of Riddick, to talk about the latest entry in life of one Richard B. Riddick, the 2013 film, Riddick
What happens when an 11th-century knight is transported to 20th-century France? Hijinks, that's what. Also: who knew Jean Reno could be funny?
The Chronicles of The Chronicles of Riddick continues, as we discuss The Chronicles of Riddick Unrated Director's Cut (2004)
Houston, Houston. . . do you read? Aaron Thorpe returns to the Pod as we drift in an eccentric orbit around the first season of For All Mankind.
As Spring has turned to late Summer, the time has come to say our good-byes to Hazel & Co. Fare thee well, bunnies!
Today we discuss Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury to see if it answers the question: does it serve as a bridge between Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick? And the answer's a resounding, "sure, why not?"
Ever wanted to know all about a cool dude who got a shine job on his eyes in prison? Well, do we have the movie for you - 2000's Pitch Black, introducing us to galactic criminal, Richard B. Riddick
Today we start talking about Naomi Kritzer's multi-award winner, Cat Pictures, Please and since it references Bruce Sterling's Maneki Neko we talk about that story, too!Check both stories out:https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kritzer_01_15/https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/maneki-neko/
We return with a crap book from the past (you might recognize the cover art from a previous crap book episode!) where sometimes being a bit of a fuckup makes for fun reading
Podside Radio returns, this time to learn about the proto-metal, proto-prog, semi-jam band. . . and their extensive lore. Tune in!
Time for another Dante! This time, it's The Burbs (1989) - a comedy about the horrors of living in suburbia with Tom Hanks
Spring has indeed sprung. What better time to talk about bunnies? Who are on an epic quest to find a new home?
We talk about Michael Mann's historical epic, The Last of the Mohicans. Whatever may occur, Podside will find you!
We get together to wonder why Seinfeld's Netflix movie exists in the world, and talk a bit about Jenny Nicholson's video on the Galactic Cruiser experience
THE RETURN OF CRAP BOOKS! We are back with another Crap Books episode - this time it's Brian Daley's A Tapestry of Magics. Imagine Zelazny's Amber, but written for a Rifts adventure and you'll not be disappointed
It's standing room only here at Podside as we talk about Studio Ghibli's 1997 hit, Princess Mononoke
Today we talk about Douglas Trumbull's other film, Silent Running (1972). All about a guy named Lowell and his robot friends in their National Park in . . . SPACE
Ever wanted to know what it was like to play a text adventure back in the day? Join us as we poke around the edges of the Great Underground Empire and promptly get lost, stumped, and even die a few times.
Ten-HUT! Listen up, maggots: That pinko Joe Dante FINALLY made a movie about the REAL American heroes - Small Soldiers! You WILL listen to the new Podside episode, and you WILL like it! That's an ORDER
Get ready to play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon as we discuss the movie that ended Paul Verhoeven's streak of US-made movies, Hollow Man (2000)
Eugenics - am I right? We talk today about C.M. Kornbluth's The Marching Morons, a right doozy of a tale, where you do NOT have to hand it to Hitler
We talk about Get Lamp (2010), along with its bonus materials, a documentary about the history of "IF" or Interactive Fiction which has its charms, but is ultimately a little unfocusedVisit the Get Lamp site: http://www.getlamp.com/Also, the full documentary (and bonus/additional material) is on YouTube.Main Documentary: https://youtu.be/TmBSYho5Gbk?si=8jhdN91bGqA6PKLNCut Scenes: https://youtu.be/zEJXZ2wnO3w?si=DfVJVmTTyiofBveNInfocom Documentary: https://youtu.be/OXNLWy7rwH4?si=afu1Ll5wbITqWxMp
Today, we talk about The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule by Lucius Shepard, and follow the life of artist, and possible con-man, Meric Cattanay, in his quest to have his name as remembered as the dragon he's proposed to slay
Aaron Thorpe returns to talk about GATTACA (1997) with us, a film that asks: what would society look like if it believed in genetic determinism?
Spring has indeed sprung. What better time to talk about bunnies? Who are on an epic quest to find a new home?
You can't keep a good cop dead, they say. Not even if your name is Roger Mortis, and you have mere hours to solve the mystery of your own murder
Today we discuss Eric Schwitzgebel's The Dauphin's Metaphysics, first printed in Unlikely Story's The Journal of Unlikely Academia, a story about a limited and quite disturbing form of immortality Read the story:http://www.unlikely-story.com/stories/the-dauphins-metaphysics-by-eric-schwitzgebel/Art by Diane Dellicarpini
This time, we talk about Bruce Sterling's Mozart in Mirrorshades (collected in the much-hyped cyberpunk anthology, Mirrorshades) - a story about corporate extraction with extra steps (mainly, time travel)Oh, Galactus wished he had it this good
This time around, we end up in the hinterlands of southeast Texas, where the local sasquatch is making the most of Stand Your Ground laws
Today, we talk about the proto-cyberpunk film, Brainstorm. Directed by a SFF cinema luminary, Douglas Trumbull, and with Christopher Walken and Natalie Wood in lead roles, this is a movie that asks what if Online was your feelings made fact?
It's time again to crack a few cold ones and shoot the shit about - among other things - a Japanese adaptation of The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Salud!
This time, we discuss Cronenberg's 1983 The Dead Zone, which asks the question: if you had the power to change the future in your clammy hands, would you?
Jeff Martin returns to rock out to the Chaindevils playlist, a real grimphony in the key of chainsaw!Check out Jeff's comics:https://hell.rentathugcomics.com/And his games (Space Jerks, BURGERPunk, more):https://rentathug.itch.io/
We talk about another De Palma, this time it's The Fury (1978). Two teenagers with psychic powers pitted against one another. . . it's a real enemies-to-enemies trope
Mattie joins us again to close out our read-alongs of Susanna Clarke's works with the charming and funny story of John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner (collected in The Ladies of Grace Adieu)
We talk about Andrew Bujalski's 2013 film Computer Chess, where none of the people in the movie actually play chess. Check and mate, nerds
Today we talk family, bears, and discovering fire as we talk about Terry Bisson's Bears Discover FireOriginal story:https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/bears-discover-fire/Short film adaptation:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu594ennuxI
Gremlins! In the Big City! Any kind of gremlin you can imagine! What else could you ask for?
Today we check out that cozy little coffeeshop run by an orc. Who wants more cinnamon buns?
As the year turns, so does our taste in reading. Join us in our read-along of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and remember: This land is all too shallow/It is painted on the sky/And trembles like wind-shook rain/When the Raven King goes by
Jeff Martin returns to help Podside pull the starter cord and cut through Matthew Mitchell's Chaindevils, part WH40K homage, part splatterpunk "there and back again" narrative, all gnarlCheck out Jeff's work: https://rentathugcomics.com/
Today we talk about one of the recently-deceased Howard Waldrop's better-known stories, The Ugly Chickens. Part shaggy-dog (chicken?) story, part alternate history, and all good eatin!
We talk about The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007) this time. You'd better have your quarter lined up on the cabinet bezel so you can witness a rivalry for the ages - it's nerd vs. nerd action, like you've never seen it before!
This time we talk about Neil Blomkamp's Elysium (2013), a story where a gringo finally makes himself useful!
As the year turns, so does our taste in reading. Join us in our read-along of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and remember: This land is all too shallow/It is painted on the sky/And trembles like wind-shook rain/When the Raven King goes by
Ever wanted to find out what a world run by r/Childfree would be like? Look no further than Paolo Bacigalupi's short story, Pop Squad. Stephen Mazur returns to talk about the future the Left wants
Today, we right a great wrong on Podside - the fact Kurt never got to talk about Laputa: Castle in the Sky!
Oh, is it 2024 already? Pete returns to Podside to ring in the just-off-the-lot new year
As the year turns, so does our taste in reading. Join us in our read-along of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and remember: This land is all too shallow/It is painted on the sky/And trembles like wind-shook rain/When the Raven King goes by
Ol' Arthur's Machen a comeback! This time, Tai Black returns to discuss his most well-known story, The Great God Pan
Come ooooon. . . he's just a little birthday boy. We should listen to what he has to say!
Ever notice how many presents have all these rules you have to follow these days? We noticed it, too - especially in Joe Dante's Gremlins (1984). More like Happy Unboxing Day, right?
Ready to log into the Weird Wide Web? Ready to leave the flesh behind? Aaron Thorpe returns to talk serial experiments lain
Today, we talk about the 1985 Rankin-Bass adaptation of L. Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. A little light on the jolly old elf, but more than made up for it with class-conscious observations and all the trappings of an epic fantasy
Time to roll out the Nog! Bring your mug, and join us in talking about holiday stuff. . . Cheers!
He's making a list and checking it twice, so you'd better be EXTRA nice. . . or else. Join us as we talk about the 2010 Finnish dark horror comedy (etc. & etc.) film, Rare Exports
As the year turns, so does our taste in reading. Join us in our read-along of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and remember: This land is all too shallow/It is painted on the sky/And trembles like wind-shook rain/When the Raven King goes by
We get together to talk about the Max animated series, Scavengers Reign. Tag along as we explore the planet Vesta with the marooned crew of the Demeter 227, just watch out for . . . well, everything
Fantasy novelist and resident Wheel of Time scholar, Jeremy Greathouse returns to talk about Wheel of Time Season 2
Tai returns to talk about Stephen King's Revival (published in 2014), and how it might be one of his bleakest and most personal storiesEnjoy. . . ?
For this holiday feast, we're joined by horror writer, Zach Rosenberg to talk about Ravenous (1999). This is one that'll leave you hungry for more. . . bon apetit!
Before you succumb to a food-induced coma, crack a cold one and join us in toasting a proud and gluttonous tradition. Bon apetit!
As the year turns, so does our taste in reading. Join us in our read-along of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and remember: This land is all too shallow/It is painted on the sky/And trembles like wind-shook rain/When the Raven King goes by
Join us as we sell our souls for Rock and Roll and talk about the sleazy 1988 film, Black Roses. For those about to rock, we. . . play gin rummy?!
Fantasy novelist and resident Wheel of Time scholar, Jeremy Greathouse returns to talk about Wheel of Time Season 2
The Socialist Shelf join us to talk about The Binding of Isaac, a roguelike that pits the young Isaac against his own demons and bodily fluids. . . so many bodily fluidsCheck out The Socialist Shelf: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mtbz3-29c70a/The-Socialist-Shelf-Podcast
This Graveside Picnic has Tai Black returning to talk about the neo-gothic Sanguinarius by Ray Russell. . . the last confession of one Elizabeth Bathory
Graveside Picnic talks about the reason for the season, cult classic Trick r Treat (2007) on that most special night of the year. . . and remember: don't break any Halloween traditions if you don't want a visit from that little hellion, Sam
As the year turns, so does our taste in reading. Join us in our read-along of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and remember: This land is all too shallow/It is painted on the sky/And trembles like wind-shook rain/When the Raven King goes by
This Graveside, we talk about the Netflix limited series, The Fall of the House of Usher, compare it to the Roger Corman film of the same name, and compare both adaptations to the original Poe
The Most Dangerous Woman in Speculative fiction returns to Graveside to talk about Ma (2019), part horror movie, part character study, and completely unhinged.
This time on Graveside, a reading of my recent short story, "Up In the Hills, She Dreams of Her Daughter Deep In the Ground"It first appeared in Strange Horizons' Childbearing Issue:http://strangehorizons.com/fiction/up-in-the-hills-she-dreams-of-her-daughter-deep-in-the-ground/Artwork by Caterina Gerbasi
Ready for another Graveside feature? We chat about Creepshow (1982) and how apt the anthology format is for this horror and other horror films. Oh, and there's meteor shit, too!
We discuss The White People by Arthur Machen, a fascinating and challenging bit of Weird Fiction that really has the juice
As the year turns, so does our taste in reading. Join us in our read-along of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and remember: This land is all too shallow/It is painted on the sky/And trembles like wind-shook rain/When the Raven King goes by
After a hectic opening to Spooky Season, at last . . . a chance to sit back, relax, and take good long swig from the sarcophagus juice!
