Constellary Tales Podcast

Constellary Tales presents an audio production of “Ambassador,” cover story of Issue #2. Contents (00:00) Audio production of Michael Adam Robson’s “Ambassador” from Constellary Tales Issue #2, narrated by Laura Lippman (21:40) Adam talks with us about fungus-like creatures (some fictional, some that should be) and other behind-the-scenes details of his short story. (36:40) Spoiler-free recommendations: Worlds Unknown by Marvel Comics (adaptation of Harry Bates’ “Farewell to the Master”), Blade Runner short films by Shinichirō Watanabe and Luke Scott Link Blade Runner 2049 – The Years Between official short films

Contents (0:00) SFWA Grand Master Joe Haldeman takes Brian and Ken behind the scenes of his storied career in an exclusive interview. Among other conversation topics… How “I of Newton” went from the page to The Twilight Zone The unusual origins of Hugo Award-winning short story “Tricentennial” Getting The Forever War published (and bootlegging the stage production) Details about Joe’s new novel in the works (!!!) (34:40) Spoiler-free recommendations: Daniel J. Clark’s Behind the Curve, Robert L. Forward’s Dragon’s Egg

Contents (00:00) Guest Mark Linsenmayer from the Partially Examined Life podcast helps Brian and Ken push through the philosophical thicket of causality and precrime (and prepunishement) in Philip K. Dick’s short story “The Minority Report.” (33:12) Mark and Ken square off in a game of trivia about Philip K. Dick movie adaptations Blade Runner and Total Recall. (47:44) Spoiler-free recommendations: Harry Bates’ “Farewell to the Master,” Yan Han’s Animal World Thanks to Vaneza Callejas for reading the short passage from Lewis Carrol.

Contents (00:00) Robert Heinlein pushes the trope of recursive progeny to its absurd extremes in the 1959 short story “All You Zombies” (note: not about zombies). Brian and Ken discuss the story and the subsequent 2014 film adaptation Predestination and even kick around a few real world (!) examples. (29:45) Spoiler-free recommendations: Charles Burns’ Black Hole, Neill Blomkamp’s “Alive in Joburg” and District 9

Constellary Tales presents an audio production of “Kill Switch,” cover story of Issue #1. Then we go behind the scenes in an interview with the story’s author Henry Szabranski. Contents (00:00) Audio production of Henry Szabranski’s “Kill Switch” from Constellary Tales Issue #1, narrated by Mark Linsenmayer (20:05) Henry answers our pressing questions about astrophysics, character names, and the Discontinuity universe. Ken makes wild speculations. Brian eventually gets Henry’s last name right. (38:20) Spoiler-free recommendations: Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, “Flower, Mercy, Needle, Chain” by Yoon Ha Lee Links Henry Szabranski’s blog and author page on Amazon

A smart house outlasts humanity in Ray Bradbury's 1950 short story "There Will Come Soft Rains." Tex describes the annual "experience camp" for authors, Writers in the Field. Contents Author, teacher and Lone Star State original Arianne “Tex” Thompson joins our discussion. (00:00) A smart house outlasts humanity in Ray Bradbury’s 1950 short story “There Will Come Soft Rains.” (24:05) Longswords and lockpicks! Poisons and ponies! Tex describes these and other hands-on experiences at the annual Writers in the Field event in Dallas. (40:55) Spoiler-free recommendations: “Speech Sounds,” Assassin’s Apprentice, Junction Thanks to Tijana Stojković for reciting the poem by Sara Teasdale. Links “There Will Come Soft Rains” 1984 animated short by Tulyakhodzayev Arianne “Tex” Thompson’s author website, The Tex Files Writers in the Field

Octavia Butler's "Bloodchild" is (among other things) a successful example of a certain kind of pregnancy story. Brian puts Ken to test about films nominated both for the Hugo and the Oscar. Contents (00:00) Octavia Butler's "Bloodchild" is (among other things) a successful example of a certain kind of pregnancy story. Other examples are hit-or-miss... (21:35) Brian puts Ken to the test about films nominated both for the Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo and the Best Picture Oscar. Ken gets a lesson in Apollo mission numbering. (34:55) Spoiler-free recommendations: The Man from Earth, Experimenter Links – When Hugo Met Oscar Films nominated both for the Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo and the Best Picture Oscar (Note: Spoilers for the trivia quiz) All Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo winners and nominees All Best Picture Oscar winners and nominees

Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" turns up in unusual places, plus two film adaptations. Brian quizzes Ken on writing advice from famous authors. Contents (00:00) Submit your stories to Constellary Tales SF Magazine (02:30) Kurt Vonnegut’s “Harrison Bergeron” turns up in unusual places, plus two film adaptations (34:40) Brian quizzes Ken on writing advice from famous authors (42:05) Spoiler-free recommendations: Castle Rock, What Mad Universe Links – Writing Guidance Octavia Butler – Remembering Octavia Butler, 1947-2006 David Gerrold – Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy is his seminal work on writing guidance (and better than the item we mention: a quote – possibly not verbatim) Stephen King – On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft Ursula K. Le Guin – Writing a Novel: 8 Writing Tips from Ursula K. Le Guin Mark Twain – Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offenses Kurt Vonnegut – Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Tips on How to Write a Great Story