A Reader's History of Science Fiction: Recent Episodes
Alex Howe
A biweekly podcast exploring the history of science fiction from the Renaissance to the present day. Astrophysicist and sci-fi enthusiast Alex Howe explores how the classic books, movies, and TV shows influenced the development of the genre and continue to do so today, with book recommendations for each episode.
I'm taking a short break before producing the next episode. I'm not sure how long it will be, but probably about a month to give myself time to get on top of my writing again, finish my next YouTube video and hopefully line up some more interviews, too. There are still at least a few more episodes coming, so keep an eye out.
In this episode, I review the recent history and current status of science fiction on television during the streaming era.
TV recommendation: The Orville
In this episode, I interview the legendary Larry Niven, author of Ringworld, The Mote in God's Eye, Lucifer's Hammer, Footfall, and many more.
Niven's book recommendations from his catalog:
The Seascape Tattoo (fantasy, with Steven Barnes)
Fleet of Worlds Series (with Edward Lerner)
The Goliath Stone (with Matthew Harrington)
Rainbow Mars (fantasy anthology)
I interview Dr. Cameron Kunzelman of Georgia State University about science fiction in video games.
Dr. Kunzelman's game recommendations: Bioshock Halo Mass Effect
Recommended reference book: https://www.amazon.com/Science-Fiction-Video-Games-Tringham/dp/148220388X
Link to the Jacob Geller video in which Dr. Kunzelman appears: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPiL3-CYzWk
Robert Silverberg is the last major author whose career stretches all the way back to the Golden Age of Science Fiction. He is an extremely prolific writer and a long-time friend of Isaac Asimov. Hear his story in this interview.
Silverberg’s top picks from his catalog: Dying Inside Downward to the Earth The Man in the Maze First-Person Singularities (anthology) Lord of Darkness (historical) The Majipoor series (fantasy)
In the first episode of Season 3, I interview Jim Harris, the creator of the Classics of Science Fiction book recommendation aggregator, which I have referenced several times in the past.
The database and list-builder Jim's website Scan of the original list from 1989 (page 46)
Jim's book recommendations not from the list: Empire Star by Samuel R. Delany The Sea and Summer by George Turner The Hopkins Manuscript by R. C. Sherriff
In the series finale, I interview Dr. Lisa Yaszek, a sci-fi historian from Georgia Tech, about where we can expect science fiction to go in the future.
Dr. Yaszek's recommendations: Wormwood Trilogy by Tade Thompson The Matrix Sunspot Jungle, ed. Bill Campbell
Other works discussed: Binti Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor "The Sixth World" by Nanobah Becker The Stars are Legion by Kameron Hurley The Universe of Xuya series by Aliette de Bodard Unstoppable series by Charlie Jane Anders
Okay, not exactly all classics and not exactly lightning either, but in this episode, I discuss four books that I wanted to talk about in Season 1, but never got around to.
Book recommendation: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Other books discussed: Helliconia Trilogy by Brian Aldiss The Road by Cormac McCarthy Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
In this episode, I discuss the precise nature of space opera, its origins, and its path through the history of sci-fi up to the current resurgence it's had in recent years.
Book recommendation: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
I'm having computer problems which resulted in me not being able to record today, so I'm postponing Season 2, Episode 23 by one week to April 24.
Episode 24 will probably go up on May 1 as scheduled, but that is not certain yet. Subscribe to the feed if you haven't already to get automatic updates.
Not quite as space-themed as I intended, but these are the latest stories about aliens and comets and such.
Movie recommendation: Dune (2021)
Other works discussed: Greenland Don't Look Up Moonfall(anti-recommended) The Tomorrow War The Firefly tie-in novels
In this episode, I interview Donna Barba Higuera, author of the Newbery winning sci-fi novel, The Last Cuentista (which I've previously recommended).
Donna's book recommendation: Reclaim the Stars, edited by Zoraida Córdova
Donna's website
In this episode, I take one more look at children's science fiction by surveying the winners of the prestigious Newbery Medal.
Book recommendation: The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Other books discussed: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien The Giver by Lois Lowry When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
In this episode, I explore sci-fi works that focus on the idea of the multiverse.
Prospective book recommendation (I'm putting it on my own list): The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
PBS Space Time on the many worlds interpretation
Other works discussed: The Number of the Beast by Robert Heinlein Sliders Rick and Morty DC Comics Marvel Comics
In this episode, I give an overview of recent action movies in the sci-fi genre.