Welcome to our first Graveside Picnic episode of the season! This time, Tai Black returns to talk about Cobweb (2023)
Multi-genre author, Matt Hughes joins us to talk about his career, his works of SFF in a Vancian groove, and his current projects. Be sure to check out his Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4687520
We watch the skies for a sign, and find it in Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Do YOU want to believe?
We discuss Kelly Link's The Summer People, who aren't what we'd call your typical out-of-townersRead here:https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-86461
Hugo-nominated comic book artist, Wendy Xu joins us to talk about Tsui Hark's Green Snake (1993). Immortal snake devil sisters, sanctimonious monks, a hapless (and feckless) scholar make for an outstanding experience
As the year turns, so does our taste in reading. Join us in our read-along of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and remember: This land is all too shallow/It is painted on the sky/And trembles like wind-shook rain/When the Raven King goes by
This time, we talk about M. Rickert's Was She Wicked, Was She Good? and what the dangers of childhood innocence are, and what it costs when it's lostRead it here:https://www.nightmare-magazine.com/fiction/was-she-wicked-was-she-good/
We discuss the questionable merit and irrefutable weirdness of the 1993 Super Mario Bros movie. Finally, a film that asks: can working stiffs be heroes?
We bid you farewell, Fair Traveler, as we Discover at last the Great and Secret Knowledge of the House in the last parts of this Profound Book, so full of Charm!
Tripping balls, isolation tanks, asshole geniuses. No, this isn't the latest techbro cleanse, but the 1980 film, Altered States. Join us to answer, "to be, or not to be . . . monke"
We take a small detour from Piranesi to visit another labyrinth. This one was built by Jorge Luis Borges, for his own Favored Child way back in 1947. Be careful, though - Asterion's games of tag are killer
We talk about The Dungeonmaster (1984), aka Ragewar a movie that shows that we need not accept the Jock/Nerd binary, but accept that both can exist - in the form of onine warrior, X-CaliBR8
Aaron Thorpe returns for the Superman II theatrical and not the Donner cut, more's the pity.
Go Team Venture! The team gets back one last time to round out the multiple, intricate storylines in Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon's Heart
Remember: this is not a good-bye, only a see you later
Welcome, Fair Traveler! We welcome you to the Majesty and Beauty of the House as we Discuss the first three parts of this Profound Book, so full of Charm!
In the grim darkness of the far future there is only one game we will be playing, and that's BOLTGUN. So, tune in, battle brother and get ready to purge chaos in the Emperor's name!
Check out Jeff's WH40K webcomic, Reforged: https://www.warhammer-community.com/web-comics/
Be sure to have your favorite orange soda on hand before starting the show because this time, we discuss 1990's Joe Versus the Volcano - an modern fairy tale with parts that equal more than its sum.
As the year begins to turn, Podside does too. . . Get ready for another of our read-alongs, beginning with Susanna Clarke's Piranesi and moving on to Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Join us as we explore!
There's a spectre haunting the club - a phantom, even. That's where we come in: to discuss Brian De Palma's Phantom of the Paradise (1974). Rock and roll, baybee!
Read Chris's Blood Knife essay on Phantom of the Paradise: https://bloodknife.com/phantom-of-the-paradise/
Pete returns to talk about Matthew Hughes and his novella, The Helper and His Hero (collected in The Compleat Guth Bandar- see link below). Hughes draws on the fun of Vance's Dying Earth, but without the deep misanthropy.
Check out Matthew Hughes on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=4687520
Read The Compleat Guth Bandar: https://www.amazon.com/Compleat-Guth-Bandar-Matthew-Hughes/dp/1927880262
Beyond 1984, beyond 2001, beyond love, beyond death: Zardoz. What else can we say about a movie bold enough to say, "the gun is good, the penis is evil"?
A rare St. Clair! We talk about one of Margaret St. Clair's short story, The Gardener, where any bureaucrat given sufficient rank will go mad with power and must be dealt with
Read The Gardner (page 56): https://archive.org/details/ThrillingWonderStoriesV35N01194910/page/n55/mode/2up
Returning champ and author of The Marigold returns, and brings horror author Nick Cutter with him to show us how to replace the seals on the hatches, and make other repairs to this old pod. Oh, they also talk about their forthcoming book, The Handyman Method.
Pre-Order The Handyman Method: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-handyman-method/18899608?ean=9781982196714
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
The Culture War rages on as we discuss Iain M. Banks' Excession. And just like that, the Culture Peace has been declared (but may flare back up at any moment), so it pays to stay alert. Until the next Culture War breaks out, stay safe. . .
Aaron Thorpe of Everybody Loves Communism and the Trillbilly Worker's Party podcasts returns to talk about Krypton's Last Son and 1978's Superman: The Movie. You'll believe a man will podcast
Pete returns to talk a bit about the 2012 mumblecore zombie apocalypse movie, The Battery before (much like the movie) veering off to talk less about zombies and movies, and a bit more about StokerCon
Join us as we talk about Conan the Adventurer - specifically, The Serpent Riders of Set (S1E11) and Blood of My Blood (S2E21)
The Culture War rages on as we discuss Iain M. Banks' Excession. Ready for all hell to break loose - at the speed of light?
This episode we tackle Enemy Mine (1985), adapted from the award-winning 1979 novella by Barry Longyear. Find out what happens when two species stop being polite and start getting real
By Crom, it's an episode about Conan the Barbarian! In this one, we discuss the novella, The Scarlet Citadel.
Can lightning strike twice? Kind of. . .Jeremy Greathouse returns to talk about Mamoru Oshii's sequel to Ghost in the Shell, with all its murky philosophical musings and CGI
For today's episode, we talk about Puerto Rican author, Rosario Ferré's short story, The Youngest Doll. This one's got it all - if "all" means river-prawns, life-like dolls, and men acting horribly.
Sometimes they come back - hosts, that is. Pete returns to talk about the 2022's From, a program by Lost's executive producers and boy does it show. Join us for some smart commentary on dumb TV
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.Music by Loot the Body
This is it - the Platonic Ideal of a Beer Run. So, hunker down, crack a brew, and listen to us begin to talk about one thing. . . right before a voice from the past crashes the party
Stephen Mazur and Mattie Lewis return for M. Rickert's The Chambered Fruit(first printed in 2003, in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction), a beautiful and tragic reimagining of the Demeter and Persephone myth. The Chambered Fruit has since been collected in M. Rickert's collection, You Have Never Been Here
The Culture War rages on as we discuss Iain M. Banks' Excession. Ready to find out how many more characters are introduced in this part?
Aaron and Carlee return to talk about Toys (1992), a very odd and at times oddly dark children's film. Permission to play, SIR!
Jeremy Greathouse drops by to talk about Mamoru Oshii's 1995 cult classic, Ghost in the Shell. What is consciousness? What if you had a smokin' hot cyborg body? What if ChatGPT heard what you call it when you think it's not listening? We try to answer these questions and more
We're joined once again by the raconteur of gaming and friend of the pod, Trevor Strunk, to talk about the LucasArts game Loom. Do you know how to beat the game? Don't worry, we'll hum a few bars so you can join in
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.Music by Loot the Body
The Culture War rages on as we discuss Iain M. Banks' Excession (Prologue and the first three parts). Ready to eavesdrop on all the Mind chatter?
Welcome back to Podside Radio! This time around, we talk about Daft Punk's visual companion to their 2001 Discovery album: Interstella 5555. Also, check out the music of Nujabes and Goblin
Speculative fiction's most dangerous woman joins us once again to talk about George Lucas' 1971 cult classic, THX 1138. Is a future where the emotional labor of jerking off is automated what the left wants?
A meeting of the Minds to gland some brews (externally, even - how barbaric!) and plan for our upcoming read-along, Excession. Eavesdrop on this M32-level chatter and await further orders!
We speak with science fiction reviewer and critic, Paul Kincaid about his biography of Iain Banks, The Culture and why Banks' books have such longevity (among other things). Be sure to also check out Paul's site, Through the Dark Labyrinth Music by Terminal Khaos Builders
Get ready to roll initiative as Pete joins the party to talk about Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. So, whoever's got the graph paper please don't get Cheetos dust on the map
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.Music by Loot the Body
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.Music by Loot the Body
We discuss another Studio Ghibli gem with the 1994 film, Pom Poko. By turns subtle, goofy and heartbreaking, join us in following the tanuki collectives' efforts to achieve their five year plan and preserve their way of life
Aubrey Wood, author of forthcoming cybernoir novel, Bang Bang Bodhisattva, talks about influences, how to make cyberpunk feel both timeless and fresh, and morePre-order Bang Bang Bodhisattva:https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1786187019
Matilda Lewis returns to talk about the Nebulas Short Fiction ballot for 2022. Find out who we think will win vs who we think should win
We discuss David Erik Nelson's novelette, Whatever Comes After Calcutta (first printed in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, 2017). Witch trials in modern day Ohio? Sure, why not Read/Listen here:https://pseudopod.org/2019/05/24/pseudopod-649-whatever-comes-after-calcutta/
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.Music by Loot the Body
What do you get when you mix together Flowers For Algernon, VR and cyberpunk? Why, a story that's 100% legally distinct from a Stephen King short of the same name! Is that every phone in the house ringing?
For this installment of Culture War, an interlude: we discuss Iain M. Banks' novella, The State of the Art. Part travelogue, part cultural commentary (of this little place called Earth), all very funny and sadSince it's not yet available in the U.S. The State of the Art can be read here:https://library.uniteddiversity.coop/More_Books_and_Reports/The_Culture_Novels-Iain_M_Bainks-Anarchist_Science_Fiction/iain%20m%20banks%20-%201989%20-%20the%20state%20of%20the%20art/Iain%20M.%20Banks%20-%20The%20State%20of%20the%20Art%20v1.html
We talk about the back half of the Apple TV show Severance. Are all you perk-hounds ready for your own personal Waffle Party?
Author Andrew F. Sullivan joins us to talk about his upcoming novel, The Marigold, and the festering rot that crawls under Toronto
The Culture War is underway. Join Jernau Gurgeh - professional gamer and amateur asshole - on his journey to play a game with an Empire at stake. Don't hate the player, hate the game.Music is "A Guilty System Recognizes No Innocents" by Terminal Khaos Buildersterminalkhaosbuilders.bandcamp.com/track/a…nocents
It's another Beer Run, where the conversation flows just as smoothly as our beverages, so belly up to the Pod and enjoy!
Aaron returns to talk about the Apple TV show Severance, so be sure to bring every bit of your Innie energy to this episode. Praise Kier!
For this episode, we return to one of Albert Pyun's films, the 1992 cyberpunk actioner, Nemesis. Explosions, gun battles and the LAPD getting blown to hell - what's not to like?
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.Music by Loot the Body
The Culture War is underway. Join Jernau Gurgeh - professional gamer and amateur asshole - on his journey to play a game with an Empire at stake. Don't hate the player, hate the game.Music is "A Guilty System Recognizes No Innocents" by Terminal Khaos Buildersterminalkhaosbuilders.bandcamp.com/track/a…nocents
Ashely Adams returns to talk about Kij Johnson's "The Evolution of Trickster Stories Among the Dogs of North Park After the Change". What would YOU do if your dog asked you to eat what you eat, sleep where you sleep?This story first appeared in the World Fantasy Award nominated The Coyote Road (edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling), but you can read or listen to the story, reprinted in Drabblecast (https://www.drabblecast.org/2019/06/04/drabblecast-evolution-of-trickster-stories-pt-1/)or Podcastle (https://podcastle.org/2009/07/09/pc060-the-evolution-of-trickster-stories-among-the-dogs-of-north-park-after-the-change/).
We talk Upgrade (2018), which asks the pressing question: what EXACTLY did you agree to in the TOS?
