Episode Details

What if science fiction wasn’t really about the future…

…but about reimagining how human beings live and work together?

In this episode of Thought Atlas, I’m joined by Liam Begley—author of the self-published science fiction novel Broken Interstellar.

Drawing inspiration from more than a decade working in Vancouver’s film industry, Liam imagined a future where interstellar civilization is built not around empires, but around networks of cooperation. What began as a lighthearted space adventure gradually evolved into a thoughtful exploration of democracy, labor, management, individuality, and human nature.

Together, we explore:

• The ideas behind Broken Interstellar
• Science fiction as a tool for exploring society
• Democracy and political philosophy
• Labor, management, and cooperation
• Lessons from the film industry
• Human nature across generations
• Worldbuilding with purpose
• Writing independently
• Why stories shape how we imagine the future
• The enduring principles behind human relationships

This isn’t simply a conversation about science fiction.

It’s a conversation about humanity, cooperation, and the kinds of societies we might build if we dared to imagine differently.

🌍 Thought Atlas

https://joinpodmatch.com/thoughtatlas

🌍 Broken Interstellar

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1867423

If today’s conversation resonated with you, you can pick up Broken Interstellar through the Smashwords link above. During the episode, Liam also shared that listeners can visit liambegley.ca for links to additional bookstores, connect with him on BlueSky, and, if cost is a barrier, reach out to him directly—he said he’s happy to help more people read the book. He also encourages readers to leave a review after reading.