Movie recommendation: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Other movies discussed: Tenet Free Guy The Matrix: Resurrections
In this episode, I bring back my cohost Greg for a conversion about how science fiction has shaped video games, and vice versa.
Classic game recommendation: Chrono Trigger
I catch up on the sci-fi movies for kids that have come out in the pandemic era.
Movie recommendation: The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Background on Lightyear here and here.
Other films discussed: Sonic the Hedgehog Over the Moon Flora and Ulysses Space Jam: A New Legacy Strange World Lightyear
In this episode, I give an overview of the different ways that religion and religious themes are used in science fiction.
Book recommendation: Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny
My review of A Case of Conscience.
Other works discussed: Riverworld series by Philip Jose Farmer A Case of Conscience by James Blish Terra Ignota series by Ada Palmer
I interview Dr. Margaret Weitekamp, Curator and Chair of Space History at the National Air and Space Museum about her new book, Space Craze: America’s Enduring Fascination with Real and Imagined Spaceflight.
Media recommendation: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
In this episode, I interview Gary Bengier, former CFO of eBay and author of Unfettered Journey, a novel about philosophy and artificial intelligence.
Gary's book recommendation:
Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
In this episode, I interview Gary Bengier, former CFO of eBay and author of Unfettered Journey, a novel about philosophy and artificial intelligence.
Gary's book recommendation:
Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
Complementing my Marvel catch-up, I review the new DC superhero movies that have come out since the start of the pandemic.
Movie recommendation: DC League of Super-Pets
Other movies discussed:
Wonder Woman 1984Black AdamZack Snyder's Justice League
The Batman
I interview Nick Nocturne, host of the YouTube channel Night Mind about the emerging genre of unfiction and its relation to science fiction.
Nick's recommendations:
PBhere (sci-fi)
Diminish (non-sci-fi)
In the podcast's first panel interview, I speak to two Stephen King scholars, Simon Brown and Regina Hansen, about King's illustrious career and influence on science fiction.
Book and movie recommendation: The Dead Zone.
In the first of three horror-themed episodes for October, I discuss one class work that I passed over before and one new work.
Recommendation: The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
Other work discussed: Jordan Peele's Nope
Techno-thrillers are a surprisingly fuzzy category that sits at the border of sci-fi and suspense. In this episode, I give an overview of the subgenre and the different ways it can be classified.
Book recommendation: Delta-v by Daniel Suarez
Sam Boush on the categories of techno-thrillers.
My review of Delta-v.
Other books discussed:
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
Techno-thrillers are a surprisingly fuzzy category that sits at the border of sci-fi and suspense. In this episode, I give an overview of the subgenre and the different ways it can be classified.
Book recommendation: Delta-v by Daniel Suarez
Sam Boush on the categories of techno-thrillers.
My review of Delta-v.
Other books discussed:
The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
As part of my catch-up series, I review the Marvel movies that have come out since the start of the pandemic.
Movie recommendation: The New Mutants.
(I really think it's underrated.)
As part of my catch-up series, I review the Marvel movies that have come out since the start of the pandemic.
Movie recommendation: The New Mutants.
(I really think it's underrated.)
Experimenting with a new format, my friend Greg and I have a conversation about anime and its place in the science fiction genre.
TV recommendation: Cowboy BebopMovie recommendation: Castle in the Sky: Laputa
I interview Dr. Paul Frommer, the creator of the Na'vi language from Avatar as well as Barsoomian from Disney's John Carter.
Prospective movie recommendation: Avatar: The Way of Water
Dr. Frommer's blog.
In this second catch-up episode, I talk about the most recent monster movies (and one novel) to come out and their place in science fiction as a whole.
Movie recommendation: Love and Monsters
My YouTube video on the physics of giant monsters.
Other works discussed:
The Color out of Space (2019)
Underwater (2020) Godzilla vs. Kong
Jurassic World Dominion
Monster Hunter (2020)
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
Science fiction frequently plays with language in different ways to explore the concepts of philosophy, culture, and cognition; and constructed languages (or conlangs) are a big part of that. In this episode, I highlight how conlangs have contributed to the genre over its history.
TV recommendation: Defiance (Kastithanu, L'Irathi, Indojisnen, and Kinuk'aaz, by David J. Peterson)
My blog posts about language in Creationism.
jan Misali’s Conlang Critic playlist.