Aaron Thorpe of The Trillbillies and Everybody Loves Communism joins us to chat about William Gibson's first published story, Fragments of a Hologram Rose. Find out with us if a simulation would smell as sweet
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.Music by Loot the Body
The Culture War is underway. Join Jernau Gurgeh - professional gamer and amateur asshole - on his journey to play a game with an Empire at stake. Don't hate the player, hate the game.Music is "A Guilty System Recognizes No Innocents" by Terminal Khaos Buildershttps://terminalkhaosbuilders.bandcamp.com/track/a-guilty-system-recognizes-no-innocents
Tai returns to talk about the original My Bloody Valentine (1981) and the flawed remake (2009). One thing's certain in this mining town - they <3 unions (and you should, too).
Some books aspire to greatness with merely one or two world-shaking twists. Margaret St. Clair's The Shadow People scoffs at such limitations and squeezes FIVE such twists into her slim novel
We're joined by the creators of indie RPG games Fail Marines, Hell, Inc. and the forthcoming BURGERPunk to talk about Hell Comes to Frogtown (1988) - a touching story about government-mandated horniness.Get reminded to support BURGERPunk:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jeffmartin/burgerpunk-the-rpg
We discuss Octavia Butler's Speech Sounds, a harrowing pandemic scenario so plausible it speaks to Butler's writing skills.
We discuss Johnny Mnemonic (1995), a man who got a brain modification so he can smuggle the hottest takes to the highest bidder
You ready for a revolution? Well, listen up as we talk about our next read-alongs, Iain M. Banks' Culture novels, Player of Games and Excession
We discuss The Venus Effect by Violet Allen, where the Black protagonist's adventures get cut short due to "an officer-involved shooting"Read it at Lightspeed Magazine:http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-venus-effect/
We discuss Looker (1981), a flawed Crichton film with intriguing stuff to say about the role of computers in automation. Oh, and snazzy eyewear.
Trevor Strunk returns as we delve into the secrets of Hallownest and admire a hero of few words who also happens to be a little bug
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.Music by Loot the Body
Stephen Mazur joins us for one last Year of the New Sun episode. Trust, good folk, that we've gone from gate to gate, from night to light, there's no shame if you do not wish to join us. It is a hard path, after all
We chat about the amazingly pulpy Enchantress of Venus, by Leigh Brackett and her life as pulp science fiction, noir and screenwriter.
Cowabunga! We chat Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) and a bit about some of their other iterations across media, so listen in and be sure to have a slice or two to celebrate
For this episode we bring Ashely Adams back and take out our BIG shovels for The Kaiju Preservation Society. Be sure to wear your hazmat suits with this crap - it's literally radioactive!
An old acquaintance ain't forgot as we show 2022 the door and look forward to the new year.
This is it - as the Year of the New Sun comes to a close, we reach the end of Severian's journey. Listen to our discussion on these last, glorious chapters of The Book of the New Sun!
The most dangerous woman in speculative fiction returns! Raquel S. Benedict joins us for Black Christmas. One of the first slasher movies, it inspired Carpenter when making Halloween. Go forth, podsiders, and watch the original, accept no substitutes
Looky, looky who's got the Hooky! That's right, we revisit the reason for the season - James A. Hook, who will kidnap your loved ones if you're bad. Hell, he'll do it if you're good, too. Join us as we fight, we fly and crow
We're joined by Podside's own World Warrior, Zangief, to take the pulse of the genre and talk about the Short Fiction and Novelette ballots for the Shirley Jackson Awards.
An ex-con, a good union man and an old droid walk into a funeral on Ferrix. . . For this super-sized episode, we're joined by return guest, Trevor Drinkwater to round out our Andor coverage (at least, until 2024)
We've unlocked our premium Andor episode for you! Join us in revisiting (and mostly enjoying) Episodes 1-6 of the Disney+ show.
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.Music by Loot the Body
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XXI - XXX of The Citadel of the Autarch. We're getting close to the end of Severian's journey - what awaits him now?Music by Loot the Body
For our last Dinovember entry, we are joined by none other than Madhabmatics to talk about The 13th Warrior. Join us for adventure, danger, and most importantly. . . listening!
As we all take a break from eating dino-meat, let us be thankful for Primal and the epic adventures of Spear and Fang!
Ashely Adams returns to help us shovel up after this stinking pile, 65 million and 22 years in the making.
Dinovember continues as your Patreon dollars fund our visit to an island off the coast of Costa Rica, where a very ambitious new park will - we hope - open without a hitch!
For our next Dinovember episode, we read Ray Bradbury's A Sound of Thunder and compare it to one of its most famous riffs, Time and Punishment (from The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror V)
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters I - X of The Citadel of the Autarch. We talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and if you'd like to continue the discussion consider joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
For our next Dinovember episode, Ashely Adams joins us to talk about Apple TV's Prehistoric Planet - and all her dino faves
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
For this premium episode, we get together to talk about the first half (Episodes 1 - 6) of the Disney+ show, Andor.
We thought we'd dug ourselves out of the Graveside, but got mixed up and ended up even further down into the prehistoric past! Ah well, digging's thirsty work so we take a break, drink some cold ones and talk dinos
Just in time for Halloween, we welcome Tai Black to Graveside to talk about the film that started it all - Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). The grill's fired up and the meat's sizzlin'. . . why don't y'all stick around for dinner?
For this episode, the most dangerous woman in speculative fiction, Raquel S. Benedict visits Graveside to talk about the most dangerous woman in Hamilton High School - Mary Lou Maloney. Get ready to watch a jilted prom queen visit mayhem to anyone in the way of rightfully getting her tiara. . .
Gather close 'round the Graveside because today we'll be discussing the strange case detailed in F. Marion Crawford's The Screaming Skull. What - no, no, I didn't hear anything outside. Nothing at all!
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters I - X of The Citadel of the Autarch. We talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and if you'd like to continue the discussion consider joining our Podside Picnic discord. Music by Loot the Body
We return to Graveside to talk about the eerie little game, Inscryption. Part CCG, part rogue-lite, part point-and-click puzzle game, it's truly a singular game - but one that's best played in a remote cabin, out in the woods. Let us give you the directions to get there. . .
For our next Graveside offering, we discuss Stuart Gordon's From Beyond (1986). Prepare as we peer past the veil and live through the original gooped-up experience.
For our next Graveside Picnic morsel, we sample the late horror master Peter Straub's Pork Pie Hat (from his collection, Interior Darkness). Part a coming of age tale, part bloody family drama, all of it a horror of family secrets that dare not be uncovered.
Everyone says they love when their favorite stories come to life - at least until those stories try to end the world. For this Graveside episode, we're watching the last of John Carpenter's apocalypse trilogy, In the Mouth of Madness (1994). Do you read Sutter Cane?
Mattie returns to the Graveside to talk about three stories from Livia Llewellyn's collection, Furnace (Yours Is the Right to Begin, The Last, Clean, Bright Summer and and Love shall have no Dominion)
Check out Mattie's fiction: https://devilsdoorbell.itch.io/
We've unlocked the crypt so our first Graveside Picnic episode can shamble across the landscape. . . FREE
Emma Berquist returns to talk about John Carpenter's absolute classic, The Thing. Come for the isolation, deadly cold, and paranoia - stay for the body horror!
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XXVI - XXXVIII of The Sword of the Lictor. Listen as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and if you'd like to continue the discussion consider joining our Podside Picnic discord. Music by Loot the Body
What happens when you're centuries old and the thrill of unlife pales? We invite Nebula-nominated author Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam to watch Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) and find out.
Check out Bonnie's new novella, Glorious Fiends https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Fiends-Bonnie-Jo-Stufflebeam/dp/1630230669
Or her short story collection, Where You Linger: https://www.amazon.com/Where-You-Linger-Bonnie-Stufflebeam/dp/1952283221
Is GWAR a band and artist collective out of Richmond, Virginia or are they the vessels for a cosmic race of barbarian demigods? Porque no los dos?
Pete and Karlo chat about Michael Swanwick's fabulist science fiction novel, Stations of the Tide. Is a character named only "The Bureaucrat" to be trusted?
Hit Factory's back, which means Aaron and Carlee are here to chat about Jordan Peele's newest film, Nope (2022). Come get the takes while they're hot!
We get together to chat about Star Trek's most recent show, Strange New Worlds. Listen in and get ready to punch it
We gripe a bit about who put all this sand in our beer as we talk about The Sandman and the recent Netflix adaptation
We're back to read the short stories and novelettes we didn't already cover in our Nebula Predictions episode, this time with special guest and World's Greatest Writer, June Martin (if you don't believe us, visit her at https://theworldsgreatestwriter.com/)
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XVI - XXV of The Sword of the Lictor. Listen as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and if you'd like to continue the discussion consider joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
For our last Augustageddon episode we talk about James Tiptree Jr.'s (as Racoona Sheldon) The Screwfly Solution, where a harrowing new pandemic sweeps the globe.
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
Ready for an early live-action Transformers knock-off? For our next Augustageddon entry, we discuss the Stuart Gordon/Joe Haldeman (yes, THAT Joe Haldeman) collaboration, Robot Jox (1989). Crash and burn, folks. . . Crash and burn.
Our next Augustageddon episode discusses Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains" and how the House of Tomorrow handles there being no tomorrow
Read the story: https://www.btboces.org/Downloads/7_There%20Will%20Come%20Soft%20Rains%20by%20Ray%20Bradbury.pdf
Podside's next Augustaggedon episode is another insect-centered one. There's a lot of ants in this one, but no picnic - only a new world order.
Next up for Augustageddon, we visit another apocalypse on another planet in the James Tiptree Jr's 1973 award-winning story Love Is the Plan the Plan Is Death (link below). Keep a watch on those winters. . .
Read the story (audio version - highly recommended): https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/love-is-the-plan-the-plan-is-death/
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters VI - XV of The Sword of the Lictor. Listen as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and if you'd like to continue the discussion consider joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
Our next Augustageddon episode is a tour of Mega City One, where we follow the adventures of its top cop
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
For our next Augustageddon episode, we change gears to talk about Maximum Overdrive (1986). Written and directed by none other than the big man himself, Stephen King! Strap in, folks - we're in for a bumpy ride.
For our first Augustageddon episode, we're visiting the Zelazny classic Damnation Alley. Gather 'round the fire. . . Hope you like your mutant gila monster rare!
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters I - V of The Sword of the Lictor. Listen as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and if you'd like to continue the discussion consider joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
Time to talk about the 1989 Jean Claude Van Damme flick, Cyborg. A cyborg holds the cure to a global plague, and the only thing standing between inventively named villains is the Muscles From Brussels and his devastating kick.
Our first face-to-face episode! We're all coming down from the highs of Knife Fest, so forgive us if we ramble (even if we were going to do that anyway).
We chat about Charles Stross' 2006 novella, Missile Gap and how Carl Sagan, Gregor Samsa, Seth Brundle and several others all ended up in the same story.
https://subterraneanpress.com/magazine/spring_2007/fiction_missile_gap_by_charles_stross
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XXVI - XXXI of The Claw of the Conciliator. Listen in as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
Join us for a Very Special Episode of Podside, where we delve into the dangers of RPGs, LARPing and watching dull movies based on the dangers those things pose
We talk LD+R Season 3 this time, and as inevitable as Death and Taxes, there's another Scalzi one
We're here to talk about John Langan's Stoker-winning The Fisherman. Join us! The fish are biting, just mind how far out you cast your line.
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XXI - XXV of The Claw of the Conciliator. Listen in as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
You've read the Jack Chick Tract, now watch the movie! We get together to discuss Dark Dungeons (2014), a film that dares to explore the dangerous, and often lethal, world of role playing games
We talk to Magic Spot (2022) creator Matt Farley about his inspirations and process for making his Motern-verse a reality.
We get back together to take accountability for our Nebula Award predictions and discuss the available stories in the novelette category.
