Science Fiction University

A dive into propaganda in science fiction, particularly those instances where aliens take over the world to the advantage of the privileged.  What?Links for this episode:Ray Nelson, "Eight O'Clock In the Morning" available via the Internet Archive (free registration required) https://archive.org/details/sciencefictioncl0000unse_z5i2Images of Arthur C. Clarke's "I Remember Babylon" https://imgur.com/gallery/i-remember-babylon-by-arthur-c-clark-2BX7I6RRecorded live from the Cornfield Resistance.  Podcast artwork by Frances Langum via BingAI.  Support the podcast at proleftpod.com or become a patron at patreon.com/proleftpod. Write us via the USPS! The Professional Left Podcast PO Box 9133 Springfield IL 62791  Support the show

Diving into Apple TV's new series "Dark Matter," based on Blake Crouch's bestselling novel. We'll explore how the show tackles concepts of both parallel realities, and the nature of identity across multiple timelines.But the multiverse madness doesn't stop there! We'll expand our discussion to other sci-fi shows that have expertly played with alternate realities:"Counterpart": How J.K. Simmons' dual roles illuminate questions of nature vs. nurture across parallel Earths"Loki": Marvel's time-hopping adventure and its implications for free will and predestination"The Man in the High Castle": Exploring how history and culture diverge in an alternate post-WWII realityScience fiction is much more than quantum physics on paper, it's also a good "what if" story!  We hope this episode will expand your list of "must watch shows" using multiverse theory in science fiction. More at ScienceFictionUniversity.com. Support the Show.

On this episode of Science Fiction University, we dive into the works of Andy Weir, the author behind the hit novels The Martian and Project Hail Mary.Project Hail Mary, Weir's latest novel takes readers on an epic journey across the cosmos. Like his earlier work, The Martian, PHM showcases Weir's talent for fusing cutting-edge science with an extremely human story of perseverance and hope. We'll analyze how Project Hail Mary embraces the conventions of "hard" science fiction while also delivering an optimistic, even spiritual message about humanity's ability to overcome challenges through cooperation and grace.So join us as we explore the intricate worlds and big ideas contained within Andy Weir's captivating science fiction adventures.More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.Support the Show.

We talk about "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and the 1940 short story that inspired it, sort of.  More at https://www.sciencefictionuniversity.com. Support the show:PayPal |  https://paypal.me/proleftpodcastPatreon |   https://patreon.com/ proleftpod  Support the Show.

We talk about the new Apple TV series "3 Body Problem," which we highly recommend.  We also relate it to lots of other science fiction works. Looking for political content?  We were on The Brad Cast on Mondayhttps://bradblog.com/?p=14989More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.Our podcast YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessionalLeftSupport the show:PayPal |  https://paypal.me/proleftpodcastPatreon | https://patreon.com/proleftpodSupport the show

What the title says!  Support the show at proleftpod.com and thanks! Support the show

We take a short break from Science Fiction to dive into the 1941 film noir masterpiece The Maltese Falcon, comparing and contrasting that Humphrey Bogart classic with two earlier versions, one made in 1931, and a Bette Davis comedy (?) version,  "Satan Met a Lady," made in 1936. More at ScienceFictionUniversity.comSupport the show

Driftglass and Blue Gal share their stories of falling in love with SF.  More at sciencefictionuniversity.com. Support the show

We discuss the very political "The Day the Icicle Works Closed" by Frederick Pohl, and also why science fiction stories often don't stand the test of time.  More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.  Support the show

The Netflix series "Bodies" brings up all kinds of connections to time travel in science fiction.  We watched the 8 part series in three days -- it's good!   Support the show

We discuss tragic heroes and utopias in science fiction, then we turn to the possiblity of future Dune movies.  More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.  Support the show

Alternate title:  'Mother Nature, USMC'.  A subgenre of science fiction in which humans try to bend nature to their will, sometimes with disastrous results.  Also, an ocean creature theme.  Movies discussed include 1973's 'The Day of the Dolphin'Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and The Incredible Mr. Limpet(Yes, The Incredible Mr. Limpet).   More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.Support the show:PayPal |  https://paypal.me/proleftpodcastPatreon | https://patreon.com/proleftpodOur YouTube ChannelSupport the show

