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As usual, Jonathan and Gary raise a number of thorny questions about reading SF and fantasy, and resolve none of them. Beginning with Jonathan's account of his recent reading of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, we speculate on what sort of expectations we bring as readers to novels in which the interiority of the characters is privileged over the SF elements, whether a novel can do both, and whether the reading protocols are different for different genres. This leads toward a customarily rambling discussion that touches upon everything from Jo Walton and Ada Palmer's new nonfiction book Trace Elements to novels by Le Guin, Wolfe, Bujold and others, and eventually leads us to a consideration of Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl novels, along with books we're either reading right now or looking forward to in the next few weeks.
Renaissance history is so much wilder and weirder than you would have expected. Very fun chatting with Ada Palmer (historian, novelist, and composer based at the University of Chicago).Some especially fascinating things I learned from the conversation and her excellent book, Inventing the Renaissance:Not only did Gutenberg go bankrupt in the 1450s (after inventing the printing press), but so did the bank that foreclosed on him, and so did his apprentices. This is because paper was still very expensive, and so you had to make this big upfront CAPEX decision to print a batch of 300 copies of a book - say the Bible. But he's in a small landlocked German town where only priests are allowed to read the Bible - so he sells maybe 7 copies. It's only when this technology ends up in Venice, where you can hand 10 copies to each of 30 ship captains going to 30 different cities, that it starts taking off.Speaking of which, the printing revolution wasn't just one single discrete event, just as the computer revolution has been this whole century of going from mainframes -> personal computers -> phones -> social media, each with different and accelerating social impact. Books came first, but they're slow to print, and made in small batches. The real revolution is pamphlets - much faster, much harder to censor. Pamphlet runners are how you can have Luther's 95 Theses go from Wittenberg to London in 17 days.So much other wild stuff from this episode. For example, did you know that the largest and best-funded experimental laboratory in 17th century Europe was very likely the Roman one run by inquisitors? Ada jokes that the Inquisition accidentally invented peer review. The focus of the Inquisition is really misunderstood - it was obsessed with catching dangerous new heretics like Lutherans and Calvinists - it only executed one person for doing science.And this leads Ada to make an observation that I think is really wise: the authorities and censors are always worried about the exact wrong things given 20/20 hindsight. When Inquisition raids an underground bookshop during the French Enlightenment, they don't mind the Rousseau, Voltaire, and Encyclopédie, but they lose their minds about some Jansenist treatises about the technical nature of the Trinity.More broadly, a lesson for me from this episode is that it's just really hard to shape history in the specific way that you want to impact things. One of the most famous medieval scholars is this guy Petrarch. He survives the Black Death in the 1340s, watches his friends die to plague and bandits, and says: our leaders are selfish and terrible, we need to raise them on the Roman classics so they'll act like Cicero. So Europe pours money into finding ancient manuscripts, building libraries, and educating princes on classical virtues. Those princes grow up and fight bigger, nastier wars than ever before with new deadlier technology. And this, combined with greater urbanization and endemic plague, results in European life expectancy decreasing from 35 in the medieval period to 18 during the Renaissance (the period which we in retrospect think of as a golden age but which many people living through it thought of as the continuation of the dark ages that had persisted since the fall of Rome).Anyways, the libraries Petrarch inspires stick around, the printing press makes them accessible to everyone, and 200 years later a generation of medical students is reading Lucretius and asking “what if there are atoms and that's how diseases work?” which eventually leads to germ theory, vaccines, and a cure for the Black Death (Ada has longer more involved explanation of how cosplaying the Romans results through a series of many steps to the scientific revolution). Petrarch wanted to produce philosopher-kings that shared his values. Instead he created a world that doesn't share his values at all but can cure the disease that destroyed his.Watch on YouTube; read the transcript.Sponsors* Jane Street is still waiting on someone to solve their backdoor puzzle… They're accepting submissions until April 1st and have set aside $50,000 for the best attempts. Separately, applications are live for Jane Street's summer ML internships in NY, London, and Hong Kong. Go check all of this out at janestreet.com/dwarkesh.* Labelbox can help ensure your agents don't need to rely on overspecified prompts. They tailor real-world scenarios to whatever domain you're focused on, and they make sure the data you train on rewards real understanding, not just instruction-following. Learn more at labelbox.com/dwarkesh* Mercury's personal accounts let you add users, issue cards, and customize permissions. This is super useful for sharing finances with a partner, a roommate… or even an OpenClaw agent. And, if you're already a Mercury Business user, your personal account is free! See terms and conditions below, and learn more at mercury.com/personal-bankingEligible Mercury Business users who apply for and maintain a Mercury Personal account may have their Mercury Personal subscription fee waived provided they remain a user on an active Mercury Business account in good standing. Standard Mercury Platform Subscription fees will apply if they no longer meet eligibility requirements, including but not limited to no longer being associated with an eligible Mercury Business account, or if the program is modified or terminated. Mercury may modify or discontinue this offering at any time and will provide notice as required by law. See Subscription Terms for full details.* To sponsor a future episode, visit dwarkesh.com/advertise.Timestamps(00:00:00) - How cosplaying Ancient Rome led to the Renaissance(00:28:49) - How Florence's weird republic worked(00:38:13) - How the Medicis took over Florence(00:58:12) - Why it was so hard for Gutenberg to make any money off the printing press(01:17:34) - Why the industrial revolution didn't happen in Italy(01:23:02) - The Library of Alexandria isn't where most ancient books were lost(01:41:21) - The Inquisition accidentally invented peer review Get full access to Dwarkesh Podcast at www.dwarkesh.com/subscribe
Join Kyptan, Ashaman, Stormrunner, and Hurinfan as they continue their read through of Terra Ignota with chapters 11-17 of Perhaps the Stars, book 4 of the epic series by Dr. Ada Palmer. Does Stormrunner still have problems integrating religion? Does Hurin still identify as a Cousin?Music: Galactic Damages by Jingle PunksConsidering supporting The Legendarium on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/legendariumDiscord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuABlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/greenteampod.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@greenteampod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/
As always, the Coode Street Motel Six bestrides continents, so after briefly comparing notes on the weather in Perth and Chicago, Gary and Jonathan get down to it and chat about the subjects of the moment. How do you talk about books and what was the weather like? The importance of settings in fiction, especially regarding climate and weather, and the broader question of whether readers can ever fully appreciate a setting dissimilar to their own and how book reviewers might take this into account. This includes a brief discussion of translated fiction—a welcome new category in this year's Locus Awards. Anthologies and activism The significance of advocacy anthologies that may reflect anything from feminist SF (as in Vonda McIntyre and Susan Janice Anderson's Aurora: Beyond Equality (1976) to antiwar works to promoting the New Wave. Books we're looking forward to In a new segment, we list a few books that we are looking forward to that will be published in the coming weeks. Jonathan talks about A.G. Slatter's A Forest, Darkly, Adrian Tchaikovsky's Pretenders to the Throne of God, Paul McAuley's Loss Protocol, and A.D Sui's debut The Iron Garden Sutra. Gary's list includes Rebecca Roanhorse's River of Bones and Other Stories and The Best of Adrian Tchaikovsky, a novella by Ian McDonald, Boy, with Accidental Dinosaur, and nonfiction study of SFF by Ada Palmer and Jo Walton, Trace Elements: Conversations on the Project of Science Fiction and Fantasy.
