Science Fiction Shorts

I'm reviewing a NEW book on SFS this week. That's right, a book that was written in the 21st century. A first! And joining me, the friend that recommended it to me, Mark "The Bad Movie Recommender" himself. The topic of this episode is Andy Weir's latest hard science fiction novel Project Hail Mary. As per usual, we spoil everything so if you are sensitive to that kind of thing, read the book first. But you don't get to find out if I liked it until you listen to the episode...

A live reading of a short story by American Civil War veteran Ambrose Bierce. Is it science fiction? You decide.

I continue my Verne kick with a review of Jules' epic 1864 novel Journey to the Center of the Earth, otherwise know as Rampant Usage of Revealing Chapter Titles Not Included in the Original Publication.

I bought a couple Jules Verne books but haven't cracked 'em yet. So I thought it'd be fun to introduce myself to the Vernmeister by reading one of his short stories on SFS. Join me in my first Verne experience and find out what an 1880er thought the 2880's might be like.

It's time to finally get some L. Ron under our belts. Ok that didn't come out the way I wanted it to. But Mr. Hubbard is indeed the subject of this episode of SFS, or rather his short story Strain from 1942 is. Let's get weird!

No, it's not a book review of a heretofore known novel in the HP series – it's two book reviews. Except one of them isn't so much a book as it is a short story. Toni Hansen debuts on SFS to discuss J. K. Rowling's renowned novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Then we switch gears and review what might be the best 4 page PDF ever created: The Star, by Arthur C. Clarke

Self-proclaimed Enderspert Brandon Hansen joins me on the podcast to discuss the second book in the Enderverse, Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card. Listener beware: we full on spoil the entire book which, if you've read it you know, there are some worthwhile surprises that unfold. Something tells me this isn't going to Ender well.

The third and final (for me anyway) robot novel The Robots of Dawn, by Isaac Asimov is the topic of discussion in this, the latest episode of SFS. Joined by no other than Asimov super-fan Omid Mikhchi, we discuss all the main themes of this book, which are sex, masturbation, and incest, in that order. Music by League of Legends featuring Kupla.

If you've only ever seen the movie you're missing out and you likely don't understand half of what was actually going on. Luckily the book is a quick, easy, and rewarding read. Chris and I discuss it at length in this spoilerific episode on the Arthur C. Clarke classic, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Let's solve this mystery. The second and final part of the Edgar Allan Poe whodunit, The Murders in the Rue Morgue.

A little deviation from our typical fare on SFS; join me in a live reading of Edgar Allan Poe's short story The Murders in the Rue Morgue. Guess what, it has nothing to do with a morgue. It doesn't have anything to do with science fiction either, but I reserve the right to read whatever I damn well please. It's my podcast.

The classic novel The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin is the topic of the latest SFS. If you haven't read it I think this episode with make you want to! Otherwise please enjoy the in-depth discussion my very special guest Chris Martin and I have regarding the work. No spoilers, unless you're someone like me who is ultra-sensitive and likes to go into a new books completely blind...

Back from hiatus, I bring you a new story by Mark Clifton that is sure to tie your mind in knots. Give it a listen – I think you'll enjoy it. And please, please, please, please, tell me whether you liked it and what you thought of it with a tweet @wetjosh. Or leave me a review if chirping ain't your thing.

Mike Berryhill makes a splash in his return to Science Fiction Shorts as we take turns narrating The New Accelerator, by H. G. Wells. Did they know about particle accelerators in the 1800's? Or is this a reference to the throttle of some fancy new horseless carriage? Listen in and find out!

The thrilling conclusion of our chap who has expensive taste in microscope lenses. I can honestly say I did not see this one coming. Get ready for a wild ride down Animalcule Lane.

These are going to be some pricey optics, lemme tell ya. Science fiction isn't always about outer space. In this story we explore the universe that lies at the molecular level. Honestly, it could be the atomic level — I haven't actually finished the story.

Special guest Michael Berryhill joins me on this episode of Science Fiction Shorts. In it we read the short story "We Didn't Do Anything Wrong, Hardly" by Roger KuyKendall. Anyone who remembers being mischievous and dabbling in rocket science as a child should be able to relate to this one. Enjoy!

Back for the robot novel sequel, Omid @mikhchi makes his sophomore appearance on the podcast. Spoilers abound, so if you're sensitive to that sort of thing, read the Isaac Asimov novel The Naked Sun before you listen. It is definitely a timely read and you probably have nothing better to do anyway while you're sheltering in place!

Special guest Omid Mikhchi @mikhchi makes his Science Fiction Shorts podcast debut to discuss the Isaac Asimov sci-fi novel The Caves of Steel. If you haven't read this book and you hate spoilers, you're gonna wanna read it first; it took me a whopping 4 days to finish and both Omid and I give it our highest recommendation. In any case, whether now or later, please enjoy this episode of arguments, banter and musing of the distant future.

Are you ready for another dose of Olde English? This is our last foray into the mind of John Wilkins, a 17th century alien enthusiast. With one foot in science, one in philosophy, and a vestigial third set firmly in religion, he lays down his final arguments for a habitable world in the Moone.

We forge ahead with Proposition 2 in this episode. This section is all about the good book. Are we Heretiques for believing the Moone might be habitable? Was Moses keeping secrets from us? And what of this musicke of the spheares? John Wilkins lays it out for us in "all possible brevity".

We're seven episodes in, that means it's time to break format. Join me in a live reading of a totally bonkers historical document that teeters on the edge of science fiction and science fact. Fair warning: dude is windy. So windy that we just barely cover the preface in this episode. But it wouldn't be a podcast if I didn't cut him off every few sentences or so and interject my own commentary.

Why is this space-faring craft addressed like a gentleman? Should we give the author of this episode's short story the same honorific? In 1953, Mr. Phil Dick wrote a pleasant little ditty about a very special spaceship — listen in and find out how this ship came to be "Mr." Spaceship. Tweet me @wetjosh to tell me your thoughts on the story.

With this episode, we jump ahead about 60 years from when our last story was written. Still well before what would be dubbed the Golden Age of Science Fiction, this story is a bit less sciencey, and a bit more fiction. Written by a woman, Leslie F. Stone, at a time when getting a story published as such was no small feat. She provides a unique perspective in this tale of future colonialism and forces the reader (or listener) to step outside status quo.

All good stories have an end. In this episode we check in on our friends above for the last time. We also randomly check in on an extinct species. Listen carefully to find out which one!

Welp...things didn't go quite as planned for Mr. Ingham and friends. Needless to say, construction came to an abrupt halt. Are there any survivors? Are we to ever know the fate of the premature world? Edward E. Hale answers these questions and more in the third installment of his story, The Brick Moon.

The plans are laid, the funds are secured (most of them anyway), and we've got some eager bricklayers just begging to get their hands dirty. In the second part of Edward E. Hale's, The Brick Moon, we will find out if the sucker gets built!

We begin with a story concerning the age old problem of the longitude. The solution proposed could prove to be "the blessing of all seamen...the second cynosure of all lovers upon the waves".