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XVI - XX of The Claw of the Conciliator. Listen in as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
We read and discuss the novelette Pump Six (2008) by Paolo Bacigalupi, a tragicomic story about the heroism of lowly public employees
We get together to knock a few back, talk about some stuff we've been enjoying and then Pete dropped the hammer by asking us about the worst crap books we'd read. Cheers!
We discuss Ray Bradbury's The Veldt (first published in 1950 in The Saturday Evening Post) for this episode. What's a great addition to the House of Tomorrow? Why, the Nursery of Tomorrow, complete with a very realistic holodeck function! Nothing ominous about that. . .
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XI - XV of The Claw of the Conciliator. Listen in as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
Our final Ani-May-tion Month entry is enigmatic and baroque Angel's Egg (1985). Kurt crashes the episode halfway through to preach the gospel of "vibes only, egg empty"
For our last Ani-May-tion Month premium episode, we check out the suis generis hybrid real-life and cel animation Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
P-p-p-please give it a listen!
Our next Ani-May-tion Month entry's Empress of Darkness (2020). What's a guy to do when his Empress is slain and the world's cursed with unending darkness? Break out of his imprisonment and try to win his enemies over with the power of HUGS
It's that time again - time to unlock the next step in our journey through the Year of the New Sun.
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters VI - X of The Claw of the Conciliator. Listen in as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
For our next Ani-May-tion month episode, we're joined by the Directors of The Spine of Night, Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King to discuss the process of bringing their psychedelic and cosmic horror fantasy feature to the screen.
Our next entry for Ani-May-tion Month is 2021's The Spine of Night. Psychedelic, gritty, weird - and once again for Podside, a special flower becomes very important to the plot.
Ani-May-tion Month continues as we delve into 2003's Animatrix, and the vast potential of The Matrix as a frame for many stories.
To celebrate Gene Wolfe's birthday, we've decided to unlock our second episode of our read-along of The Shadow of the Torturer a day early! Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts. Music by Loot the Body
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters I - V of The Claw of the Conciliator. Listen in as we talk about Severian's journey beyond the gates of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
May the 4th be with you on this bonus Ani-May-tion Month episode. Join us in our discussion of the Star Wars: Visions anime-inspired anthology.
For our first entry of Ani-May-tion Month, we dive into 1983's Rock & Rule. Post-apocalyptic furries and rock and roll? Absolutely. Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry and Earth, Wind and Fire? Yes, yes and again yes. Join us on our journey from Ohmtown to Nuke York and back again.
Join us as we talk about an introspective take on the zombie apocalypse film, and why it became one of Pete's comfort watches at the beginning of the pandemic.
For our The Shadow of the Torturer post-mortem, Jeremy Greathouse returns to talk about his own experiences reading Gene Wolfe.
We've followed Severian from one gate to another, and now we're unlocking our first episode of the read-along in praise to the new Autarch (whose every word is like honey dripped from his lips).
Just as you can't read a Gene Wolfe story, only re-read it, so we hope it goes with podcasts.
Music by Loot the Body
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XXVI - XXXV of Shadow of the Torturer. Listen to us talk about Severian's journey through the ancient city-state of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
Jeremy Greathouse returns to talk about the Amazon Wheel of Time adaptation, and compare what the show gets right, and what's better in the book.
Read Jeremy's novel: https://www.gollancz.co.uk/titles/j-t-greathouse/the-hand-of-the-sun-king/9781473232891/
We talk about the 2010 dark fantasy Norwegian film, Troll Hunter. Join us for troll folklore, bureaucratic frustrations and scenic vistas of the fjords.
Kurt, Chris and Mattie Lewis join us for the 2021 Nebula Award short fiction nominations, beverages in hand. Listen for our favorites and who we think should win (versus who will likely win)
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XXI - XXVI of Shadow of the Torturer. Listen to us talk about Severian's journey through the ancient city-state of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
Jeremy Greathouse returns to talk about the Amazon Wheel of Time adaptation, and compare what the show gets right, and what's better in the book.
Read Jeremy's novel: https://www.gollancz.co.uk/titles/j-t-greathouse/the-hand-of-the-sun-king/9781473232891/
We watched the first three episodes of the Dungeons & Dragons (1983 - 1985) animated show and chat about whether the show popularized the game or not.
Time for another Beer Run! This time, we talk a bit about the recent Critical Role show, The Legend of Vox Machina before we move onto other things we've been reading and watching that we like.
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XVI - XX of Shadow of the Torturer. Listen to us talk about Severian's journey through the ancient city-state of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
Trevor returns to The Lands Between to talk some Elden Ring with us. Join us in comparing FromSoftware's new open world game with: Dark Souls 2, Breath of the Wild, Lord of the Rings and Weird Fiction. Check out Trevor's book: https://bookshop.org/books/story-mode-video-games-and-the-interplay-between-consoles-and-culture/9781633886803
Read Blood Knife: https://bloodknife.com/
Listen to Parents Just Don't Understand: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Pete and Chris come back to talk about the 2015 film He Never Died. We talk about Henry Rollins, and how apt he is for his role as a professional a-hole who just so happens to be immortal.
Jeremy Greathouse returns to talk about the Amazon Wheel of Time adaptation, and compare what the show gets right, and what's better in the book.
Read Jeremy's novel: https://www.gollancz.co.uk/titles/j-t-greathouse/the-hand-of-the-sun-king/9781473232891/
Welcome back to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters XI - XV of Shadow of the Torturer. Listen to us talk about Severian's journey through the ancient city-state of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body
Pete interviews an author Podsiders might know - Karlo Yeager Rodriguez - about his new story, Vanishing. We talk about inspirations and the purpose of folklore and myth and how that ties in with this short story. (Note: Karlo mispronounced "tumbril" which isn't - not even in the original French - pronounced "turmbull" - be sure to point and laugh at him)
Read the story: https://www.seizethepress.com/2022/02/07/vanishing/
We discuss the cult fantasy classic Dragonslayer, and its dubious protagonist. Check out why the kingdom of Urland is neoliberal centuries before it existed.
Sean Patrick Hazlett returns with his Weird World War IV. We discuss some of the stories in the anthology that stood out to us and much more.
Order Sean's anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Weird-World-Sean-Patrick-Hazlett-ebook/dp/B09QXX2BLX/ref=sr_1_1
Check out Sean's interview series: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF_cN6S0iHTM8qEjHfjf15g
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters VI - X of Shadow of the Torturer. Listen to us talk about Severian's journey through the ancient city-state of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Jeremy Greathouse returns to talk about the Amazon Wheel of Time adaptation, and compare what the show gets right, and what's better in the book.
Read Jeremy's novel: https://www.gollancz.co.uk/titles/j-t-greathouse/the-hand-of-the-sun-king/9781473232891/
The gang's all here, and we're talking anime - specifically, the 1995 anthology Memories (Magnetic Rose, Stink Bomb and Cannon Fodder). Join us as we talk about the good, the weird and . . . the stinky.
In his continuing mission to get us to read more Walter John Williams, Pete got us together to talk about 1987's Dinosaurs. Is the story political? Does Ambassador Drill have an ideology? Will there be peace between humanity and the Shar? We have thoughts. . .
Welcome to the Year of the New Sun! Join us in our read-along of chapters I - V of Shadow of the Torturer. Listen to us talk about Severian's journey through the ancient city-state of Nessus, and continue the discussion by joining our Podside Picnic discord.
Music by Loot the Body (https://soundcloud.com/loot-the-body)
Mattie Lewis of The Podhand returns to talk about Ekaterina Sedia's 2008 novel, The Alchemy of Stone. Listen in as we talk about a completely different Mattie, and her struggles to be recognized as human
Check out The Podhand: https://player.fm/series/the-podhand
Kurt and Chris return to talk about Equilibrium (2002), so get ready for gun katas, tetragrammaton clerics, and Christian Bale who emotes solely through his jaw. Is Equilibrium part of the Dumb Guy Canon? Listen in and find out. Check out Parents Just Don't Understand: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Read Blood Knife: http://bloodknife.com/
The editors of Pseudopod visit Podside to warn us not to say their podcast's name three times in a mirror.
Stories Championed From the Slush:
Kavar the Rat https://pseudopod.org/2011/09/30/pseudopod-249-kavar-the-rat/
Looker https://pseudopod.org/2011/09/16/pseudopod-247-looker/
Hometown Horrible https://pseudopod.org/2009/07/24/pseudopod-152-hometown-horrible/
Stories that made us want to join the PseudoPod Exit Exam, Section III: Survival Skills, Question #7
https://pseudopod.org/2009/05/08/pseudopod-141-flash-on-the-borderlands-i/
The Jamcoi https://pseudopod.org/2017/11/23/pseudopod-570-jamcoi/
Narrator Really Elevated the Prose
The Coven of Dead Girls https://pseudopod.org/2019/06/07/pseudopod-651-coven-of-dead-girls/
A Visit to the Catacombs of Via Altamonvecchi https://pseudopod.org/2018/08/17/pp-608-visit-to-the-catacombs/
Closet Dreams https://pseudopod.org/2021/11/19/pseudopod-785-closet-dreams/
Stories That Gave Us Nightmares The Screwfly Solution https://pseudopod.org/2014/08/22/pseudopod-400-the-screwfly-solution/
The gang's back to watch Roger Corman's 1981 Galaxy of Terror. We go over Corman's influence on modern movie-making and later try to understand why things happen in this film because the "B" in this movie is "baffling"
Check out Parents Just Don't Understand: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Read Blood Knife: https://bloodknife.com/
The gang's had a presentiment of their future and stocked up on enough beer (but not enough Pringles, sadly!) to get through their read-along of Gene Wolfe Book of the New Sun.
The whole gang returns to talk about Time Bandits (1981). Join us as we follow the adventures of Kevin, Randall and the rest of the time bandits as they steal their way through the ages
Check out Parent Just Don't Understand: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Read Blood Knife: https://bloodknife.com/
Sean M. Thompson returns to talk about Kathe Koja's 1991 novel The Cipher. We discuss Koja's talent at capturing the malaise of being in your 20s and underemployed, urban blight and the perfect conditions for a funhole to sprout on its own.
Check out The Cipher: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008LDFLMU/ref=dp-kindle-redirect
Check out Sean's press: https://www.facebook.com/Nictitating/
(Outro music is Funhole by Uglyhead)
Podside's second Book Club! Listen in to our Discord community's discussions of the final chapters of Walter John Williams's Metropolitan.
Mattie Lewis of The Podhand returns to talk about The Lure (2015). Join us as we discuss this dark and violent retelling of The Little Mermaid set in the club scene of 80s Poland. Listen to Mattie and her co-hosts on The Podhand: https://player.fm/series/the-podhand
Read Mattie's writing: https://devilsdoorbell.gumroad.com/
Our first short fiction discussion of 2022 covers Brian Trent's Karma Among the Cloud Kings (2015; reprinted in Escape Pod, 2017).
Check out the story here: https://escapepod.org/2017/05/18/ep576-karma-among-the-cloud-kings/
Mattie Lewis of The Podhand returns to talk about the Beast of Gévaudan, wolf attacks in France and this absolutely cool-as-shit/dumb-as-rocks inspiration for Bloodborne.
Podside's second Book Club! Listen in to our Discord community's discussions of Walter John Williams's Metropolitan.
Kurt and Karlo return to neutralize any rumors of their wrong Hugo predictions with extreme prejudice. Danger Close!
As a little gift from Podside to you, Chris and Kurt from Parents Just Don't Understand podcast return to talk about the 1988 cult classic, Scrooged. Merry X-Mas, everyone; pod bless us, every one!
Emma Bowers, Abby Denton and Malcom Rambert return - this time to talk about Cowboy Bebop: The Movie. Our discussion covers the storied history of movies derived from anime TV shows, whether this entry in Bebop is a proper movie or a long episode, and the future of obsolete tech. See you, Space Cowboy. . .
