#29 - Larry Niven and the Return of Hard Sci-Fi
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...
View Article#30 - Arthur Clarke's Comeback
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...
View ArticleWriter's History #4 - Daniel Bensen Interview
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...
View Article#31 - Alien Artifacts and Alien Contact
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...
View Article#32 - Galactic Civilizations
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...
View Article#33 - Military Science Fiction
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...
View Article#34 - Time Travel Part I: The Classics
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....
View Article#35 - Time Travel Part II: Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey
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...
View ArticleWriter's History #5 - Annie Geever Interview
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...
View Article#36 - Alternate History
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...
View Article#37 - Cyberpunk
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...
View Article#38 - Cyberpunk Derivatives
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...
View Article#39 - Postcyberpunk and Transhumanism
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...
View ArticleWriter's History #6 - David Brin
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....
View Article#40 - Michael Crichton
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...
View Article#41 - Blockbuster Films Part I: The Rise of CGI
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...
View Article#42 - Blockbuster Films Part II: Superheroes Go Mainstream
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...
View Article#43 - Solar System Exploration
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...
View ArticleEpisode 44 Delayed
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....
View Article#44 - The Children's Sci-Fi Renaissance
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...
View Article#45 - Young Adult Dystopias
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...
View ArticleBonus Episode: More Alternate History
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,...
View Article#46 - Science Fiction Today
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...
View ArticleSeason 2 Coming Next Week!
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.
View ArticleS2E1: Farah Mendlesohn Interview
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...
View ArticleS2E2: Catch-Up Episode #1
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...
View ArticleS2E3: Constructed Languages in Science Fiction
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...
View ArticleS2E4: Catch-Up Episode #2: Monster Movies
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...
View ArticleS2E5: Paul Frommer Interview
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.
View ArticleS2E6: Anime Science Fiction
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:...
View ArticleS2E7: Catch-Up Episode #3: Marvel Movies
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.)
View ArticleS2E8: Techno-Thrillers
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...
View ArticleS2E9: Catch-Up Episode #4: Horror
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:...
View ArticleS2E10: Interview: Brown and Hansen on Stephen King
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...
View ArticleS2E11: Nick Nocturne Discusses Unfiction
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)
View ArticleS2E12: Catch-Up Episode #5: DC Movies
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...
View ArticleS2E13: Gary Bengier Interview
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...
View ArticleS2E14: Margaret Weitekamp Interview
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...
View ArticleS2E15: Religion in Sci-Fi
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...
View ArticleS2E16: Catch-Up Episode #6: Children's Sci-Fi Movies
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...
View ArticleS2E17: Science Fiction in Video Games
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 Ahoy finds the "first" video...
View ArticleS2E18: Catch-Up Episode #7: Sci-Fi Action Movies
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
View ArticleS2E19: Multiverse Fiction
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...
View ArticleS2E20: Newbery Medal Winners
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...
View ArticleS2E21: Donna Barba Higuera Interview
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,...
View ArticleS2E22: Catch-Up Episode #8: Space Sci-Fi
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...
View ArticleEpisode 23 Delayed
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,...
View ArticleS2E23: Space Opera
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...
View ArticleS2E24: Catch-Up Episode #9: Classics Lightning Round
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...
View ArticleS2E25: Lisa Yaszek Interview
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...
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