Category Archives: Uncategorized

Season 2 Coming Next Week!

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

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. Check out this episode!

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#46 – Science Fiction Today

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

In the final episode of Season 1, we explore the state of the science fiction genre in the present day. Book recommendation: The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin Worlds Without End’s list of sci-fi classicsWorlds Without End’s customizable listN. K. … Continue reading →

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Bonus Episode: More Alternate History

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

I missed a few important books in the previous episode on alternate history. Here is an overview of those works. Recommendation: “If Lee Had Not Won the Battle of Gettysburg” by Winston Churchill (yes, really). Other works discussed:The Grasshopper Lies … Continue reading →

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New Video: How to Terraform Venus

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

I recently wrote a peer-reviewed paper about a speculative way to terraform Venus. I got the idea last summer after Kurzgesagt made a video on the topic. I was originally just going to make a video of my own, but … Continue reading →

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#44 – The Children’s Sci-Fi Renaissance

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

Children’s science fiction was pretty sparse historically, but it began to take off in the 1990s. In this episode, we explore how sci-fi for kids has changed and expanded over the most recent generation. Book recommendations:Middle grade (ages 8-12): Zita the … Continue reading →

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Episode 44 Delayed

Posted on February 27, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

Hi all. Unfortunately, I need to delay this week’s episode. Production was already running slow because it’s a long episode with a lot of supplemental material, as evidenced by the bonus blog posts. And, frankly, I’ve been a bit distracted … Continue reading →

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#43 – Solar System Exploration

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

Hard sci-fi stories about the exploration of our solar system became more popular beginning in the 1990s. In this episode, we explore how these ideas rose to prominence and have developed over the years. Book recommendation: The Martian by Andy Weir. … Continue reading →

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Which State Has Produced the Most US Presidents?

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Alex R. Howe

President Joe Biden has been in office for one year today. But this post isn’t about him—not directly. This post is about all of America’s Presidents. (Yes, even that one. And that one.) On this anniversary, I decided to answer … Continue reading →

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Writer’s History #3 – Dr. Benjamin Stevens Interview

Posted on June 7, 2021 by Alex R. Howe

Dr. Benjamin Stevens is a professor of classical studies who researches the relationship between the ancient/classical tradition and science fiction and fantasy. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss what makes sci-fi distinctive, classicism and modernity, ancient aliens, and more. Dr. … Continue reading →

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#28 – Children’s Sci-Fi in the New Wave

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Alex R. Howe

Children’s science fiction was still an unusual and peripheral category during the New Wave, but it did produce some important new classics. In this episode, we explore the highlights of what kids were reading during this time. Book recommendations:For upper … Continue reading →

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