Check out a list of 100 of the best anime (part 1 of 4): https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-mike-toole-show/2017-03-19/.113010
Kurt and Chris from Parent Just Don't Understand podcast join Pete to discuss the Tom Godwin classic, The Cold Equations.
Read the story: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxiY2hzbXJlcmlja3NvbnxneDo5NjI5MmU1OTQ2YWViOWY
Watch the Twilight Zone episode on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-eVsAl6MRE
Podside's second Book Club! Listen in to our Discord community's discussions of Walter John Williams's Metropolitan.
Chris Woodward and Kurt Schiller return to talk about Krampus (2015). See who deserves to be beaten by birch branches and carried away by Santa Claus's shadow. . .
Check out Parents Just Don't Understand: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Read Blood Knife: Bloodknife.com
Malcolm Rambert, Emma Bowers and Abby Denton return to riff extensively about one of the darlings of anime, Cowboy Bebop. In between all the jokes, we even manage to talk about some of our favorite episodes of the last half of the series!
Chris Woodward (Parents Just Don't Understand) and Mattie Lewis (The Podhand) drop by Podside to talk about Tale of Tales (2015), one of the best fairy tale adaptations we've seen.
Check out Parents Just Don't Understand: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Check out The Podhand: https://player.fm/series/the-podhand
Podside's second Book Club! Listen in to our Discord community's discussions of Walter John Williams's Metropolitan.
Kurt and Chris drop by to talk about the Hugo Awards short fiction ballot and make wild predictions about who should win vs. who will win. Enjoy!
Check out Parents Just Don't Understand: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Read Blood Knife: Bloodknife.com
Kurt Schiller returns to Podside to talk about Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light. We chat about how Great Souled Sam defies the gods, and try to figure out exactly why.
Check out Blood Knife: bloodknife.com
Listen to Parents Just Don't Understand podcast: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Pete and Kurt discuss Hawkwind's album Doremi Fasol Latido. We chat about their history, intersection with science fiction as well as listen to our favorite tracks.
Malcolm Rambert, Emma Bowers and Abby Denton return to riff extensively about one of the darlings of anime, Cowboy Bebop. In between all the jokes, we even manage to talk about some of our favorite episodes among the first 13! See you next Session, Space Cowboy. . .
Check out Emma's video essays: Patreon.com/hyenasandgin
Hungry for more Bebop commentary? Check this video out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S3oT9lzMh8
Sean M. Thompson of Nictitating Books dropped by to chat about "The Maw" (from Nathan Ballingrud's collection, Wounds). What happens when Hell erupts and decides to gentrify your neighborhood? You'd better hope you have indoor pets, that's for sure.
Check out Nictitating Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ANictitating+Books&s=relevancerank&text=Nictitating+Books&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_2
Sean's Website: https://aintnothinimpossible.wixsite.com/seanmthompson
Levi Nuñez of Loot the Body and Kurt Schiller of Blood Knife return to talk about the dreamlike grotesqueries of David Lynch's Dune. The sleeper awakens!
Check out Loot the Body: https://lootthebody.bandcamp.com/
Check out Blood Knife: https://bloodknife.com/
Levi Nuñez of Loot the Body joins Karlo and Kurt to talk about his oeuvre and explains his journey to composing prog rock music inspired by old school D&D modules. Roll for initiative!
Order Loot the Body's new album, Hex Vol 2: https://lootthebody.bandcamp.com/
Game writer and multiple novelist Matt Forbeck drops by Podside to talk about his long career of writing for games, designing games and writing game tie-in novels (including stuff for Deadlands and Blood Bowl) as well as his upcoming Shotguns & Sorcery 5E Kickstarter. If you like noir + Tolkien, check it out!
Check out Matt's site: https://www.forbeck.com/
Check out the Shotguns & Sorcery 5E Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/forbeck/shotguns-and-sorcery-for-5e
Malcom Rambert (aka @MalcmanIsHere) finds his way to Graveside to talk about Candyman (1992). How do you fight a creature made of rumor? Well, doing some appropriation seems to be one of the steps (or is it?)
Watch "Black Escapism": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW70aIQZXO0
Check out "Black Men Can't Jump in Hollywood": https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-men-cant-jump-in-hollywood/id1023264209
Kurt and Chris from Parents Just Don't Understand podcast return to the Graveside to talk about John Carpenter's 1987 film, Prince of Darkness. Find out what happens when doctoral students spend the night in an old church and find out the secret of the ooze - it's Satanic.
Check out Parents Just Don't Understand podcast: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Read Blood Knife: bloodknife.com
Aaron and Carlee of Hit Factory return to talk about the 1994 sleeper hit, The Crow. Welcome to the hellscape of Devil's Night, and follow Eric Draven as he rises from the grave to settle scores. We also discuss the tragic loss of Brandon Lee and the film's amazing soundtrack.
Check out Hit Factory: https://www.patreon.com/hitfactorypod
The most dangerous woman in speculative fiction, Raquel S. Benedict, returns to talk about Censor (2021). Join us as we talk about the Video Nasties period this film is set in, the ongoing debate on protecting people from "harmful" media, and how sometimes you just don't get a happy ending no matter how much you try.
Trevor Strunk drops by Graveside to talk about horror games. Find out why games are able to elicit more visceral scares and why you should always bet on Valentine. . . Jill Valentine.
Check out Story Mode: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CG9M9WN/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Graveside Picnic's graced by Tai Black and Karella who discuss the underrated 1988 classic, Pumpkinhead. Warning: if your backwoods holler magic gives you a Pumpkinhead that lasts more than 4 hours, please consult your local bog witch.
Tai Black visits the Graveside to pay his respects, and chats about Norman Partridge's Stoker-winning novella Dark Harvest. It's Halloween, 1963, somewhere in the American Midwest and if you can beat ol' Sawtooth Jack you can pull your family out of debt, no strings attached. . . or are there?
Read Dark Harvest: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765319111
Kurt and Chris drop by the Graveside to take about the 1990 cult classic Jacob's Ladder. What is going on with Jacob Singer? Listen along as we try to find an answer to this very question.
Graveside Picnic welcomes Chris Burke, who discusses Robert W. Chambers' classic story, The Repairer of Reputations. Can a work of art be contagious? How exactly is our hero, Hildred Castaigne to the royal lineage of the far-off Hyades? And lastly - just how luxurious are the interiors of the Lethal Chambers?
Welcome to our first Graveside Picnic episode, where sometimes our guests. . . come back.
This time, Emma Berquist returns to talk about John Carpenter's absolute classic, The Thing. Come for the isolation, deadly cold, and paranoia - stay for the body horror!
Kurt returns to talk about the alleged "worst story ever written", The Eye of Argon. We read some of it and discuss the history as it's known of the story and its author.
Read The Eye of Argon: https://ansible.uk/misc/eyeargon.html
Watch Korgoth of Barbaria (playlist): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJi9zZqbJoY&list=PL_l6nUy0fLNaXn00Q8Gxf0TJceULBfO1a
Aaron and Carlee of Hit Factory podcast return to talk about Street Fighter (1994). What's up with the World Warriors? Why is it so important to have a food court that will bring all the best franchises? How is M. Bison's HR Team so damn good at hiring such a diverse collection of minions, lackeys and henchmen?
Listen to Hit Factory: Patreon.com/hitfactorypod
Kurt and Chris return to discuss the short fiction story, Cup and Table by Tim Pratt. Read the story first, since we spoil it!
Read Cup and Table: https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/cup-and-table/
Check out Parents Just Don't Understand: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Read Blood Knife: https://bloodknife.com/
Welcome to Podside Radio.
You spoke, and we listened! Kurt and Chris from Parents Just Don't Understand podcast return to talk about some of the Science Fiction and Fantasy concept albums suggested to us. Enjoy!
Listen to Podside Radio's Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4sTYzc8S6IRlpab6gay7As
Narration of "How Juan Bobo Got to los Nueba Yores", part of the Speculative Fiction for Dreamers: A Latinx Anthology from Ohio State University Press.
Order Speculative Fiction for Dreamers: https://ohiostatepress.org/books/titles/9780814257982.html
Pete drops in to talk about cult classic, Highlander (1986). We talk about The Quickening, and how it works is mainly the Rule of Cool, and how Sean Connery prepared for his Spanish accent.
Tiffany Meuret returns to discuss one of the most awards-nominated stories of 2012, The Cartographer Wasps and Anarchist Bees by E. Lily Yu. We chat about how this rather short story manages to have a lot to say about colonization and imperialism, and whether wasps who sing sea shanties are sci-fi or not.
Read the story: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/yu_04_11/
Check out Tiffany's work: https://tiffanymeuret.com/
Kurt and Chris of Parents Just Don't Understand podcast return to talk about the 1985 fantasy film, Ladyhawke. We chat a bit about the romance elements in the film, how Phillipe the Mouse's struggles with his faith make the film, and agree that the Bishop is a bad, bad man.
Check out PJDU podcast: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Read Blood Knife: https://bloodknife.com/
Karlo and The Podhand's Mattie Lewis discuss two of Angela Carter's retellings of Beauty and the Beast, "The Courtship of Mr. Lyon" and the much darker and sexier, "The Tiger's Bride"
Check Out Mattie's writing: https://www.fairytalemagazine.com/2019/04/wolfskin-by-matilda-lewis.html#.YSRKXIhKjZQ
Check Out The Podhand: https://thepodhand.podbean.com/e/01-the-prototype/
Abby and Emma return to talk about Satoshi Kon's 1997 thriller Perfect Blue. Come for the anime, stay for the parasocial relationship gone horribly wrong!
Check out Emma's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hyenasandgin
Karlo chats with Lincoln Michel about his upcoming novel, The Body Scout. We talk a bit about cyberpunk and punk-punk as an influence on this future noir as well as the challenges of writing a science fiction novel.
Pre-order The Body Scout (if not at your local indie bookstore): https://bookshop.org/books/the-body-scout/9780316628723
Pete and Karlo revisit Book 2 in the Imperial Radch series, Ancillary Sword. Why the second book and not the first? Hint: it rhymes with "shrimperialism"
Pete chats with Ben H. Winters about his newest novel, The Quiet Boy in a wide-ranging discussion.
JT Greathouse returns to chat with Karlo about the quest of ye olde King Arthur's fail-nephew, Garwin. Spoiler alert: plot is overrated; only vibes are allowed
Check out Jeremy's book: https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Sun-King-Book-Pattern-ebook/dp/B08KSX6T1P
Jeremy's website: https://jtgreathouse.wordpress.com/
What's best in life? Can we squeeze "listening to Pete, Karlo and Emma Bowers talk Conan" between "Crush your enemies" and "hear the lamentations of their women?"
Watch Emma's great video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFn7yKbylNY
Karlo and Pete try to talk about Le Guin's book about dreaming reality into being, but learn the hard way that the Dao that can be told isn't the true Dao, and instead end up talking about ten thousand (other) things.
Trevor and Kurt come back to talk up the charm of Lord of the Rings Online. Leave it to Podside to imitate Tolkien with extra Lord of the Rings material. . .
It's the Return of the Connor as he joins Karlo to discuss the final book in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. We hope you enjoy how much dumb jock energy Eomer brings to the book as much as we do!
Karlo's joined by Aaron and Carlee of Hit Factory Podcast to talk about Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. We discuss when the film was released in theaters, and if in reshoots it resorts to the dreary allegory Tolkien himself disliked.
Karlo, Kurt and Connor discuss their re-read of The Two Towers. They concentrate on many of the characters and parts of the story that weren't adapted into the films (hint: it's time for some wizard shit at Isengard!)
Karlo is joined by Aaron from The Hit Factory to talk about the second Lord of the Rings films. We discuss the many moving parts of the film and Peter Jackson's weird fixations regarding orcs, but sadly never figure out which two towers the movie's talking about.
Karlo, Kurt and Connor discuss their re-read of The Fellowship of the Ring. They concentrate on many of the characters and parts of the story that weren't adapted into the films (hint: it's Bombadillo time!)
