Octothorpe

John is ambivalent, Alison is against, and Liz is hangry. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks (Facebook) Chris Garcia (email) 2008 Worldcon site selection Farah Mendlesohn (email) Dream Foundry The original announcement of the Carole Goldman Fund Con or Bust “If you are Palestinian, or identify as a member of the Palestinian diaspora … you may qualify for a larger grant from the [Carole] Goldman Fund.” The deadline for the 2025 round seems to have been October 2024, so it might be worth checking before October 2025 if you're interested in the 2026 round 2026 Eurocon: Metropol Con in Berlin Jan Harley (Facebook) Kin-Ming Looi (Facebook) Looi Raj (Mastodon) Tammy Coxen (Bluesky) We also heard from Lynelle Howell, Peter Sullivan, Sam Skipsey, Sandra Bond, and Shi Lala Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast Rattlebag has won Best Bar in Northern Ireland at the CLASS Awards Worldcon 2025: Seattle Consultative votes on Retro Hugo Awards and Best Professional/Fan Artist New Business Meeting business had to have been submitted by 4 June 2025 Apparently WSFS is pronounced “whiz-fizz”?! “About Choosing Convention Program Participants” by Erin Underwood “Genre Grapevine's Deep Dive into the Use of ChatGPT by Seattle Worldcon” by Jason Sanford Picks John: Welcome to Forever by Nathan Tavares Alison: Andor J Michael Straczynski is moving to the UK to write British TV shows Liz: The Incandescent by Emily Tesh Novacon 54 Credits Cover art: “Liz Hits the Smörgåsbord” by Alison Scott Alt text: Liz, depicted as the Incredible Hulk, comes across a table on which lie many items of food (sketched in black and white) including John (a sausage roll) and Alison (an almond croissant), rendered in colour. The words “Octothorpe 136” appear at the top and “You won't like Liz when she's hangry” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

Alison describes her perfect almond croissant. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Idea, ed. Geri Sullivan Lune Croissanterie Chocolatine Blondies Ado Campeol died in 2021 Pink Lane Bakery Credits Cover art: “Almond Croissant Engineering” by Alison Scott Alt text: A blueprint of an almond croissant with “Octothorpe 135” written at the top and “almond croissant engineering” at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John has shortlisted, Alison has worked in large organisations, and Liz has done a spot-the-difference. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: LLMs Letters of comment Chris Garcia Clarrie Maguire Colette Reap Roseanna Pendlebury Her Death of Stalin review Tobes Valois We also heard from Ali Baker Brooks, Ang Rosin, Brian Nisbet, Caroline Mullan, DC, Doug Faunt, Ed Morland, Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Farah Mendlesohn, Gareth Kavanagh, Ivan Sinha, Jonathan Baddeley, Jonathan Cowie, Kin-Ming Looi, Lilian Edwards, Meg MacDonald, Neil Ottenstein, Phil Dyson, Raj, Sandra Bond, Shi Lala, Tammy Coxen, Tony Keen, TrishEM, ‪Zoë O'Connell‬ Corflu FAAn Award Winners Ada Palmer runs a class called “The Italian Renaissance: Dante, Machiavelli, and the Wars of Popes and Kings,” better known by students as “pope class” or “pope LARP” Archive.is Chris Barkley has sued Dave McCarty Shot Chaser Locus 2025 fundraiser Revenue is flat and costs are up 21% Clarke Award The shortlist has been announced Worldcon 2025: Seattle “Statement from the Worldcon Chair” “Apology and Response From Chair” “May 6th Statement From Chair and Program Division Head” Resignation statement from WSFS division Picks John: The Mark by Frìða Ìsberg Alison: Sinners Liz: Blue Prince Credits Cover art: “Sample FAAn Award” by Alison Scott Alt text: A photograph of a yellow square on a mantlepiece. On the yellow square is black text and a red shape with yellow text. The text reads “Corflu 42. 2025 FAAn Awards. Best Immutable Object: Octothorpe”. Text overlaid on the photograph reads ‘Octothorpe 134. “Don't believe everything you read on ChatGPT.”' Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison, and Liz are live from the Belfast Eastercon! An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: It's a live recording! Eastercon 2026: Iridescence in Birmingham Guests of Honour R J Barker Karen Lord Emma Newman John Wilson and Serena Culfeather Prices Adult: £80 Low income: £50 Child/teen: £20 Supporting: £40 Eastercon 2027: Unconfined in Glasgow Guests of Honour P Djeli Clark L R Lam Mark Meenan Tamsyn Muir Prices Adult £85 Discounted adult: £60 Young person: £20 Child: £5 No supporting rate has yet been announced Eastercon 2028: BSFA v Marcus Streets Eastercon 2029 and 2030: Rumours abound Picks John: Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster Alison: Er. Steak? Spending too much? Unclear Liz: Karaoke and ThinkBox Belfast Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe at Reconnect” by Andrew Hogg Alt text: John, Alison and Liz are sat behind a table at Reconnect doing a live podcast. The words “Octothorpe 133” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison and Liz discuss this year's Hugo Awards finalists. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None A note from John: I've done my level best to find useful URLs and link them below. Please let me know if there are better links or things I've missed! Best Novel Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Best Novella The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed Navigational Entanglements by Aliette de Bodard The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler What Feasts at Night by T Kingfisher Best Novelette “The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video” by Thomas Ha “By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars” by Premee Mohamed “The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea” by Naomi Kritzer “Lake of Souls” by Ann Leckie “Loneliness Universe” by Eugenia Triantafyllou “Signs of Life” by Sarah Pinsker Best Short Story “Five Views of the Planet Tartarus” by Rachael K Jones “Marginalia” by Mary Robinette Kowal “Stitched to Skin Like Family Is” by Nghi Vo “Three Faces of a Beheading” by Arkady Martine “We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read” by Caroline M Yoachim “Why Don't We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole” by Isabel J Kim Best Series Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca Roanhorse The Burning Kingdoms by Tasha Suri InCryptid by Seanan McGuire Southern Reach by Jeff VanderMeer The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson The Tyrant Philosophers by Adrian Tchaikovsky Best Graphic Story The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag The Hunger and the Dusk, Vol. 1 by G Willow Wilson and Chris Wildgoose Monstress, Vol. 9 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda My Favorite Thing is Monsters, Vol. 2 by Emil Ferris Star Trek: Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way by Ryan North and Chris Fenoglio We Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans Best Related Work “Charting the Cliff: An Investigation into the 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics” by Camestros Felapton and Heather Rose Jones r/Fantasy's 2024 Bingo Reading Challenge “The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel” by Jenny Nicholson Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right by Jordan S Carroll Track Changes by Abigail Nussbaum “The 2023 Hugo Awards: A Report on Censorship and Exclusion” by Chris M Barkley and Jason Sanford Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) Dune: Part Two Flow Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga I Saw the TV Glow Wicked The Wild Robot Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) “The Beginning” (Fallout) “Death's Hand in Mine” (Agatha All Along) “Dot and Bubble” (Doctor Who) “Fissure Quest” (Star Trek: Lower Decks) “The New Next Generation” (Star Trek: Lower Decks) “73 Yards” (Doctor Who) Best Game or Interactive Work Caves of Qud Dragon Age: The Veilguard The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Tactical Breach Wizards 1000xRESIST Best Editor (Short Form) Scott H. Andrews Jennifer Brozek Neil Clarke Jonathan Strahan Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas Sheila Williams Best Editor (Long Form) Carl Engle-Laird Ali Fisher Lee Harris David Thomas Moore Diana M. Pho Stephanie Stein Best Professional Artist Micaela Alcaino Audrey Benjaminsen Rovina Cai Maurizio Manzieri Tran Nguyen Alyssa Winans Best Semiprozine The Deadlands Escape Pod FIYAH khōréō Strange Horizons Uncanny Magazine Best Fanzine The Ancillary Review of Books Black Nerd Problems The Full Lid Galactic Journey Journey Planet Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog Best Fancast The Coode Street Podcast Eight of Diana Wynne Jones Hugo, Girl! Hugos There A Meal of Thorns Worldbuilding for Mascochists Best Fan Writer Camestros Felapton Abigail Nussbaum Roseanna Pendlebury Jason Sanford Alasdair Stuart Örjan Westin Best Fan Artist Iain Clark Sara Felix Meg Frank Michelle Morrell España Sheriff Alison Scott Best Poem Calypso by Oliver K Langmead “Ever Noir” by Mari Ness “there are no taxis for the dead” by Angela Liu “A War of Words” by Marie Brennan “We Drink Lava” by Ai Jiang “Your Visiting Dragon” by Devan Barlow Lodestar Award The Feast Makers by H.A. Clarke Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole Astounding Award Moniquill Blackgoose Bethany Jacobs Hannah Kaner Angela Liu Jared Pechaček Tia Tashiro Credits Cover art: “Scorching Hot Takes” by Alison Scott Alt text: A black background. Text in purple reads “Octothorpe 132” while text MADE OF FIRE says “Scorching hot takes on the Hugo finalists”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is moderating, Alison is auctioning, and Liz is lecturing. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: The situation in the USA Letters of comment Handwriting guesses! John, Alison, Liz: Ed Morland Alison, John, Liz: Chris Garcia Alison, Liz, John: Tammy Coxen Liz, John, Alison: Tammy has another go Liz, Alison, John: Ang Rosin, Niall Harrison John is the top one: Doug Faunt John is in the middle: Roseanna Pendlebury Alison is in the middle: Mike Scott (who is cheating) Liz is the top one: Bridget Bradshaw All handwriting fonts: Bridget Bradshaw You all have nice handwriting: Shi Lala [But mine's nicest—John] Roseanna Pendlebury (email) Farah Mendlesohn (email) Chris Garcia (email) Ivan Sinha (Facebook) Renay (email) The 2026 Hugo spreadsheet is open Fredrik Coulter (Facebook) We also heard from Lilian Edwards Worldcon 2025: Seattle “Statement from Worldcon Chair” The SMOFcon bid in the USA has stopped bidding, and Seattle has filled its room blocks, reports File 770 Eastercon 2025: Belfast We have provisional programme schedules! John, Alison, and Liz: Monday 12:30: Octothorpe Live John and Liz: Sunday 17:00: Fandom, Politics, and Boycotts: What is the line and where do we draw it? John: Sunday 12:30: Is The Force With You? Sunday 15:30: “What does this card really mean?”: History in Board Games Alison: Sunday 20:00: Fan Fund Auction Liz: Saturday 15:30: Hay Lecture [SO EXCITED—John] Colourfields by Paul Kincaid This will be launched at the convention Adam Roberts reviews the collection Peter Mabey has passed away BSFA Awards File 770 reports the finalists Fan funds European Fan Fund Picks John: The Power Fantasy by Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard, Clayton Cowles, and Rian Hughes Roseanna Pendlebury's review at NoaF Alison: The Death of Stalin [I'm off to represent the entire Red Army at the buffet—Liz] Tobes de Valois as played by Jason Isaacs Liz: The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison [I also like Roseanna's review at NoaF—Liz] Credits Cover art: “Happy Birthday to Us” by Alison Scott Alt text: A birthday cake with six layers, from purple to a dark orange, and then a red 5 and five red candles on top, with fireworks overhead. The words “Octothorpe 131” are at the top. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is working, Alison is plugging and Liz is ghosting. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Capitalism, death (Chapter 8: Picks) Please remember that we have recused from consideration for the 2025 Hugo Awards Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks (Facebook) Ang Rosin (Facebook) Christopher J Garcia Dave Langford Please do report issues in transcripts and we will fix them! DC (skeet, requires sign-in) Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook) “Know your rail rights” from the Office of Rail and Road Ivan Sinha (Facebook) Pat McMurray (Facebook) Shi Lala (Facebook) Simon Bubb BSFA If you attended please let us know what happened! Awards Hugo Award nominations close the day after this podcast drops (14 March 2025) Locus Award nominations are open until 15 April 2025 Oxford–Bloomsbury Fantasy Summer School Free to apply with limited in-person spaces Or, wait for the streaming link! (FAQ) GUFF: The Incomplete Chronicles Liz previously described a Pepper's Ghost at Tokyo Disneyland “Disney's Best Illusion Explained” by Zach Wally Picks John: Shroud by Gravity Well Brewing Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky “Sins of the Children” by Adrian Tchaikovsky in Asterisk Alison: Mickey 17 Liz: Hacks (Amazon Prime) Credits Cover art: “Handwriting Analysis Special” Alt text: The words “Octothorpe 130: Handwriting Analysis Special” appear three times in the three hosts' handwriting. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John thought of something, Alison is educational, and Liz reads contracts. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Money (chapter 3) Please remember that we have recused from consideration for the 2025 Hugo Awards Letters of comment Chris Garcia DC On Blind Chance (skeet, requires sign-in) On picking books (skeet, requires sign-in) Doug Faunt Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook) Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast Cancelling non-refundable hotel rooms does not net one a refund We get ourselves into knots trying to work out what's happened here and we're not sure Alison taught John and Liz about complaining about cancellations Cancelling goods or services Make a court claim for money Worldcon 2025: Seattle Virtual Business Meeting details Lumi Global The meetings are all at 09:00–12:30 (PDT/UTC-7) on 4, 13, 19, 25 July Hugo nominations are open How to nominate Picks John: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Marc Sumerak Alison: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Liz: Nova by Samuel Delany John Nielsen-Hall's article, “Running up that Hill: or Life with the Brunners” appears in Prolapse #7 Prolapse Motorway Dreams, a collection of Nielsen-Hall's writing which includes the article Credits Cover art: “Thailand Positioning Service” by Alison Scott Alt text: Words read “Octothorpe 129: Can you pin Thailand on the map?” above a black-and-white world map. The backs of John, Alison and Liz's heads are shown. John is thinking “Yup!”, Liz is thinking “100%”, and Alison is holding Thailand and thinking “???”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John picks too soon, Alison is fully paid-up, and Liz found the comment. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: COVID (chapter 7) Letters of comment Andreas Davour (toot) Bridget Bradshaw (skeet) Chris Garcia David Bamford (skeet) DC (skeet, requires sign-in) Przypadek/Blind Chance Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook) Karen Schaffer Meg MacDonald (Facebook) Raj (toot) Short story: “Bond, Bond, and James Bond” by Eric Molinsky Novelette: “Lake of Souls” by Ann Leckie (from her new collection, Lake of Souls) Novella: Last Stop by Django Wexler Tammy Coxen (skeet) Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast John has been asked to head up the Discord Bursaries Deadline is noon on 16 February Email finance@easterconbelfast.org with as much or as little detail as you like Eastercon 2026: Iridescence, a bid for Birmingham BSFA BSFA Award Longlist Octothorpe 122 has been nominated, thank you very much! Review policy rumours Steven French's comment on Camestros Felapton's blog New chair: Stewart Hotson Picks John: Severance S2 Alison: The Brutalist Liz: Lady Eve's Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow Credits Cover art: “Live From Minidisc” by Alison Scott Alt text: A blue Sony MiniDisc Walkman shows, on its LCD screen, “Now playing: Octothorpe_128”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is incoherent, Alison is excited, and Liz is romantic. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Andy Openshaw Chris Garcia Claire Brialey David Salter Ed Morland Farah Mendlesohn Irwin Hirsh Jonny Baddeley Neil Ottenstein Roseanna Pendlebury We also heard from: Fiona Moore, Ivan Sinha Readers' recommendations Best Novel Private Rites by Julia Armfield I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S Beagle Metal from Heaven by August Clarke In Universes by Emet North The West Passage by Jared Pechaček Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley Someone You Can Build a Nest in By John Wiswell Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) Deadpool and Wolverine Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox Best Game or Interactive Work: Tactical Breach Wizards Best Fancast Eight Days of Diana Wynne Jones by Emily Tesh and Rebecca Fraimow Lady Eve's Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow Astounding Award The End of Nobility by Michael Green Briardene Books Preorders for Colourfields by Paul Kincaid are now open! Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast Picks John: Sliding Doors Alison: Three Men in Orbit by Sandra Bond Liz: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean Credits Cover art: “Availability Flowchart” by Alison Scott Alt text: A flowchart entitled “How to meet John, Alison and/or Liz at Eastercon”. The boxes culminate in “console yourself with Octothorpe 127”, and the various options are listed below, but the original file is here in case that's more helpful to the partially sighted. How to meet John, Alison and/or Liz at Eastercon Are you going to Reconnect? Of course!/Not sure Oh go on it will be a laugh Oh all right then/No… Are they in the bar? Yes! I can't see them Are you quite sure? Check again Oh wait… there they are No sign Is there another bar? Yes! Nope Are they on programme? Yes! No Wait till the moderator asks for questions But it's Octothorpe Live! Is your joke very funny? Obviously! Excellent! Good to know. COME AND SAY HELLO until then… Are they asleep or on the loo? No, they look chill Er, yes? Oh, that's a shame Console yourself with Octothorpe 127 Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is a thief, Alison plays games, and Liz is bullied. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Andreas Davour Bella Garcia Constanze Hoffman Farah Mendlesohn Jonathan Cowie June Young Mike Scott Neil Ottenstein Raj Tammy Coxen Zoe O'Connell We also heard from Bridget Bradshaw, Colin Harris, Meg MacDonald, and Shi Lala Fan funds The 2025 TAFF race has begun Zi Graves, Mikołaj Kowalewski, Jan Vaněk jr. CUFF comes to an end Fowler Award Hugo Awards 2025 spreadsheet of doom Novels T**he Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett The Sentence by Gautam Bhatia The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley The Life Impossible by Matt Haig Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson Novellas A Mourning Coat by Alex Jeffers North Continent Ribbon by Ursula Whitcher Short Stories Grottmata by Thomas Ha Five Views of the Planet Tartarus by Rachael K Jones Related Works Track Changes: Selected Reviews **by Abigail Nussbaum Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the A**lt-Right by Jordan S. Carroll Series The Horus Heresy The Southern Reach The Tyrant Philosophers Graphic Stories Warp Your Own Way by Ryan North and Chris Fenoglio Abigail Nussbaum's review at Strange Horizons Dramatic Presentations All of Us Strangers Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga I Saw the TV Glow Late Night with the Devil My Old Ass A Quiet Place: Day One The Substance Timestalker Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl The Wild Robot Games Tabletop Arcs City of Six Moons Mothership Undaunted 2200: Callisto Video Animal Well Caves of Qud Dragon Age: The Veilguard The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdo**m Slice and Dice 3.0 Star Wars: Outlaws Tale of the Golden Idol UFO50 Other Bridge Command Poems Sandra Bond Fan categories Artists Alison Scott España Sheriff Podcasts Fanac Fan History Zooms Going Rogue Hugo, Girl! A Meal of Thorns Writers Camestros Felapton Ersatz Culture Roseanna Pendlebury Fanzines Ancillary Review of Books Banana Wings Ornithopter Unofficial Hugo Book Club Debut authors Moniquill Blackgoose [Alison did not write any of her selections into the show notes and I was sorely tempted not to go through and write them all down for her but I did it for you, listener. I did it for you—John] Picks [isn't this a whole episode of picks?—Liz] John: Earthborne Rangers Alison: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Liz: Horizon Zero Dawn Sorry Mark Credits Cover art: “Waffle of comment” by Bella Garcia Alt text: A picture of a Belgian waffle that looks like an octothorpe, on a white background, with the words “Octothorpe 126” above and “now with added waffle” below. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is travelling, Alison is coding, and Liz is faithful. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Death (chapter 6) Letters of comment Chris Garcia The Beef and Dairy Network Podcast Jt Raj Rotsler Award España Sheriff is this year's winner Seattle 2025 Virtual Business Meeting announcement Reportage on File 770 Unofficial WSFS Business Meeting Discord Upcoming Worldcons Vince Docherty reports from Smofcon 41 There are many links to convention bid websites contained within Montréal are continuing for 2027, but Tel Aviv have suspended Conventions on cruise ships BGG@SEA JoCo Cruise Vanessa May Vanessa was an integral part of the very beginning of Glasgow 2024 Picks John: EXIT: The Game: Advent Calendar: The Missing Hollywood Star Alison: Advent of Code Liz: The Muppet Christmas Carol Credits Cover art: “Christmas Hats” by Alison Scott Alt text: John wears an Octothorpe Christmas jumper and a green and red hat with elf ears, Alison wears a red Christmas jumper and a moose/reindeer hat, and Liz wears a blue jumper and a Christmas tree hat. The words “Octothorpe 125” appear at the top in a Christmassy font that looks like it has snow on the letters. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is horrified, Alison is spelunking, and Liz is detecting. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks Andrew Hogg 4D Golf Braid Archipelacon 2 Caroline Mullan Chris Garcia Some accusations against Ekpeki have been disproved Farah Mendlesohn Ivan Sinha Jonny Baddeley June Young Aurora Australis Alerts Aurora Now AuroraWatch UK SpaceWeatherLive MonkeyKing Roseanna Pendlebury Shia Lia Tommy Ferguson Reconnect Upcoming conventions Eastercon 2026: Iridescence at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Bid chaired by Phil Dyson Eastercon 2027: Glasgow Bid chaired by Alan Fleming and David Bamford Eastercon 2028: Gateshead? Novacon 2025 Conrunner 2026 To be chaired by Esther MacCallum-Stewart in February WisCONline 2025 Edmonton 2030 Picks John: Mothership Mothership Month Alison: Caves of Qud Liz: Rise of the Golden Idol (Sorry that they're all games, Mark) Credits Cover art: “Ohmudillo” by Sophie van Setten Alt text: The Glasgow 2024 logo drawn in pencils and crayon, but across the middle there is a segmented creature with eight eyes and mandibles. At the top, the words “Octothorpe 124” appear in blue. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is going to Seattle, Alison is going to the Åland Islands, and Liz is going to Belfast. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Money, grim darkness Belfast Eastercon Seattle 2025 Archipelacon 2 Back to Our Futures The Dark Room Liz's Adrian Tchaikovsky scoop Edmonton Worldcon bid Picks John: Wrath and Glory Alison: Timestalker Liz: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Goodie from Goodreads Credits Cover art: “Fully Caffeinated” by Alison Scott Alt text: A coffee stain on a piece of paper on which are written the words “Octothorpe 123” and “fully caffineated”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is on the periphery, Alison is carving, and Liz went to Japan. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: con artistry, privilege, racism Letters of comment Jake Casella Brookins Sankey diagrams on the Ancillary Review of Books Ali Baker Brooks I'm a Fan of That Christopher J Garcia Emily January Kat Kourbeti SH@25 is a new, year-long interview and feature series that will delve into the archives, celebrate the work of past contributors and staff, and highlight the contributions of Strange Horizons to SFF publishing and the wider community. Caroline Mullan Zoe O'Connell Roman Orszanski Booking flights on a phone Awards World Fantasy Awards The Kitschies Ursula K LeGuin award Strange Horizons review in two parts: one, two Oghenochovwe Donald Ekpeki Erin Cairns has reported that Ekpeki stole a story and passed it off as his own On Bluesky On Google Drive File 770 report Cairns tried to sound this alarm on X in June Reactions Gautam Bhatia L D Lewis (requires Bluesky login) Ekpeki's response Jason Sanford talks about his reaction to the news: one, two Picks John: Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Alison: Bridge Command Alison was given free tickets by the venue's PR team Liz: Japan Neat effects like Tokyo Disneyland's Pepper's ghost or Shiriki Utundu Liz was not given free tickets but if anyone wants to give me free tickets to Disney parks please get in touch Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe, Octothorpe, Octothorpe” by Alison Scott Alt text: A pumpkin carved with an image of Beetlejuice, with the words “Episode 122” at the top of the image and “Octothorpe, Octothorpe, Octothorpe” at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison and Liz read Grass by Sheri S Tepper. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Rape, consensual interspecies sex, murder, classism, plague/disease Adam Roberts' review of Grass Credits Cover art: “Three Little Hippae” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three hippae stand on a landscape of alien grass and plants in blue, purple, red, teal, and orange underneath a pinkish sky. The words “Octothorpe 121” appear at the top and the words “Grass Sheri S Tepper” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John does a funny voice, Alison recoils, and Liz loves big stats and she cannot lie. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Death (chapter 5) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Chris Garcia Alison closing a parenthesis Emily January España Sheriff Farah Mendlesohn Ivan Sinha Nicholas Whyte Upcoming eclipses Tammy Coxen 2024 Hugo Voting Statistics 2024 Sankey diagrams 2020 Sankey diagrams Picks John: The Substance Definitely not Subterranea Alison: UFO 50 Liz: Alien Clay Credits Cover art: “Judge Coxon” by Alison Scott Alt text: Words read ‘Octothorpe 120: Introducing Judge Coxon. “I am the lore”'. They are around a picture of John as a Judge in the style of 2000AD, holding a big stack of books. The logo of the Clarke Award may or may not appear in the artwork. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is not assigning blame, Alison is someone, and Liz is bludgeoning. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky or on Instagram) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Sexual assault (Neil Gaiman allegations, at 39:28 to 42:02). Letters of comment Niall Harrison On our Hugo win/recusing Andy on Mastodon Chris Garcia Meg MacDonald Perianne Lurie Renay Sandra Bond's poem On info desk and maps Alan Fleming Doug Faunt Peter Sullivan On communications Chris Garcia Duncan MacGregor on Mastodon On WSFS Business Meeting June Young (email, 9 September) Chris Garcia (email, 29 August) Martin Freeman circa 2001 Post from Nicholas Whyte on consultative vote DC on Mastodon Duncan MacGregor on Mastodon Raj on Mastodon Our brand is now WSFS Commentators and people like it? Laurie Burchell On Worldcon attendance numbers Tero on Mastodon aoanla on Mastodon Miscellaneous Hugo finalists: Raj on Mastodon Programme: aoanla on Mastodon Back to Our Futures We also heard from: Ali Baker Brooks, Angela Rosin, Catherine Pickersgill, Curt Phillips, Damien Warman, Dave Coxon, España Sheriff, Farah Mendlesohn, Fiona Moore, Fran Dowd, Gav Reads, Iain Clark, Jonathan Baddeley, Julie Faith McMurray, Karen Schaffer, Leigh Edmonds, Lilian Edwards, Malcolm Hutchison, Mike Scott, Neil Ottenstein, Phil Dyson, Roseanna Pendlebury, Trish Neil Gaiman File 770 Genre Grapevine Elise Matthesen on Dreamwidth The Guardian Theremina on Patreon Future Worldcons Seattle 2025 Seattle is having a Poetry Hugo Seattle has announced a judged film festival LAcon V looks good Good guests “The LA in 2026 bid received 452 out of 531 votes cast.” Tel Aviv in 2027 Brisbane in 2028 The latest episode of FANAC History Zoom is “The secret history of Plokta”, with Steve Davies, Sue Mason, Alison Scott, and Mike Scott Picks John: Alien: Romulus Alison: KAOS Liz: Control Credits Cover art: “We got a lot of letters” by Alison Scott Alt text: A famous photograph of Margaret Hamilton standing beside printed outputs of the code that took the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon, overlaid with the words “Octothorpe 119” and “Our Listeners Write In”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is savage, Alison hates paper, and Liz likes stationery. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: harsh criticism (Publications), racism (Picks) Glasgow wants your feedback on Facebook Worldcon photography Glasgow 2024 photographs on Flickr Andrew Hogg: Noted Fan Artist Andy Openshaw's photo on BlueSky Halls 4 and 5 Staples WOOF In Memoriam Boris the Spider John's Swag Communications Join fancon.dev on Discord Picks John: The Acolyte Alison: Nimona Liz: The Case of the Golden Idol Credits Cover art: “Armadillo Pins” by Sara Felix (lettering by Alison Scott) Alt text: Three pins of armadillos flying colourful spaceships are on top of a piece of paper with blobs of glue that look like planets. The lettering “Octothorpe 118” appears above in a similar style to the pins. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John liked the entertainment, Alison didn't queue, and Liz wanted soup. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Doug Faunt Renay We are recusing for at least the 2025 Hugos Renay is known for Lady Business and the Hugo Award Spreadsheet of Doom ULTIMAFAX on YouTube: “Allison [sic] looks exactly like she sounds lol. john does not” Fancast recommendations: Stitch and Bitch by Kalanadi FANAC Fan History by Joe Siclari and Edie Stern Hugo, Girl! by Lori, Haley and Amy

John, Alison and Liz have won Hugo Awards. An uncorrected transcript of this episode will be available soon. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: It's a live recording! Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe and Others” by Olav Rokne (CC BY-NC 2.0) Alt text: John, Liz and Alison (I know, listener, I know) are looking off to the right holding their Hugo Awards as people take photographs of them on the stage at the SEC Armadillo. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is a busy bee, something's bugging Alison, and Liz meets a wasp. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Vote rigging and bureaucracy. Glasgow programme Saturday, 11:30: “Table talk: Octothorpe Podcast” Monday, 11:30: “Live Podcast: Octothorpe” John: Friday, 14:30: “Ahsoka: Fusing Clone Wars, Rebels and Heir to the Empire” Monday, 13:00: “Safety Tools for Tabletop Roleplaying Games” Alison: Friday, 10:00: “The Difficult Second Album” Friday, 13:00: “Let's Create the Glasgow 2024 Fanzine – Kick Off Session” Friday, 17:30: “Pure Dead Brilliant History of Scottish Fanzines” Saturday, 13:00: “The League of Extraordinary Fanzine Covers” Saturday, 20:30: “Fan Funds Auction” Liz: Nothing because she's saving herself just for you, listeners

John, Alison, and Liz discuss what they're voting for in the Hugo Awards. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks Bridget Bradshaw Chris Garcia Colette Reap Duncan MacGregor Edward Morlund Farah Mendlesohn Mike Scott Raj Fantasy Book Swap Alison Scott, Marianne Dreams and Tamarind and the Star of Ishta ”More funny than Thomas Hardy”: John Coxon, Rebecca‘s World and Flora & Ulysses Hugo Awards: Novella Novelette Short story ”Gathered in Translation” by Ken Liu “Disconnected Tales: Contrasting Ken Liu's Original and Translated Works” by Stephanie Gao Series Graphic Story or Comic Best Related Work Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) Fan Categories The Midnight Pals that made Liz laugh Picks John: Star Wars: Jedi: Survivor Alison: Cinco Paus by Michael Brough Liz: No pick Credits Cover art: “Worldcon Community Group Bingo Card” by Alison Scott Alt text: ”Octothorpe 114” is at the top, and the word ”Octothorpe” is written on a series of lottery balls. Below that, a bingo card, and below that, the words ”Worldcon Community Group Bingo Card". The items on the card are as follows: Can I convert pounds to Scottish money? Does anyone have any opinions on…? Do you know my Scottish cousin? This list is too long to read so can someone… Is the programme out yet? Can I swim in the Clyde? Can I visit Stonehenge for the day? Asks question answered in PR5 Does Glasgow Zoo have live haggis? Volunteering is the best way to have fun What's with all the armadillos? Shouldn't the subway be a Digital Orange now? Free! Is the con organising an aurora viewing? Is it too late to get on the programme? Will Nessie be doing a signing? Mention of Glasgow, England Can anyone go to the Hugo Awards? Why don't we do this the way we did in 1956? Can I fly from Glasgow to Edinburgh? Will there be any authors there? Can I bring my Emotional Support Moose? Are tartan and/or kilts compulsory? What I reckon… Mention of deep-fried Mars Bar Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is doing Discord, Liz is doing programme, and Alison isn't working on the Worldcon. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Karen Schaffer Peach and bourbon pie Chris Garcia Peter Sullivan Kat Kourbeti Facebook Farah Mendlesohn Mike Scott The Great Paladin Hunt by Mike Brunton Malcolm Hutchison Jonny Baddeley Glasgow 2024 Glasgow 2024 Worldcon Community Group on Facebook Cerebus Humble Bundle Reviews by Tom Ewing Why is Alison collecting a big pile of con badges? The Streisand Effect (I know I got it slightly wrong in the episode!) Awards 2024 Locus Award winners 2024 Nebula Award winners Antipodes Brisbane in 2028 File 770 report (with details of their socials/mailing list) Worldcon 1939 Minneapolis in 2073: Progress Report 11 Torched by Alissa Walker Continuity 2024 The 2024 New Zealand NatCon John spent ages assuming that the above was just the online portal, but it is in fact the convention website There is some backstory on this at SFFANZ Picks John: Alan Wake 2 Saga Anderson's sweater I didn't mention it on the podcast at all and it's just for you, the show note reader, but I was watching this sketch when I was waiting for Alison and Liz this morning: ”Beavis and Butt-Head” from SNL Alison: Animal Well Liz: Will Anderson's YouTube channel about Scrabble Credits Cover art: “Massive Lizard” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three stick figures run from Godzilla, who is depicted in the style of Godzilla Minus One. The words “Octothorpe 113” used to be at the top of the art, but Godzilla has knocked off the letters “O C T O”, is holding “H”, and is trying to eat “T”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John was gaming, Alison was dancing, and Liz was batty. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, or tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Wealth privilege (chapter 3) Letters of comment Chris Garcia Curt Phillips Starter Villain review David Ian Salter Ersatz Culture Peter Sullivan Sandra Bond Levitation (Eastercon 2024) Post-convention report FunCon Alan Fleming's report UK Games Expo Glasgow 2024 (Worldcon 2024) Site selection is open for Worldcon 2026 Brisbane has (re-)announced their bid for Worldcon 2028 Picks John: The Beast Spoilery interview with George MacKay Alison: Baldur's Gate 3 Liz: Godzilla Minus One (Netflix) Credits Cover art: “That Octothorpe Series” by España Sheriff Alt text: John, Alison and Liz stand in the transporter on a Constitution-class Federation starship. They are mid-transportation, made of sparkles instead of fully fleshed out. The words “Octothorpe 112” appear beneath them. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison, and Liz read the 2024 Hugo Award finalists for Best Novel. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Rape and murder during a brief discussion of historically accurate piracy in Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, discussion of billionaires during Starter Villain John's rankings: Some Desperate Glory Translation State Saint of Bright Doors Witch King Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Starter Villain Alison's rankings: Saint of Bright Doors Some Desperate Glory Translation State Witch King Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Starter Villain Liz's rankings: Some Desperate Glory Saint of Bright Doors Translation State Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Witch King Starter Villain Consensus: Some Desperate Glory Saint of Bright Doors Translation State Witch King Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Starter Villain Credits Cover art: “Favourite Reading Positions” by Sue Mason Alt text: John is in the bottom-left, sitting in a chair, wearing a blue shirt and purple trousers, holding a can, and reading an ebook. Alison is in the upper-middle, lying down upside down, wearing a purple shirt and stripy trousers, and reading an ebook. Liz is in the bottom-right, wearing a pink shirt with green trousers, holding a mug of a hot beverage, and reading a physical book. They are surrounded by floating beer bottles, books, the Moon, a mug with a moose on it, and two cats. The text “Octothorpe 111” and “Hugo Novels 2024” appears to the top and the bottom of the image. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is a professor, Alison doesn't have a bucket list, and Liz is the country's foremost fan historian. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: More wealth privilege (chapter 2) Letters of comment Bridget Bradshaw Christopher J Garcia Farah Mendlesohn Jonathan Cowie Jonny Baddeley Kin-Ming Looi Sandra Bond Tammy Coxen Awards Babel wins “Best Translated Work” at the 2024 Xingyun Awards Clarke Award finalists John: 0, Alison: 1, Liz: 3 The winner will be announced on 24 July 2024 Nebula Awards 2023 Nebula Awards Locus Awards Glasgow 2024 The Hugo Packet is now available Joel's Whisky Zoom is hosting a tour of the Clydeside Distillery on 9 August at 7pm Picks John: Sunderland Shorts Film Festival Soulmate, Beautiful Things, Ensouled, Finger Food, Bisected, Own Home?, R1CO, The First Time I Never Met You Wes Anderson's short adaptations of Roald Dahl Alison: Aurora Liz's view on auroras Liz: A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin [paper, ebook, audiobook, Amazon] Credits Cover art: “Explain 2233” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three photographs of the night sky, labelled Newcastle, Bangkok, and “Quite near London” (the labels were written by a Londoner, which is why it doesn't just say “London”). Text above reads “Octothorpe 110” and below reads “Local Aurora Snapshots”. The Newcastle and London images show photographs of aurora with some minor bits of vegetation intruding; the Bangkok picture shows a skyline of buildings underneath a thunderstorm. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is middle, Alison is even sadder, and Liz is sorry. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Discussion of access issues (chapter 2), wealth privilege (chapter 6) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Andrew January The Eastercon members' portal Caroline Mullan DC Farah Mendlesohn Critical Friends 8 Jacob Holder Mark Plummer Meg MacDonald Doc Weir award Dave Langford receives the trophy Alt text: Dave Langford triumphantly lofts a blue Bag for Life from Tesco, which we are expected to believe contains the Doc Weir trophy. He is standing in front of a house. GUFF The results Chengdu 2023 “The Pidu district of Chengdu announces a 10-year science fiction plan” Glasgow 2024 Town Hall Event: Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Glasgow Town Hall Event: Site Selection Glasgow 2024 Eastercon and money Picks John: Dredge Alison: Hopeland by Ian McDonald (paper, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Liz: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (paper, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Credits Cover art: “Voyagers” by Ulrika O'Brien Alt text: The background is a starry, lightning-filled square in blues, purples, and yellows. Atop that, there is a spaceship, somewhat like a rocket, with engines coming out of the sides. There are yellow lights shining from it, and a ladder reaches up to a central archway. John, Alison and Liz are depicted as silhouettes, regarding it with wonder. Their shadows stretch off the canvas, and they look faintly alien or futuristic in a hard-to-define manner. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is ignorant, Alison is first, and Liz is a trendsetter. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: COVID (chapter 8). Letters of comment Chris Garcia Maundy Thursday Andy Openshaw Nuala on Bluesky: sorry! Raj recommends pizza crunch Mono Raj on Mastodon Track Changes Meg MacDonald DC's loc Eastercon 2024 Telford Telford International Centre KFC Catchup Members' area Catchup will be closing at the end of April Dealers' room Beyond Cataclysm COVID No reported cases, as far as we are aware Picks John: Thunder Road: Vendetta Alison: Fallout (the TV series) Liz: Stardew Valley Credits Cover art: “Vibrant Food Culture” by Alison Scott Alt text: A drawing of a blackboard with text that reads: “Octothorpe 108 guide to Glasgow street food.” A picture of a deep fried pizza with glasses is next to text reading 'The “Coxon” pizza crunch', a picture of three pakora with glasses next to ‘The “Scott” haggis pakora', and a picture of a deep fried Mars bar next to ‘The “Batty” deep fried Mars bar”. Stars also adorn the backboard, and bottles of red and brown sauce are in the bottom-left-hand corner. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison, and Nicholas are live from Levitation! A transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Thank you very much to our stunt Liz, Nicholas Whyte! Nicholas' blog, From the Heart of Europe April Fool's Day The rocket in all its glory! The Hugo Awards Hugo Award finalists The announcement video Thank you to everyone who nominated us! Congratulations to the other Fancast finalists: The Coode Street Podcast Hugos There Publishing Rodeo 科幻Fans布玛 (Science Fiction Fans Buma) Worldbuilding for Masochists The first Town Hall will be on 20 April 2024 Tickets available on Eventbrite The stream will be available on YouTube Three Black Halflings Tammy Coxen The Glasgow Gimlet Tammy's Tastings Tammy's podcast, My Tiny Bottles Bigolas Dickolas Gallifrey One BSFA Join their Discord! Picks John: Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (Channel 4) Our cosplay Alison: Eastercon catch-up Nicholas: The Black Archive David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television by Simon Guerrier Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe at Levitation” by Sue Dawson Alt text: John, Alison, and Nicholas Whyte stand in front of a projection of the Octothorpe podcast and behind a panel table. Each of them wears a convention badge, and Nicholas holds the Glasgow Landing Zone Rocket. Nicholas is looking at the camera, while John and Alison are not quite as good at this. The table they stand behind holds beers, coffees, convention newsletters, phone batteries, microphones, and table tents. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John used to be an undergraduate, Alison has been keeping a list, and can Liz be a stunt Liz? A transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Death (Deb Geisler, chapter 3) and gambling (Hugo Awards, chapter 7; Alison's pick, chapter 8). Letters of comment Chris Garcia Mike Glyer Transcripts Bob Morrell Colin Murtagh We also heard from Jonny Baddeley, Alex Holden, Farah Mendlesohn, and Ang Rosin Deb Geisler File 770 Eastercon Programme Octothorpe Live is at 13:00 on Monday! Games Newsletter Please come help, post in the Discord if you'd like to volunteer! GUFF Vote here! Doc Weir BSFA Awards Awards Nebula Award finalists Android Press Games The Bread Must Rise Hugo Award betting markets Liz has decided not to put her referral link here because the people who run the website might be a bit too Silicon Valley-y Hugo, Girl! un-recuse Picks John: Airecon Overs: The Cricket Card Game Alison: The 2023 Eastercon souvenir book Balatro Liz: “No CGI is really just INVISIBLE CGI” on YouTube Todd Vaziri on X, BlueSky, Mastodon Credits Cover art: “Podcasting Is Magic” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three ponies in the style of My Little Pony adorn the cover. The left-hand one is orange, and has a six-sided die as a cutie mark. The central one is teal, and has a rainbow Apple logo for a cutie mark. The right-hand one is blue, and has a Hugo Award for a cutie mark. They look like they are having a nice time. The words “My Little Octothorpe 106” appear at the top, and the words “Podcasting Is Magic” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John watches movies, Alison walks on the Moon, and Liz has special bonds. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Censorship, in the form of more Hugo Award controversy Letters of comment Ang Rosin Andy Openshaw Chris Garcia Zodiac Speaking ErsatzCulture and Raj España Sheriff Brighton 1987 Martin Easterbrook Tammy Coxen Sandra Bond Keep an eye out for Poetry Slum! Click here to see the cover Nicholas Jackson on Bluesky Harry Payne on Bluesky BSFA Awards shortlist Hugo Awards The 2023 Hugo Awards: A Report on Censorship and Exclusion by Chris M Barkley and Jason Sanford Charting the Cliff: An Investigation Into the 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics by Camestros Felapton and Heather Rose Jones More on Other Chinese Hugo Nominations, based on “Charting the Cliff” by Prograft Recent updates from the MPC/WIP Journey Planet #79 Picks John: Monolith dir. Matt Vesely Alison: Moonwalkers Liz: FRIENDSHIP Credits Cover art: Liz's Bedtime Reading by Alison Scott Alt text: A famous photograph of Margaret Hamilton standing beside printed outputs of the code that took the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon, overlaid with the words “Octothorpe 105” and “Liz has finished reading the latest Hugo Award exposés”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison and Liz discuss what SF they enjoyed from 2023. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Fanzine The Ancillary Review of Books IDEA Nerds of a Feather Fan Artist Alison Scott España Sheriff Fan Writer Camestros Felapton Paul Weimer Sandra Bond Fancast Going Rogue Game/Interactive Work Video games Baldur's Gate 3 Chants of Sennaar Dredge The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Tabletop games Apiary Earthborne Rangers Moon Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game INELIGIBLE: Hegemony Galactic Starcruiser Adrian Hon's write-up Cass Morris's write-up Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) Blue-Eyed Samurai (Netflix) Doctor Who (BBC iPlayer, Disney+) For All Mankind (Apple TV+) Foundation (Apple TV+) The Last of Us (Now) The Mandalorian (Disney+) Poker Face (Now) Silo (Apple TV+) Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+) The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Netflix) Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) Asteroid City (Now Cinema) Barbie (rent or buy) Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Paramount+) Ghosts, series 5 (BBC iPlayer) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Disney+) The Marvels (Disney+) Nimona (Netflix) Polite Society (Now Cinema) Poor Things (rent or buy) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Now Cinema) Best Related Work 50 Years of Text Games by Aaron A Reed Silverwolf A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith All These Worlds: Reviews and Essays by Niall Harrison A Traveller in Time: The Critical Practice of Maureen Kincaid Speller, ed. Nina Allan Best Graphic Story Moon Knight, volume 9 by Jed MacKay, Alessandro Cappuccio, and Rachelle Rosenberg Why Don't You Love Me? by Paul B Rainey Best Series Dune by Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson Elric by Michael Moorcock Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie The Final Architecture by Adrian Tchaikovsky The Tyrant Philosophers by Adrian Tchaikovsky Best Short Fiction “Spring Woods Spring” by B Pladek “The Year Without Sunshine” by Naomi Kritzer Find stories to read at Rocket Stack Rank Best Novella A Theory of Haunting by Sarah Monette Walking Practice by Dolki Min “On the English Approach to the Study of History” by E Saxey Best Semiprozine Giganotasaurus Strange Horizons wot, no https?! Best Novel Bridge by Lauren Beukes The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera The Reformatory by Tananarive Due Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway Orbital by Samantha Harvey In Ascension by Martin MacInnes Hopeland by Ian McDonald Julia by Sandra Newman Him by Geoff Ryman Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford City of Last Chances and The House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh The Year in Review 2023 by Graham Sleight Credits Cover art: “Favourite Reading Positions” by Sue Mason Alt text: John is in the bottom-left, sitting in a chair, wearing a blue shirt and purple trousers, holding a can, and reading an ebook. Alison is in the upper-middle, lying down upside down, wearing a purple shirt and stripy trousers, and reading an ebook. Liz is in the bottom-right, wearing a pink shirt with green trousers, holding a mug of a hot beverage, and reading a physical book. They are surrounded by floating beer bottles, books, the Moon, a mug with a moose on it, and two cats. The word “Octothorpe” appears in scattered letters around the artwork, against a pinky-purple background. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is a year behind, Alison is opening nominations, and Liz is Elizabeth (!). Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Israel/Palestine war (Montreal in 2027 segment), serial killers (John's pick) Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks Chris Garcia DC Kevin Anderson Mark Plummer Martin Easterbrook Mike Glyer Raj Alison's fan art page BSFA longlist Fan funds TAFF Announcement Ballot EFF GUFF Montreal in 2027 Tel Aviv in 2027 Christopher Priest 2005 Guest of Honour speech Hugo Awards Trademarks WIP announcement Mike Dunford on Bluesky Chris Barkley's interview of Dave McCarty Transcript A possibly smoking gun File 770 comment Screencap of post from Chinese socials Machine translation Tammy Coxen argues Worldcon will die because of lack of volunteers Picks John: How to Find Zodiac by Jarett Kobek (Amazon) Los Angeles Magazine article Alison: Fantasy Map Maker Alison's map Liz: North Woods by Daniel Mason (hardback, ebook, audiobook, Amazon) Credits Cover art: “Hugo Regalia Shop” by Alison Scott Alt text: The words “Octothorpe 103 Hugo Regalia Shop” appear above a selection of costumes. There are small depictions of a clown, a pirate, a panda and a banana above full-length depictions of a member of the Catholic church (with Hugos on their mitre and crosier), a gangster (labelled “boss”, holding a Hugo), Zaphod Beeblebrox (holding three Hugos) and Jesus (with a crown of thorns but made with Hugos). Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison and Liz respond to a letter of comment from Tobes. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X, Mastodon or Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Chinese censorship (discussion of the Hugo Awards), Jim Crow Florida (Liz's pick), general socioeconomic inequality (John's pick) Glasgow 2024's hotel bookings are open Letters of comment Alex Ingram Bill Higgins Chris Garcia Colin Murtagh Jersey Gryphon Karen Schaffer Raj Tobes Valois Hugo Awards controversy File 770's roundup Some recent writing on these topics: Abigail Nussbaum Cora Buhlert Genre Grapevine Ada Palmer on censorship Reaction from Chinese fans A reaction from Zimozi Natsuco Check out Ersatz Culture's feeds for more information on Chinese reactions (Bluesky, Mastodon) Dave McCarty His apology A link to his Facebook The Useful Idiot It's not Lenin, it's a Western term originating in the 1940s and 1950s Worldcon Intellectual Property statement about resignations, censures, and reprimands Glasgow 2024's Hugo nominations post Picks John: The Kitchen, dir. Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares Alison: Dangerous Space, designed by Jason Greeno and Jason Tagmire Liz: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due (paperback, ebook, Amazon) Credits Cover art: “Scooby Gang” by Alison Scott Alt text: Scooby, Velma and Daphne unmask the panda from last week's cover art, and the person wearing the panda suit looks a lot like Dave McCarty. They say “It was old Mister McCarty all along!” and he says “And I would have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for you meddling Hugo finalists!” He is tied up with rope. The words “Octothorpe! 102” appear at the top of the image. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is self-promoting, Alison ”doesn't have COVID”, and Liz is distracting. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: large power and age differentials in sexual relationships (John's pick) Letters of comment Chris Garcia Niall Harrison Adam Roberts on romantasy A website called “pudding.cool” Geri Sullivan Bridget Bradshaw TrishEM says congratulations Dave Mansfield Upcoming conventions which aren't Worldcon Triple Time!, the 34th filk convention (2–4 February 2024, Buxton) Picocon 41 (23 March, London) Gallifrey One (16–18 February 2024, Los Angeles, USA) Levitation 2024, the Eastercon (29 March 2024–1 April 2024, Telford) FunCon (31 May–2 June 2024, Buxton) Glasgow 2024, the Worldcon (8–12 August 2024, Glasgow) Three Black Halflings Hotel bookings open on 22 January 2024 Novacon (8–10 November 2024, Buxton) Send us your Hugo recs while there is a chance we might read/watch them and mention them China Miéville and Keanu Reeves are collaborating Picks John: Poor Things Exhibition of costumes at the Barbican Alison: Why Don't You Love Me? by Paul B. Rainey (hardback, ebook, Amazon) Liz: Chants of Sennaar (PS4, Steam, Switch, Xbox) Relevant Penny Arcade Credits Cover art: “Glasgow Hotel Board Game” by Alison Scott Alt text: A board reminiscent of a well-known board game about property trading. There are three purple properties (Campanile, Village, Moxy), each of which has one hotel. There are two teal properties (Crowne Plaza, Marriott), a replacement for “In Jail” called “In WSFS”, a Statue square featuring a man on horseback with a traffic cone on his head, and a square called Telephone Kiosk with a depiction of a police box. In the middle of the board, the words “Octothorpe Episode 101”. Each property has asterisks for the rent and the words “Rates coming very soon but not quite soon enough for this cover” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison and Liz receive a telegram. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Chris Garcia Irwin Hirsh Raj on Mastodon (1, 2) Hugo voting stats Moon Knight Warren Ellis and Declan Shalvey's run Warren Ellis' predatory behaviour Article at the time of the original story SoManyOfUs Article from the year after Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio's run Moon Knight: Age of Anubis: A Marvel: Multiverse Missions Adventure Gamebook Want an invite to the Discord? Hit John up! - Glasgow 2024 announces Tanya DePass as special guest Picks John: The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jiminez [paperback, Amazon] Alison: The Coral Bones by EJ Swift [paperback, ebook, Amazon] Late-breaking news of a new paperback from Jo Fletcher Books Liz: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh [paperback, ebook, audiobook, Amazon] Festive gaming corner John: EXIT: The Game: Advent Calendar: The Silent Storm Final Girl: North Pole Nightmare Herd Mentality Legendary: Marvel Monikers Paleo SCOUT Alison: Schotten Totten Zuuli Pandemic: Iberia The Mind Bohnanza Terraforming Mars FryxGames' CEO posted transphobia and racism Liz: Hated by Emily and Andrew Credits Cover art: “Telegram from the Queen” by Alison Scott with telegram by Claire Brialey Alt text: A telegram lies with a golden thread bookmark on a plush purple surface. It has two pieces of Weetabix above text which reads “I am so pleased to know that you are celebrating your one hundredth episode in January 2024. I send my congratulations and best wishes to you on such a special occasion. Claire R (of Croydon).” The words “Octothorpe 100” are at the top in golden lettering. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John doesn't study herpetology, Alison knows lots of words, and Liz goes first. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Games, SMOFs If I Ran the Zoo… Con PDF version Hard copy from NESFA Bidding Phase: 3401 Pre-Supporting Memberships by Leslie Turek 5501 Kill the Wabbit by Priscilla Olson, John Pomeranz, Leslie Turek, Mark Olson Planning Phase: 2201 The “Relationship” by Priscilla Olson, Mark Olson 5901 We're in the Money by Glenn Glazer, Leslie Turek Modest food Privy's props Privy's cast At-Con Phase: 701 The Lady and the Snake by Mark Olson, Leslie Turek 1101 The Dungeon Master by Joe Rico Credits Cover art: “Game of Privies” by Alison Scott Alt text: John, Alison and Liz are on a large privy holding drinks with a snake wrapped around the privy. Speech bubbles surround them: “Have you seen my emotional support python?” “The perfect spot for the old pharts photo”, “It's another ‘what if…' episode”, and “Oi! There's a queue here mate”. A banner with “Punctuation Worldcon 2030” appears at the top and the words “Octothorpe 99” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Points at the end of each phase: Phase People Financial Goodwill Bidding 2 0 1 Planning 5 4 1 At-Con 6 5 7

John thinks it's grandfathered in, Alison doesn't think it's SF, and Sandra is Liz. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Chris Garcia Curt Phillips Where to buy Moon (USA, UK) If you know of websites that do this in other countries, let John know! Mark Plummer The full text of Mark Plummer's and Leigh Edmonds' previous locs Glasgow 2024's disease mitigation policy Fan funds TAFF Free ebooks Taffluorescence! #1 With news of the upcoming TAFF race Geri Sullivan's Idea #13 is forthcoming Sandra's books The Psychopath Club The Devil's Finger Picks John: A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith (hardback, epub, Amazon) Alison: For All Mankind Sandra: Beyond Fandom: Fans, Culture & Politics in the 20th Century by Rob Hansen (ed.) Credits Cover art: “Stunt Lizard” by Alison Scott Alt text: The heads of John and Alison regard a lizard version of Sandra Bond who is doing stunts (on fire, skateboarding) while wearing her signature hat. The words “Octothorpe 98” appear at the top. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John has played some games, Alison will play some games, and Liz is playing games RIGHT NOW Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: China, being burned alive, classism Letters of comment Chris Garcia España Sheriff Leigh Edmonds Lori Anderson Chengdu Chinese v foreign attendees An example We expect stats at the 90 day mark WSFS remote participation Current WSFS constitution and standing rules Preliminary meeting video Don Eastlake on Facebook Glasgow 2024 Online convention news Glasgow presents Catherynne M Valente and Peter S Beagle Novacon Novacon 53 Picks John: The Wicker Man Alison: Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi (physical, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Liz: Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway (physical, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Gaming corner Tabletop games Hadrian's Wall Moon Turing Machine Villagers Cracking the Cryptic play Return of the Obra Dinn The Roottrees are Dead Credits Cover art: “To the LizBatmobile” by Alison Scott Alt text: John, Alison and Liz are depicted as Robin, Harley Quinn and Batman, but the Batman logo is replaced by “WSFS”. The Batmobile is in the centre of the three of them. The words “Octothorpe 97” appear at the top and the words “…to the LizBatmobile” at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John didn't, Alison would've done, and Liz tried. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: China Was Chengdu a shower? Nicholas Whyte signs autographs Chengdu Worldcon on YouTube WorldconEvents on YouTube Site selection meeting videos are going up here WSFS Business Meeting” group on Facebook File 770's reporting on this year's WSFS Picks John: Hallowe'en Alison: New Zealand Liz: Poker Face Credits Cover art: “Chengdu Worldcon Report” by Alison Scott Alt text: A giant panda stands in a metal tub wearing a rainbow show cap with helicopter blades beneath a shower made of bamboo. A purple towel with “42” on it is over the side of the metal tub. The words “Octothorpe 96” are above “Chengdu Worldcon Report” with a footnote reading “might not have been a shower after all”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is playing a game, Alison is in New Zealand, and Liz's head is on fire. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Privilege (letters of comment), carbon emissions (GUFF), grant applications (picks) Letters of comment Dave Mansfield Esther MacCallum-Stewart Chris Garcia Abigail Nussbaum SJ Johnson Hugos Congratulations to Hugo, Girl! Thanks to Nicholas Whyte for Being our designated Hugo acceptor Liveblogging the Hugo Award ceremony GUFF It goes from Australasia to Europe (and vice versa) Australasia Stonehenge Aoteroa Woomera Te Tauaarangi Air Force Royal Australian Air Force Kākāpō family tree Picks John: Don't Play This Game (play the demo) Alison: Australia Liz: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (epub, paperback, audiobook, Amazon) Credits Cover art: “Birds” by España Sheriff Alt text: A kakapo, a kiwi and a SIAMESE FIREBACK just chilling out. They look a bit like John, Alison and Liz. The words “Octothorpe 95” adorn the top of the cover. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is eating cinnamon rolls, Alison doesn't think it's funny, and Liz has two lists. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X, on Mastodon, or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: colonialism (chapter 2), COVID (chapter 3), organised crime (chapter 5), privilege and capitalism (chapter 7). No letters of comment this week, normal service resumes next week! Books in the order they were discussed The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The Kaiju Preservation Society, by John Scalzi Legends & Lattes, by Travis Baldree Coffee Shop AU Nona the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir The Spare Man, by Mary Robinette Kowal Nettle & Bone, by T Kingfisher John's ranking: Nettle & Bone The Daughter of Doctor Moreau Nona the Ninth The Spare Man Legends & Lattes The Kaiju Preservation Society Alison's ranking: Nettle & Bone The Daughter of Doctor Moreau The Kaiju Preservation Society Nona the Ninth Legends & Lattes The Spare Man Liz's ranking: Nettle & Bone The Daughter of Doctor Moreau Nona the Ninth The Kaiju Preservation Society Legends & Lattes The Spare Man Consensus ranking: Nettle & Bone The Daughter of Doctor Moreau Nona the Ninth The Kaiju Preservation Society Legends & Lattes The Spare Man Credits Cover art: “Favourite Reading Positions” by Sue Mason Alt text: John is in the bottom-left, sitting in a chair, wearing a blue shirt and purple trousers, holding a can, and reading an ebook. Alison is in the upper-middle, lying down upside down, wearing a purple shirt and stripy trousers, and reading an ebook. Liz is in the bottom-right, wearing a pink shirt with green trousers, holding a mug of a hot beverage, and reading a physical book. They are surrounded by floating beer bottles, books, the Moon, a mug with a moose on it, and two cats. The word “Octothorpe” appears in scattered letters around the artwork, against a pinky-purple background. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is husky, Alison is a dingo, and Liz is a ridgeback. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Chris Garcia Ersatz Culture Chengdu is a shower Relevant Pixel Scrolls: Fanzine and Fan Writer added; videos of the construction Panoramic views of the convention site Arthur Liu's post on Weibo Glasgow 2024 Glasgow 2024 Presents: The Media of Storytelling: Print v Screen Hugo discussion GUFF LEGO postcards from Australia You can donate £5 or £10 to guffeurope@gmail.com to get a personalised postcard from Alison Postcard from Australia for £5 Photo postcard from the Internet for £5 Special surprise exclusive GUFF 2023 Art postcard for £10 Postcard with an “unreasonable special request” for £10 [don't ask me what this means, I just wrote down the words Alison said—John] Picks We did a lot of talking about our opinions of SF this episode, so picks return in future! Credits Cover art: “Flying to Australia” by Alison Scott Alt text: A photograph of Alison's Apple Watch on a plane to Australia. This episode of Octothorpe is playing on that Apple Watch, which is on her wrist. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John went to Reno, Alison went to San Francisco, and Liz went to Chicago. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Murder and sexual violence (chapter 4) Letters of comment Chris Garcia Dave Mansfield Duncan MacGregor Ersatz Culture Irwin Hirsch Juan Sanmiguel Nick Hubble Peter Sullivan ConFrancisco Ansible 75 (October 1993) File 770's Worldcon Wayback Machine: Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Chengdu is a shower The Hugo Voter Packet still doesn't have Best Fanzine or Best Fan Writer Ersatz Culture's page on the Hugo Voter Packet now contains downloads for both Arthur Liu/Heaven Duke has two pages in Chinese covering similar ground: one, two Glasgow 2024 Progress Report 2 is now out They've got a big organ John is moderating “The Media of Storytelling: Print v Screen” for Glasgow Presents 21 September at 19:00 BST Dan Hanks, A M Justice, Jim Mcleod, and R W W Greene Tickets are free Picks John: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 and 1978) Alison: The Thin Man (1934) and The Island of Doctor Moreau by H G Wells (1896) Liz: Credits Cover art: “1993 Time Machine” by Alison Scott Alt text: A drawing of España Sheriff with “gosh wow oh boy oh boy” in a thought bubble to the left of a drawing of Alison saying “displays include Hugo history and antique vibrators” behind an info desk. Computer monitors display the text “Coming soon! Websites!” and “Try Virtual Reality, it's the next big thing”. A Dalek and the Golden Gate Bridge adorn the scene. Above, the words “Moscone North” are below the words “We travel to a land that photography forgot” which are in turn below “Octothorpe 92”. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is a journalist, Alison is fundraising, and Liz is approved. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Chris Garcia David Curry Edward Morland Farah Mendlesohn Jonathan Baddeley Lori Anderson Not Laurie Anderson The Clarke Award Liz read them all!

John, Alison and Liz read Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Murder, death Other works we discussed: Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee Rosewater by Tade Thompson This didn’t make the edit due to Liz’s audio being troublesome The 2018 Hugo Award ballot Credits Cover art: “Standard-Sized Cryochambers” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three cryochambers marked “Coxon J, Scott A and Batty L” reside in a room marked “Clone Bay”. John and Liz’s heads are visible through the windows int heir chambers; Alison’s is not. Blood floats in front of them underneath the words “Octothorpe 90”. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is sitting, Alison is watching, and Liz is typing. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: AI (chapter 3), China (chapter 4), colonialism (chapter 5) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Chris Garcia Duncan MacGregor Edward Morland Ersatz Culture Farah Mendlesohn Ash by Mary Gentle Raj Roman Orszanski Transcription We have uploaded transcripts and subtitles for Episodes 49, 62, and 72 as part of our Hugo Voter Packet submission What do people want from transcripts? Do any of our listeners use them? You can find the transcripts and subtitles for episodes on our GitHub Glasgow in 2024 Liz has taken a role in the Programme Division as the Area Head of Podcasting Content John’s panel suggestion: “Why don’t podcasters just shout? Why use microphones? Our panel discusses the pros and cons of literally shouting into the void.” Please put this into the programme suggestion form Glasgow in 2024 has released an AI Art Statement ASFA Chengdu Worldcon None of us are planning to take the Worldcon up on their offer of a free trip File 770 articles about finalists going to China: 1, 2, 3, 4 Picks John: Asteroid City Alison: Beyond a Boundary by CLR James Miles Jupp’s Fibber in the Heat Liz: The Last Blade Priest by WP Wiles Credits Cover art: “Eight-Fingered Monkeys” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three monkeys, each with eight digits on their hands and eight on their feet, do the classic “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” triptych under the words “Octothorpe 89”. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is on brand, Alison wants to do Mark, and Liz had a few twinges. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: COVID (chapter 2) Letters of comment Chris Garcia Duncan MacGregor Mark Plummer Niall Harrison Adam Roberts' future books: The Death of Sir Martin Malprelate (2023) The Midas Rain (2023) Lake of Darkness (2024) Raj Various congratulations from our lovely lovely listeners Octothorpe COVID round-up Levitation are soliciting signups to their eventual COVID survey Hugo Awards The finalists have been announced Chinese recommendation posts Did Octothorpe have an effect? What are your favourite episodes from 2022, listeners? S. B. Divya declined two Hugo nominations España Sheriff did not, but blogged on her thoughts anyway Chengdu Worldcon Emails have been sent to members about the programme survey “The Stars and the Sea” Picks John: The Scarlet Keys Alison: Plutoshine by Lucy Kissack Liz: Tour de France Cyclists near Alison's house Credits Cover art: “Rocktothorpe” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three Clangers wearing homages to Sean Connery in Zardoz stand on the Moon, painted on a rock which is in turn against a purple background. The words “Octothorpe 88” appear in yellow/orange at the top. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John isn’t picky, Alison is in a field, and Liz is very hungry. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Chris Garcia Karen Schaeffer Malcolm Hutchison Peter Sullivan Raj We might have Tweets of comment but who knows? Chengdu is a shower Moar Hugo award delays Now you see them, now you don’t This episode will go live when the Hugo finalists do Locus awards From Locus #750: “The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi won with the smallest winning lead this year, just 17 points ahead Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, which had the most votes and first-place votes, and would have won without the doubling of subscriber points.” Scalzi’s grumpy tweet BSFA awards Non-fiction is split into short and long Novella Collection Original audio fiction Translated work of short fiction Picks John: Across the Spider-Verse Not Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman Alison: Museum Catalogues (In the Black Fantastic and Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination) Liz: Stealing From the Sky by Adam Roberts In the style of Donald Westlake Credits Cover art: “One Moose-Sized Alison” by first-time Hugo Finalist Alison Scott Alt text: John and Liz stand in front of a moose-sized Alison wearing antlers in a cage fight. Alison is saying “BEWARE MY SIGNATURE MOVE THE MOOSE”, John is saying “I THOUGHT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SUMMER OF FUN” and Liz is saying “IS IT TOO LATE TO PICK 100 ALISON-SIZED MOOSE?” The words “Octothorpe 87” are at the top. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John can do one, Alison don't like cricket, and Liz will never get to bed. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Poor working conditions (chapter 2), COVID (chapter 3) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Chris Garcia Chengdu is a shower Hugo Award delay Venue under construction COVID Round-up New recommendation: 5 air changes per hour (ACH) The Lancet COVID-19 Commission Task Force on Safe Work, Safe School, and Safe Travel HSE has general ventilation advice Seattle is the only Worldcon bid for 2025 Pemmi-Con Virtual memberships have been announced You will have a supporting membership if you voted in NASFiC site selection or you got drunk and bought a $65 Moose T-shirt at Chicon 8 Glasgow in 2024 You can volunteer to be on programme or suggest an item Arthur C. Clarke Award Liz has read one of them John has read a different one GUFF Alison has dates and a plan If you're in Australia and want to have Alison (and maybe Steven) to visit, let us know Picks: John: UK Games Expo Earthborne Rangers Solar Sphere FlickFleet Asteroid Dice and Shape Invaders Catacombs Dungeon Drop Final Girl Find stockists for any of the above games through BoardGamePrices Alison: Cricket Liz: Rivers of London, specifically the most recent novels (False Value and Amongst Our Weapons) Credits Cover art: Apparently It's Beach Cricket by Alison Scott Alt text: The three of us wearing cricket clothes in front of a picture of a beach that Liz took to taunt us. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)