Papal election of 1492 For over a decade, Ada Palmer, a history professor at University of Chicago (and a science-fiction writer!), struggled to teach Machiavelli. “I kept changing my approach, trying new things: which texts, what combinations, expanding how many class sessions he got…” The problem, she explains, is that “Machiavelli doesn't unpack his contemporary examples, he assumes that you lived through it and know, so sometimes he just says things like: Some princes don't have to work to maintain their power, like the Duke of Ferrara, period end of chapter. He doesn't explain, so modern readers can't get it.” Palmer's solution was to make her students live through the run-up to the Italian Wars themselves. Her current method involves a three-week simulation of the 1492 papal election, a massive undertaking with sixty students playing historical figures, each receiving over twenty pages of unique character material, supported by twenty chroniclers and seventy volunteers. After this almost month-long pedagogical marathon, a week of analysis, and reading Machiavelli's letters, students finally encounter The Prince. By then they know the context intimately. When Machiavelli mentions the Duke of Ferrara maintaining power effortlessly, Palmer's students react viscerally. They remember Alfonso and Ippolito d'Este as [...] --- First published: January 25th, 2026 Source: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/doADJmyy6Yhp47SJ2/ada-palmer-inventing-the-renaissance --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO. ---Images from the article:Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.
What if the Renaissance wasn't a rebirth at all, but a survival strategy dressed in marble and Latin? We sit down with historian and novelist Ada Palmer to unwind the stories that turned a chaotic, war-ridden Italy into a “golden age” and explore why those stories still shape our politics, schools, and museums. Ada shows how nineteenth-century nationalism carved custom Renaissances for each country, how rulers redefined legitimacy as “having Roman stuff,” and why art, libraries, and Latin became tools of intimidation in a Europe full of insecure thrones.Step inside Florence with a visiting envoy and feel how a courtyard of emperor busts, a child reciting Greek, and a bronze that looks alive can flip alliances overnight. Follow the printing press not as a spark but as a response to a library boom, amplified by Venice's trade networks and the first book fairs. Track how Europe exported “no columns, no culture” across empires, pushing colonized elites to argue their rights in Ciceronian Latin because that was the only language of power the conquerors respected. And watch the myth of superiority assemble itself, piece by piece, into a worldview that still colors public debate.Ada also challenges the feel-good claim that destruction breeds creation. Michelangelo's own letters describe years lost to stress and war; peace and stability, not crisis, are what grow output and invention. Think of history as a river: trickles, leaf-widths, canoe-widths, all real beginnings depending on what you measure. Along the way, we touch on Machiavelli's brutal eyewitness era, the Ottoman refusal to play a game Italy would always win, and the practical mechanics of censorship—past and present—that rarely resemble Orwell.If you're ready to rethink the Renaissance, question neat timelines, and see how propaganda becomes common sense, this conversation will give you new lenses. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves history myths, and leave a review with the one “truth” about the past you're now willing to revisit.Send us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic,Julian
Ada Palmer and I discuss how the Italian Renaissance transformed our understanding of antiquity.
In this thought-provoking episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill engages with historian and author Ada Palmer, whose book Inventing the Renaissance challenges the romanticised narratives surrounding this revered period in Western history. Together, they dissect the myths of golden and dark ages, revealing the complexities and realities that often go unnoticed.The Myth of the Renaissance:Golden Ages and Dark Ages: Ada argues against the simplistic notions of history being divided into periods of prosperity and decline, exposing the propagandistic origins of these concepts.Historical Narratives: Discover how Renaissance thinkers like Petrarch and Machiavelli grappled with their tumultuous reality, questioning the very nature of progress and the cyclical view of history.Art and Power:Dependency on Wealth: Explore how the creation of iconic art and literature was intrinsically linked to the power dynamics of the time, with artists often reliant on the very tyrants they critiqued.The Dark Side of Patronage: Ada reveals the often-ignored darker aspects of artistic patronage, including the violent political upheavals that shaped the environment in which these masterpieces were created.Inquisition and Control:Plurality of Inquisitions: The discussion delves into the various local inquisitions that operated independently, often co-opted by local powers for their own ends, challenging the singular narrative of the Inquisition.Corruption and Morality: Ada highlights the complex relationship between the Church and the populace, illustrating how corruption was often accepted as part of the societal fabric.Guest Information:Buy Ada's book: Inventing the Renaissance: Myths of a Golden AgeFollow Ada on X: @Adapalmer and on Bluesky: @adapalmer.bskysocial If you're inspired by this episode, consider joining the 'Angry Mob' on Patreon at patreon.com/historyrage for exclusive content, early access, and the iconic History Rage mug.Follow the Rage:- Twitter: @HistoryRage- Paul on Twitter: @PaulBavillFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryRageInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrageStay curious, stay passionate, and most importantly, stay angry! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join Kyptan, Ashaman, Stormrunner, and Hurinfan as they continue their read through of Terra Ignota with the first ten chapters of Perhaps the Stars, book 4 of the epic series by Dr. Ada Palmer. Find out if Ash has stopped trying to make his Foundation comparisons stick. Spoiler: he has not.Music: Galactic Damages by Jingle PunksConsidering supporting The Legendarium on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/legendariumDiscord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuABlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/greenteampod.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@greenteampod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/
This week, I express my dismay at how fast time seems to be moving for me of late and how it reflects the existence of various sources of knowledge in our world.---Click here to support the Wednesday Blog: https://www.patreon.com/sthosdkane---Sources:[1] Ada Palmer, Inventing the Renaissance: The Myth of a Golden Age, (University of Chicago Press, 2025), 603.[2] If this word epistemology leaves you confused, have no fear, for my own benefit as well I wrote a blog post explaining this word alongside two of its compatriots. “Three Ologies,” Wednesday Blog 6.6 (podcast 5.6).