Other languages discussed:
Newspeak (Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell)
Láadan (Native Tongue, by Suzette Elgin)
Klingon (Star Trek, by Marc Okrand)
Na’vi (Avatar, by Paul Frommer)
My first episode catching up both on classic works of sci-fi that I passed over before, and new works from the past 2 years. These are "short" episodes that will continue intermittently with longer ones.
Book recommendation: To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
Other book discussed: Cities in Flight by James Blish
My review of A Case of Conscience by James Blish
I interview Farah Mendlesohn, a scholar of children's sci-fi and fantasy literature and author of The Intergalactic Playground.
Farah's website.
Farah's book recommendations:
The Mortal Engines Quartet by Philip Reeve
The Year's Best African Speculative Fiction (free online)
A Reader's History of Science Fiction will return next Monday with my interview with Farah Mendlesohn, author of The Intergalactic Playground. Be sure to check it out.
In the final episode of Season 1, we explore the state of the science fiction genre in the present day.
Book recommendation: The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
Worlds Without End's list of sci-fi classics
Worlds Without End's customizable list
N. K. Jemisin on the Broken Earth trilogy
Edit: corrected links.
Other books discussed:
The Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
I missed a few important books in the previous episode on alternate history. Here is an overview of those works.
Recommendation: "If Lee Had Not Won the Battle of Gettysburg" by Winston Churchill (yes, really).
Other works discussed:
The Grasshopper Lies Heavy from The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
Fallen Axis from this Onion article.
The United Colonies Triumphant from The Two Georges by Harry Turtledove.
Proposed book by Abraham Lincoln from The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove, along with remarks in the Southern Victory series.
Insane alternate World War II from this XKCD comic.
Dystopian fiction has been the core of young adult sci-fi for the past 15 years. In this episode, we explore how they got their start and what makes them so popular.
Book recommendation: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My analysis of Mortal Engines.
Other books discussed:
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Maximum Ride by James Patterson
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
Children's science fiction was pretty sparse historically, but it began to take off in the 1990s. In this episode, we explore how sci-fi for kids has changed and expanded over the most recent generation.
Book recommendations:
Middle grade (ages 8-12): Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Chapter books (ages 6-10): Aliens for Breakfast by Stephanie Spinner and Jonathan Etra
Picture books: How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk
Farah Mendelsohn on children’s sci-fi.
1984 NYTimes article on book fairs.
Frankie Thomas on Animorphs.K. A. Applegate on reposting her books.
Other books discussed:
My Teacher Is an Alien by Bruce Coville
Animorphs by K. A. Applegate
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
Hi all. Unfortunately, I need to delay this week's episode. Production was already running slow because it's a long episode with a lot of supplemental material, as evidenced by the bonus blog posts. And, frankly, I've been a bit distracted by the Ukraine crisis.
I do have the script written, so I should be able to get Episode 44 up next week. After that, it might a be a new two-week schedule from that date. In the meantime, look for my second supplemental blog post for this episode.
Hard sci-fi stories about the exploration of our solar system became more popular beginning in the 1990s. In this episode, we explore how these ideas rose to prominence and have developed over the years. Book recommendation: The Martian by Andy Weir.
The Mundane Manifesto by Geoff Ryman et al.
Kim Stanley Robinson on the Mars Trilogy.
Other works mentioned:
The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Grand Tour Series by Ben Bova
The Expanse by James S. A. Corey
Artemis by Andy Weir
Gravity Interstellar
Ad Astra
As Hollywood moved into the twenty-first century, it found a new formula for superhero stories that catapulted them to some of the most popular stories in sci-fi. In this episode, we explore the history of superheroes in film and how their modern mainstream popularity has transformed the genre. Movie recommendation: X-Men
Other works dicussed:
The IncrediblesThe Dark Knight Trilogy
The Reckoners Series by Brandon Sanderson Worm by John C. "Wildbow" McCrae
Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Supervillain by Richard Roberts
In the 1980s and '90s, blockbuster films became a staple of Hollywood and of science fiction, and their rise went hand in hand with the development of CGI technology. In this episode, we explore the ways CGI has contributed to sci-fi over the years.
Movie recommendation: Jurassic Park
Sheldon Hall on the origin of the term "blockbuster."
Documentary on the making of Independence Day.