Pete and Karlo are joined by Aaron and Carlee of The Hit Factory Podcast to talk about Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring. We discuss the staying power of the film, but stay tuned for which other directors would be the best (or worst) for these films!
Podside interrupts our previously programmed Lord of the Rings Month to wrap up Seth Dickinson's decidedly NOT Tolkienesque, The Traitor Baru Cormorant.
Kurt and Chris from Parents Just Don't Understand Podcast return to talk about the parts of The Hobbit that didn't make it into the Rankin Bass animated film. Enjoy going there and back again with us!
What's it gots in its pocketses? Pete and Karlo are joined by Kurt and Chris of Parents Just Don't Understand Podcast to try to answer this very question. We risk it all and go down, down, to Goblin Town to get to the bottom of this mystery!
Karlo's joined by M.K. Anderson to talk about the 2014 film Ex Machina. We discuss Turing Tests, the ethics of creating possibly sentient robots, and why casting charismatic and sexy Oscar Isaac as the Bad Guy almost doesn't work.
Podside's first book club! Listen in to our Discord community's discussions of Seth Dickinson's 2015 novel, The Traitor Baru Cormorant (Chapters 21 - 25).
Pete and Karlo are joined by none other than Connor to chat about season 2 of Netflix's anthology show, Love Death + Robots. Go watch it -- it's pretty good!
Pete and Karlo are joined by Trev and Ted from We Need to Talk About Kevin Podcast for John Carpenter's Christine (1983). If you ever fall into unrequited love with a car that was made evil, we have all sorts of advice for you.
It's time for a little anti-Italian discrimination as Rite Gud's own Sid Oozeley and I answer the age-old question: can a sad antifa pig-man fly?
Check out Rite Gud: Patreon.com/RiteGud
Podside's first book club! Listen in to our Discord community's discussions of Seth Dickinson's 2015 novel, The Traitor Baru Cormorant.
Podside Book Club will take a brief hiatus and return in September to discuss Walter John Williams' Metropolitan. Join us then!
Pete and Karlo are joined by Emma Berquist to talk about the 2020 horror film, The Empty Man. Listen as we talk about tulpas, the self-help tips of the Pontifex Institute and Emma's dog offers her own (grumbling and adorable) opinions.
Pete and Karlo are joined by Kurt Schiller and Chris Woodward of Parents Just Don't Understand Podcast to talk about Excalibur (1981). We discuss how this film feels like a new adaptation of the source material, which may be a dream to some. . . a nightmare to others!
A new month, a brand new beer run where Pete and Karlo talk about Brood X as a potential buffet for dogs of all sizes, the merits of small beer in the medieval ages and how we'll be covering The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in July, nbd
Pete and Karlo are joined by the most dangerous woman in speculative fiction, Raquel S. Benedict to talk about RoboCop. Spoiler alert: we all love this movie, so it's with a heavy heart we must say ACAB includes RoboCop.
Pete, Karlo and Rite Gud's own Sid Oozeley (@MagusDeluxe) talk Castle in the Sky. Listen in to find out why Miyazaki loves flying in his films, and at least one other less-than-pleasant insight.
Sad Puppies! Rabid Puppies! Join Pete and Karlo for the recent history of the Hugo Awards, and what's going on today.
Did you know Pete has a Doctorate in Barbara Hambly Studies? Well, he does, and he brings all his knowledge to bear in this discussion of the author's 1985 novel, Dragonsbane.
Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Dragonsbane-Winterlands-Book-Barbara-Hambly-ebook/dp/B004TC149G/ref=sr_1_1?
Podside's first book club! Listen in to our Discord community's discussions of Seth Dickinson's 2015 novel, The Traitor Baru Cormorant. Join us for our next discussions:
Chapters 21-25 for discussion/recording 5/22/21 Chapters 26-30 (+ epilogues) for discussion/recording 6/8/21
We'll be starting discussions on the listed dates at 9 PM EST so read along and join us next time!
Get the book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765380739
We'll be starting discussions on the listed dates at 8 PM EST so read along and join us next time!
Get the book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765380739
Pete and Karlo are joined by Paul Walker-Emig of Utopian Horizons podcast to talk about 1987's The Running Man. Learn the differences between the book (one of the Bachman Books). Welcome to the 80s, baby and most important -- get ready to run!
Back Paul's new book, Object Oriented: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/objectoriented/object-oriented
Check out Utopian Horizons: https://www.patreon.com/utopianhorizons
Pete and Karlo are joined by Tiffany Meuret (@TMeuretBooks) to discuss the 2001 cult classic Donnie Darko. Is Donnie a superhero? Why doesn't he fire his therapist? Listen in and find out!
Pete and Karlo are joined by Kurt Schiller and Chris Woodward of Parents Just Don't Understand podcast to talk about the Hugo Award-winning novella, The Little Goddess by Ian McDonald. Spoiler alert: we all loved it despite some of its flaws and had a fruitful discussion about some of its themes, its prose and of course how best to cancel poor Ian today (not really).
We sat down with Michael Lichand of @fmanalists and @that2ep fame to discuss a Sci-Fi classic by Montiero Lobato, a celebrated children's author in Brazil. It's....its safe to say that it did NOT go as expected, but it was a lively and interesting discussion.
Pete and Karlo are joined by Kurt Schiller and Chris Woodward of Parents Just Don't Understand podcast to make the techno noises for the Paul W. S. Anderson's 1995 crapterpiece, Mortal Kombat. Find out who the secret characters are, how this movie is both good and bad, and why Kano's special attack is chewing scenery with his mouth open.
In this preview Struggle Session's anime correspondents, Emma Bowers and Abby Denton return to talk about Satoshi Kon's show, Paranoia Agent. Watch out -- Lil Slugger might get you, too . . .
Struggle Session's anime correspondents, Emma Bowers and Abby Denton return to talk about Satoshi Kon's show, Paranoia Agent. Watch out -- Lil Slugger might get you, too . . .
A preview of Podside's first book club episode! Listen in to our Discord community's discussions of Seth Dickinson's 2015 novel, The Traitor Baru Cormorant. Our next discussion will cover Chapters 6 - 10, on 4/13/21 starting at 9 PM EST so read along
Karlo is joined by Aaron and Carlee of Hit Factory Podcast to discuss the 2014 film, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. We discuss how Ape society is anchored to the past, how Caesar's a lib, and why Koba did nothing wrong.
Karlo's joined by the most dangerous woman in speculative fiction, R.S. Benedict to discuss the 1996 sleeper hit, The Craft. Find out why Fairuza Balk should've been the protagonist, why magic should belong to the masses and why Sarah's a blue-check witch.
Check out Rite Gud: https://www.patreon.com/ritegud
Read R.S. Benedict's brilliant piece in Blood Knife, Everyone's Beautiful and No One Is Horny: https://bloodknife.com/everyone-beautiful-no-one-horny/
Pete and Karlo are joined by Illimani Ferreira to talk about The Vanished Birds, Simon Jimenez' debut novel. Join us to find out how capitalism escaped containment, where the birds went, and why we think it's criminal that this book hasn't won every award possible.
Buy the book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609386/the-vanished-birds-by-simon-jimenez/
Vote for the Locus Awards: https://poll.voting.locusmag.com/
in this preview, Pete and Karlo talk about the 1983 science-fantasy film Krull. The plot doesn't make a lick of sense, the actors are too good for any of this, and we discuss what an actual glaive would be.
Pete and Karlo discuss Jorge Luis Borges' seminal story, Tlön, Uqbar, Orbius Tertius (from his collection, Labyrinths), about how an invented reality begins to seep into ours . . . but that's just a work of fiction, right?
It's not often that we do requests, but this one jumped the line. Here's a clip of our hunger games discussion, sponsored by Mrs. Kobnisky's 7th grade Literature Class. Featuring Emma Berquist, the most guest of all time.
Pete and Karlo are joined by the author of Stonefish, Scott R. Jones. Listen in to find out why the First Law of the universe is a horror show, and why Sasquatch is too.
Buy Stonefish: https://wordhorde.com/books/stonefish/
Scott's website: https://scottrjoneswriter.com/
Follow Scott on Twitter: @PimpMyShoggoth
Pete and Karlo discuss the 1981 Space-Western, Outland. Find all about how best to keep your workforce motivated on the moons of Jupiter as well as creative ways to murder people using the vacuum of space.
Karlo reads As the Shore to the Tides- So Blood Calls to Blood, which is eligible for the Locus Award for novelette. Note that anyone can vote for the Locus Award.
Read the story: http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/as-the-shore-to-the-tides-so-blood-calls-to-blood/
Pete and Karlo are joined by Ted and Trevor from WNTTAK podcast to talk about the 1986 John Carpenter film, Big Trouble in Little China. Join us as we talk about how good James Hong is as the evil dream, David Lo Pan and cancel Jack Burton for being a bad ally.
Pete and Karlo are joined by Kurt and Chris from Parents Just Don't Understand Podcast to talk about the 80s-tastic fantasy film, Willow. Listen to find out Evil Queen Bavmorda's tragic backstory (not really).
Parents Just Don't Understand Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast
Pete and Karlo are joined by returning champ, Michel Lichand to discuss one of Ursula K. Le Guin's most iconic stories, The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas. What would you do if presented with the price of your utopia?
Pete and Karlo are back to discuss Man-Thing, the silent nexus between worlds, Howard the Duck and grapple with how being a fan used to feel temporary
The gang's all back, and boy do they have some shit to shoot! Listen to Pete, Karlo and "special guest" Connor ramble on about COVID speakeasies, mule deer and plans for world domination . . . in DD
In this episode, Karlo takes on the Herculean task of educating Pete on : Nausicaä, with a number of digressions along the way.
In this preview, Karlo and Pete talk about the 1993 film Fire in the Sky, what people usually do to when presented with the unexplained and the approximately 10 minutes that make watching this film worth it.
Award-winning novelist Sam J. Miller joins Pete and Karlo to talk about his newest horror novel, The Blade Between and how gentrification is one of the real monsters out there. Also: whales!
Pete and Karlo are joined by Eoin Higgins to discuss the surreal 2006 film, Southland Tales. We discuss how much an artifact of the mid-2000s it is, the stellar cast, and how it's spoiler-proof because it's a movie about vibes.
Pete and Karlo talk with Nebula award winning author Cat Rambo about her novelette Carpe Glitter, and discuss when exactly to include the audience in the magic trick.
In this preview, Michel Lichand returns to talk about Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, and the future of adult Disney fans.
Coral A. Moore joins Pete and Karlo to talk about SFF quarterly, Constelación Magazine and the importance of SFF in translation.
In this preview, Pete and Karlo tackle an interesting problem. What fo you do with a book that is well written that you fundamentally dislike? We examine Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor, and Karlo manages to not completely blow a gasket. .
Pete and Karlo are joined by Sarah Pinsker to discuss her novel, "A Song For a New Day" and talk about writing, influences, and her upcoming novel.
A Song For a New Day: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/598452/a-song-for-a-new-day-by-sarah-pinsker/
Sarah's Collection: https://smallbeerpress.com/books/2019/03/19/sooner-or-later-everything-falls-into-the-sea/
Two Truths and a Lie: https://www.tor.com/2020/06/17/two-truths-and-a-lie-sarah-pinsker/
Pre-order Sarah's New Novel: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/598513/we-are-satellites-by-sarah-pinsker/
Tiffany Meuret returns to talk to Pete and Karlo about Demolition Man, fantasy cops and the unquestionable coolness of Wesley Snipes. Have a Joy Joy Day!
Pete and Karlo are joined by Illimani Ferreira to talk about his book Terminal 3, immigration woes and how the French translation of Zaphod Beeblebrox is some serious BS.