Was the Italian Renaissance really a “Golden Age”? And if so, would anyone living through it have actually noticed? In this week's episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast, Robert Morris dives deep into the myths and realities of history's most romanticized era. Inspired by Ada Palmer's Inventing the Renaissance: Myths of a Golden Age, Rob shares his growing fascination with the period—and why Palmer's perspective has reshaped how he sees it.We also contrast that thoughtful take with William Manchester's A World Lit Only by Fire, a bestselling but quite crap take on the Middle Ages and Renaissance that Rob feels misses the mark. From artistic masterpieces and humanist philosophy to the messier truths of war, plague, and inequality, we explore what makes a “Golden Age” in the first place—and whether the glow comes from hindsight more than history.PatreonWebsiteBooksTwitterTikTok
Hello Foreign Exchanges fans and welcome to another entry in our podcast series! Today I'm very pleased to welcome to the show Dr. Ada Palmer, Associate Professor of Early Modern European History and the College at the University of Chicago. We'll be discussing her latest book, Inventing the Renaissance: The Myth of a Golden Age. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation on the Renaissance and some of its more interesting character, but also about the formation of historical narrative and the challenge in overcoming it when new evidence complicates the picture, how our perceptions of time affect how understanding of history, and why people are so fascinated with the idea of a “Golden Age.” Enjoy!Many thanks to Jake Aron of American Prestige for producing the show, and as always our music is Cambodian Odyssey by Kevin Macleod (CC by 3.0).Please pick up Dr. Palmer's book, available now in hardback, ebook, and audiobook forms, and check out her other work including her sci-fi and fantasy writing at her website! Also, if you haven't checked out Foreign Exchanges please do that too.Thanks for listening! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.foreignexchanges.news/subscribe
Join Kyptan, Ashaman, Stormrunner, and Hurinfan as they continue their read through of Terra Ignota with the second half of The Will to Battle, book 3 of the epic series by Dr. Ada Palmer. Find out if Stormrunner has started believing the book yet. Spoiler: he's only found new things to not believe in.Music: Galactic Damages by Jingle PunksConsidering supporting The Legendarium on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/legendariumDiscord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuABlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/greenteampod.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@greenteampod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/
Given that the term literally means “rebirth”, the Renaissance throws some not-so-subtle shade on the period that comes before it. So, where did the idea of the Renaissance actually come from? And was it truly a golden age? This week, Danièle speaks with Ada Palmer about Petrarch, Machiavelli, atheism, and how we should look at the period formerly known as the Renaissance.
From Michelangelo's David and Machiavelli's The Prince to the plays of Shakespeare, the Renaissance produced some of history's most astounding works of culture, art and innovation. But can focusing on these glittering creations obscure the messy and often violent reality of actually living through the era? Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, Ada Palmer highlights the complexities of this so-called 'golden age' – including corrupt popes, devastating plagues and why Michelangelo hated painting. (Ad) Ada Palmer is the author of Inventing the Renaissance: Myths of a Golden Age (Bloomsbury, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Finventing-the-renaissance%2Fada-palmer%2F9781035910120. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ada Palmer, is a sci-fi writer, historian, and someone who sees the world with an incredibly rare, long lens. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the headlines, this episode might help. Ada believes we're not living in a uniquely apocalyptic time—just a normally apocalyptic one. “We're living in a moment we must rise to, work hard on, do well where what we do matters,” she told me. “We have the ability to reduce 100% harm to 70% harm. We have that responsibility.” That line really stuck with us—because it's so easy to feel powerless right now. But Ada's message is the opposite: we do have agency, and what we do does matter. She also reminded us that fear isn't new. “We are not more scared than our predecessors were 50 or 100 years ago. They were just as scared as we are. The stakes were just as high. The rewards of hard work were just as real. The penalties of messing up were just as disastrous.” Ada sees change not in election cycles, but in centuries. And that shift in perspective is powerful. We talk about why we need to stop chasing “total wins” and start celebrating the small, meaningful steps forward. Progress is almost always incremental, but that doesn't make it any less real or important. From ancient Rome to climate policy, Ada brings in vivid historical parallels that made us see our moment differently. She doesn't sugarcoat the challenges—we talk about the real stakes—but she offers something many of us arel craving: perspective, hope, and a reminder that we've come through hard things before. The part of our conversation that keeps echoing for us is this: Every generation has been called to save the world. They rose to the challenge. Now, it's our turn.