Other movies discussed:
Terminator 2: Judgment DayIndependence Day
Avatar
Michael Crichton was a huge influence on science fiction in the 1990s and 2000s, particularly through the many movie adaptations of his work. In this episode, I given an overview of his writings and his work in Hollywood.
Book recommendation: Sphere
Luke McKinney on "The Malcolm Fallacy"
Other works discussed:
The Andromeda StrainWestworld
Jurassic Park
Timeline
In this episode, I interview David Brin, author of the Uplift Series, The Postman, Existence, and many more.
David Brin's website.
Advice for new writers.
Sample chapters of many of Brin's books.
Brin's recommended reading list.
Brin on Robert Heinlein.
Recommended essay: "The World, the Flesh, and the Devil" by J. D. Bernal.
After cyberpunk had its day, a more mature, less countercultural successor to it emerged, known as postcyberpunk. In this episode, we explore what makes it distinctive and how it ties in with the ideas of transhumanism.
Book recommendation: Existence by David Brin.
Other books discussed:
Permutation City by Greg Egan
The Imperial Radch/Ancillary trilogy by Ann Leckie
Accelerando by Charles Stross (free download)
Blindsight by Peter Watts
Charles Stross's "crib sheet" on Accelerando.
Cyberpunk has produced many offshoots over the years as new authors have applied the style to other historical eras and new technologies. In this episode, we tour the wide spread of these diverse subgenres.
Book recommendations:
The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
Other works mentioned: too many to name. Full list here.
Cyberpunk was the big new subgenre of sci-fi in the 80s--the combination of "lowlife and high-tech." In this episode, we explore the highlights of this subgenre.
Book recommendation: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
Other works discussed:
Akira
Neuromancer by William Gibson
The Matrix
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My review of Ready Player Two.
Alternate histories, where events in the past unfolded differently, are a fairly new genre, but it's made large strides since it first became popular in the 80s. In this episode, we look at an overview of these works.
Book recommendation: The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal.
My companion blog post on The Calculating Stars.
Other books discussed:
The Domination by S. M. Stirling
"The Road Not Taken", The Guns of the South and Harry Turtledove in general.
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
In this episode, I interview Annie Geever, the author of the Undead Age trilogy of zombie novels.
Annie's website.
Annie's book recommendations:
Thirteen or Black Man by Richard K. Morgan
Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamilton
Sun of Suns by Karl Schroeder
Time travel has used in many different ways by many different writers across history. In this episode, we take a whirlwind tour of ten common time travel tropes to see how they have contributed to the genre.
Book recommendation: The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter.
TV recommendation: "Blink" from Doctor Who.
Other works mentioned: too many to name. Full list here.
PBS Space Time on the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.
Time travel had a long history in science fiction, but it noticeably ramped up beginning in the 80s. In this episode, we explore some of the classic and iconic time travel stories of recent decades.
Book recommendation: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis.
Other works discussed:
Timescape by Gregory Benford
Eon by Greg Bear
Back to the FutureThe TerminatorBill and Ted's Excellent AdventureDoomsday Book by Connie Willis
Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
See also the Jimmy Kimmel Back to the Future sketch.
Sci-fi stories about wars and military service in the future are widespread throughout the genre. In this episode, we explore a few of the highlights from this wide field.
Book recommendation: Old Man's War by John Scalzi.
Honorable mention: Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein.
Other books discussed:
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
With the release of Star Wars, sci-fi became more mainstream than ever, and in its wake came many stories about a galaxy filled with many kinds of alien life. In this episode, we explore a few of these stories of galactic civilizations.
Book recommendation: A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
James W. Harris on 80s sci-fi.
Charlie Jane Anders on 80s sci-fi.
David Brin's website.
Other works discussed:
OG Star Wars
Uplift Universe by David Brin
Culture series by Iain M. Banks
Zones of Thought series by Vernor Vinge
Stories about the discovery of mysterious alien artifacts, and the similar challenges of first contact, became prominent in the 70s and 80s. Some of them we have discussed before, but many are new. In this episode, we see an overview of these stories.
Book recommendation: Contact by Carl Sagan
Other works discussed:
Gateway by Frederick Pohl
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Stargate
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
E.T. the Extra-terrestrial
The Sparrow and Children of God by Mary Doria Russell
Daniel Bensen is an author of science fiction, alternate history, and stories of speculative evolution. In this interview, we discuss his new book, Interchange, sequel to his debut novel, Junction, and other writings.
