A Reader's History of Science Fiction

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.

S2E25: Lisa Yaszek Interview 05/15/2023

S2E25: 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: by Tade Thompson , ed. Bill Campbell Other works discussed: by Nnedi Okorafor "" by Nanobah Becker by Kameron Hurley series by Aliette de Bodard series by Charlie Jane Anders /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/26837283

S2E24: Catch-Up Episode #9: Classics Lightning Round 05/08/2023

S2E24: 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: by Daniel Keyes Other books discussed: by Brian Aldiss by Cormac McCarthy by L. Ron Hubbard /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/26771268

S2E23: Space Opera 04/24/2023

S2E23: 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: by Becky Chambers /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/26630328

Episode 23 Delayed 04/17/2023

Episode 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, but that is not certain yet. Subscribe to the feed if you haven't already to get automatic updates. /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/26559192

S2E22: Catch-Up Episode #8: Space Sci-Fi 04/03/2023

S2E22: 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: Other works discussed: (anti-recommended) /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/26423394

S2E21: Donna Barba Higuera Interview 03/20/2023

S2E21: Donna Barba Higuera Interview In this episode, I interview , author of the Newbery winning sci-fi novel, (which I've previously recommended). Donna's book recommendation: , edited by Zoraida Córdova /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/26277606

S2E20: Newbery Medal Winners 03/06/2023

S2E20: Newbery Medal Winners In this episode, I take one more look at children's science fiction by surveying the winners of the prestigious . Book recommendation: by Donna Barba Higuera Other books discussed: by Madeleine L'Engle by Robert C. O'Brien by Lois Lowry by Rebecca Stead by Kate DiCamillo /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/26136111

S2E19: Multiverse Fiction 02/20/2023

S2E19: 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): by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter Other works discussed: by Robert Heinlein DC Comics Marvel Comics /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/25983516

S2E18: Catch-Up Episode #7: Sci-Fi Action Movies 02/06/2023

S2E18: 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: Other movies discussed: /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/25840758

S2E17: Science Fiction in Video Games 01/23/2023

S2E17: 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: /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/25696326

S2E16: Catch-Up Episode #6: Children's Sci-Fi Movies 01/09/2023

S2E16: 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: Background on Lightyear and . Other films discussed: /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/25541889

S2E15: Religion in Sci-Fi 12/26/2022

S2E15: 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: by Roger Zelazny Other works discussed: series by Philip Jose Farmer by James Blish series by Ada Palmer /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/25429611

S2E14: Margaret Weitekamp Interview 12/12/2022

S2E14: Margaret Weitekamp Interview I interview , Curator and Chair of Space History at the about her new book, . Media recommendation: /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/25295976

S2E13: Gary Bengier Interview 11/28/2022

S2E13: Gary Bengier Interview In this episode, I interview Gary Bengier, former CFO of eBay and author of , a novel about philosophy and artificial intelligence. Gary's book recommendation: /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/25144680

S2E12: Catch-Up Episode #5: DC Movies 11/14/2022

S2E12: 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: Other movies discussed: /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/24997464

S2E11: Nick Nocturne Discusses Unfiction 10/31/2022

S2E11: Nick Nocturne Discusses Unfiction I interview Nick Nocturne, host of the YouTube channel about the emerging genre of unfiction and its relation to science fiction. Nick's recommendations: (sci-fi) (non-sci-fi) /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/24850044

S2E10: Interview: Brown and Hansen on Stephen King 10/17/2022

S2E10: 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 recommendation: The Dead Zone. /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/24706005

S2E9: Catch-Up Episode #4: Horror 10/03/2022

S2E9: 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: by John Wyndham Other work discussed: Jordan Peele's /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/24562686

S2E8: Techno-Thrillers 09/19/2022

S2E8: 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 recommendation: by Daniel Suarez Other books discussed: by Michael Crichton by Tom Clancy by Dan Brown /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/24416982

S2E7: Catch-Up Episode #3: Marvel Movies 09/05/2022

S2E7: 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: . (I really think it's underrated.) /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/24272190

S2E6: Anime Science Fiction 08/22/2022

S2E6: 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: Movie recommendation: /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/24126558

S2E5: Paul Frommer Interview 08/08/2022

S2E5: 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: /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/23987889

S2E4: Catch-Up Episode #2: Monster Movies 07/25/2022

S2E4: 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: Other works discussed: (2019) (2020) (2020) by John Scalzi /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/23843183

S2E3: Constructed Languages in Science Fiction 07/11/2022

S2E3: 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 episode, I highlight how conlangs have contributed to the genre over its history. TV recommendation: (Kastithanu, L'Irathi, Indojisnen, and Kinuk'aaz, by David J. Peterson) Other languages discussed: (Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell) (Native Tongue, by Suzette Elgin) (Star Trek, by Marc Okrand) (Avatar, by Paul Frommer) /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/23701934

S2E2: Catch-Up Episode #1 06/27/2022

S2E2: 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 ones. Book recommendation: by Christopher Paolini Other book discussed: by James Blish /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/23545859

S2E1: Farah Mendlesohn Interview 06/13/2022

S2E1: 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 book recommendations: by Philip Reeve The Year's Best African Speculative Fiction () /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/23372114

Season 2 Coming Next Week! 06/09/2022

Season 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. /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/23372234

#46 - Science Fiction Today 04/04/2022

#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: by N. K. Jemisin Edit: corrected links. Other books discussed: by Mary Robinette Kowal by Liu Cixin by Martha Wells /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/22669394

Bonus Episode: More Alternate History 04/01/2022

Bonus 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: by Winston Churchill (yes, really). Other works discussed: The Grasshopper Lies Heavy from by Philip K. Dick Fallen Axis from . The United Colonies Triumphant from by Harry Turtledove. Proposed book by Abraham Lincoln from by Harry Turtledove, along with remarks in the series. Insane alternate World War II from . /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/22644659

#45 - Young Adult Dystopias 03/21/2022

#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: by Suzanne Collins Other books discussed: by Neal Shusterman by James Dashner by Kiera Cass by Scott Westerfeld by James Patterson by John Wyndham by Lois Lowry by Philip Reeve /episode/index/show/readershistoryofscifi/id/22511306

A Reader's History of Science Fiction

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