Podcasts about Alastair Reynolds

Willkomen bei der ersten, jährlichen Sprawl Radio Auszeichnung für herausragende Leistungen auf dem Gebiet der Tüchtigkeit! In der Kategorie „Bester Science Fiction Film aller Zeiten“ die Nominierten: Dune von Alejandro Jodorowsky, Berge des Wahninns von Guilermo del Toro, La La Land von Damine Chazelle und Ringwelt von Ridley Scott. Wir sprechen über unsere persönlichen Scifi Lieblingsfilme. In dieser Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume bis zum bitteren (?) Ende.In der nächsten Folge: Blumen von Algernon von Daniel Keyes bis S. 70.Schreibt uns eine E-Mail an sprawlradio@gmx.deUnterstützt uns bei Steady für Bonusfolgen.UNSER DISCORD: LINKLetterboxd: Kim_chi und gamurgaIhr mögt unseren Podcast und möchtet uns finanziell unterstützen? Wir freuen uns über kleine oder große Beträge über Paypal: paypal.me/sprawlradio oder an sprawlradio@gmx.de

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch a double sunset on Tatooine, stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora? In Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact (Reaktion, 2025), Keith Cooper explores the fictional planets of films such as Star Wars, Dune and Avatar, and discusses how realistic they are based on our current scientific understanding and astronomical observations. The real exoplanets astronomers are now discovering are truly stranger than fiction, as the author shows. Featuring insights from over a dozen scientists and award-winning science-fiction authors, including Charlie Jane Anders, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds, Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact is perfect for readers of popular science and fans of science fiction. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. 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

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch a double sunset on Tatooine, stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora? In Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact (Reaktion, 2025), Keith Cooper explores the fictional planets of films such as Star Wars, Dune and Avatar, and discusses how realistic they are based on our current scientific understanding and astronomical observations. The real exoplanets astronomers are now discovering are truly stranger than fiction, as the author shows. Featuring insights from over a dozen scientists and award-winning science-fiction authors, including Charlie Jane Anders, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds, Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact is perfect for readers of popular science and fans of science fiction. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-fiction

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch a double sunset on Tatooine, stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora? In Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact (Reaktion, 2025), Keith Cooper explores the fictional planets of films such as Star Wars, Dune and Avatar, and discusses how realistic they are based on our current scientific understanding and astronomical observations. The real exoplanets astronomers are now discovering are truly stranger than fiction, as the author shows. Featuring insights from over a dozen scientists and award-winning science-fiction authors, including Charlie Jane Anders, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds, Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact is perfect for readers of popular science and fans of science fiction. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch a double sunset on Tatooine, stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora? In Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact (Reaktion, 2025), Keith Cooper explores the fictional planets of films such as Star Wars, Dune and Avatar, and discusses how realistic they are based on our current scientific understanding and astronomical observations. The real exoplanets astronomers are now discovering are truly stranger than fiction, as the author shows. Featuring insights from over a dozen scientists and award-winning science-fiction authors, including Charlie Jane Anders, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds, Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact is perfect for readers of popular science and fans of science fiction. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch a double sunset on Tatooine, stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora? In Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact (Reaktion, 2025), Keith Cooper explores the fictional planets of films such as Star Wars, Dune and Avatar, and discusses how realistic they are based on our current scientific understanding and astronomical observations. The real exoplanets astronomers are now discovering are truly stranger than fiction, as the author shows. Featuring insights from over a dozen scientists and award-winning science-fiction authors, including Charlie Jane Anders, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds, Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact is perfect for readers of popular science and fans of science fiction. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch a double sunset on Tatooine, stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora? In Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact (Reaktion, 2025), Keith Cooper explores the fictional planets of films such as Star Wars, Dune and Avatar, and discusses how realistic they are based on our current scientific understanding and astronomical observations. The real exoplanets astronomers are now discovering are truly stranger than fiction, as the author shows. Featuring insights from over a dozen scientists and award-winning science-fiction authors, including Charlie Jane Anders, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds, Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact is perfect for readers of popular science and fans of science fiction. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch a double sunset on Tatooine, stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora? In Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact (Reaktion, 2025), Keith Cooper explores the fictional planets of films such as Star Wars, Dune and Avatar, and discusses how realistic they are based on our current scientific understanding and astronomical observations. The real exoplanets astronomers are now discovering are truly stranger than fiction, as the author shows. Featuring insights from over a dozen scientists and award-winning science-fiction authors, including Charlie Jane Anders, Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds, Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact is perfect for readers of popular science and fans of science fiction. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. 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

Luke reviews Halcyon Years by Alastair Reynolds and if you don’t know the Terrible Secret of Space then you might be confused about the pusher robots and the shover robots. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Luke on Bluesky: @lukeburrage.bsky.social Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding Tomorrow”, “Combat”, “Get that rat off my face!” and “The Monster Story Conference”, so download them for free at: https://www.lukeburrage.com/fiction.html

Rrrrrracooooon Radio! Wir sprechen über die vielleicht (?) beste Videospielreihe aller Zeiten (Hot Take) und natürlich auch über Science Fiction Literatur.In dieser Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume bis S. 301 (inkl. Kapitel 26).In der nächsten Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume bis zum bitteren (?) Ende.Schreibt uns eine E-Mail an sprawlradio@gmx.deUnterstützt uns bei Steady für Bonusfolgen.UNSER DISCORD: LINKLetterboxd: Kim_chi und gamurgaIhr mögt unseren Podcast und möchtet uns finanziell unterstützen? Wir freuen uns über kleine oder große Beträge über Paypal: paypal.me/sprawlradio oder an sprawlradio@gmx.de

I am joined by Arlen Walker of Live from Pellam's Wasteland (https://www.youtube.com/@LivefromPellamsWasteland) to discuss the 2001 novel by Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds.  Set in the Revelation Space universe, but not party of the major trilogy's story, this novel deals with themes of identity, memory, and immortality, and many of its scenes are concerned primarily with describing the unusual societal and physical structure of the titular city, a major nexus of Reynolds's universe. It won the 2002 British Science Fiction Association award.My wife does the cover clip art. You can send me a message (voice or text) via a DM on Discord, as an attachment to my email (gmologist@gmail) or to my Speakpipe account: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/TheGmologistPresents⁠⁠Please check out our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@thegmologistwhere we play some of these games that we talk about . (and don't forget to Like & Subscribe!)My wife does the cover clip art. You can send me a message (voice or text) via a DM on Discord, as an attachment to my email (gmologist@gmail) or to my Speakpipe account: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/TheGmologistPresents⁠⁠Please check out our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@thegmologistwhere we play some of these games that we talk about . (and don't forget to Like & Subscribe!)