Illimani's website: https://ifscifi.com/
Terminal 3: https://www.amazon.com/Terminal-3-Illimani-Ferreira-ebook/dp/B08JJLQPHQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=terminal+3&qid=1603386502&s=books&sr=1-1
Other Recent Works:
Equatorial Ice (And Lately, The Sun, November 2020) Terribly and Terrifyingly Normal (Unidentified Funny Objects 8, October 2020)
The Serpentine City (Hybrid Fiction, July 2020)
In today's premium episode, Pete meets with Emma Berquist and discusses his favorite college date movie, Man Bites Dog (1992). Emma, in turn, explains to him why that is a HORRIBLE date movie.
Pete and Karlo discuss the 1983 film War Games and among other things how Matthew Broderick made his career out of being a charming asshole. Edit: Replaced the audio with the actual episode, with my apologies
Karlo's joined by Emma Bowers and Abby Denton to discuss Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (mostly the 1984 anime, but also parts of the manga), and touch upon other of Hayao Miyazaki's works. Please note: spoilers abound!
Check out Emma's new project, Apeteur Theory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc7ULA-akVg
Where Pete and Karlo are joined by writer A.C. Wise to talk about Red Riding Hood, deep-fried cosmic horror and ghost ships in . . . spaaaace!
A.C. Wise's website: http://www.acwise.net/
To Sail the Black: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/wise_11_20/
Catfish Lullaby: https://www.brokeneyebooks.com/store/c25/Catfish-Lullaby#/
Intro: usual Outro (from this): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1-xRk6llh4
In this episode, Connor meets with Luke and Kelsey (our buddies from Photorpod)and discusses this season of The Mandalorian. Enjoy!
In this Premium episode, Karlo and Pete discuss Clash of the Titans, a movie which set the standard for....nothing, really. But we enjoyed it!
Pete and Karlo are joined by Alexandra Hill, editor of khōréō Magazine about her forthcoming first issue, and how many people wrote stories about food.
khōréō Magazine's website: https://www.khoreomag.com/
Immersion by Aliette de Bodard: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/debodard_06_12/
When They Came To Us by Debbie Urbanski https://www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/488/when-they-came-to-us
Pete and Karlo have a meandering discussion about The Prophecy (1995), featuring brief mentions of making playoff brackets for other movie devils -- oh, and Chewie editorializes. Enjoy the preview! You can find the rest on Patreon.com/PodsidePicnic by subscription
Karlo's joined by fiction and game writer, Erin Roberts to talk about her penchant for fictional murder, writing for a game about running from zombies, and how memories can be a commodity!
Erin's website: https://www.writingwonder.com/
Sour Milk Girls: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/roberts_01_18/
Thanks For the Memories: https://sub-q.com/thanks-for-the-memories/
In this episode, we get the band back together. Karlo, Pete, and Connor discuss their reading and gaming habits, Karlo shares his SSN#, Pete comes to terms with his Swedish Fish addiction and Connor finally discloses where he hid the body. Enjoy!
Pete and Karlo are joined by Sean Patrick Hazlett, editor of the Weird World War III anthology to discuss his approach to editing stories set in the Cold War era. Note: if you'd like to listen to two of the contributors to Weird World War III, check Podside Picnic episodes 90 and 91.
Anthology: https://www.baen.com/weird-world-war-iii.html
Sean's Website: https://seanpatrickhazlett.com/
Sean's Post on Editing an Anthology: https://seanpatrickhazlett.com/2020/10/12/so-you-want-to-create-an-anthology-the-4-ps-of-anthology-production/
In which Pete and Karlo discuss the Last Action Hero, an almost universally panned movie that is actually pretty good.
In this Bonus episode, Pete raps with RS Benedict about Total Recall. This was an originally a Patreon episode but you know, sometimes you just want to give away some content.
Pete and Karlo finally find the Canada-NOLA connection talking with Derek Künsken, author of The Quantum Magician, The Quantum Garden, and The House of Styx.
Derek's website: https://derekkunsken.com/index.html/
Derek's Books: https://bookshop.org/books/the-quantum-magician/9781781085707 https://bookshop.org/books/the-quantum-garden-volume-2/9781781085714 https://bookshop.org/books/the-house-of-styx-volume-1-the-first-in-a-ground-breaking-new-science-fiction-series-from-the-best-selling-author-of-the-quantum-magician/9781781088050
Where Karlo finds a new category of Conflict in Literature, and reads the prologue (ahem, "Cutscene") and part of "Chapter 0000" of Ready Player Two.
In protest Pete has tagged this one as a disco tune on soundcloud. Lets see who gets pissed.
Pete and Karlo are joined by A Flood of Posies author, Tiffany Meuret. We talk about creepy urban legends, what creeps us out, and Tiffany's influences.
Tiffany's website: https://tiffanymeuret.com/
Order A Flood of Posies: https://vesuvianmedia.com/a-flood-of-posies/
In this episode, Karlo and Pete discuss Ang Lee's version of the Hulk alongside Leslie Lee of Struggle Session fame.
Pete and Karlo are joined by author, Karen Osborne to discuss her novel "Architects of Memory" and how even in the far future, people will try their best and sometimes fail.
Karen's website: http://www.karenosborne.com/
Architects of Memory: https://bookshop.org/books/architects-of-memory/9781250215475
In which Karlo and Pete sit down with Michel Lichand to discuss O Presidente Negro, a Sci-Fi novel from Montiero Lobato. And GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY was this not what we were expecting
Pete and Karlo are joined by House of Secrets (discussed in Episode 87) author, Kevin Andrew Murphy to talk about playing and writing for RPGs, Wildcards and the inspiration for the actual House of Secrets!
In which our Troika discusses stuff. Politics, literature, the games we're playing, and cabbages and kings.
In which Karlo and Pete talk about a recent short story (The Big So-So) and her newly released novel (Busted Synapses) with Erika Satifka.
We encourage you to check out this book, on Amazon, or even better at Broken Eye Books! https://www.brokeneyebooks.com/store/p93/busted_synapses.html#/
In which Pete and Karlo dive into Dorohedoro. Get the whole episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43577675
In which Pete and Karlo discuss Peter Beagle's classic, The Last Unicorn, with special guest J.R. Dawson. Check out her work here: http://www.jrdawsonwriter.com/
In which No Cartridge's Trevor Strunk joins us to discuss what the difference between Rogue-likes and Rogue-lites are and whether Hades' compulsive playability requires an intervention. Get the full thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43333567
No Cartridge:https://www.no-cartridge.net/
In which Pete and Karlo have a wide-ranging discussion with Sherri Woolsey, author of Walking Through Fire. Check out her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Through-Fire-Misbegotten-Novel/dp/1945863331
In which Pete and Karlo read auras and parse jellies. Get the full episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/43059276
In which Connor and brand-new cohost Karlo take on a phenomenal game about fighting with katanas
In which Pete and Connor get intellectual. Get the full thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/42533462
In which Pete and Blood Knife's Kurt Schiller discuss three of the great cartoon shows of the new Millennium: Adventure Time, Infinity Train, and Gravity Falls
In which Pete and Connor discuss... Mike Dukakis? And a lot of other things. Get the full episode here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/42288731
In which Pete and Connor return to the book they began analyzing last week. This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bruce-sterling-3-42011719
In which Connor and writerly recurring guest Emma Berquist dive into Shirley Jackson's most famous novel
In which Pete is joined by writer RS Benedict of Rite Gud podcast to discuss a Paul Verhoeven classic. To get the whole thing, become a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41713580
In which Pete and Connor FINALLY start on a book they've been meaning to discuss for a while
In which Pete and Connor run for beer. Get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41249325
In which Pete and Connor discuss the favorite sci-fi movie of quite a few boys who were 12 in the early 80s
In which Pete and Connor continue to discuss a frankly bad show. Get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41013662
In which Pete and Connor argue about utopias. This is a preview, get the whole thing here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/40672023
In which Connor is joined by recurring guest Kurt Schiller, as well as writer Lindsay Lee Wallace, to discuss Kurt's new venture: The SFF-loving, cutting-edge (har har) cultural criticism magazine Blood Knife
In which Pete and Connor talk about furniture. Also maybe some other things. This is a preview, so you can get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/40460217
In which Pete is once again joined by writer and friend of the pod Karlo Yeager Rodriguez for a jam sesh about, well, crap books
In this Episode, Connor discusses the marvelous classic The Subliminal Man with returning guest Ryan Boyd. Pete was clearly locked in a closet somewhere, as its absurd that he'd skip out on a golden age fave.
In which Pete and Connor take on one of the most beloved blockbusters of the 2010s, and end up talking a lot about samurai
In which Connor and esteemed guest Brandy Jensen expand on this week's first Gideon the Ninth episode--and Brandy challenges some of Connor's #takes. This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39924199
In which Pete and Connor take their first crack at a very recent fantasy hit about necromancers in a space empire and their sassy ways
In which Pete and Connor break down a supremely weird urban fantasy story, which you can read here: http://www.lysator.liu.se/lsff/confuse02/Looking_for_Jake.html. This is a preview, go here for the whole thing: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39688756
In which Pete and Connor take on a contemporary classic that's both a phenomenal zombie movie and a top-notch class parable
In which Pete and Connor try to decide whether the (somehow even thinner than the movie) old Guard comics suck, and also discuss new patron tiers. This is a preview, go here for the whole thing:https://www.patreon.com/posts/39464001
In which Pete and Connor take on a brand new Netflix original movie that's tight and propulsive, but also begs some questions about what we want from a movie now
In our latest patron exclusive, Connor continues discussion of cult classic Attack the Block with novelist, musician, and cultural critic Tim Maughan. This one goes a lot of fascinating places, so I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did. You can get Tim's novel here: https://www.mcdbooks.com/books/infinite-detail. This is a preview, so get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/39178418
In which Pete and Connor take on a contemporary cult hit and try to slay ALL the monsters
In which Pete and Connor do their thing, with beverages. This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38922159
In which recurring guest and friend of the pod Karlo Yeager Rodriguez joins Pete to discuss, well, crappy books
In which Pete and Connor take on yet another 70s sci-fi romp, and learn what Pete dressed up as for Halloween in 1977. This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38646354
In which recurring guest and friend of the pod Emma Berquist joins Connor to discuss a great movie--and to talk about her own experiences with violence
In which Pete and Connor dive into a classic Sci-Fi Hall of Fame story, which you can read here: http://ciscohouston.com/docs/docs/greats/its_a_good_life.html. This is a preview, get the whole thing by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38403280
In which Pete and Connor are joined by sci-fi writer, activist, and polymath Cory Doctorow for one of our most substantive, exciting episodes yet. Get his latest (banger) book here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250228581
In which Pete and Connor crack some brews (and Coke Zeros, as the case may be). This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/38161287
In which Pete and Connor jam about a delightful Bruce Sterling story, as well as Generation X and sundry other things. Check out the story here: http://droppdf.com/v/vJctH. This is a preview, so get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bruce-sterling-1-37918773
In which Connor sits down with a writer he knows well, decorated literary author Kali Fajardo-Anstine. Her first book, Sabrina and Corina, is out now in paperback. Get it here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/576721/sabrina-and-corina-by-kali-fajardo-anstine/
In which Pete flies solo in an appreciation of one of his favorite writers. This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/greg-bear-songs-37659484
In which Pete interviews political scientist and expert on future warfare P.W. Singer about his new novel (co-authored with August Cole), Burn-In, which is out today: https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/BurnIn/9781328637239
In which Connor is joined by friend of the pod, writer, and podcaster Kurt Schiller to discuss Neil Gaiman's "The Ocean at the End of the Lane." Check out Kurt's pod here: https://soundcloud.com/parentspodcast. This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37405917
In which Connor interviews someone he works with a lot, who also happens to be the founding co-editor of The New Gothic Review: https://newgothicreview.com/
In which Pete and Connor answer a series of questions posed by our patrons. This is a preview--get the full thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37126352
This is a release from behind our Patreon paywall. It's a great interview Pete and Trevor from No Cartridge did with two of the most revered game devs working today
In which Pete and Connor dive into Peter Watts' clever inversion of John Carpenter's The Thing. Read it here: http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/watts_01_10/. This is a preview, go here for the whole thing: https://www.patreon.com/posts/36891436
In which Pete interviews distinguished science fiction author James Alan Gardner, author most recently of They Promised Me The Gun Wasn't Loaded, which you can get here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780765398789
In which Pete and Connor follow up on their reading of Nine Princes in Amber with the even more fun, wish-fulfilling second book in Zelazny's Chronicle of Amber. This is preview, so to get the whole thing, go here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/roger-zelazny-of-36621674
In which Pete and Connor dive into one of the most purely fun--but also aesthetically cunning--books they've read for the pod
In which Connor interviews writer and friend of the pod Karlo Yeager Rodriguez about his new short story, a real banger which can be found here: http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/as-the-shore-to-the-tides-so-blood-calls-to-blood/. This is a preview, get the whole thing by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/karlo-yeager-as-36123916
In which Pete is once again joined by accomplished sci-fi writer and friend of the pod Gary Gibson to discuss his new novel, Devil's Road. Get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZDH12X8/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
In which Connor and recurring guest (and YA writer) Emma Berquist dive into a true classic of the haunted and the weird
In which Pete and Connor take on this sublime story about age, loss, and the ironies of getting what you want. This is a preview, get the whole thing by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/posts/35852564
In which Pete and Connor shoot the shit. Also here's a link to Connor's nascent newsletter: https://connorwroesouthard.substack.com/p/weimar-lockdown
In which Pete and Connor dig into The Warren, an avant-garde sci-fi of the highest order. This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/35561971
In which Connor is joined by Trashfuture's Riley Quinn to discuss the way science fiction influences the utopian space-faring plans of our ruling plutocrats
In which Pete and Connor dive into one of Connor's favorite games, and learn about their different approaches to games. This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/35331780
In which Pete gets together with Scott H. Andrews, a writer, musician, scientist and editor-in-chief and publisher of Beneath Ceaseless Skies, a literary adventure fantasy magazine. Their 300th issue is out March 26: http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/
In which we discuss The Events, after a beer or two, and stumble toward a response
Get the full episode by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/35033188
In which our sound editor, Adam Rensch, joins us for a very special episode to discuss his book, which you can get here: https://www.amazon.com/No-Home-You-Here-Culture/dp/1789142008
In which journalist Eoin Higgins joins your boys to discuss a movie that we wish were less appropriate for the moment, but which happens to be about a deadly pandemic and all the hubris leading up to it. We were going to release this a Patreon exclusive but we've decided to make it free for those of you stuck at home
In which Pete is joined by prolific science fiction writer Elliot Kay, to discuss his book Poor Man's Fight, and sundry other things
In which Pete and Connor take on a fascinating excerpt/story by Brian Evenson. Read the snippet here: https://electricliterature.com/x-by-brian-evenson/
This is a preview. You can get the whole thing by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/34647531
In which Pete and Connor do a cheeky followup to Vampire Month with the lads from Sleazoids
We had a few thoughts about Blindsight we wanted to share, in addition to our all-timer of an episode with Peter Watts himself. We also talk about some upcoming episodes
This is a preview, get the whole thing by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/peter-watts-pt-4-34427612
In which author Steven Brust joins Pete for a discussion of his vampire novel, Agyar--and many other things besides!