How can storytelling shape our visions of the future? Ada Palmer—historian, science fiction writer, and futurist—brings a unique perspective on how worldbuilding can be a powerful tool for exploring complex ideas. In this conversation with Beatrice Erkers, she shares her perspective on worldbuilding and storytelling, and her recommendations for how we can think in new ways about the future.This interview is a guest lecture in our new online course about shaping positive futures with AI. The course is free, and available here: https://www.udemy.com/course/worldbuilding-hopeful-futures-with-ai/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join Kyptan, Ashaman, Stormrunner, and Hurinfan as they continue their read through of Terra Ignota with the first half of The Will to Battle, book 3 of the epic series by Dr. Ada Palmer. Find out if Stormrunner has started believing the book yet.Music: Galactic Damages by Jingle PunksConsidering supporting The Legendarium on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/legendariumDiscord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuABlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/greenteampod.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@greenteampod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/
This week on the pod, Ada Palmer (@adapalmer.bsky.social) speaks about her papal election LARP at The University of Chicago--but also about historical research, her work as a sci-fi author, and how both history and fiction can help us talk about today's world. Keep the Faith campaign: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/ffdefab3-adb6-48aa-8335-797e720c58a1/landing Beyond Solitaire is proudly sponsored by Central Michigan University's Center for Learning Through Games and Simulations, where learning can be both playful and compelling. Check them out here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulationsCheck out CMU's game offerings here: https://cmichpress.com/shop/Sign up for an online game design class here: https://www.cmich.edu/academics/colleges/liberal-arts-social-sciences/centers-institutes/center-for-learning-through-games-and-simulations/certificate-in-applied-game-designAll episodes of my podcast are available here: https://beyondsolitaire.buzzsprout.com/Beyond Solitaire Merch: https://sirmeeple.com/collections/beyond-solitaireEnjoy my work? Consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondsolitaire or getting me a "coffee" on Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/beyondsolitaireContact Me: Email: beyondsolitaire at gmail.comTwitter: @beyondsolitaireInstagram: @beyondsolitaireFacebook: www.facebook.com/beyondsolitaireWebsite: www.beyondsolitaire.net
Join Kyptan, Ashaman, Stormrunner, and Hurinfan as they continue their read through of Terra Ignota with the second half of Seven Surrenders, book 2 of the epic series by Dr. Ada Palmer.Note: This episode starts with a spoiler free discussion of the pros of unreliable narrators (spurred by a question by RedArmyIan) before the main episode starts at 9:34. There are also some minor audio issues for Kyptan for the first section of the episode, but they resolve.Music: Galactic Damages by Jingle PunksConsidering supporting The Legendarium on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/legendariumDiscord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuABlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/greenteampod.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.net/@greenteampod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/
Dr. Eleanor Janega reveals the darker side of the Renaissance with Dr. Ada Palmer, challenging the notion that it was a golden age, exposing it as a period of political instability, medical decline, and relentless power struggles. From the propaganda of the era to the destructive reign of Renaissance popes, Eleanor and Ada hugely enjoy dissecting the complexities and darker realities that belie the glorified stories of the Renaissance while contrasting it with the misconceived 'dark' Middle Ages.Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Edited by Amy Haddow, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on
We remember the Renaissance as an age of human flourishing: a rebirth after centuries of misery, a return to the glories of antiquity where the culture of Greece and Rome was not only imitated but surpassed. But is that reputation deserved, or a construct of future historians with their own goals in mind? Starring Battle-Popes, necromancers, sculptors, scholars, and assassins, Ada Palmer's new book Inventing the Renaissance is a wild ride through some of the most thrilling and important events in world-history and a glimpse into the making of the modern world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ada Palmer joins Jana Byars to talk about her new book, Inventing the Renaissance (U Chicago Press, 2025) and the ways history is written and used. From the darkness of a plagued and war-torn Middle Ages, the Renaissance (we're told) heralds the dawning of a new world—a halcyon age of art, prosperity, and rebirth. Hogwash! or so says award-winning novelist and historian Ada Palmer. In Inventing the Renaissance, Palmer turns her witty and irreverent eye on the fantasies we've told ourselves about Europe's not-so-golden age, myths she sets right with sharp clarity. Palmer's Renaissance is altogether desperate. Troubled by centuries of conflict, she argues, Europe looked to a long-lost Roman Empire (even its education practices) to save them from unending war. Later historians met their own political challenges with a similarly nostalgic vision, only now they looked to the Renaissance and told a partial story. To right this wrong, Palmer offers fifteen provocative portraits of Renaissance men and women (some famous, some obscure) whose lives reveal a far more diverse, fragile, and wild Renaissance than its glowing reputation suggests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Ada Palmer joins Jana Byars to talk about her new book, Inventing the Renaissance (U Chicago Press, 2025) and the ways history is written and used. From the darkness of a plagued and war-torn Middle Ages, the Renaissance (we're told) heralds the dawning of a new world—a halcyon age of art, prosperity, and rebirth. Hogwash! or so says award-winning novelist and historian Ada Palmer. In Inventing the Renaissance, Palmer turns her witty and irreverent eye on the fantasies we've told ourselves about Europe's not-so-golden age, myths she sets right with sharp clarity. Palmer's Renaissance is altogether desperate. Troubled by centuries of conflict, she argues, Europe looked to a long-lost Roman Empire (even its education practices) to save them from unending war. Later historians met their own political challenges with a similarly nostalgic vision, only now they looked to the Renaissance and told a partial story. To right this wrong, Palmer offers fifteen provocative portraits of Renaissance men and women (some famous, some obscure) whose lives reveal a far more diverse, fragile, and wild Renaissance than its glowing reputation suggests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history
Ada Palmer joins Jana Byars to talk about her new book, Inventing the Renaissance (U Chicago Press, 2025) and the ways history is written and used. From the darkness of a plagued and war-torn Middle Ages, the Renaissance (we're told) heralds the dawning of a new world—a halcyon age of art, prosperity, and rebirth. Hogwash! or so says award-winning novelist and historian Ada Palmer. In Inventing the Renaissance, Palmer turns her witty and irreverent eye on the fantasies we've told ourselves about Europe's not-so-golden age, myths she sets right with sharp clarity. Palmer's Renaissance is altogether desperate. Troubled by centuries of conflict, she argues, Europe looked to a long-lost Roman Empire (even its education practices) to save them from unending war. Later historians met their own political challenges with a similarly nostalgic vision, only now they looked to the Renaissance and told a partial story. To right this wrong, Palmer offers fifteen provocative portraits of Renaissance men and women (some famous, some obscure) whose lives reveal a far more diverse, fragile, and wild Renaissance than its glowing reputation suggests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history