Stephan und Alex haben sich in all den Erzählungen über den Sprawl mal wieder verloren. Wie hat es angefangen? Auf dem Eisplaneten Winter oder dem Wüstenplaneten Dune? War es das Eis vor der Küste Norwegens oder das Eis im Cyberspace der Villa Straylight? Froschkerle oder Creeper? Amazon oder Otherland? Frankfurt oder Berlin? Alles was die beiden Tölpel jetzt noch mit Sicherheit wissen, ist, dass die Paulaner Spezi zischt und gleich die neue Folge „Das Traumschiff“ in der Mediathek verfügbar ist. Also: Leinen los!In dieser Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume von Alastair Reynolds bis bis S. 236 (inkl. Kapitel 17).In der nächsten Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume bis S. 301 (inkl. Kapitel 26).Schreibt uns eine E-Mail an sprawlradio@gmx.deUnterstützt uns bei Steady für Bonusfolgen.UNSER DISCORD: LINKLetterboxd: Kim_chi und gamurgaIhr mögt unseren Podcast und möchtet uns finanziell unterstützen? Wir freuen uns über kleine oder große Beträge über Paypal: paypal.me/sprawlradio oder an sprawlradio@gmx.de

Willkommen auf dem Traumschiff. Wir laden euch ein zum Dinner am Captain's Table und servieren Whiskey on the Rocks mit Eiswürfeln von norwegischen Gletschern...doch Moment mal! Warum sind wir denn auf einmal in Südamerika? Vielleicht hätten wir doch besser in Chiba bleiben und kühles Kirin vom Fass genießen sollen. In dieser Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume von Alastair Reynolds bis bis S. 159 (inkl. Kapitel 10).In der nächsten Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume bis S. 236 (inkl. Kapitel 17).Schreibt uns eine E-Mail an sprawlradio@gmx.deUnterstützt uns bei Steady für Bonusfolgen.UNSER DISCORD: LINKLetterboxd: Kim_chi und gamurgaIhr mögt unseren Podcast und möchtet uns finanziell unterstützen? Wir freuen uns über kleine oder große Beträge über Paypal: paypal.me/sprawlradio oder an sprawlradio@gmx.de

On this episode of TFTB, we'll discuss Alastair Reynolds' House of Suns. It's acid-trip science fiction, and we had a lot of fun chatting about it. On Science Fiction-Science Fact, we look at some AI news from Davos, namely that Generative AI may develop survival instincts we need to worry about. We'll also take a look at some of the other content we're reading and watching, and, of course, we'll announce our next Book Club read. Check out the new TFTB website here: talesfromthebridge.comLet us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast! You can always reach us on our social media or email us at talesfromthebridgepodcast@gmail.com Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

The Drunk Guys enter the house of hangovers this week when they read House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds. They are shattered by: Save the Robots by Radiant Pig, Scorpius Mochella by Toppling Goliath, and Wandering into the Fog Abomination Brewing. Join the Drunk Guys next Tuesday when they read Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky The Drunk Guys now have a Patreon! The Drunk Guys Book Club Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Overcast, and where ever fine podcasts can be found. We are also part of the Hopped Up Network of independent beer podcasters. If you're drunk enough to enjoy the Podcast, please give us a rating. To save time, just round up to five stars. Also, please follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. There's no excuse to miss another Drunk Guys episode, announcement, or typo!

Willkommen bei den 13 ½ Leben des Sprawl Radio! Die Mannschaft der Atalanta sticht mit ihrem beeindruckenden Dreimaster in See. Die Crew: Animateur Alex und Stephan der stämmige Steuermann. Mehr braucht es nicht, um literaturkritisches Seemansgarn zu spinnen. In diesem Sinne: Allzeit gute Fahrt und immer eine Handbreit Wasser unter dem Kiel!In dieser Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume von Alastair Reynolds bis S. 76 (inkl. Kapitel 4).In der nächsten Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume bis S. 159 (inkl. Kapitel 10).Schreibt uns eine E-Mail an sprawlradio@gmx.deUnterstützt uns bei Steady für Bonusfolgen.UNSER DISCORD: LINKLetterboxd: Kim_chi und gamurgaIhr mögt unseren Podcast und möchtet uns finanziell unterstützen? Wir freuen uns über kleine oder große Beträge über Paypal: paypal.me/sprawlradio oder an sprawlradio@gmx.de

진짜 오랜만이네요. 스테판이 한국에서 돌아왔습니다. 이번 화에서는 Schlachthof 5에 대해 마지막으로 이야기해요. 또한 짧은 문학·영화 연말 회고도 있습니다.In dieser Folge: Schlachthof 5 von Kurt Vonnegut Kapitel 8 (S. 180) bis zum (bitteren?) Ende. (Übersetzung von Gregor Hens, 2022).In der nächsten Folge: Das Schiff der flüsternden Träume von Alastair Reynolds bis S. 76 (inkl. Kapitel 4).Schreibt uns eine E-Mail an sprawlradio@gmx.deUNSER DISCORD: LINKLetterboxd: Kim_chi und gamurgaIhr mögt unseren Podcast und möchtet uns finanziell unterstützen? Wir freuen uns über kleine oder große Beträge über Paypal: paypal.me/sprawlradio oder an sprawlradio@gmx.deLiteraturtipps:Paul Tremblay, Horror Movie (2024)Markus Kliewer, We used to live here (2024)Filmtipps:Companion – Die Perfekte Begleitung (2025)The Gorge (Apple+, 2025)Lost in Starlight (Netflix, 2025)Newtopia (Serie auf Amazon Prime, 2025)Soldaten des Lichts (ZDF Mediathek, 2025)Stephan hat vergessen, seine Top 3 Filme zu benennen. Holen wir in der nächsten Folge nach!

