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Science fiction has always been queer
Season 1 Episode 8
It's queer pride month, and we're talking about how LGBTQIA+ got into our SFF. We time warp back to the lesbian vampires of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla and the utopian world of Charlotte Perki…
Published on 7 years, 4 months ago
Imaginary immigrants and time-traveling refugees
Season 1 Episode 7
Immigration is a major theme in science fiction, both in subtext and straightforward plot arcs. Creators often tell stories about new arrivals on Earth from other worlds, other dimensions, and other …
Published on 7 years, 4 months ago
Animal companions and magical beasts
Season 1 Episode 6
Special guest Maggie Tokuda-Hall, author of the children's book Also An Octopus, joins us to talk about what happens when animals become characters in science fiction and fantasy. Animals get to spea…
Published on 7 years, 5 months ago
Fear of robots
Season 1 Episode 5
Fear of robots is on the rise -- in science fiction and the tech industry. What causes this anxiety in real life, and how does science fiction imagine the future of human/robot relationships? Are we …
Published on 7 years, 5 months ago
Crisis on infinite superheroes
Season 1 Episode 5
With Avengers: Infinity War about to hit theaters, we needed to talk about superheroes. What is it about these larger-than-life characters that fascinates us so much? Why can't we eliminate campiness…
Published on 7 years, 6 months ago
Science fiction books that stand the test of time
Season 1 Episode 3
Some science fiction books are still fascinating after 200 years, while others make us wince after just a decade on the shelf. What makes an SF book stay relevant? Hint: it's not the book's ability t…
Published on 7 years, 6 months ago
Propaganda and mind control in science fiction
Season 1 Episode 2
There's something distinctly science fictional about how Facebook has been used by governments, politicians, and private companies to manipulate people's perceptions--and even affect the outcomes of …
Published on 7 years, 7 months ago
Hope, dread, and Star Trek: Discovery
Season 1 Episode 1
Join authors Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz to explore storytelling, science, and cultural meaning in science fiction. In our first episode, we discuss the inaugural season of Star Trek: Disc…
Published on 7 years, 7 months ago