Ada Palmer joins Jana Byars to talk about her new book, Inventing the Renaissance (U Chicago Press, 2025) and the ways history is written and used. From the darkness of a plagued and war-torn Middle Ages, the Renaissance (we're told) heralds the dawning of a new world—a halcyon age of art, prosperity, and rebirth. Hogwash! or so says award-winning novelist and historian Ada Palmer. In Inventing the Renaissance, Palmer turns her witty and irreverent eye on the fantasies we've told ourselves about Europe's not-so-golden age, myths she sets right with sharp clarity. Palmer's Renaissance is altogether desperate. Troubled by centuries of conflict, she argues, Europe looked to a long-lost Roman Empire (even its education practices) to save them from unending war. Later historians met their own political challenges with a similarly nostalgic vision, only now they looked to the Renaissance and told a partial story. To right this wrong, Palmer offers fifteen provocative portraits of Renaissance men and women (some famous, some obscure) whose lives reveal a far more diverse, fragile, and wild Renaissance than its glowing reputation suggests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ada Palmer joins Jana Byars to talk about her new book, Inventing the Renaissance (U Chicago Press, 2025) and the ways history is written and used. From the darkness of a plagued and war-torn Middle Ages, the Renaissance (we're told) heralds the dawning of a new world—a halcyon age of art, prosperity, and rebirth. Hogwash! or so says award-winning novelist and historian Ada Palmer. In Inventing the Renaissance, Palmer turns her witty and irreverent eye on the fantasies we've told ourselves about Europe's not-so-golden age, myths she sets right with sharp clarity. Palmer's Renaissance is altogether desperate. Troubled by centuries of conflict, she argues, Europe looked to a long-lost Roman Empire (even its education practices) to save them from unending war. Later historians met their own political challenges with a similarly nostalgic vision, only now they looked to the Renaissance and told a partial story. To right this wrong, Palmer offers fifteen provocative portraits of Renaissance men and women (some famous, some obscure) whose lives reveal a far more diverse, fragile, and wild Renaissance than its glowing reputation suggests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies
Please welcome to the podcast Ada Palmer, who is talking about her new book - Inventing The Renaissance, just published with Head of Zeus.Let's dive in and debunk some myths, shall we?Get Inventing the Renaissance:https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/inventing-the-renaissance-9781035910120/ (UK)https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/I/bo246135916.html (USA)Find Ada: https://www.adapalmer.com/blog-ex-urbe/https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ex-urbe-ad-astra/id1580107970https://exurbe.libsyn.com/If you would like to join Natalie on her Royal London Walking Tour, please see:https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=supplier:252243For more history fodder please visit https://www.ifitaintbaroquepodcast.art/ and https://www.reignoflondon.com/ Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ada Palmer joins Jana Byars to talk about her new book, Inventing the Renaissance (U Chicago Press, 2025) and the ways history is written and used. From the darkness of a plagued and war-torn Middle Ages, the Renaissance (we're told) heralds the dawning of a new world—a halcyon age of art, prosperity, and rebirth. Hogwash! or so says award-winning novelist and historian Ada Palmer. In Inventing the Renaissance, Palmer turns her witty and irreverent eye on the fantasies we've told ourselves about Europe's not-so-golden age, myths she sets right with sharp clarity. Palmer's Renaissance is altogether desperate. Troubled by centuries of conflict, she argues, Europe looked to a long-lost Roman Empire (even its education practices) to save them from unending war. Later historians met their own political challenges with a similarly nostalgic vision, only now they looked to the Renaissance and told a partial story. To right this wrong, Palmer offers fifteen provocative portraits of Renaissance men and women (some famous, some obscure) whose lives reveal a far more diverse, fragile, and wild Renaissance than its glowing reputation suggests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day
"We've saved the world so many times throughout history. Now we just have to do it again."What if speculative fiction could do more than entertain—what if it could reshape how we think about governance, technology, and societal progress? In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, historian and sci-fi author Ada Palmer discusses how we can harness lessons from both history and fiction to reimagine what's possible for humanity.Ada argues that one of the most critical advantages we have over past generations is our ability to envision a future radically different from our present. Unlike Renaissance thinkers limited by their own history, today's societies can draw from an endless array of speculative worlds—both utopian and dystopian—to expand the horizons of what we dare to demand.In this wide-ranging conversation, Ada digs into everything from concrete ideas for how to govern in a more pluralistic, adaptable world, to the importance of storytelling in addressing existential risks, exploring:Why pluralism might be the antidote to centralized, one-size-fits-all governance and how speculative fiction shows us ways to make it work.How past and present technological advancements—like eradicating malaria—can inspire hope for tackling today's most urgent challenges.What makes despair the ultimate barrier to progress, and how celebrating successes can keep us moving forward.Full transcript, list of resources, and art piece: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcastsExistential Hope was created to collect positive and possible scenarios for the future so that we can have more people commit to creating a brighter future, and to begin mapping out the main developments and challenges that need to be navigated to reach it. Existential Hope is a Foresight Institute project.Hosted by Allison Duettmann and Beatrice ErkersFollow Us: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Existential Hope InstagramExplore every word spoken on this podcast through Fathom.fm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join Kyptan, Ashaman, Stormrunner, and Hurinfan as they continue their read through of Terra Ignota with the first half (through chapter 13) of Seven Surrenders, book 2 of the epic series by Dr. Ada Palmer. Content Warning: discussion of SA Music: Galactic Damages by Jingle Punks Considering supporting The Legendarium on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/legendarium Discord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuA BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/greenteampod.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@greenteampod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/
Mythical dark ages, historical rhythms, and papyrus, oh my! Shaun Duke and Trish Matson join forces to talk to author and historian Ada Palmer about the Renaissance and other historical oddities! Together, they explore the myth of the Dark Ages, how ideology and perspective influence historical narratives, the Renaissance, and so much more. Come learn with us! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode! Show Notes: If you have a question you'd like us to answer, feel free to shoot us a message on our contact page. Our new intro and outro music comes from Holy Mole. You can support his work at patreon.com/holymole. See you later, navigator!