It's Day 17 of our Advent Calendar and today Gary and Jonathan chat with Alastair Reynolds about the 25th Anniversary of Revelation Space, his new short story collections, and his latest novel, Halcyon Years. We also touch on his favourite books of the year, what he's planning, and his favourite seasonal reads. As always, our thanks to Al. We hope you enjoy today's episode.

On reçoit Alastair Reynolds, grand maître du space-opera et de la Hard Science-Fiction, auteur de La Maison des Soleils et du récent recueil de nouvelles La Grande Muraille de Mars. Un peu de hard SF dans votre space opera ?Après avoir interviewé six auteurs et autrices de science-fiction étrangers en 2025, notre podcast conclut cette année en beauté avec l'immense Alastair Reynolds en septième invité . L'auteur de La Maison des Soleils aux éditions du Bélial est peut être le meilleur romancier actuel de science-fiction. Nous avons profité de sa visite à Paris pour parler de hard science-fiction et évidemment de space opera, deux genres qu'il maîtrise à la perfection. Très érudit quand on lui parle de SF, Alastair est revenu sur la différence entre Isaac Asimov et Arthur C. Clarke mais aussi sur le travail de Iain M. Banks. Hébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Whether you like ripping page turners, incredible characters, books that make you laugh out loud, exploring unforgettable new worlds, or literary books that will make you see the world in a new way, there's a great intro to scifi out there for everyone!Join the Hugonauts book club on discord to tell us about your favorite time travel booksOr you can watch the episode on YouTube if you prefer videoIf you want to jump around, here are the timestamps for all the books we talked about: 00:00 Intro 00:38 Incredible Characters - Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold 3:07 A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers 4:04 Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 4:52 Unforgettable Worlds - The Expanse by James S.A. Corey 6:58 Hyperion by Dan Simmons 8:24 House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds 9:20 Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky 10:56 The Forever War by Joe Haldeman 12:22 Funny SF - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 13:36 Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson 14:50 Old Man's War by John Scalzi 16:01 Page turners - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 17:43 Dark Matter or Recursion by Blake Crouch 18:52 All Systems Red by Martha Wells 20:01 Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 21:35 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 22:34 Literary SciFi - The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin 24:55 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 26:26 The Road by Cormac McCarthy 27:49 Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut 28:40 Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein

[…] Honorée de faire la préface du désormais célèbre Journal d’un prisonnier de Nicolas Soljenitsinarkozy, la Salle 101 critique, dénonce et s’échauffe avec tout un tas de trucs de ouf, juge plutôt : La grande muraille de Mars, recueil d’Alastair Reynolds. Datura, roman empoisonné de Leena Krohn. Les chrysalides, roman séminal de John Wyndham. Guedin, […]

Bar Talk (our recommendations):Jessica is reading Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo; drinking Heck's Gentle Persuasion Golden NA.Damien is watching Daddy's Head (2024; dir. Benjamin Barfoot); drinking a Flying Naked (bourbon, Bénédictine, Aperol, lemon juice).Ryan is reading Aurora Rising by Alastair Reynolds; drinking Highland Park 12 yr 'Viking Honour'.If you liked this week's story, read "Procession of the Black Sloth" by Laird BarronUp next: "The Sexton's Adventuret" by Sheridan Le FanuSpecial thank you to Dr Blake Brandes for our Whiskey and the Weird music! Like, rate, and follow! Check us out @whiskeyandtheweird on Instagram, Threads & Facebook, and at whiskeyandtheweird.com

Andrew Jackson started writing and illustrating since age twelve and never gave up the former but (thankfully for his readers) has stopped the latter! One of his earliest memories is of watching Star Trek with his dad and falling in love with the speeding ships, bizarre aliens, and the diamond glitter of myriad stars in that eternal blackness. Even now, as he explores the strange new worlds of family, fatherhood, and a career in retail, he's never lost his love for the stars. Counting authors such as Stephen King, Iain M. Banks, and Alastair Reynolds amongst his literary influences, he revels both in reading and writing rich, tangible worlds other than our own. Born too late to watch the Apollo missions but too early for interstellar travel he must content himself with dreams and the sad knowledge that he may never know what's out there. Is there anybody out there? Why aren't they talking? On walks down leafy lanes of his native Surrey, Andrew examines these questions. He likes to think he looked at a particular tree one time and pondered its age and almost otherworldly summer greenness and so was born his winning short story, Code L1. The story itself is an exploration of the Fermi Paradox –- the hypothesis that, if we have galactic neighbours, they should have called by now. Perhaps they've seen the darker sides of humanity and they're afraid of us coming out into the stars. Or perhaps, if they could, they'd tell us why they've been so quiet. Perhaps, it's best not to know… The Contest, one of the most prestigious writing and illustrating competitions in the world, is currently in its 42nd year and is judged by some of the premier names in speculative fiction HOLLYWOOD - Mullica Hill, New Jersey author Sandra Skalski is a winner in Sandra lives with her husband in suburban New Jersey. She recently retired from a career in chemical engineering, leaving her with actual time to write. When she's not writing, you can find her in the butterfly garden or traveling with her husband. Her greatest joy is spending time with her daughter, son-in-law, and her two beautiful grandchildren. HOLLYWOOD - Savannah, Georgia artist and Savannah College of Art and Design student Ms. HeatherAnne Lee is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future Contest and was honored along with ten other artists and twelve writers at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, California on April 10th. Her art is published along with the other writers' and illustrators' stories and art in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41 which was officially released on April 22nd 2025. HeatherAnne Lee was born in 2004 in Federal Way, Washington, and has lived across the US from Hawaii to New York and Vermont. HeatherAnne, or “Heather” to her friends, now resides in Savannah, Georgia, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Heather started drawing as soon as she could hold a crayon and never stopped, graduating from crayon to graphite to paint, and now primarily works digitally. Despite working on a screen, Heather holds to her painting knowledge, layering colors and textures on her drawing tablet, emulating traditional painting techniques in a digital medium. Heather takes much of her inspiration from the world around her, translating reality into epics and stories of dragons and knights. Heather always strives to push her work to the limit, working with clients to bring their stories to life through her illustrations. The Illustrators of the Future Contest judges include, Bob Eggleton (11 Chesley Awards and 9 Hugo Awards), Larry Elmore (Dungeons & Dragons book covers), Echo Chernik (graphic designs for major corporations including Celestial Seasonings tea packaging), Rob Prior (art for Spawn, Heavy Metal comics and Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Ciruelo (Eragon Coloring Book).

