Writer's History #4 – Daniel Bensen Interview – A Reader's History of Science Fiction

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 other writings. Dan's website. Dan's book recommendations: The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold Greg Egan The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker

1. Writer's History #4 – Daniel Bensen Interview 54:54
2. #30 – Arthur Clarke's Comeback 18:46
3. #29 – Larry Niven and the Return of Hard Sci-Fi 27:51
4. Writer's History #3 – Dr. Benjamin Stevens Interview 01:08:34
5. #28 – Children's Sci-Fi in the New Wave 23:21

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 George Orwell.
My essay on the inverted hero’s journey.
Link to the Heroine’s journey.
Link to O’Brien’s speech.

Other books mentioned:
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

Check out this episode!