Join Kyptan, Ashaman, Stormrunner, and Hurinfan as they continue their read through of Too Like the Lightning, book 1 of the Terra Ignota series by Dr. Ada Palmer with Music: Galactic Damages by Jingle Punks Considering supporting The Legendarium on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/legendarium Discord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuA BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/greenteampod.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.net/@greenteampod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/
Welcome to season 7! We are starting by reviewing the Prologue and Chapter 1 of Dr. Benjamin Park's book, “American Zion”. The first single volume history of the Church in over a decade, and taking advantage of new sources, it's an excellent way to get some good old Mormon history. This was fun! Link to our Face in Hat discord server! https://discord.gg/MnSMvKHvwh YouTube channel! Thanks Eric! https://www.youtube.com/@FaceinHat https://www.youtube.com/@FaceinHat/playlists Dialogue Podcast Network https://www.dialoguejournal.com/podcasts/ American Zion: A New History of Mormonism, by Benjamin E. Park https://www.amazon.com/American-Zion-New-History-Mormonism/dp/1631498657 Parks and Recollection, with Jim O'Heir and Greg Levine https://teamcoco.com/podcasts/parks-and-recollection Saints, Volume 1, The Standard of Truth, 1815–1846 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1 History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, by Lucy Mack Smith https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Joseph_Smith_by_His_Mother Thomas B. Griffith https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_B._Griffith The Book of Mormon (musical) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Mormon_(musical) Alexander Campbell (minister) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Campbell_(minister) Ada Palmer and the Weird Hand of Progress, by Gregory Barber https://www.wired.com/story/ada-palmer-sci-fi-future-weird-hand-progress/ James 1:5 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/1#p5 Burned-over district https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burned-over_district The Glass Looker: The Collected Tales of Joseph Smith, by Mark Elwood https://theglasslooker.com/ Hero's journey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey An Interview With Gordon Hinckley, by Mike Wallace (this includes the boat and garments story) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/an-interview-with-gordon-hinckley/ William Apess https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Apess
Join Kyptan, Ashaman, Stormrunner, and Hurinfan as they discuss the first half (through chapter 13) of Too Like the Lightning, the first book of the Terra Ignota series by Dr. Ada Palmer. Finally, we meet Mycroft. Music: Galactic Damages by Jingle Punks Considering supporting The Legendarium on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/legendarium Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/ Discord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuA Twitter: @GreenteamPod
Vous en rêviez, nous l'avons fait ! Ada Palmer est notre invitée aujourd'hui ! La nouvelle reine de la science-fiction américaine vient présenter Trop Semblable à l'éclair qui vient de sortir au Livre de Poche. Trop Semblable à l'éclair - déjà un classique Historienne et écrivaine américaine, lauréate du prestigieux Hugo Award, elle vient nous parler de Trop Semblable à l'Éclair et de son ambitieuse saga Terra Ignota, une épopée de science-fiction en cinq tomes qui a conquis les lectrices du monde entier. Rejoignez-nous pour une plongée fascinante dans l'univers complexe et riche de Terra Ignota, et découvrez les inspirations et les défis derrière cette saga acclamée. Petit bonus, il se pourrait que la non moins célèbre Jo Walton, autrice elle aussi couronnée du Hugo award, mais aussi du Nebula, du prix World Fantasy, et tant d'autres, soit elle aussi présente derrière le micro... On dit ça, on dit rien ! Merci à Audrey Allaire pour sa traduction en direct ! 4ème de couverture : « En 2454, trois siècles après des événements dévastateurs ayant transformé la société, les concepts d'État-nation et de religion organisée ont disparu. Dans un monde où dix milliards d'êtres humains se regroupent en sept Ruches aux ambitions distinctes, la paix et l'abondance définissent cette utopie futuriste. Mais cet équilibre fragile est menacé lorsque Mycroft Canner, condamné à une servitude perpétuelle mais confident des puissants, doit enquêter sur le vol d'un document crucial : la liste des dix principaux influenceurs mondiaux. Un secret encore plus grand repose sur ses épaules : un enfant aux pouvoirs quasi-divins, dans un monde où l'idée de Dieu a été bannie. Comment accepter un miracle dans une société qui a renoncé à la foi ? » Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Join Kyptan, Ashaman, Stormrunner, and belated guest Seth (Wombat) as they discuss their plan to read the Terra Ignota series by Dr. Ada Palmer. This episode will cover some of the information needed to start the series, but also tries not to ruin the mysteries of worldbuilding inherent to the work. Music: Galactic Damages by Jingle Punks Considering supporting The Legendarium on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/legendarium Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thelegendarium/ Discord: https://discord.gg/FNcpuuA Twitter: @GreenteamPod
Send us a Text Message.MusicJohn McDaid - Nevermore - Proverbs Of Hellhttps://johnmcdaid.bandcamp.comSummer And Fall - Paper Boats - Into The Bluehttp://www.summerandfall.de/indexE.htmChris Weber - Beware The Sentient Chili - I Filkhttps://chrisaweber.bandcamp.comDJ McGuire - Toss A Coin To Your Filker - You're Not Cleared For Thishttps://djmcguire1.bandcamp.comStone Dragons - Train Of Thought - Dream Of Flyinghttp://stonedragons.caGlen Raphael - Gorilla My Dreams - Lady Libertyhttps://glenraphael.bandcamp.comSassafrass - Here's To Valhalla - Sundown: Whispers Of Ragnarokhttps://sassafrass.bandcamp.comMatt Leger - Waiting On The World Wide Web - The Filk Was GreatScott Snyder - F Is For Fireball - Rock And Roll To Hithttps://wscottsnyder.bandcamp.comMikey Mason - 8 Bit Love - Barbarian Jetpackhttps://mikeymason.bandcamp.comNight Watch Paradox - Let Me Tell You A Story - Magnificent Machines And Astonishing Taleshttps://www.nightwatchparadox.comKraken Not Stirred - I Read It On The Internet - Moistest Hits 2021https://krakennotstirred.bandcamp.comThe Pegasus Brainstorming Pollhttps://www.ovff.org/pegasus/opinions.htmlThe Pegasus Nominating Ballot - Until July 31https://www.ovff.org/pegasus/2024nomballot.htmlDandelion Cornerhttps://dandelion-corner.com/https://live365.com/station/Dandelion-Corner-a18657ConventionsConfluence - July 26-28Pittsburgh PAhttps://confluence-sff.org/confluence-2024TusCon - Nov 8-10https://tusconscificon.comOnline FilkEurofilk CircleJuly 2518:00 Central European TimeFriends Of Filk BytesMusic Circle Saturday August 17 - 9am-4pm Pacific TimeCheck friendsoffilk.org for detailsGet on the MASSFilc email listhttps://www.massfilc.orgFestival Of The Living Rooms Festival of the Living Rooms - September 13-15, 2024Filk InformationFilk Newshttps://liberal.city/@filknewshttps://liberal.city/@filknews.rssFriends Of Filkhttps://friendsoffilk.orgWôks Print Cataloghttps://woksprint.com/product-category/musicGeekspin Podcasthttps://geekspinpodcast.castos.com/Filk Questhttps://www.youtube.com/c/vanceamaniaVintage Filk Preservationhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0EXmacvKF3MDrKZbzmux6gNational Suicide Prevention LifelineHours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.800-273-8255Twitter@jmcdaid, @glenraphael, @Ada_Palmer, @ComedyRockGeek, @nightwatchpara, @krakennsLinks to the Podcasthttp://filkcast.comhttp://facebook.com/groups/FilkCasthttps://twitter.com/FilkCasttiedyeeric at filkcast.comFor a searchable list of everything played on FilkCasthttps://filkcast.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-complete-list_25.htmlIntro Music - Following Our Dreams - Lawrence Dean
In this episode, Alan and Diane talk to author and historian Ada Palmer about changing Family dynamics, the right to exit (a country), government systems in science fiction, information technology revolutions and their effect on the world, the problem wiht the media, and much more. Link to Fix the News: https://fixthenews.com/ If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon.
On this episode, Monika and I discuss her love of fantasy, she mentions so many series, some longer than others, and we share the joy of staff picks in an indie bookstore. We also talk about the magic of airplane reading and how amazing Libby can be. If you are interested in the Reddit thread Monika mentions, you can find that here. Books mentioned in this episode: What Betsy's reading: The Nix by Nathan Hill Exhibit by R.O. Kwan The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean Bear by Julia Phillips The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon Books Highlighted by Monika: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon The Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson The City & The City by China Miéville To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan Persuasion by Jane Austin Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 1984 by George Orwell War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Other Books Mentioned in the Episode: All books available on my Bookshop.org episode page. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games are Made by Jason Schreier Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder Twilight by Stephanie Meyer The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein The Witcher Series by Andrzej Sapkowski The Stormlight Archive Series by Brandon Sanderson Becoming by Michelle Obama Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama Seveneves by Neal Stephenson A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin Too Like the Lightning: Book One of Terra Ignota by Ada Palmer
In which the Unreliable Narrators discuss Ada Palmer's sort-of short story "New Gray to Join the Olympic Five" which first appeared in Shoreline of Infinity, volume 8 & ½ - Summer of 2017.
Well, well, well! We're back after a long hiatus in the middle of a pretty short book due to vacations of various sorts. For example, Jackie took a vacation to Italy (listen for an amazing story of being a dumb American), AND a vacation from being healthy by immediately getting Covid upon her return! But now we're all healthy and thriving, and Mrs. Dalloway's FTC arc is complete. Like life itself, this episode in turns both gross and beautiful! Tune in to find out if the second half of the book sucks. NOTE: This episode discusses suicide. See chapters below if you wanna skip that part!Bekah reveals a very specific requirement she has for storytellers. Rachel murders God. Jackie shares a tidbit of Williamsburg wisdom that no one likes.Topics include: special vinegar in a special dish, the ultimate state of Zen, a diet of nothing but milk and ice cream, spending years in bed for money, a divisive blue envelope, Petrarch, a snowboarding pickle, how to hide a zit like a pro, Oscar Pistorius, William Faulkner, Hemingway and Fitzgerald's Ye Olde Dick-Measuring Event, IcinGUH, Ada Palmer's recommendations, Walshheads, speaking English like an Italian, Shrek, Butt Stuff, the now-straight Tower of Pisa, Nebuchadnezzar, and Nebuchadlizard. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Every Friday, we're highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2024 all-virtual SF/F/H convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting. This week, join moderator/blogger Eleni Argyró and panelists Nicholas Eames, Ada Palmer, Wolfe Locke, Austin Hardwicke and John Bierce for a TBRCon2024 panel on "Fantasy & Sci-Fi Manga/Anime." SUPPORT THE SHOW: - Patreon (for exclusive bonus episodes, author readings, book giveaways and more) - Merch shop (for a selection of tees, tote bags, mugs, notebooks and more) - Subscribe to the FanFiAddict YouTube channel, where this and every other episode of the show is available in full video - Rate and review SFF Addicts on your platform of choice, and share us with your friends EMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS & COMMENTS: sffaddictspod@gmail.com FOLLOW SFF ADDICTS: FanFiAddict Book Blog Twitter Instagram MUSIC: Intro: "Into The Grid" by MellauSFX Outro: “Galactic Synthwave” by Divion --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sff-addicts/message
MusicLarry Warner - Relic - To The WestDawn Martin - Memories of Love - To The WestBill Sutton - Mind, Hands and Heart - To The WestAnnwn - To The West - To The Westhttps://www.prometheus-music.com/product/to-the-westKatt McConnell - A Flame That Burns In Darkness - Faces In The Foghttps://dragonscale.bandcamp.com - Lord Landless - Stormwind - Garden Of The LostSassafrass - Hearthfire - Sundown: Whispers Of Ragnarokhttps://sassafrass.bandcamp.comDiana Paxson - The Golden Hills of Westria - The Wandersong - Music Of WestriaJinn Jams - Talkin' Tatooine Dustbowl Migrant Blues - Talkin' Tatooine Dustbowl Migrant Blues https://jinnjams.bandcamp.comMadison Metricula Roberts - Ocarina of Love (The Zelda Song) - Songs for Gamers (EP)https://metricula.bandcamp.comJoe Giacoio - Dr. Frankenstein's Dating Service - Superman's Midlife Crisishttp://joegmusic.com/cdsWater Street Bridge - The Music of Erich Zann - Filkers Handbookhttps://waterstreetbridge.bandcamp.comThe Threepios - Fire When Readyhttps://thethreepios.bandcamp.comTomorrow's Songs Todayhttps://www.mcgath.com/tst/Barry & Sally Childs-Helton's classic "Escape from Mundania" and "Paradox" songbookshttps://archive.org/details/filk_escape_from_mundania_songbookhttps://archive.org/details/filk_paradox_songbookConventionsFilkOntario - Apr 19-21https://filkontario.ca/Eurofilk CircleApril 418:00 Central European TimeDandelion Cornerhttps://live365.com/station/Dandelion-Corner-a18657Online FilkFriends Of Filk BytesMusic Circle Saturday April 13 9am-4pm Pacific TimeCheck friendsoffilk.org for detailsFestival Of The Living Rooms Festival of the Living Rooms - June 14-16, 2024FundraisersAndrea & Wrenhttps://gofund.me/ddf83e10Filk InformationFilk Newshttps://liberal.city/@filknewshttps://liberal.city/@filknews.rssFriends Of Filkhttps://friendsoffilk.orgWôks Print Cataloghttps://woksprint.com/product-category/musicGeekspin Podcasthttps://geekspinpodcast.castos.com/Filk Questhttps://www.youtube.com/c/vanceamaniaVintage Filk Preservationhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0EXmacvKF3MDrKZbzmux6gThe Pegasus Awards Brainstorming Poll https://www.ovff.org/pegasus/2024poll.htmlNational Suicide Prevention LifelineHours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.800-273-8255Twitter@emberfiresong, @Ada_Palmer, @cheshire__moon, @metricula, @GiacoioJoe, @WSB_MusicLinks to the Podcasthttp://filkcast.comhttp://facebook.com/groups/FilkCasthttps://twitter.com/FilkCasttiedyeeric at filkcast.comFor a searchable list of everything played on FilkCasthttps://filkcast.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-complete-list_25.htmlIntro Music - Following Our Dreams - Lawrence Dean