Driftglass took Blue Gal to see Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 for her birthday.  During the movie, Driftglass noticed many plot points that connect this blockbuster to William Gibson's 1984 novel, "Neuromancer."  So we did a podcast about it.  (No Fair Remembering Stuff returns next week.)  More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.  Support the show.  Patreon  or Paypal Support the show

Multiversal success and failure.  Success?   Star Trek TOS episode "Mirror, Mirror," and the 2017 Starz series, "Counterpart."  Failure?  It pains Driftglass to say it, but Robert Heinlein's "The Number of the Beast" is well-known as a massive fail in the multiverse and just plain science fiction novel genre.  And you can hear Patton Oswalt's magnificent Parks and Rec filibuster concerning "multiverses" here.  More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.  Support the show at  https://www.patreon.com/scifiuSupport the show

Science Fiction "versus"  Fantasy – When Genres CollideRobert Heinlein's “Glory Road”Babylon 5: The Technomages.Star WarsJohn Varley's Wizard/Demon TrilogyThe Dragonriders of Pern Arthur Clarke's Third LawMore at sciencefictionuniversity.com. Support the show

We look at a 1970's pilot, "The Questor Tapes," which was a scratchpad for the invention of the TNG character known as Data.  More at sciencefictionuniversity.com. Support the show

The 1970 film, "Colossus: The Forbin Project" and the "uh oh, we shouldn't have done that" genre of science fiction.   More at sciencefictionuniversity.com .Support the show

We discuss our re-watching of Patrick McGoohan in "The Prisoner," perhaps the most influential science fiction single-season show ever.  More at sciencefictionuniversity.com Support the show

We discuss what can go wrong, and right,  when adapting a much-loved science fiction story to the big or big-ish screen.  Examples include Foundation, Dune, and the more recent Kindred.  More at ScienceFictionUniversity.com.  Support the show at patreon.com/scifiu. Support the show

We discuss Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, "2001:  A Space Odyssey,"  Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 film, “Solaris,”  and Denis Villeneuve's 2016 film, “Arrival.”    More at ScienceFictionUniversity.com.  Support our ad-free show at our Patreon!  Patreon.com/scifiuSupport the show

We discuss three modern productions with roots in the 1960's:  Apple TV's Foundation, Denis Villeneuve's Dune, and For All Mankind (also Apple TV).  More at Sciencefictionuniversity.com.  And you can support the show at https://www.patreon.com/scifiu Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scifiu)

We discuss timelines using examples from Loki, Travelers, Star Trek TOS "The City on the Edge of Forever," and 11.22.63  (Honorable mention to “All You Zombies”/”By His Bootstraps”, The End of Eternity)Support the show at sciencefictionuniversity.com or go straight to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/scifiu.  Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scifiu)

Looking at time travel stories generated by a main character waking from sleep. More at sciencefictionuniversity.com. (Episode contains spoilers and occasional swear words.) Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scifiu)

HBO's 2020 series "The Outsider" meets the cult classics the 1972 made-for-TV movie/pilot for "The Night Stalker" and the 1958 Steve McQueen debut "The Blob." These science fiction stories are connected by a truth-knower untrusted by the authorities. Those authorities are the "system" designed to protect society from danger and crime. And there is a danger in these tales beyond the ability of the system to protect us. More at ScienceFictionUniversity.com Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scifiu)

(Spoiler Alert, and we swear a little in this episode.) We've watched the first two episodes of Season 3 of HBO's Westworld and are ready to call it a #fail as narrative science fiction. But it provides a perfect example of WHY stories need a hero, a villain, a writer, and a story. More at sciencefictionuniversity.com. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scifiu)

Artificial Intelligences: Driftglass and Blue Gal talk about William Gibson's 1984 novel "Neuromancer," and Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey." SPOILERS as always. Support the show at our Patreon and thanks! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scifiu)

Gods Among Us! Driftglass and Blue Gal talk about Valentine Michael Smith in Robert Heinlein's 1961 novel "Stranger in a Strange Land" and Doctor Manhattan in HBO's 2019 series "The Watchmen." Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/scifiu Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scifiu)

Driftglass and Blue Gal compare and contrast Isaac Asimov's 1955 book "The End of Eternity" with Rian Johnson's 2012 film, "Looper." Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scifiu)

Welcome to Science Fiction University! Our premiere episode concerns Philip K. Dick's 1969 novel UBIK, and Christopher Nolan's 2010 film "Inception." We'd love your feedback at sciencefictionuniversity.com or email the show at sciencefictionuniversity@gmail.com. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/scifiu)