Dan's website.
Dan's book recommendations:
The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
Greg Egan
The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker
After the New Wave era drew to a close, the older authors of the Golden Age continued to produce new works, but Arthur C. Clarke made the strongest comeback, with some of his most famous books coming from his later years. In this episode, we look at an overview of these works.
Book recommendation: Rendezvous with Rama
Other books discussed:
The Fountains of Paradise
2010: Odyssey Two
2061: Odyssey Three
3001: The Final Odyssey
The Songs of Distant Earth
By 1970, the New Wave in science fiction had made peace with a surge of new hard sci-fi works and writers. At the forefront of this trend was Larry Niven, who took a unique path in hard sci-fi by proposing new physics, but still applying it rigorously. In this episode, we explore his work.
Book recommendation: Ringworld by Larry Niven.
My blog post about Ringworld.
Other works discussed:
The Magic Goes Away
With Jerry Pournelle:
The Mote in God's Eye The Gripping Hand
Lucifer's Hammer
Footfall
Dr. Benjamin Stevens is a professor of classical studies who researches the relationship between the ancient/classical tradition and science fiction and fantasy. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss what makes sci-fi distinctive, classicism and modernity, ancient aliens, and more.
Dr. Steven's profile.
Classical Traditions in Science Fiction, ed. by Brett Rogers and Benjamin Stevens.
Dr. Steven's book recommendations:
The Just City/Thessaly Trilogy by Jo Walton
Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente
Children's science fiction was still an unusual and peripheral category during the New Wave, but it did produce some important new classics. In this episode, we explore the highlights of what kids were reading during this time.
Book recommendations:
For upper elementary and middle school: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
For lower elementary: The Iron Giant/The Iron Man by Ted Hughes
Farah Mendelsohn on children's sci-fi.
My post about A Wrinkle in Time and The Chronicles of Narnia.
Other books and authors mentioned:
Andre Norton
The Tripods trilogy by John Christopher
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
Among the various social changes that accompanied the New Wave, this time period saw the rise of second-wave feminism. In this episode, we explore how that movement influenced the genre of science fiction.
Book recommendation: The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin.
Tor Books poll on women in speculative fiction.
Eric Leif Davin's Partners in Wonder.
Sable Aradia's review of "Houston, Houston, Do You Read?"
My blog posts on The Handmaid's Tale: Part 1, Part 2
Jan Misali/Conlang Critic on Láadan.
Princeton article on Láadan.
Mary Robinette Kowal on women in sci-fi.
Other works discussed:
"The Screwfly Solution" by James Tiptree Jr.
"Houston, Houston, Do You Read?" by James Tiptree Jr.
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
In this episode, I interview Kira Leigh, author of the new, anime-inspired space epic, Constelis Voss, Volume 1.
Kira's website.
Kira's TV recommendations:
Farscape
Earth 2
While many early works of proto-sci-fi were satires like Gulliver's Travels, satirical works also appear in modern sci-fi. In this episode, we take a look at the two most famous authors of this subgenre, Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams.
Book recommendation: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.
Vonnegut's letter to his family during World War II.
Other works discussed:
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
While much of the New Wave was about exploring inner space, some authors were still writing about exploring other words. In this episode, we see how this subgenre of "strange new worlds sci-fi" developed, both through Star Trek and through the literature of the time.
Book recommendation: Inverted World by Christopher Priest.
The Sci-Fi Encyclopedia on aliens, mentioning the influence of John W. Campbell.
Neil deGrasse Tyson's interview with Nichelle Nichols.
Shannon Chamberlain on fanfiction.
Other works mentioned:
Solaris by Stanisław Lem
Dune by Frank Herbert
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
Doctor Who Star Trek: The Original Series
Hi all. Sorry there's no new episode this week. I have the script finished and everything, but my computer's gone on the fritz. I barely got it working again after the mess it got into yesterday, and until I have a better idea of how it's doing, I don't trust it to get through recording and editing an episode.
I'm going to have to play it by ear for now. If the problems resolve themselves, I should be able to record and release Episode 25 next week and continue with Episode 26 on schedule. If not, I'll shift the schedule back and start again as soon as I'm ready.
New episodes will always come out on Monday mornings either way, so keep checking back, or make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode, and as always, thanks for listening.