Solid characters, amazing worldbuilding, and an epic plot that will keep you interested all the way through (and that's no mean feat in such a long book). If you've been thinking about trying out Peter F. Hamilton this is the right place to start.As always, no spoilers until the end when we get into the full plot explanation and discussion. This episode is sponsored by The Pythagorean by Alexander Morpheigh, which is available in print or kindle edition here.Join the Hugonauts book club on discord!Or you can watch the episode on YouTube if you prefer videoSimilar books we recommend: The Salvation Series, Void Trilogy, and Pandora's Star by Peter F. HamiltonThe Culture Series by Iain M. BanksHouse of Suns by Alastair Reynolds

Leatherhead, Surrey, England writer Andrew Jackson is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest earning him a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and his winning story will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41. Andrew Jackson started writing and illustrating since age twelve and never gave up the former but (thankfully for his readers) has stopped the latter! One of his earliest memories is of watching Star Trek with his dad and falling in love with the speeding ships, bizarre aliens, and the diamond glitter of myriad stars in that eternal blackness. Even now, as he explores the strange new worlds of family, fatherhood, and a career in retail, he's never lost his love for the stars. Counting authors such as Stephen King, Iain M. Banks, and Alastair Reynolds amongst his literary influences, he revels both in reading and writing rich, tangible worlds other than our own. Born too late to watch the Apollo missions but too early for interstellar travel he must content himself with dreams and the sad knowledge that he may never know what's out there. Is there anybody out there? Why aren't they talking? Budapest, Hungary artist Ms. Marianna Mester is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future Contest earning her a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and her winning art will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41. Marianna Mester was born in Hungary and spent her childhood in a small village. From a young age, she was drawn to painting and admired those who could create works of art. Growing up, she didn't have much time to pursue it, but ten years ago, she made a decision to take her painting to a high level and began studying various artistic styles. She practiced relentlessly, experimenting with countless techniques, and now she's able to paint in about nine different styles. Everything Marianna knows, she learned on her own without attending any formal art school, so she's especially proud that people appreciate my work. Her parents started calling her “Manna” and now that has become her artist name with even her friends calling by that name as well. Her goal is to bring beauty into as many lives as possible because, for her, painting is not just art, it's life itself, a true expression of freedom. Savannah, Georgia student Ms. Jordan Smajstrla is a winner in the L. Ron Hubbard Illustrators of the Future Contest earning her a trip to Hollywood for a week-long master-class workshop, an awards event and her winning art will be published in the international bestselling anthology, L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 41. Jordan is originally from Boerne, Texas and is currently studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Jordan Smajstrla was born in 2003 in Houston, Texas, and has been drawing for as long as she can remember thanks to the encouragement of her parents. She attributes her admiration of fantasy art in particular to her childhood interests, which included reading any book she could get her hands on,

Luke revisits Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds, and tells Juliane about the four different levels of understanding available to discover and enjoyment to be had. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Luke on Bluesky: @lukeburrage.bsky.social Discuss this book at […]

For our first episode of 2025, we touch upon novels we've been reading for the new year, including Charles Stross's 13th Laundry novel/collection A Conventional Boy and Ray Nayler's Where the Axe is Buried, as well as the frustrations of reading books on deadlines—as opposed to wallowing in them at leisure, and some non-SF writers we like. Gary then mentions how hard it is to gain perspective on novels of the past year, and suggests looking instead at important books of the entire past quarter-century from the perspective of 2025.  We only got partway through his list, which included novels by Alastair Reynolds, Kim Stanley Robinson, Octavia Butler, M. John Harrison, Margaret Atwood, Susanna Clarke, Gene Wolfe, Cixin Liu, and Robert Charles Wilson; collections by Kelly Link, Margo Lanagan, and Jeff Ford; anthologies by Sheree R. Thomas and Gardner Dozois—the last of which leads to a discussion of the durability of space opera as a defining SF theme. Plenty of stuff to argue with this week!

For our first episode of 2025, we touch upon novels we've been reading for the new year, including Charles Stross's 13th Laundry novel/collection A Conventional Boy and Ray Nayler's Where the Axe is Buried, as well as the frustrations of reading books on deadlines—as opposed to wallowing in them at leisure, and some non-SF writers we like. Gary then mentions how hard it is to gain perspective on novels of the past year, and suggests looking instead at important books of the entire past quarter-century from the perspective of 2025.  We only got partway through his list, which included novels by Alastair Reynolds, Kim Stanley Robinson, Octavia Butler, M. John Harrison, Margaret Atwood, Susanna Clarke, Gene Wolfe, Cixin Liu, and Robert Charles Wilson; collections by Kelly Link, Margo Lanagan, and Jeff Ford; anthologies by Sheree R. Thomas and Gardner Dozois—the last of which leads to a discussion of the durability of space opera as a defining SF theme. Plenty of stuff to argue with this week!