She's back! University of Chicago professor, historian, and award-winning novelist Ada Palmer joins Rachel and Jackie for a conversation about the life and times of Niccolo Machiavelli, a fascinating guy who lived through fascinating times. Learn all about how his name gets an undeservedly bad rap, the trials and tribulations that led to the writing of The Prince, and why the Renaissance was a terrible time to live through but which ultimately gave us everything important in the modern world. Check out www.adapalmer.com for more information on her research, novels, and more! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Today for my podcast, I read The majority of censorship is self-censorship, originally published in my Pluralistic blog. It’s a breakdown of Ada Palmer’s excellent Reactor essay about the modern and historical context of censorship. I recorded this on a day when I was home between book-tour stops (I’m out with my new techno crime-thriller,... more
Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
Language lets us talk about things that aren't, strictly speaking, entirely real. Sometimes that's an imaginative object (is a toy sword a real sword? how about Excalibur?). Other times, it's a hypothetical situation (such as "if it rains, we'll cancel the picnic" - but neither the picnic nor the rain have happened yet. And they might never happen. But also they might!). Languages have lots of different ways of talking about different kinds of speculative events, and together they're called the irrealis. In this episode, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne get enthusiastic about some of our favourite examples under the irrealis umbrella. We talk about various things that we can mean by "reality", such as how existing fictional concepts, like goblins playing Macbeth, differ from newly-constructed fictions, like our new creature the Frenumblinger. We also talk about hypothetical statements using "if" (including the delightfully-named "biscuit conditionals), and using the "if I were a rich man" (Fiddler on the Roof) to "if I was a rich girl" (Gwen Stefani) continuum to track the evolution of the English subjunctive. Finally, a few of our favourite additional types of irrealis categories: the hortative, used to urge or exhort (let's go!), the optative, to express wishes and hopes (if only...), the dubitative, for when you doubt something, and the desiderative (I wish...). Read the transcript here: https://lingthusiasm.com/post/737362573359464448/transcript-episode-87-irrealis Announcements: Thank you to everyone who shared Lingthusiasm with a friend or on social media for our seventh anniversary! It was great to see what you love about Lingthusiasm and which episodes you chose to share. We hope you enjoyed the warm fuzzies! In this month's bonus episode, Gretchen gets enthusiastic about swearing (including rude gestures) in fiction with science fiction and fantasy authors Jo Walton and Ada Palmer, authors of the Thessaly books and Terra Ignota series, both super interesting series we've ling-nerded out about before on the show. We talk about invented swear words like "frak" and "frell", sweary lexical gaps (why don't we swear with "toe jam!"), and interpreting the nuances of regional swear words like "bloody" in fiction. Join us on Patreon now to get access to this and 80+ other bonus episodes! You'll also get access to the Lingthusiasm Discord server where you can chat with other language nerds. Find us here: https://patreon.com/lingthusiasm For links to things mentioned in this episode: https://lingthusiasm.com/post/737362321491591169/lingthusiasm-episode-87-if-i-were-an-irrealis
My guests from the previous episode, Carolyne Larrington and Ada Palmer, had so many interesting things to say about Norse mythology and how much of it is still a mystery to us, I decided to compile sections of their interviews in this bonus episode of outtakes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thor and Loki have become pop culture icons thanks to Marvel. But the influence of Norse mythology on contemporary fantasy runs through Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and so much more. University of Chicago professor and author Ada Palmer explains how people misunderstood Norse mythology for centuries, and why it's so hard to capture the mindset of the Vikings in pop culture. And I talk with University of Oxford professor Carolyne Larrington, author of The Norse Myths That Shape the Way We Think, about how a light Marvel movie and a grimdark fantasy film like The Northman each capture aspects of the mythology in their own ways. Ada Palmer's a capella album is Sundown: Whispers of Ragnarök by Sassafrass. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ada Palmer is a Renaissance historian at the University of Chicago who studies radical free thought and censorship, composes music, consults on anime and manga, and is the author of the acclaimed Terra Ignota sci-fi series, among many other things. Tyler sat down with Ada to discuss why living in the Renaissance worse than living during the Middle Ages, how art protected Florence, why she's reluctant to travel back in time, which method of doing history is currently the most underrated, whose biography she'll write, how we know what old Norse music was like, why women scholars helped us understand Viking metaphysics, why Diderot's Jacques the Fatalist is an interesting work, what people misunderstand about the inquisition(s), why science fiction doesn't have higher social and literary status, which hive she would belong to in Terra Ignota, what the new novel she's writing is about, and more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video. Recorded June 28th, 2023. Other ways to connect Follow us on X and Instagram Follow Tyler on X Follow Ada on X Join our Discord Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu Learn more about Conversations with Tyler and other Mercatus Center podcasts here. Photo Credit: Jason Smith