In the New Wave, a new batch of dystopian stories appeared that reflected the newer concerns of the time. These were different from the classics like Nineteen Eighty-Four--more diverse, and very often more hopeful. In this episode, we explore the highlights of these stories.
Short story recommendation: "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut.
My essay on the classic dystopias.
Kurt Vonnegut on "Harrison Bergeron."
Darryl Hattenhauer on "Harrison Bergeron."
My analysis of Logan's Run.
Other works discussed:
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Logan's Run by William Francis Nolan and George Clayton Johnson
In the 60s and 70s, awareness of environmental issues was rising, and that was reflected in the New Wave of science fiction. Of particular note were overpopulation and pollution (leading to widespread environmental collapse). In this episode, we explore the highlights of this subgenre.
Book recommendation: Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner
Other books mentioned:
Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison
The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Paolo Bacigalupi interview on The Windup Girl
The Cold War brought with it new tales of nuclear war in science fiction, both in the early days of the 50s and 60s, and later, when fears began to rise again. In this episode, we look at the highlights of these stories and how they vary widely in how they address the consequences of nuclear war.
Book recommendation: Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank.
The Office of Technology Assessment's 1979 nuclear war study.
Other works mentioned:
On the Beach by Nevil Shute (un-recommended)
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.
Dr. Strangelove
Fail Safe
The Postman by David Brin
The Day After
WarGames
In the 1950s and 60s, disaster and apocalyptic stories became prominent. However, the earliest ones could get pretty weird. In this episode, we take a look at the fantastic apocalypses that gave way to more realistic ones later on.
Book recommendation: The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham.
Other books mentioned:
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
The Wind from Nowhere by J. G. Ballard
The Drowned World by J. G. Ballard
The Burning World by J. G. Ballard
The Crystal World by J. G. Ballard
For my first interview on the show, I spoke to Max Hawthorne, author of the paleo-fiction thriller, Kronos Rising, about his writing and his experiences with science fiction as a whole.
Max's website.
Max's peer-reviewed scientific paper on Plesiosaurs.
Max's book recommendations:
The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin
Hiero's Journey by Sterling Lanier
Despite his often inconsistent writing, Philip K. Dick is notable for having more film adaptations of his novels and short stories than almost every other sci-fi author, making him one of the most important writers of the New Wave. Here, we explore an overview of his work.
Book recommendation: Time Out of Joint
Ryan Britt on Dick's writing style.
Other books mentioned:
The Man in the High Castle
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
A Scanner Darkly
In the 1960s, science fiction went through a major change as the New Wave moved it away from the hard sci-fi of the 50s into a softer, but more socially conscious space. In this episode, we overview the new ideas, themes, and authors of this period.
Book recommendation: The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester.
Selected other books:
The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester
Non-Stop by Brian Aldiss
Hothouse by Brian Aldiss
Greybeard by Brian Aldiss
High-Rise by J. G. Ballard
And, in the spirit of the season, you can see Santa Claus Conquers the Martians free on YouTube. It's public domain in the United States due to various errors on the part of the studio, including releasing it without a copyright notice. Or, there are RiffTrax out there, too.
Like books, movies and television also went through a golden age in science fiction in the 1950s. In this episode we explore the trends in the visual medium at the time and how they compared to print.
Movie recommendation: The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Rotten Tomatoes's list of top sci-fi films.
Arthur C. Clarke was the fourth of the "Big Four" authors of the golden age of science fiction. In this episode, we explore his work and his unique writing style, especially centered around "sufficiently advanced technology."
Book recommendation: The City and the Stars.
Other books mentioned:
Childhood's End
A Fall of Moondust
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Colours of Infinity on YouTube.
Clarke's three laws.
Ray Bradbury is most famous as the author of Fahrenheit 451, but he was an important and unique figure in science fiction at-large, a master of short fiction with a colorful, Hollywood-centered career. Here, we explore some of his most notable works, and his philosophy in writing.
Book recommendation: Fahrenheit 451.
Bradbury's 1999 interview about his writing.
Bradbury in Hollywood.
Gautham Shenoy on Fahrenheit 451.
Louis Friedman's tribute to Bradbury.
Other books mentioned:
The Martian ChroniclesThe Illustrated Man
Robert Heinlein's later career went to some unusual places, including books with heavy philosophical and political themes, while still continuing with his classic hard sci-fi rigor. In this episode, we explore the highlights of his later work.