In which your boys break down a very fun Zelazny story about vampires that you can read here: https://epdf.pub/the-stainless-steel-leech.html
This is a preview of an exclusive which you can access by becoming a patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/34225108
In which Pete and Connor are joined by a living legend of science fiction, Peter Watts. We discuss his contemporary classic novel Blindsight, but we also discuss love, legal misadventures, life itself... and sea cucumbers
In which Pete and Trevor from No Cartridge sit down with two very special guests: Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, the creative minds behind Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines as well as many, many other games
In which YA writer and friend of the pod Emma Berquist rejoins Connor to discuss the best vampire movie of all time
In which Pete and Connor, well, drink blood
This is a preview, get the whole thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33830525
In which Pete (Giles) and Connor (Buffy) kick off Vampire Month in style--but we are just gooooing throoough the mooootions?
In which Pete sits down with our patron, friend of the pod, podcaster (Parents Just Don't Understand), and author Kurt Schiller. You can grab his novel here: https://www.amazon.com/The-Worldly-Affairs-Lord-Gosham-ebook/dp/B0091YEYRG
This is a preview, so if you want the whole thing, become a patron here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/33616145
In which Connor welcomes... Connor (Goldsmith), a literary agent who specializes in science fiction and fantasy. This is a very substantive chat and you won't want to miss it
In which Connor and a special guest learn The Wizard's First Rule
This is a preview, so to get the whole thing, become a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/33430829
In which Pete and Connor finally do an episode on a video game, bet you can't guess which one
In which Pete and Connor finally talk about Rise of Skywalker... sort of. Mostly we talk about the cultural forces that led to this, uh, not very good movie
In which Pete and Connor break down the most beloved Star Wars novel, and along the way, learn some key lessons about how to write purposeful, functional genre fiction
In which Pete and Connor are joined by defense journalist Kelsey D. Atherton, an expert in both war and Star Wars, who helps them dissect exactly how the "war" part of Star Wars works
In which our old friend, whose name we have not heard in a long time--a long time--joins us to go deep on arguably the best Star Wars movie of them all. This is a preview, so to get the whole thing, become a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32316527
In which Pete and Connor are joined by writer Isaac Butler, who wrote this fascinating piece about unjustly forgotten fantasy and sci-fi writer John M. Ford: https://slate.com/culture/2019/11/john-ford-science-fiction-fantasy-books.html
In which our old friend Lucy Valentine joins us once again to discuss A New Hope and her Star Wars fandom
This is a preview, so you can get the whole thing by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32109835
In which Pete and Connor begin Star Wars Month by breaking down their backgrounds with the most intergalactically overwhelming narrative universe of them all
In which Pete and Connor break down a classic sci-fi short, For A Breath I Tarry by Roger Zelazny
In which Connor and recurring guest and all around Renaissance Man Adam break down an instant classic of cinema
To access the full episode, become a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31743188
In which Pete and Connor undertake part one of their discussion of one of the greatest novels written in English
In which Pete and Connor welcome Dune expert and journalist David Klion onto the pod to discuss the legendary, quasi-lost Dune Encyclopedia. This is a release of one of our exclusive episodes for patrons. To get access to everything we do, join up here: patreon.com/PodsidePicnic
In which Pete and Connor explore yet another notable latter-day Lovecraft mythos story, this time by Neil Gaiman. They also talk story craft and the nature of plot
In which Connor and Adam break down Against Theory, the seminal essay of theory that's... against theory
This is a preview. To get the full episode, go here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/against-theory-3-30823189
In which Pete and Connor explore recent Lovecraftian video game pastiche The Sinking City, and many other things besides
In which Connor--in the absence of Pete, still away on investigative business--interviews Dr. Ryan Boyd, an expert on the disturbances which recently occurred in the town of Innsmouth...
In which esteemed investigator Leslie Lee III of Struggle Session podcast joins Connor in the recording lab at Miskatonic University to recount the events at a remote farmhouse in Massachusetts...
This is a preview. To get the full results of our researches, become a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/30672576
In which Pete and Connor are joined by Olvia (@aveyclub online), and investigate disturbances in an abandoned church in Providence...
In which Pete and Connor get ready for Lovecraft Month by sharing their broad thoughts and feelings about the man and his oeuvre. This is a preview. As always, you can access the full episode by going here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/30465470
In which the hosts of Print Run school us on the state of the publishing industry and talk about their roles in making the world a safe place to write a book.
Check out their podcast here: https://soundcloud.com/printrunpodcast
In which our mult-talented sound editor, Adam Rensch--@nachdermas of Twitter fame--joins us to discuss Ready Player One, a movie that Connor and Adam like, based on a book Pete... does not like
This is just a preview, so get the full episode by becoming a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/30083641
In which Luke @lukeisamazing, a Star Wars superfan, joins us to discuss fandom, lore, and the Knights of the Old Republic video games. Check out his pod: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CCjF11hp5p4sf5QmNSp8w
In which Pete and Connor delve into a short story for the first time: A Colder War by Charles Stross, available here: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/colderwar.htm
And of course, since this is a preview, unlock the real thing here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/29764705
In which Brendan Brown, lead singer of Wheatus, joins us to discuss Eighties martial arts classic The Last Dragon
In which Pete and Connor are joined by Dune superfan David Klion for a riveting discussion of the Dune Encyclopedia, the secret key to understanding the afterlife of Frank Herbert's creation. This is a preview of an exclusive Patreon episode. To get the whole thing, go here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dune-ft-david-3-29538337
In this episode, Olivia (@Aveyclub) of No Cartridge After Dark fame joins Pete and Connor in a discussion of Dune, in all its flawed glory.
In which Connor and Pete take a look at, well, let's say, the things Frank Herbert did that are not Dune
A preview of our latest Patreon exclusive, a jam session on Dune with Will Menaker of Chap Trap House! Get the full audio here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dune-ft-will-2-29011264
In which Pete and Connor discuss Frank Herbert's Dune with the charming and insightful author Jake Bacharach.
A preview in which Pete and Connor take their first steps into exploring Frank Herbert's Dune. The first of many August Dune episodes. Full episode available on Patreon.com/PodsidePicnic
This is a preview of Connor and Trevor Strunk's discussion of Adorno on the Patreon. For the complete discussion, visit Patreon.com/PodsidePicnic to subscribe.
In which Pete and Connor take a deeper dive into their current favorite Netflix anthology Love, Death, and Robots, and talk a little about upcoming episodes.
In this episode, Pete and Connor have an engrossing conversation with Emma Berquist about her YA novel Missing, Presumed Dead.
In which Pete and Connor discuss Star Trek 4 with Alex Pareene. A release of a Patreon episode.
Preview of a Patreon episode, in which Pete and Conner have a instructive, and occasionally heated discussion with Wayne Gladstone about Spielberg's A.I.
In which Pete and Connor explore Joe Kassabian's Citizen of Earth with a special guest...Joe Kassabian.
In which Pete and Connor explore the recent film Dark Phoenix, followed by a gentle Pete "Why are we doing this to ourselves?" Meltdown.
Preview of a Patreon episode, in which Pete explores his complex relationship to The War Against the Chtorr series.
In which the esteemed Alex Pareene joins us to chat Star Trek, particularly Star Trek IV (the one with the whales). This is a preview, so to listen to the whole thing, become a patron here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/27166284
In which Pete and Connor discuss the movie Advantageous with author and podcaster RS Benedict.
In which Pete and Connor discuss Galaxy Quest. The full version of this episode is available on Patreon.com/PodsidePicnic by subscription.
In which Pete and Connor discuss the movie Event Horizon with Leslie Lee III, of Struggle Session.
A preview of our latest Patreon exclusive, a review of surprisingly fun DC movie Shazam. For the rest of this episode and a lot more, become a patron at patreon.com/PodsidePicnic
In which Pete and Connor discuss Ursula Le Guin's The Dispossessed with the talented and formidable Brandy Jensen.
In which Pete and Connor discuss Love, Death, and Robots, an anthology of animated Sci-Fi shorts on Netflix.
In which Pete and Connor discuss Aliens with Chapo Trap House's own Will Menaker. This episode was previously a Patron only episode on Patreon.com/PodsidePicnic , but we wanted to share it to give you a peek behind the paywall.
In which Pete and Connor discuss the action movie The Hidden with Bryan Quinby (@MurderBryan) from StreetFight Radio.
In which Pete and Connor explore the worlds of Arthur C Clarke, Specifically Rendezvous With Rama
In which Pete and Connor dissect Alita Battle Angel. Sometimes with a scalpel, sometimes with a rocket powered sledgehammer
In this Episode, Pete and Connor have the opportunity to interview Lucy Valentine, of Boonta Vista fame about her favorite Star Wars film, Rogue One.
In which Pete and Connor explore the rich world of Ursula K LeGuin's the Left Hand of Darkness