Category Archives: Science Fiction

#14 – Robert Heinlein Part I: The Juveniles

Posted on October 12, 2020 by

Robert Heinlein was one of the first major authors to write science fiction specifically for children. In this episode, we explore how he did it and what sets him apart from his contemporaries in this area, along with the other … Continue reading →

Posted in Science Fiction | 1 Comment

20020: the Sequel to 17776

Posted on October 5, 2020 by

Three years ago, I reviewed a web serial/visual novel called 17776: What Football Will Look Like in the Future created by Jon Bois of the SB Nation blog, an absurdist tale about a far future where humans are immortal, and … Continue reading →

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#13 – Isaac Asimov Part II: Robots

Posted on September 28, 2020 by

We continue our exploration of the work of Isaac Asimov with a study of his Robot Series and an introduction to robot fiction in general, which he shaped in ways that remain important to this day. Book recommendation: I, Robot … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Science Fiction | 1 Comment

#12 – Isaac Asimov Part I

Posted on September 14, 2020 by

Isaac Asimov was own of the most prolific authors of the golden age of sci-fi, especially when it comes to short stories. In this episode, we explore an overview of his work. Book recommendation: The End of Eternity. “The Last … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Science Fiction

Could a Planet-Sized City Work?

Posted on September 13, 2020 by

In Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, the planet Trantor is a single, huge city spanning its entire surface (also known as an ecumenopolis), an idea that was famously replicated with Coruscant in Star Wars. As a companion to tomorrow’s podcast on … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Science Fiction | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

#11 – John W. Campbell and the Golden Age of Sci-Fi

Posted on August 31, 2020 by

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Science Fiction

Essay: The Real Problem with “The Cold Equations”

Posted on August 30, 2020 by

As part of tomorrow’s episode of A Reader’s History of Science Fiction, I felt the need to write a companion essay analyzing one of the most famous (or perhaps infamous) short stories in the history of the genre: “The Cold … Continue reading →

Posted in Physics, Science Fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , ,

#10 – Stapledon and Lewis

Posted on August 17, 2020 by

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Science Fiction

#9 – The Dystopia Classic

Posted on August 3, 2020 by

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Science Fiction

#8 – The Dawn of Cinema

Posted on July 20, 2020 by

At the same time science fiction came into its own as a genre, cinema was doing the same. Here, we see an overview of the most notable sci-fi films of the silent and pre-Code eras, and how they influenced the … Continue reading →

Posted in A Reader's History of Science Fiction, Science Fiction | 2 Comments