Aug 31, 2020
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...
Aug 17, 2020
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...
Aug 3, 2020
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...