Bar Talk (our recommendations):Jessica is reading The September House by Carissa Orlando; drinking pFriem Japanese lager.Damien is reading Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah; drinking Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon.Ryan is reading Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds; drinking Blair Athol 12.If you liked this week's story, check out FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992; dir. Bill Kroyer).Up next: The Voice in the Night by William Hope HodgsonSpecial thank you to Dr Blake Brandes for our Whiskey and the Weird music! Like, rate, and follow! Check us out @whiskeyandtheweird on Instagram, Threads & Facebook, and at whiskeyandtheweird.com

Luke and Juliane discuss why Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds might make it onto a future SFBRP Masterworks List, plus a spoiler section to go deeper into an important plot device. Luke on Mastodon: @lukeburrage@masto.nu Juliane on Mastodon: @JuKuBerlin@mastodon.social Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own […]

In this review we learn about an alien ship that has emerged from a wormhole and into our solar system. A group of cosmonauts are sent to investigate this mysterious vessel and discover what lies within the Matryoshka. We examine Alastair Reynolds science fiction story Troika.

At a hotel with tempting full-sized Aesop shampoos and conditioners, a $50 charge looms if taken, matching the retail price. Meanwhile, the Kill Tony podcast, recorded live in Austin, is surging in popularity since Tony Hinchcliffe's appearance on The Roast of Tom Brady, making tickets nearly unattainable, and there's excitement around Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds, Google Docs' "drawing" feature, and Copywriting Course's exclusive weekly videos that recently boosted on-page time by 75%—join now with Coupon Code ​LEVELUPQ4​ for 50% off!

In this review we follow a cargo ship crew into uncharted space as they discover a remote outpost called Saumlaki Station. We examine Alastair Reynolds science fiction horror story known as Beyond the Aquila Rift.

While Luke waits for Juliane to finish Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds, he checks out the duo of novellas collected in Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days. Luke on Mastodon: @lukeburrage@masto.nu Juliane on Mastodon: @JuKuBerlin@mastodon.social Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding Tomorrow”, “Combat”, “Get […]

Host | Matthew S WilliamsOn ITSPmagazine  

Host | Matthew S WilliamsOn ITSPmagazine  

Luke and Juliane review Machine Vendetta by Alastair Reynolds, a book they mostly enjoyed, but spend the whole podcast trying to work out why there weren't fully satisfied. Luke on Mastodon: @lukeburrage@masto.nu Juliane on Mastodon: @JuKuBerlin@mastodon.social Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding […]

Are you looking for a successful approach to implementing engineering processes and building a culture of innovation?  That's what my guest, Steve Massey, is discussing on this episode. Steve is the CEO and Co-Founder of Prewitt Ridge, which creates software tools for engineering.  He discusses what he and his team are doing to build new and creative approaches to engineering. Steve has previously worked for two Space Tech companies:  SpaceX and Slingshot Aerospace.  He shares his insights and lessons learned while working for those companies. Steve also talks about engineering processes that tackle difficult problems in deep tech.  For example, his team has created an engineering collaboration environment that eases friction when designing, assessing, and managing complex systems. You're going to enjoy this discussion with Steve and get some valuable insights to implement in your own business. "The most important thing is to make sure you're sharing the right information with everyone so that they're able to make the best decision." – Steve Massey Today on the Tech Leader Talk podcast: - Innovative approaches to engineering - Managing difficult problems in deep tech - Mob programming and its effectiveness - Automating the approval process to streamline compliance and safety - Project ownership and sprint cycles Book Recommendations: Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds:  https://www.amazon.com/Terminal-World-Alastair-Reynolds/dp/0316362298 The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber:  https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Everything-New-History-Humanity/dp/0374157359 Connect with Steve Massey: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lostorbit/ Website:  https://www.prewittridge.com/ Thanks for listening! Be sure to get your free copy of Steve's latest book, Cracking the Patent Code, and discover his proven system for identifying and protecting your most valuable inventions. Get the book at https://stevesponseller.com/book.  

Neo Nostromo #65 - Nuestras Mejores Lecturas en 2023. Más vale tarde que nunca: las velocidades relativistas a las que la Neo Nostromo explora el universo del género fantástico hace que para el resto de la humaniad parezca haber pasado más de un mes desde que acabó el 2023, pero para nosotros hace apenas unos segundos. Hoy compartimos con vosotros las lecturas que más nos han hecho disfrutar durante 2023 y... También algunas de las que menos. Esperamos que disfrutéis del programa. Lista de libros mencionados: - La Vieja Sangre, de Álfredo Álamo. - Chainsaw Man, de Tatsuki Fujimoto. - Mónica, de Daniel Clowes. - Tress of the Emerald Sea, de Brandon Sanderson. - The Shards, de Bret Easton Ellis. - The Mountain in the Sea, de Ray Nayler. - El Libro Azul de Nebo, de Manon Steffan Ros. - Palabras del Egeo, de Pedro Olalla. - El Gen. Una Historia Íntima, de Siddhartha Mukherjee. - Eversion, de Alastair Reynolds. - The Blighted Stars, de Megan O'Keefe. - Lost Stars, de Claudia Gray. - Talonsister, de Jenn Williams. - Cuentos de Terramar, de Ursula K. Le Guin. - Gods of the Wyrdwood, de RJ. Barker. - Mañana, y Mañana, y Mañana, de Gabrielle Zevin. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neo-nostromo/message

August 2023 Book Club:  This month, we're checking in with the Third Doctor, Jo Grant, and our friends at UNIT - as well as the Master - as we read and review “Harvest of Time,” by Alastair Reynolds.  Originally published in June 2013, the book is still available for sale as both an e-Book and as an audiobook, performed by Geoffrey Beevers.  Happy reading!     Check out Chris's review of the first issue of Titan Comics entry into the “Doom's Day” event at The Horror Tree website.  Please help other Doctor Who fans find our show - by leaving us a rating on Apple Podcasts or your podcatcher of choice. Submit your comments via email… “who knows,” we may end up reading your feedback on the podcast!   Facebook: http://facebook.com/allnewdoctorwhobookclub  Twitter: @ANDWBCPodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMIfNF0icWH5VdrM8xVAECA  Email: ANDWBCPodcast@gmail.com 

In today's episode I'm joined by Evil Jeff of the Minions & Musings Podcast. Together we listen to the entries of the Favorite Hard SciFi Giveaway. At the end I reveal my favorite, and we roll for the winner. The entries: Einstein's Bridge by John Kramer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein's_Bridge_(novel) I, Robot by Isaac Asimov https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Robot Starships Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers The Forever War by Joe Haldeman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forever_War Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardwired_(novel) The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard SF edited by David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ascent_of_Wonder:_The_Evolution_of_Hard_SF Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_Space 2001 (The Movie) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey The Expanse series James S. A. Corey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expanse_(novel_series) Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Fuzzy Risus RPG https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/170294/Risus-The-Anything-RPG Other awesome podcasts: Minions & Musings podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eviljeff/ Cockatrice Nuggets posdcat: Cockatrice Nuggets: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rich-fraser Dungeon Master's Handbook: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thedungeonmastershandbook The GMologist presents... https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karl-rodriguez Nerd's RPG Variety Cast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jason376 Please send feedback using any of these methods: sayhi.chat/dekahedron or podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jpgill/message or email feedback@dekahedron.com or call/text 562-RPG-CAST (562-774-2278). Joe also has an RPG blog. Cover art logo by DesignKat. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

Neo Nostromo #58 -  Eversion y The Wind's Twelve Quarters En este episodio discutimos la notable propuesta que propone Alastair Reynolds con “Eversion” (que alguien la traduzca YA) y recuperamos los primeros relatos de Ursula K Le Guin en “Las Doce Moradas del Viento”. ¡Esperamos que disfrutéis del episodio! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neo-nostromo/message

For 6 millioner år siden klonede Abigail Gentian 999 kloner af sig selv og sendte disse "Shatterlings" på en uendelig rejse i Mælkevejen. I House of Suns har menneskeheden spredt sig til hele Mælkevejen. Abigails kloner rejser stadig galaksen rundt, men en hemmelighed truer dem alle. Indlægget Ep. 102: Alastair Reynolds, House of Suns blev først udgivet på SCIFI SNAK.

Luke was told not to review Eversion by Alastair Reynolds due to spoilers, so he keeps this episode just short enough to convince Juliane to read it soon. Luke on Mastodon: @lukeburrage@masto.nu Juliane on Mastodon: @JuKuBerlin@mastodon.social Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding […]

In Alastair Reynolds' Eversion (Orbit, 2022), the setting keep changing—the epoch, location, and technology—but the characters remain more or less the same as they carry out an expedition to a mysterious object at the behest of a private investor. The novel starts on a tall ship in the early 1800s in waters in the Arctic, then jumps to a paddle-steamer near the Antarctic, then a dirigible over Antarctica, and eventually concludes in the future on a submarine-like explorer under the ice of Europa, the Jupiter moon. The story is a puzzle, challenging the reader to figure out which if any place and time is real. Adding to the mystery is the reader's dependence on a first-person narrator Silas Coade, the expedition's physician. Is the story a book he is writing, a delusion, a series of alternate realities or something else? Reynolds says his original intention with Eversion was to “recap the entire history of science fiction … We were going to start in a kind of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe mode. And then it was going to go into sort of Jules Verne and then maybe a bit of H.G. Wells, then a sort of early pulp sleuth thing.” That would have been followed by classic space opera and episodes in the styles of Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov followed by 1960s and '70s new wave. “But once I started writing the book, I realized that there was no way I could bring sufficient variety to the craft to make those episodes work,” he says. “So I cut it down drastically to four or five episodes for the finished product. Reynolds is a former research fellow at the European Space Agency. He's been writing fiction full-time since 2004 and has 19 novels and more than 70 short stories to show for it. His work has been shortlisted for the Hugo, Arthur C Clarke and Sturgeon awards. He's won the Seiun, Sidewise, European Science Fiction Society and Locus awards, and his stories have been adapted for stage and television. Brenda Noiseux are Rob Wolf are co-hosts of New Books in Science Fiction. 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

In Alastair Reynolds' Eversion (Orbit, 2022), the setting keep changing—the epoch, location, and technology—but the characters remain more or less the same as they carry out an expedition to a mysterious object at the behest of a private investor. The novel starts on a tall ship in the early 1800s in waters in the Arctic, then jumps to a paddle-steamer near the Antarctic, then a dirigible over Antarctica, and eventually concludes in the future on a submarine-like explorer under the ice of Europa, the Jupiter moon. The story is a puzzle, challenging the reader to figure out which if any place and time is real. Adding to the mystery is the reader's dependence on a first-person narrator Silas Coade, the expedition's physician. Is the story a book he is writing, a delusion, a series of alternate realities or something else? Reynolds says his original intention with Eversion was to “recap the entire history of science fiction … We were going to start in a kind of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe mode. And then it was going to go into sort of Jules Verne and then maybe a bit of H.G. Wells, then a sort of early pulp sleuth thing.” That would have been followed by classic space opera and episodes in the styles of Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov followed by 1960s and '70s new wave. “But once I started writing the book, I realized that there was no way I could bring sufficient variety to the craft to make those episodes work,” he says. “So I cut it down drastically to four or five episodes for the finished product. Reynolds is a former research fellow at the European Space Agency. He's been writing fiction full-time since 2004 and has 19 novels and more than 70 short stories to show for it. His work has been shortlisted for the Hugo, Arthur C Clarke and Sturgeon awards. He's won the Seiun, Sidewise, European Science Fiction Society and Locus awards, and his stories have been adapted for stage and television. Brenda Noiseux are Rob Wolf are co-hosts of New Books in Science Fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-fiction

In Alastair Reynolds' Eversion (Orbit, 2022), the setting keep changing—the epoch, location, and technology—but the characters remain more or less the same as they carry out an expedition to a mysterious object at the behest of a private investor. The novel starts on a tall ship in the early 1800s in waters in the Arctic, then jumps to a paddle-steamer near the Antarctic, then a dirigible over Antarctica, and eventually concludes in the future on a submarine-like explorer under the ice of Europa, the Jupiter moon. The story is a puzzle, challenging the reader to figure out which if any place and time is real. Adding to the mystery is the reader's dependence on a first-person narrator Silas Coade, the expedition's physician. Is the story a book he is writing, a delusion, a series of alternate realities or something else? Reynolds says his original intention with Eversion was to “recap the entire history of science fiction … We were going to start in a kind of Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe mode. And then it was going to go into sort of Jules Verne and then maybe a bit of H.G. Wells, then a sort of early pulp sleuth thing.” That would have been followed by classic space opera and episodes in the styles of Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov followed by 1960s and '70s new wave. “But once I started writing the book, I realized that there was no way I could bring sufficient variety to the craft to make those episodes work,” he says. “So I cut it down drastically to four or five episodes for the finished product. Reynolds is a former research fellow at the European Space Agency. He's been writing fiction full-time since 2004 and has 19 novels and more than 70 short stories to show for it. His work has been shortlisted for the Hugo, Arthur C Clarke and Sturgeon awards. He's won the Seiun, Sidewise, European Science Fiction Society and Locus awards, and his stories have been adapted for stage and television. Brenda Noiseux are Rob Wolf are co-hosts of New Books in Science Fiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

A very special episode. One of the world's greatest living science fiction authors, ALASTAIR REYNOLDS returns to the show! Al riffs with us on a concept he created in his “REVENGER” series: what (the!) if we could communicate our THOUGHTS via RADIO? Al takes us on an incredible, insanely imaginative adventure through a world in which you better be careful what you're thinking when you're “talking” to your friends! What would the details of the technology be like, how would it make you feel, how would society be changed by such an astounding invention? This is a true tour de force of sci-imagination. Alastair Reynolds' most recent book is the gripping, mind-bending adventure novel, “Eversion” https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/alastair-reynolds/eversion/9781668604250/ Learn more about Al on his website: alastairreynolds.com. --- Check out our membership rewards! Visit us at Patreon.com/Whattheif Got an IF of your own? Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at feedback@whattheif.com and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big! Don't miss an episode! Subscribe at WhatTheIF.com Keep On IFFin', Philip, Matt & Gaby

Gentian line is one of the most powerful forces in the galaxy - one of the 'lines' of clones (called shatterlings) who have been traveling the galaxy since the start of the star-faring era six million years ago. The shatterlings of Gentian line travel alone, but they come together for a reunion every 200,000 years to compare what they have seen on their latest circuit around the galaxy.Campian and Purslane are two shatterlings who have fallen in love and are traveling together against the rules of the line. They are running late to the upcoming reunion when they get a terrifying message - someone has attacked the reunion and killed almost all of the Gentians. Now it is up to them to determine who, or what, their enemy is before the entire line is wiped out.This is a book that succeeds because of its incredible world building and engrossing plot. You are slowly but steadily introduced to new mind-bending concepts and mysteries, and learning the answers to those questions over the course of the book is a real pleasure. The scientific concepts and technologies that power the world (which are all rooted in real science) are also incredibly fun to explore, and are one of Reynolds strong suits - perhaps not surprising for a writer with a PhD in astrophysics.That said, if you are looking for dialogue-driven writing or unforgettable characters, this might not be the book for your current moment. It also slows down a bit in the middle of the book, but the final quarter picks up the pace again, and is propulsive, gripping, and answers all the big questions in very satisfying ways. This is a stand-alone novel, which is somewhat rare for space operas. If you want to enjoy a big, galactic adventure without the commitment of a long series, this is definitely up your alley.As always, we also recommend and discuss some similar books if you are looking for more great books to read. This week we recommend:Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge,The Culture series by Iain BanksAnd Hyperion by Dan Simmons If you'd prefer to watch the video version, you can find it at this link.

Bienvenidos a otro Podcast de TERRAESCRIBIENTE. Hoy tenemos un corto de la famosa serie: Love, Death & Robots: "MAS ALLA DE LA GRIETA DE LA AQUILA" Créditos: Netflix, Unit Image. Tras años luz viajando en el rumbo incorrecto, la tripulación de la nave intenta comprender cuánto se han desviado. 1 | ¿Existe en realidad la Grieta de Aquila? Aunque los episodios de Love, Death & Robots se dan muchas libertades a la hora de escribir sus tramas, tienen una fuerte ancla en la realidad, y este no es la excepción, ya que en efecto, la Grieta de Aquila no es obra de la imaginación del autor. La Grieta o Fisura de Serpens-Aquila es una región en el espacio ampliamente conocida por su capacidad de bloquear u ocultar la luz de las estrellas que se encuentran detrás de ella, razón por lo que en la Tierra muy poco se conoce lo que puede haber detrás. La Grieta de Aquila está a unos 1000 años luz del planeta Tierra y es una zona donde se concentra mucha actividad de formación de estrellas. Así que cuando este episodio se titula Más allá de la Grieta de Aquila, es virtualmente un sinónimo de Entrando en lo desconocido, donde cualquier cosa puede suceder. 2 | ¿Quiénes son los protagonistas de la historia y cuál es su objetivo? Los protagonistas de la historia son Thom (Henry Douthwaite), Suzy (Rebecca Banatvala) y Ray (Delroy Brown), la tripulación del Ganso Azul / Blue Goose, una nave cuyo propósito parece ser el de la minería espacial. Thom es el capitán, Ray es el ingeniero de la nave y Suzy es la programadora. Pero… 3 | ¿Por qué el Ganso Azul necesita una programadora? ¿Cuál es la función de Suzy? El tipo de viaje en el que se embarcan Thom, Suzy y Ray no es cualquier tipo de viaje, es un viaje superlumínico, que es la versión científica y fanfarrona de lo que conocemos en el mundo de los mortales como más rápido que la velocidad de la luz. En efecto para llegar a su destino, el Ganso Azul debe volar más rápido que la luz. Para eso aprovecha la tecnología de la red de puntos de salto, tecnología que según el cuento de Alastair Reynolds en el que está basado el episodio, es una especie de descubrimiento accidental de los humanos en sus etapas iniciales de la carrera espacial, tecnología de una especie alienígena desaparecida. En resumen, la red conecta a la nave entre dos de sus puntos proporcionando una ruta – y probablemente un montón de energía – para viaje superlumínico. Para poder indicarle al punto de salto, el destino exacto en el espacio profundo al cual te quieres dirigir debes conocer el lenguaje en el que está programado, su sintaxis y eso es en lo que Suzy es experta. Ella introduce la sintaxis y el punto de salto impulsa la nave a su destino. 4 | ¿Cómo terminó el Ganso Azul más allá de la Grieta de Aquila? Bueno, resulta, pasa y acontece que los puntos de salto de la red en la Burbuja Local que manejan los humanos, no son ni de lejos todos los puntos. En el cuento de Reynolds, se indica que la gran mayoría de esos puntos, están fuera de la Burbuja Local, y por mantenimiento o desuso están fuera de la red. Ahora, cualquier error en la sintaxis de entrada sumado a una desalineación cualquiera de la nave como la que mencionó Ray, puede activar uno de estos puntos perdidos y la nave terminaría muy, pero muy lejos de su destino. Incluso una programadora experta en el código alienígena como Suzy los puede cometer, ya que es muy poco lo que se conoce sobre sus orígenes y funcionamiento. El punto al que llega el Ganso Azul es una especie de centro de escalas, un hub, en el que durante su funcionamiento original, muchas especies llegaban a descansar luego de viajes prolongados. Al estar el hub en desuso, el Ganso Azul no tuvo un punto estable de llegada y terminó averiada. O… 5 | ¿Fue el Ganso Azul guiado hasta el hub más allá de la Grieta de Aquila? O quizás, en el hub había alguien – o algo – interesado en llevar a Thom hasta allí, queriendo decir que la llegada del Ganso Azul no fue accidental. Aquí podemos lanzar una teoría. ¿Qué tal si en realidad Greta (Madeleine Knight) sí se estrelló en el hub, ella sí por error, y lo que sea que allí habita leyó su mente y quedó prendada de Thom? ¿Y si cuando el Ganso Azul cargó sus datos en la red, eso lo reconoció y lo guió a propósito hasta allí para conocerlo? ¿Podría ser? ¿Tú que opinas? 6 | ¿Qué es exactamente Greta? ¿Qué es lo que vive en el hub? Cuando Thom despierta en el hub es recibido nada más y nada menos que por Greta, con quién él tuvo una aventura sexual bastante intensa, y que luego de este reencuentro vuelven el sexo salvaje y heterosexual por el que los pseudo-progresistas están tan indignados. Pero cuando Thom despierta a Suzy, esta le indica que 1) no pudo haber errores en la sintaxis y por tanto el destino no pudo haberse desviado y 2) que Greta no es Greta. A raíz de lo que sucede con Suzy, Thom empieza a sospechar que algo no anda bien y que el fabuloso hub en el que ha estado con la sensual Greta no es tan cierto, y finalmente luego de presionar a «Greta» esta revela que 1) Tom está sumamente delgado y sus dos compañeros están muertos 2) que el hub está en ruinas y 3) que la única criatura que lo acompaña es una araña gigante que le habla con la misma voz de Greta. Lo cual significa que… 7 | ¿Cuál significa el final de Beyond the Aquila Rift? … en realidad todo lo que Thom vio luego de despertar en el hub es producto de una alucinación, inducida por la criatura, por la araña gigantesca que allí habita y que también se quedó atorada allí sin ninguna perspectiva de salir. Lo que vemos del hub es que la araña intergaláctica ha hecho allí su nido y que por alguna razón quiere que Thom admita la realidad de dónde está y con quién – o con qué – está. Para eso usa la imagen de Suzy, que en realidad está muerta. 8 | ¿Qué es lo que quiere la araña gigante en realidad? Al final del episodio vemos que en realidad lo que vive Thom en el hub ha sido repetido una y otra vez, en varias iteraciones. Ahora, la iteración resulta idéntica por lo que parece ser un truco de la mente de Thom inducido por alguna sustancia proveniente de la araña, que quizás quiere doblegar la voluntad de Thom. Y aquí hay dos opciones, la primera que en realidad, debido a la interacción con Thom por tanto tiempo, la araña en realidad está enamorada de él, y la segunda, que creo más plausible, es que la araña haya ya hecho el mismo proceso con Suzy y Ray para alimentarse de algún componente bioquímico cerebral inducido por la desesperación y ahora es el turno de Thom, lo cual explicaría por qué está tan delgado. Al final de cuentas, Thom parece estar bastante limitado de opciones, o es comida de araña o es el consorte de la araña ¿cuál preferirías ser tú? 9 | ¿Qué significan los íconos al inicio del episodio? Los íconos al inicio del episodio son: un corazón invertido, una caja y una calavera dormida que luego parece sorprendida. El primer ícono que es el de amor, cambia a un corazón invertido y extraño, que en definitiva es una alusión a la alucinación sexual de Thom, literalmente el trasero de Greta. El segundo ícono, el de la muerte, cambia a una caja, en definitiva la misma caja en la que despierta Thom que se usa para invernar en los viajes superlumínicos. Caja que finalmente se convirtió en su ataúd. El tercer ícono, el de los robots es el de una calavera primero dormida y luego sorprendida. Aunque este no tiene nada que ver con robots, si hace referencia al proceso en el que Thom ve la alucinación para luego descubrir la realidad. 10 | ¿Cuál es el mensaje de este episodio? Este es el primer episodio de la serie en el que es evidente que se profundiza la premisa inicial, porque más allá de no confíes inmediatamente en lo que ves, también es una invitación a aceptar lo que realmente ves. Es exactamente lo que nos sucede a muchos que exigimos que sean honestos con nosotros, que nos digan la verdad, pero cuando nos la dicen nos enojamos, lo negamos y pensamos que nos están mintiendo. Este episodio nos invita precisamente a eso, a no engañarnos a nosotros mismos y aceptar los hechos por lo que son y no por lo que han parecido ser en nuestra bastante subjetiva mente. Por favor sigue las redes y grupos: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerraEscriba Discord: https://discord.gg/9QMkYuUk También subscríbete a TERRAESCRIBIENTE en IVOOX, ITUNES Y SPOTIFY! Dale me gusta a cada Podcast y coméntalos! Ayuda mucho! Gracias!