Book recommendation: The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.
Other books mentioned:
Starship Troopers
Stranger in a Strange Land
Time Enough for Love
Floyd Gale on Starship Troopers.
Cory Doctorow on Heinlein's less savory works.
Robert Heinlein was one of the first major authors to write science fiction specifically for children. In this episode, we explore how he did it and what sets him apart from his contemporaries in this area, along with the other classic children's sci-fi books up through the golden age.
Book recommendation: Have Spacesuit--Will Travel
Other books mentioned:
The Tom Swift Series
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
Grumbles from the Grave, Chapter 3
John J. Miller on Starship Troopers
Adam Gopnik on The Little Prince
Farah Mendlesohn on children's sci-fi
Alec Nevala-Lee on Heinlein's writing
We continue our exploration of the work of Isaac Asimov with a study of his Robot Series and an introduction to robot fiction in general, which he shaped in ways that remain important to this day.
Book recommendation: I, Robot by Isaac Asimov.
Isaac Asimov was own of the most prolific authors of the golden age of sci-fi, especially when it comes to short stories. In this episode, we explore an overview of his work.
Book recommendation: The End of Eternity.
"The Last Question":
Full Text
Narrated by Leonard Nimoy
A cool fan-made illustrated version I found.
My analysis of Trantor.
John W. Campbell was the controversial longtime editor of Astounding Science Fiction who single-handedly directed the course of science fiction in the 1940s, a time that is not called the "golden age of sci-fi." However, I argue the golden age continued through the 1950s as writers who got their start under Campbell began publishing on their own.
Book recommendation: Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement.
Robert Silverberg on the golden age.
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database's "Most-Viewed Short Fiction."
Cory Doctorow on Campbell.
My essay on "The Cold Equations."
Olaf Stapledon and C. S. Lewis both explored the spiritual side of science fiction, albeit in very different ways. In this episode, we explore how they went about it and why one of them is considered a must read by many of the greats of the genre.
Book recommendation: Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon.
Dystopian fiction has become a popular subgenre of sci-fi in its own right, but the earliest dystopian novels shared some unique elements in common, inverting the standard tropes of the hero's journey. In this episode, we explore what has made these stories so enduring.
Book recommendation: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell.
My essay on the inverted hero's journey.
Link to the Heroine's journey.
Link to O'Brien's speech.
At the same time science fiction came into its own as a genre, cinema was doing the same. Here, we see an overview of the most notable sci-fi films of the silent and pre-Code eras, and how they influenced the culture.
Movie recommendation: Metropolis.
H. P. Lovecraft brought the Gothic horror of the previous century into the modern era with his new genre of cosmic horror, which placed humankind at the mercy of vast and inscrutable alien entities. Despite a tarnished legacy, he is still considered the master of sci-fi-horror and a great influence on the genre ever since.
Book recommendation: At the Mountains of Madness.
The hallmark of early science fiction was the pulp magazines, which continued the tradition of larger-than-life adventure stories. Despite the sometimes silly and over-the-top writing style, this was an important step in the development of the genre.
Book recommendation: The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
H. G. Wells was in many respects the first real science fiction author, where earlier writers wrote more or less in existing genres. This episode is an overview of his work and legacy.
Excerpt on Wells's Law.
Book recommendation: The Time Machine by H. G. Wells.
Jules Verne was perhaps the first author to systematically incorporate the latest science into his work, becoming one of the biggest minds behind the idea of science fiction. Yet his focus wasn't so much on sci-fi as it was on adventure fiction. In this episode I explore how he contributed to the development of the genre.
Book recommendation: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne.
Modern science spread out from early satirical novels first to the gothic horror of the nineteenth century. This is the genre where the first real sci-fi novel appears. Yet it was still cloaked in supernatural themes, not quite come into its own as a genre.
Book recommendation: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
Several books widely regarded as the first science fiction novels date back as far as the sixteenth century, but most of these weren't dramatic stories at all, but were satirical instead. In this episode, I explore how satire contributed to the genre of science fiction.
Book recommendation: Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift.
In this first episode, I explain how I developed the idea of this podcast, what I mean by science fiction, and how this podcast will proceed. A preview for the rest of the series.
The cover art is the heart of the Tarantula Nebula as imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope.