Podcast appearances and mentions of Ann Leckie

Today we talk about Tom Tresser, best known as Nemesis, who doesn't have any powers but he is a cool spy. What we were up to this week: Briar finished Translation State by Ann Leckie, and has been working on various crafts Olivia caught up on some comics, including Supergirl (2025) #1 and (kinda) Thunderbolts: Doomstrike (2025) #4 and had a good time at Anime Boston! also Runaways (2025) #1 comes out June 11! Very excited. Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon! Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar Find out more on the Capes and Japes website.

Today we talk about Eve Eden, best known as Nightshade, on account of her mom is from the Nightshade dimension and she has cool shadow magic. What we were up to this week: Briar saw Thunderbolts, but otherwise is still just reading Ann Leckie books and getting ready to go see Dimension 20 live Olivia went to a reunion and had a great time Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon! Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar Find out more on the Capes and Japes website.

Today we talk about June Moone, who initially got magic powers to fight an evil ghost, turned evil because of Supergirl, and eventually ended up separating and re-combining with her Evil Enchantress Persona several times. What we were up to this week: Briar is reading more of Ann Leckie's novels (big surprise) Olivia really enjoyed the Amadeus Cho 20th Anniversary Special Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon! Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar Find out more on the Capes and Japes website.

In this episode of the Fully-Booked literary podcast, we're back in the room with Meaghan, Shirin, and Arthur, though Arthur gets plenty of playful shade right out of the gate. The energy is chaotic in the best way, and we all seem to embrace it.This time around, we're not doing a structured game or typical author discussion. Instead, we've decided to have a casual roundtable where we toss out book recommendations based on popular titles.Think of it as a “if you liked this, try this” style chat, the kind of stuff you might scroll through on BookTok, but with more tangents, more laughs, and a whole lot more coffee shop banter.So, yes, it's a podcast version of one of those aesthetic recommendation reels, but longer and full of personality. We're hoping it helps listeners find their next favorite read, whether they're winding down for bed or commuting with earbuds in. Along the way, we make plenty of jokes, toss in personal stories, and keep things as relatable as ever.Cozy Fantasy And Twisty YA PicksMeaghan kicks things off with Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. It's a standout in cozy fantasy, a genre that's all about lower stakes and high charm. This one's about a retired assassin who just wants to run a coffee shop. We love it because it's charming without the constant doom that high fantasy sometimes leans into. If you're tired of watching your favorite characters die dramatically, this is your safe space.From there, we get three recommendations to follow that cozy vibe:This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher offers more of an epic twist, following four heroes who reunite years after saving the world to stop another evil. It's got humor, sarcasm, and a nostalgic team-up energy.Forged by Magic by Jenna Wolfhart includes orcs, elves, and romance, much like Legends and Lattes, but kicks the fantasy world-building up a notch.Dreadful by Caitlin Rosakus is quirky and a bit chaotic. A man wakes up in an evil wizard's lair and slowly realizes… he's the wizard. It's got dark magic with a comedic undertone that keeps things from getting too heavy.Next, Shirin brings up We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, a twisty, emotional YA mystery that clearly divides readers. Some of us saw the ending a mile away. Others (hi, Shirin) were shocked. Either way, it sparks strong reactions. From there, the recommended reads are:One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus, a classic high school murder mystery.A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, which begins as a school project but morphs into a full-on whodunit.Both offer those unreliable narrators and layers of secrets that make for great binge reads (and binge-worthy shows, too).Sci-Fi Sarcasm and Robots with FeelingsArthur (yes, we're letting him talk now) shifts us into sci-fi territory. He spotlights The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, which is being adapted into a TV show. The series centers around a sarcastic AI bot who's pretending not to be sentient while dealing with messy human feelings. It's funny, sharp, and dives into questions about identity and autonomy.The companion picks for Murderbot are:Neuromancer by William Gibson, the cyberpunk classic full of noir and hacking vibes.Autonomous by Annalee Newitz, a gritty, emotional dive into freedom and biotech ethics.Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie features a starship AI stuck in a single human body, trying to cope and also seek revenge.This whole section sparks a thoughtful conversation about how sci-fi is evolving to focus more on questions of self, ethics, and AI rights, especially as real-world conversations about artificial intelligence ramp up.From Gothic to Gruesome: Creepy Houses and Haunting PastsMeaghan circles back with another strong pick: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. This gothic classic inspires a group of haunting and eerie recommendations:The September House by Carissa Orlando, where every September, the house goes full horror mode with blood on the walls and something lurking in the basement.The Only One Left by Riley Sager, another gothic mystery involving a secluded cliffside mansion and a historical murder case.We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson delivers that same psychological tension and sense of dread found in Rebecca.We also detour briefly into House of Leaves territory, a book so bizarre in structure it's basically unreadable in audiobook form. Everyone agrees it's an experience, not just a novel.Court of Thorns, Shadow Daddies, and Fae RomanceThen we dive into a big one: A Court of Thorns and Roses (or ACOTAR, because who has time for long titles) by Sarah J. Maas. This fantasy romance gets a lot of love and some side-eye, depending on who you ask. It starts like Beauty and the Beast but quickly turns into something much more plot-heavy and twisty.Meaghan recommends:Quicksilver by Callie Hart, where the heroine gets dragged into the fae realm after trying to save her family. It's rich in world-building and dramatic romantic tension.Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco, a witchy, demon-summoning fantasy with Italian vibes, mouthwatering food descriptions, and yes—another shadowy love interest.We joke a lot about the term shadow daddy, which is hilarious and weirdly accurate for some of these characters. The group shares a good laugh about imagining their dads lurking in shadows. Totally normal podcast behavior...One-Person Sci-Fi Adventures (and Existential Crisis Fuel)Back in sci-fi land, Arthur brings us to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, which is getting a film adaptation with Ryan Gosling. The book features a lone scientist in space trying to save Earth, accompanied only by an alien rock creature named Rocky. The humor and heart between the human and the alien make it surprisingly emotional.The suggested read-alikes:The Martian, also by Weir. Obviously.Beacon 23 by Hugh Howey has that isolated, losing-your-sanity-in-space vibe.Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke, a classic of alien exploration and big questions.We get into the emotional toll of reading too much sci-fi. Some of us find it uplifting and full of imagination. Others (Shirin) find it deeply depressing. Fair enough.Vampires, Book Clubs, and Dark HumorShirin wraps things up with The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix. It's part horror, part comedy, and all about strong women who take matters into their own hands. Think housewives turned vampire hunters. The book doesn't shy away from gruesome details, especially involving rats and face tentacles. But it's also heartfelt and hilarious.Similar reads include:The Honeys by Ryan La Sala, a genre-bending YA horror story about identity, loss, and hive-mind weirdness.So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison, another vampire tale that's more about the women fighting their way through chaos than the monsters themselves.We end with another surprise: Arthur picks something non-sci-fi for once. Catabasis by R.F. Kuang gets mentioned as a dark academia fantasy with two rival scholars traveling to hell. Yep. Hell. To save a professor. Talk about dedication.Recommendations here include:The Atlas Six by Olivie BlakeThe Secret History by Donna TarttIf We Were Villains by M.L. RioThey all explore dark magic, academic rivalries, and blurred lines between performance and reality. By the end, our TBR piles are towering, and we're all a little overwhelmed in the best way.Wrapping UpWe went through a ton of books in this episode: cozy fantasies, murder mysteries, sci-fi sagas, dark academia, and good old-fashioned horror. Some are funny. Some are terrifying. Some make you question your life choices. And some just make you feel seen as a reader who wants something a little different.We hope at least one of these picks piqued your interest or gave you something new to add to your list. And if your TBR just grew five feet taller, well… same. Until next time, keep on reading. We'll be here, figuring out how to read all of these before next week.

Today we talk about Chris Powell, best known as Darkhawk, a teen who found an amulet and decided to use it to fight crime to get back at his corrupt dad. What we were up to this week: Briar finished the Ancillary Trilogy by Ann Leckie and wants everyone to please please please read it if you like sci-fi and then please please please talk to them about it Olivia is excited about the One World Under Doom Runaways tie-in that comes out in June! Thanks to Victoria Watkins for our icon! Support Capes and Japes by: Checking out our Patreon or donating to the Tip jar Find out more on the Capes and Japes website.

Adjoa Andoh narrates a short story collection of speculative fiction by Ann Leckie. We're revisiting host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Emily Connelly discussion of this 2025 Audie Award Finalist in Science Fiction. This collection includes works in the worlds of the Imperial Radch and the Raven Tower, as well as stand-alone pieces. Andoh's stellar skills are on display in every piece, making the stories of gods, humans, and other assorted beings incredibly compelling. A stunning performance by a master narrator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ann is also the author of Ancillary Sword, Ancillary Mercy, Translation State, Provenance (all set in her Imperial Radch universe), and the excellent stand-alone fantasy novel The Raven Tower.Join the Hugonauts book club on discord!Or you can watch the episode on YouTube if you prefer videoWe talked with Ann about: 1:12 Becoming a writer later in life5:06 The inspiration for the Radch and Ancillary Justice7:48 Creating a gender-less empire12:43 Writing from the POV of an AI16:56 Invisible exposition20:26 Space opera inspired by the real world26:16 Audiobooks and pronunciation34:14 Will we get to see inside the Radch Dyson sphere?35:49 Recent books Ann likes and her influences42:22 Blurbing Murderbot44:16 Ann's next book is set on a rogue planet!

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

En este sextoprograma de la segunda temporada hablamos de utopías y su representación en ficción. También para hablar de recomendaciones. Tripulantes: Presenta Claudia, con Lunnely y Darkor. Minireseñas: Adviento fantástico, de autoría múltiple. Recomendaciones: Utopía no es una isla, de Layla Martínez. Monje y robot, de Becky Chambers. Los desposeídos y El día antes de la revolución, de Ursula K. Le Guind. La ciudad justa, de Jo Walton. Menciones especiales: saga Vorkosigan de Lois McMaster Bujold. La saga del Radch, de Ann Leckie. Antologías de Actos de F.E. Abrazar la revolución, Sentir la revolución y Visiones 2022

Deutsche Verlage! Wir müssen reden. Ich verstehe, dass Marketing im Kapitalismus Klappentexte braucht, denn kein Mensch fängt mehr Bücher an zu lesen, um dann zu merken, dass ihm wertvollste Zeit von seiner effektiven Lebensuhr genommen wurde, weil er nach 100 Seiten feststellen muss, dass das Thema denn doch nicht das seine sei, und da muss man dann ein bisschen spoilern, ok. Egal, wer clever ist, liest keine Klappentexte. Einen Hauch sinnloser wird es, wenn man diese Klappentexte vor den Text von Ebooks setzt. Also als Vorspann vor ein Buch, welches man dann ja schon gekauft hat, vielleicht bewusst ohne den Spoiler auf Amazon gelesen zu haben, weil, siehe oben, clever. Dass man dann, Augen zu, über die entsprechenden Passagen drübertappen muss, ok, das schafft man. Aber, und hier muss eine Grenze sein: wenn man aus dem sehr schön vagen Titel "Some Desperate Glory" des englischen Originals im deutschen "Die letzte Heldin" macht und man damit die sich so schön unbestimmt entwickelnde Geschichte um die siebzehnjährige Valkyre, Spitzname "Kyr", semi-spoilert, grenzt an Körperverletzung. Was machen Heyne?!Also vergessen wir den Titel augenblicklich und adressieren das Buch in dieser Lobpreisung mit dem englischen "Some Desperate Glory", was man hätte so entspannt zum Beispiel mit "Verdammte Ehre" übersetzen können, was ein ganz hervorragendes Wortspiel gewesen wäre, denn "Ehre" ist phonetisch nicht fern von "Erde", und die, das erfahren wir auf der ersten Seite, ist nicht nur verdammt, sie ist ganz konkret auf dem Weg, in die Luft gesprengt zu werden.Die dazu notwendige Antimaterie-Sprengladung steckt in einer Art Torpedo, der wiederum rast gerade auf den blauen Planeten zu und das Ding zu entschärfen gelingt Kyr schon zum vierten Mal nicht. Wir ahnen: es ist eine Simulation. Puh. Aber, oh S**t, eine, so erfahren wir, die auf der tatsächlichen Zerstörung der Erde basiert. Das liegt jetzt schon ein paar Jahrzehnte zurück, aber damit das nie vergessen wird, läuft die Simulation in einer Art Holodeck in den Trainingsbaracken eines sehr, sehr kleinen Asteroiden namens Gaia, in dem ein paar überlebende Menschen durchs All fliegen. Valkyre haben wir schon kennengelernt, "Kyr" wird sie genannt von ihrer Einheit, ihr geklonter Bruder jedoch nennt sie "Vallie", was superniedlich ist für eine zwei Meter große, blonde, genetisch verbesserte Soldatin und sie entsprechend aufregt. Kyr will sie genannt werden! Sie ist die beste in allen Disziplinen, die man als Soldatin und "Kind der Erde" so trainiert und als Chefin ihrer Einheit, also sieben gleichaltrigen Girls, sorgt sie dafür, dass bitteschön alle genauso ehrgeizig sind wie sie. Hatte ich erwähnt, dass sie blond ist und den Pferdeschwanz vorschriftsgemäß streng nach hinten gebunden hat? Die BDM-Vibes sind Absicht. Und, ein letztes Mal auf den deutschen Buchtitel bezugnehmend, ja, sie gebärdet sich wie eine Heldin. Aber ob sie eine ist, wird, bleibt, ist unklar und entwickelt sich, so wie alle Charaktere über den gesamten Zeitraum des Buches. Denn Charakterentwicklung ist die herausragende Qualität von "Some Desperate Glory". Wir lernen Kyrs Bruder kennen, Kyrs FreundFeindinnen, Aliens, Nerds. Alle sind sie uns innerhalb weniger Absätze vor Augen und entwickeln sich permanent in ungeahnte Richtungen. Es ist eine Freude.Dramaturgisch benutzt Emily Tesh einen alten, aber mir sehr sympathischen Trick im SciFi/Fantasy-Universum: Sie behandelt ihren Roman wie ein Rollenspiel. Wer noch nie eines gespielt hat, muss keine Angst haben, es ist sublim. In einem RPG, wie die Fachfrau sagt, führt man eine kleine Gruppe wohldefinierter Helden durch viele kleine Abenteuer und erlebt diese mit ihnen. Man ist mit ihnen verbunden, versetzt sich in sie hinein, fühlt mit ihnen, man fiebert, leidet, lebt und stirbt mit ihnen.Welche Abenteuer man dabei erlebt, ist fast schon egal, aber wenn die Story wie hier eine aufregende und innovative ist, ist es natürlich noch schöner. Und boah, pardon my french, hat Emily Tesh eine Story in petto. Ich versuche nicht wirklich zu spoilern, aber Puristen sollten jetzt einkaufen gehen, das Buch lesen und bei Bedarf zurückkommen.Zunächst: "Some Desperate Glory" ist ganz vordergründig eine Space Opera. Das ist aber nur das Setting, welches Emily Tesh sich und uns gebaut hat, mit dem Zweck, uns permanent in moralische Moraste zu führen. Und was für welche! Allein der Bodycount! "Some Desperate Glory" muss der Roman mit der höchsten Menge an Toten ever sein, locker! Der kleine militärische Posten auf dem Asteroiden Gaia, auf dem die Handlung beginnt, fliegt so einsam durchs Weltall, weil, wir sprachen es an, die Erde gesprengt wurde. Das sind schon mal 15 Milliarden. Wie das passieren konnte, ob es unvermeidlich war und was man darüber denken soll, ist der rote Faden des Romans. Gesprengt wurde die Erde im Auftrag einer Community von Aliens namens die Majoda und zwar mithilfe eines "Dinges". Was für ein Ding? Mh, schwer. Es ist ein weltendefinierendes. Es wird "Wisdom" genannt. Ist es ein Alien? Ein Gott? Eine Technologie? Literarisch ist es eine Deus Ex Machina. In gewöhnlicheren SciFi-Romanen ist das oft eine Abkürzung durch den Plot und eher eine Sache für einfallslose Autorinnen, um das Unmögliche möglich zu machen. Bei Emily Tesh ist es der Dreh- und Angelpunkt von Stories, Handlungen, Personen und Universen.Diese "Weisheit" also hat die neu im intelligenten Universum aufgetauchte Menschheit beobachtet, analysiert, kurz nachgedacht und festgestellt: it's complicated. Wir lesen immer wieder Einschübe über diese Menschen, hier zum Beispiel beschreibt ein Alien-Wikipedia-Artikel, was wir selbst ungern über uns lesen:Ein Mensch versucht instinktiv und mit allen Mitteln, die Interessen seines Stammes zu verteidigen. Besonders die männlichen Menschen sind dabei von Natur aus aggressiv und territorial. Die gängige Vorstellung von Menschen als gewalttätigen Wahnsinnigen rührt im Grunde von der Tatsache her, dass wir nicht verstehen, wie genau die physischen Fähigkeiten der Menschen mit ihren Instinkten zusammenhängen. Die Geschichte der Menschen und auch deren Medien sind voll von »Soldaten« und »Heldinnen« — von Individuen, die im Namen ihres Stammes Gewalt ausüben —, und erstaunlicherweise werden diese als bewunderungswürdig angesehen.Am Ende kommt die "Weisheit" zum Schluss, dass der Mensch, wir also, Du und ich, ist, wie er ist. Nicht so sehr ein guter. Arg psychotisch könnte man sagen. Allein das Ding mit den zwei Geschlechtern. Was da für Aggressionen im Spiel sind, welche Ränke geschmiedet werden: Fortpflanzung, Darwinismus, Recht des Stärkeren. Aber auch wie stark das diese Menschen gemacht hat, man ist leicht entsetzt. Jetzt sind sie also hier, diese Menschen, sie haben das Problem mit der Lichtgeschwindigkeit geknackt und sitzen mit ihren riesigen, waffenstarrenden Raumschiffen inmitten von total netten, auf Freundschaft getrimmten Aliens, die seit Jahrtausenden friedlich ihr Ding machen.Dass sie so friedlich miteinander können, hat, so lernen wir, viel mit besagtem Ding zu tun, der "Weisheit". Und die kommt zum Schluss, dass es für die hunderte Trillionen netter Universumsbürger Sinn macht, dass die 15 Milliarden Aggros besser verschwinden, mitsamt ihrer Erde. Schade drum, wirklich, man hat es sich nicht leicht gemacht, aber zu groß ist das zerstörerische Potenzial von uns f*****g Menschen. Kommt uns bekannt vor? Genau.Nur, bekommst Du, als, sagen wir, genetisch aufgepumpte Soldatin "Kyr", 17, der seit dem sie "schießen" sagen kann, tagaus, tagein erzählt wird, dass deine Milliarden Menschenbrüder und -schwestern von Aliens gekillt wurden, nun, bekommst Du da eventuell einen leichten Hass auf das Universum und seine Einwohner? Sinnst du eventuell auf Rache? So ein kleines Bisschen? Und sehen wir das als Leserinnen vielleicht auch so?Allein diese Prämisse macht dieses Buch zu einem würdigen Hugopreisträger. Was das Buch neben dieser Story auszeichnet, ist etwas durchaus nicht Selbstverständliches im Genre. SciFi-Romane, da machen wir uns nichts vor, sind nicht für jedermann. Selbst ich, als wirklicher Enthusiast, der immer wieder nach dem Extremsten des gerade noch so Vorstellbaren im Universum sucht, habe oft die ersten Seiten eines utopischen Romans eine harte Konzentrationsaufgabe vor mir. Je weiter weg in Zeit und Raum die Welt ist, in die man geworfen wird, je abseitiger die Aliens, die Perspektiven, die Erfindungen, desto steiler der Weg ins Buch. Die 2014er Hugopreisträgerin Ann Leckie ist hier ein Paradebeispiel, ihr auch im Studio B vorgestellter Bestseller "Ancillary Justice" erzählte eine Story in weiten Teilen aus der Sicht eines sich selbst bewussten Raumschiffes, welches die Welt durch hunderte Augenpaare betrachtet, die in Androiden stecken, die mal Menschen waren. Komplizierter Tobak. Und eine tolle Möglichkeit für wilde Storys, Überfälle, Schießereien, Kapitalismuskritik, what have you. Es ist aber eben auch hart, da erst mal reinzukommen.Emily Tesh führt uns hingegen mit spielerischer Leichtigkeit in ihr nicht weniger seltsames Universum ein. Das Buch ist somit durchaus für ganz normale Menschen geeignet, Lyrikfreunde, Gesellschaftsromanleserinnen und so. Denn so groß die Unterschiede zwischen unserer geradlinigen menschlichen Realität und dem nicht ganz so linearen Raum-Zeit-Kontinuum von "Some Desperate Glory" auch sind, mit ein bisschen Flexibilität im Denken ist man sofort drin. Diese Anforderung verbindet den Leser mit den handelnden Personen im Buch. Auch diese müssen alsbald ein bisschen beweglich im Kopf werden. Zum Beispiel was Geschlecht und Sexualität betrifft: Es gibt erwartbar auf Gaia, der "Garnison der letzten Menschen", in der Kyr und ihr Bruder aufwachsen, keine große Toleranz für nicht-reproduktive Gefühle. Gleichzeitig lebt man inmitten von Aliens und trotz Informationsembargo, Nord-Korea-Style, trotz Abschirmung und Indoktrination, dringt die Weichheit, Güte, Freiheit, Seltsamkeit einer Aliengesellschaft alsbald ins Leben unserer Protagonisten und dort auf die explosive Mischung von einerseits indoktrinierten, aber eben auch hormonell nicht ganz ausgeglichenen Teenagern. Resultat: Emotionale Ambivalenz! Verwirrung! Nicht-Binäre Aliens! Personalpronomen!Da sind wir aufgeklärten Leserinnen natürlich spitze drin, wir lesen ja seit Jahren schon Hugo-Preisträger, und ein solcher wird man seit ein paar Jahren nicht mehr, wenn man auf Seite 8 nicht mindestens drei neue Geschlechtsfürwörter eingeführt hat. Das wirkt oft genug recht aufgesetzt (Ann Leckies jüngstes Buch "Translation State" ist da ein recht trauriges Beispiel, wenn auch ein gutes Buch). Emily Tesh jedoch zeigt, wie es gehen kann. Homosexualität, erzwungene Binarität und ja, auch ein paar neue Personalpronomen sind hier nicht Statements, sondern genuine Handlungstreiber und wir beginnen bald im Roman über Stereotype und deren Sinn und Unsinn nachzudenken. Nicht, weil das gerade woke ist, sondern weil wir uns ziemlich schnell in der Story in die Weltsicht der Aliens versetzen und uns sagen: Was zum Teufel machen diese Menschen hier eigentlich? Warum dieser ewige Kampf um die "richtige" Sexualität, die "richtige" Sprache, der seltsame Krampf, wie was sein soll und wie nicht?"Some Desperate Glory" oder auch dessen hier nicht nochmal benannte deutsche Übersetzung ist also eine klare Empfehlung. Für alle, die das abkönnen und den ultimativen Spoilerschutz haben wollen, rate ich dringend, den Roman auf einem elektronischen Gerät zu lesen. Diese haben die unterschätzt brillante Funktion, dass man den Fortschritt im Buch verbergen kann, etwas, was bei einem Paperback bekanntermassen schwer ist. Bei "Some Desperate Glory" lohnt das ungemein. Denn nach der ersten großen Explosion im Buch (falsch, der zweiten, nach der Erde und ich verrate hier nicht, was da apokalyptisch knallt) denken wir nämlich, das Buch ist zu Ende: 'Danke, ein bisschen dark, aber so ist es..' und merken: 'Oups, no no no, noch lange nicht!' Wie und wann die Story dann wirklich endet, wird auf dem fortschrittslosen Kindle zum Metarätsel und trägt enorm zum Lesevergnügen bei.Um dieses nicht noch weiter hinauszuzögern, empfehle ich somit den sofortigen Spontankauf beim elektronischen Buchhändler der Wahl und man nehme sich die nächsten Abende nichts vor. So gut ist "Some Desperate Glory" von Emily Tesh! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lobundverriss.substack.com

Some people read books to escape. Others turn to them for instruction. As the new year looms, our correspondents – and listeners – consider which titles can help forecast what's coming next. Picks include “Rainbows End” by Vernor Vinge, “Nuclear War” by Annie Jacobsen, “Not the End of the World” by Hannah Richie and “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey. This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show:“Rainbow's End, A Deepness in the Sky and A Fire upon the Deep” by Vernor Vinge“Ageless” by Andrew Steele“War” by Bob Woodward“Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jackobson“1984” by George Orwell“On Freedom and On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers“Qualityland” from Marc-Uwe Kling“Ministry of the Future” by Kim Stanley Robinson“Severance” by Ling Ma“Land of Milk and Money” by C Pam Zhang“The Broken Earth Trilogy” by NK Jemisin“Not the End of the World" by Hannah Ritchie“Orbital” by Samantha Harvey“The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers“Ancillary Justice” (The Imperial Rasch Series) by Ann Leckie“The Battle of Dorking” by Sir George Chesney“War of the Worlds" by HG WellsListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some people read books to escape. Others turn to them for instruction. As the new year looms, our correspondents – and listeners – consider which titles can help forecast what's coming next. Picks include “Rainbows End” by Vernor Vinge, “Nuclear War” by Annie Jacobsen, “Not the End of the World” by Hannah Richie and “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey. This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show:“Rainbow's End, A Deepness in the Sky and A Fire upon the Deep” by Vernor Vinge“Ageless” by Andrew Steele“War” by Bob Woodward“Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jackobson“1984” by George Orwell“On Freedom and On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers“Qualityland” from Marc-Uwe Kling“Ministry of the Future” by Kim Stanley Robinson“Severance” by Ling Ma“Land of Milk and Money” by C Pam Zhang“The Broken Earth Trilogy” by NK Jemisin“Not the End of the World" by Hannah Ritchie“Orbital” by Samantha Harvey“The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers“Ancillary Justice” (The Imperial Rasch Series) by Ann Leckie“The Battle of Dorking” by Sir George Chesney“War of the Worlds" by HG WellsListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. 

The first major neo-Nazi party in the US was led by a science fiction fan. So opens Jordan S. Carroll's Speculative Whiteness, a book that traces ideas about white nationalism through the entangled histories of science fiction culture and white supremacist politics, showing that debates about representation in science fiction films and literature are struggles over who has the right to imagine and inhabit the future. Here, Carroll is joined in conversation with David M. Higgins.Jordan S. Carroll is the author of Reading the Obscene: Transgressive Editors and the Class Politics of US Literature (Stanford University Press, 2021) and Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right (University of Minnesota Press, 2024). He received his PhD in English literature from the University of California, Davis. He was awarded the David G. Hartwell Emerging Scholar Award by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts, and his first book won the MLA Prize for Independent Scholars. Carroll's writing has appeared in American Literature, Post45, Twentieth-Century Literature, the Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, and The Nation. He works as a writer and educator in the Pacific Northwest.David M. Higgins (he/they) is associate professor of English and chair of the Department of Humanities and Communication at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide, and a senior editor for the Los Angeles Review of Books. David is the author of Reverse Colonization: Science Fiction, Imperial Fantasy, and Alt-Victimhood, which won the 2022 Science Fiction Research Association Book Award. He has also published a critical monograph examining Ann Leckie's SF masterwork Ancillary Justice (2013), and his research has been published in journals such as American Literature, Science Fiction Studies, Paradoxa, and Extrapolation. In the public sphere, David has been a featured speaker on NPR's radio show On Point, and his literary journalism has been published in the Los Angeles Review of Books and The Guardian. David serves as the second vice president for the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts (IAFA).EPISODE REFERENCES:James H. MadoleRichard B. SpencerDune (Frank Herbert)The Iron Dream (Norman Spinrad)Samuel DelanyAlain BadiouFrancis Parker Yockey / “destiny thinking”“Is It Fascism? A Leading Historian Changes His Mind” by Elisabeth Zerofsky, on Robert Paxton. New York Times Magazine.Solaris (Andrei Tarkovsky)Fredric JamesonSpeculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right by Jordan S. Carroll is available from University of Minnesota Press. This book is part of the Forerunners series, and an open-access edition is available to read free online at manifold.umn.edu.“Carroll reminds us that our future is contingent. Fascists have a vision for the future that excludes most of humanity, but fascists can be defeated. The future is for everyone—if we make it that way.” —Los Angeles Review of Books

In this episode we are delighted to welcome the extremely talented Emily Tesh, who managed the rare achievement of winning a World Fantasy Award for her first novella Silver in the Wood and a Hugo Award for her first novel, Some Desperate Glory. We touch upon some works that figure in Emily's approach to science fiction and fantasy, including Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and a children's SF novel from the '90s that she wishes someone would remember the title of (if you know it, let us know in the coments!), her own background in classics and how Some Desperate Glory reflects the military culture of ancient Sparta, the influence of gaming on her work, and what it's like to be in conversation with the new space opera tradition of Ann Leckie, Arkady Martine, Tamsyn Muir, and others. And, a few insights into her forthcoming novel, due out next year. As always, our thanks to Emily for joining us. We hope you enjoy the episode!

No leáis la sinopsis. Me lo agradeceréis. Es uno de los libros de ciencia ficción que más veces he recomendado. Muchas gracias por suscribiros y haceros mecenas.

We rank the nominees for the 2024 Hugo award, plus 6 more from last year!Join the book club on discord and read The Sparrow! https://discord.gg/fHejh3PpR2Video version of the show on YouTube https://youtube.com/@hugonautspodThe books:The Witch King - Martha WellsThe Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi - Shannon ChakrabortySome Desperate Glory - Emily TeshThe Saint of Bright Doors - Vajra ChandrasekeraStarter Villain - John ScalziTranslation State - Ann LeckieChain Gang All Stars - Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahThe Great Transition - Nick Fuller GooginsTitanium Noir - Nick HarkawayThe Marriage Act - John MarrsRed Team Blues - Cory DoctorowThe Ferryman - Justin Cronin 

Abu and Obssa read a short story that takes place in the Imperial Radch Universe from the short story collection Lake of Souls by Ann Leckie. You can read the short story for free here: https://reactormag.com/nights-slow-poison-ann-leckie/ Join our Patreon for bonus content and helpful reading materials Join our Discord to keep the conversation going Check our Season 1 Schedule to keep up with the reading assignments Email us your thoughts and questions: scifibookclubpod@loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cerramos esta primera temporada reuniéndonos para haceros recomendaciones veraniegas. Libros, cómics, series, películas y videojuegos. Tenemos de todo para que paséis un verano lleno de autoras y autores no binaries. Os esperamos a la vuelta del verano. Tripulantes: Presenta Laura Morán Iglesias, con Dik, Lau, Lunnely Darkor_LF. Recomendaciones veraniegas: -Laura Morán Iglesias: T. Kingfisher en general, con los paladines y The Seventh Bride en particular. Hard in Hightown, Mary Kirby. A little to the left Annie MacMillan y Lukas Steinman. The Expanse. Dragon Age: Absolution. -Dik: Redención en indigo, Karen Lord. Muerte y fortuna, Margaret Owen. Lore Olympus, Rachael Smythe. Greedfall. Remake de Embrujadas. -Lau: To Your Eternity, Yoshitoki Oima. Por culpa de una flor, Maria Medem. Té con el dragón negro, R.A. MacAvoy. -Lunnely: La espada de los secretos, Tricia Levenseller. Strawberry Moon, Laia López. Los Sims. Hazbin Hotel. -Darkor_LF: Translation State, Ann Leckie. Nebesta, Vanesa Figal y Konota. Frog Detective. Estación Once (miniserie, pero sobre todo libro)

Abu and Obssa complete their read through of Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. They discuss the explosive conclusion to Breq's mission and explore the larger themes of power and status. Join our Patreon for bonus content and helpful reading materials Join our Discord to keep the conversation going Check our Season 1 Schedule to keep up with the reading assignments Email us your thoughts and questions: scifibookclubpod@loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abu and Obssa continue their read through of Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. They explore the huge revelations about the Lord of the Radch and the reality of how ancillaries are created. Join our Patreon for bonus content and helpful reading materials Join our Discord to keep the conversation going Check our Season 1 Schedule to keep up with the reading assignments Email us your thoughts and questions: scifibookclubpod@loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abu and Obssa begin their read through of Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. They explore the history of the book's publication and the broad themes of imperialism and gender. Join our Patreon for bonus content and helpful reading materials Join our Discord to keep the conversation going Check our Season 1 Schedule to keep up with the reading assignments Email us your thoughts and questions: scifibookclubpod@loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adjoa Andoh narrates a short story collection of speculative fiction by Ann Leckie. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Emily Connelly discuss this collection that includes works in the worlds of the Imperial Radch and the Raven Tower, as well as stand-alone pieces. Andoh's stellar skills are on display in every piece, making the stories of gods, humans, and other assorted beings incredibly compelling. A stunning performance by a master narrator. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Hachette Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website. Support for AudioFile's Sound Reviews comes from Hachette Audio, and the audiobook edition of RELENTLESS by Luis A Miranda Jr, featuring a foreword read by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda. To find out more about this, and any other Hachette Audio productions, please visit www.hachetteaudio.com, or @HachetteAudio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We begin our walk through the 2024 nominees for Best Novel from the Hugo and Nebula Awards. First up: “Starter Villain” by John Scalzi, “Translation State” by Ann Leckie, and “Witch King” by Martha Wells. Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms, Scott McNulty and Heather Berberet.

We begin our walk through the 2024 nominees for Best Novel from the Hugo and Nebula Awards. First up: “Starter Villain” by John Scalzi, “Translation State” by Ann Leckie, and “Witch King” by Martha Wells. Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms, Scott McNulty and Heather Berberet.

We discuss a series which is arguably foundational to the wizards vs lesbians microgenre (despite a distinct lack of lesbianism) with special guest Ann Leckie. 

This episode contains: Everyone is here and accounted for, but earlier than usual. We talk about why. Steven played some Fallout Wasteland Warfare and watched the entire Amazon Prime Fallout series, because of course he did. Devon has been watching as well, Ben is still in progress. If you liked the show, you should play Fallout 4 (or maybe Fallout 76). Steven and Ben are watching X-Men '97 and if you're not, you're really missing out (Devon, looking at you). It's a mutant soap opera and we're here for it. Steven comments that it's not a Wolverine show, and that makes it different and makes it feel more X-Men-y. We chat about the Life/Death storyline in the show and in the comics. Ben is super excited to talk about Star Trek Discovery and it's latest time-loop episode.    Sweet Dreams Til Sunbeams Find You: 50 Years Later, This Apollo-Era Antenna Still Talks to Voyager 2. Deep Space Station 43 (DSS-43), an antenna located at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, has been instrumental in space exploration for over 50 years. It is responsible for over 40% of all data retrieved by celestial explorers and is the only antenna capable of communicating with Voyager 2. DSS-43 was honored with an IEEE Milestone in March during a ceremony held at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.  https://spectrum.ieee.org/apollo-era-antenna-voyager-2    This Week In Space: Astrophysicist explains science behind once-in-a-lifetime nova outburst that will light up the sky this year. The nova will create a "new" star in the night sky, and will light up sometime between now and September. It will be as bright as the North Star. We also talk about what a Type 1a supernova is.  https://phys.org/news/2024-03-astrophysicist-science-lifetime-nova-outburst.html  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_Ia_supernova    Book Club: The Long Game (The Far Reaches Collection) by Ann Leckie.  https://www.amazon.com/Long-Game-Far-Reaches-collection-ebook/dp/B0C4QPCYZ4  Steven and Ben both read the short story, while Devon completely forgot. Boo Devon. Both Ben and Steven enjoyed the story, but had a few little nitpicks. We also talk about where this segment is going in the future.  Next week: Void (The Far Reaches Collection) by Veronia Roth. 

This episode contains: It's our 501st extravaganza! Except due to technical difficulties, it's not really. Steven tells us about the M. Night Shyamalan trilogy of Unbreakable, Split and Glass, which is now available on Netflix. Ben watched the classic 1991 Addams Family movie and Devon wonders if the new Munster's movie by Rob Zombie is any good. It was panned when the trailer dropped but Devon thinks it actually looked kind of fun, and he's a fan of Rob Zombie (more on that later). Devon also correctly identified MC Hammer as the artist who performed the theme for the Addams Family movie. Weird flex, but okay. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14813212/ Ben talks about Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire again, which is like speed racer meets The 5th Element. Ben's taste is very specific for Ben. https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/browse/entity-6b4f6834-0f00-4e3e-8a79-e5aa05ba0495?sharesource=iOS Devon and his wife Jen started Dark City (on Tubi) but then switched to Fallout! Devon gives Fallout a positive review, despite some issues with inconsistent tone. Devon played the last three Fallout games to Steven's surprise. Also, Deven gets cancelled for making fun of Polish people. We then lament the cancellation of Lower Decks, which will conclude with the upcoming 5th season. Will there be anymore animated comedy Trek? https://trekmovie.com/2024/04/12/breaking-star-trek-strange-new-worlds-renewed-for-season-4-lower-decks-to-end-with-season-5/   Book Club: Just Out of Jupiter's Reach (The Far Reaches collection) by Nnedi Okorafor. This was different kind of story than we were used to. Steven drank the Kool-Aid and listened to this episode. Steven and Ben enjoyed it but don't think it's for everyone. Devon was lukewarm on it. We discuss the diverse cast of characters, new points of view and a different type of storytelling. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C4QR4SX7?ref_=dbs_m_aos_rwt_calw_tkin_4&storeType=ebooks Next week we will be discussing the story The Long Game by Ann Leckie. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/151908306-the-long-game We conclude with a discussion of Rob Zombie being a vegan, a non-drinker and a non-drug user. Apparently he's just like that normally. We also try to analyze his recent album titles, such as The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy and The Electric Warlock Acid With Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser.

Trigger Warning: This episode covers a chapter that includes suicidal ideation.   SPOILER ALERT: This episode includes spoilers for Volume 10 of The Wandering Inn.  Please skip this episode if you have not completed 10.09 E   Other Topics: Isekai; Cowboy Carter; The Hugo Awards; Star Trek: Strange New Worlds; Witch King by Martha Wells; Translation State by Ann Leckie; The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty; Starter Villain by John Scalzi; Redshirts by John Scalzi; Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

En este sexto programa, viajamos al espacio para hablar de la space opera, un subgénero de la ciencia ficción que nos tiene cautivadas. ¿Qué es? ¿Qué autoras han explorado lo más recóndito de este género? ¡También hablamos de la movida de los premios Hugo 2023! Tripulantes: Presentado por Claudia con Dik, Darkor y Andrea Minireseñas: La herencia de Orquídea Divina, de Zoraida Córdova. Echo, miniserie de Marvel. Las brujas de su majestad, de Juno Dawson. Recomendaciones: saga Vorkosigan de Lois McMaster Bujold. Trilogía del Imperio del Radch de Ann Leckie. Cosmoknights de Hanah Temple (cómic). The Ark (serie), de Rebecca Rosenberg, Vagrant Queen (serie) de Jem Garrad, Horizonte Rojo, de Rocío Vega, Horizonte Lunar, de Felicidad Martínez. These burning stars de Bethany Jacobs. Saga. A memory called empire, de Arkady Martine, Star Trek Canción de créditos: Rollin at 5 - 210 - full by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 International License.

We have struggled to fit Ann Leckie's books under our remit because there are usually too many genders in them for something as pedestrian as lesbianism to take place. Luckily for us this one fits neatly under Narcissistic Parents of Monstrous Children. 

Gender, self-determination, and law drama collide in Ann Leckie's Translation State!  Your hosts rank their favorite characters; unsurprisingly, Cyrus was head over heels for pro-vivisection Qven, whereas Sarah was charmed by Enae's swagless detective whimsy. Also, this book about terrifying unknowable aliens and sci-fi political drama is a regency romance, actually. Occasionally we devolve into wailing about how we miss the protagonist of the Imperial Radch trilogy, Breq. Bear with us. Support the show

Sharifah and Jenn are off this holiday week, but we thought it would be fun to share a rerun of our most anticipated books of 2023, which originally aired on January 11, 2023. Sharifah and Jenn discuss the Renfield trailer, a new bookstore honoring Octavia Butler, their most anticipated books for January through June of 2023, and more! Follow the podcast via RSS here, Apple Podcasts here, Spotify here. To get even more SF/F news and recs, sign up for our Swords and Spaceships newsletter! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. News Discussed A new bookstore in Pasadena: Octavia's Bookshelf [LAist] Trailer for Renfield [Twitter] Most Anticipated [The Mary Sue] Wakanda Forever Streaming 2/1 [Twitter] Books Discussed Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi (2/14) - William Morrow Lone Women by Victor LaValle (3/21) - One World A Brief History of Living Forever by Jaroslav Kalfar (3/28) - Little Brown Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee (4/11) - Tordotcom The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro (Apr 18) - PRH The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (Mar 7) - Tordotcom Witch King by Martha Wells (May 30) - Tordotcom Jenn's Extended List Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai (1/10) Karma of the Sun by Brandon Ying Kit Boey (1/17) Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen (1/31) Everything Good Dies Here by Djuna, translated by Adrian Thieret (3/7) The Ten Percent Thief by Lavanya Lakshminarayan (3/28) Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway (5/16) Translation State by Ann Leckie (6/6) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Daniel Henning joins AudioFile's Robin Whitten to discuss his narration of T.J. Klune's IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS, one of AudioFile's 2023 Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks. In the audiobook, Henning demonstrates perfect comedic timing and impressive vocal versatility in a sci-fi retelling of “Pinocchio.” It's a laugh-out-loud and emotional audiobook that asks listeners to question what it means to be human. In this interview, Henning tells listeners about preparing to voice the characters, human and non-human, and the fun of bringing this queer Pinocchio retelling to life. Read AudioFile's review of the audiobook. Published by Macmillan Audio. AudioFile's 2023 Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks are: GODKILLER by Hannah Kaner, read by Kit Griffiths HOLLY by Stephen King, read by Justine Lupe, Stephen King [Note] IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by TJ Klune, read by Daniel Henning THE WATER OUTLAWS by S.L. Huang, read by Emily Woo Zeller SILVER NITRATE by Silvia Morena-Garcia, read by Gisela Chipe TRANSLATION STATE by Ann Leckie, read by Adjoa Andoh For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from HarperAudio. Get up-close to artists you admire with Willie Nelson's Energy Follows Thought, Melissa Etheridge's Talking to My Angels, and Jada Pinkett Smith's Worthy. Listen to samples at www.hc.com. Daniel Henning photo by Stephen Mosher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brea and Mallory talk about being a picky reader, review a book tracking spreadsheet, and recommend queer sci fi for your straight dad. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com!Reading Glasses MerchRecommendations StoreSponsors -Miracle Madewww.trymiracle.com/GLASSESPromo Code: GLASSESTor BooksThornhedge by T. Kingfisher Links -Reading Glasses Facebook GroupReading Glasses Goodreads GroupAmazon Wish ListNewsletterLibro.fmTo join our Slack channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!Books Mentioned - The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka OlderBeware the Woman by Megan AbbottThe Stars are Legion by Kameron HurleyAncillary Justice by Ann Leckie 

In this episode, we review Ann Leckie's captivating fantasy novel, "The Raven Tower." Published in 2019, it immerses readers in a world where gods and humans coexist. Leckie's masterful prose, rich mythology, and well-crafted characters make this a must-read. Discover why it earned critical acclaim and awards. Happy reading!“A usurper has claimed the throne. Invaders amass at the borders. And they have made their alliances with enemy gods...For centuries the kingdom of Iraden has been protected by a god known as the Raven. But in their hour of need, the Raven speaks nothing to its people. It is into this unrest that the warrior Eolo - aide to the true heir to the throne - arrives. In seeking to help his master reclaim his city, Eolo discovers that the Raven's Tower holds a secret. Its foundations conceal a dark history that has been waiting to reveal itself... and to set in motion a chain of events that could destroy Iraden forever.” - Book BlurbContent WarningsDeath, suicideSupport the showP.s If there's a book you want to recommend to us to read, just send us a message/email and we'll pop it on our long list (but please read our review policy on our website first for the books we accept).Social MediaWebsite: https://teachingmycattoread.wordpress.com/Email: teachingmycattoread@gmail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachmycat2read/Twitter: https://twitter.com/teachmycat2read?s=09Tumblr: https://teachingmycattoread.tumblr.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXi9LNQv8SBQt8ilgTZXtQ

This time we discussed Translation State, written by Ann Leckie and narrated by Adjoa Andoh. Review & discussion with Lisa and Scott. Translation State [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive/Libby] / [Audible] Ancillary Justice [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive/Libby]/ [Audible] Food & Drink Audiobook Draft [Episode 72] The Raven Tower [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] / [Audible] Remote Control [Libro.fm]   Good Omens (Full Cast Production) [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive/Libby] / [Audible] Wayfarers (Series):  The Galaxy, and the Ground Within: [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive/Libby] / [Audible] / [Episode 97]  

Golden Voice Adjoa Andoh narrates a complex story about identity and belonging set in Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch universe. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Emily Connelly discuss this new standalone sci-fi mystery with a memorable cast of characters. Qven should have become a Presger translator, but for a terrible incident that sends them careening towards Enae Athur, Reet Hluid, and the Radch Empire. Adjoa expertly narrates the emotional depths of these three characters, each of whom comes from a background where they were not valued or or didn't feel part of a community. As all three claim their identities and start to heal, Andoh's performance will resonate in profound ways. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode is sponsored by Dreamscape Publishing. Dreamscape Publishing is celebrating Audiobook Month with exciting giveaways! Learn more on their social media channels or at their website, dreamscapepublishing.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author : Scott Lynch Narrators : Norm Sherman, Pria Wood, Dave Thompson, Anna Schwind, Wilson Fowlie, M.K. Hobson, Graeme Dunlop, Ann Leckie, Alasdair Stuart, Rachel Swirsky and Marshal Latham Host : Matt Dovey Audio Producer : Devin Martin Discuss on Forums Originally Published in Swords and Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery, Originally PodCastle 200 […] The post PodCastle 792: ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: In the Stacks appeared first on PodCastle.

Author : Benjamin Rosenbaum Narrator : Graeme Dunlop Hosts : Matt Dovey and Ann Leckie Audio Producer : Eric Valdes Discuss on Forums Originally published in All-Star Zeppelin Adventure Stories, edited by David Moles and Jay Lake. Rated PG Episode 785 is part of our 15th Anniversary special and includes an interview with Ann Leckie, the first assistant […] The post PodCastle 785: ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: Biographical Notes to ‘A Discourse on the Nature of Causality, with Air-planes' by Benjamin Rosenbaum appeared first on PodCastle.

Sharifah and Jenn discuss the Renfield trailer, a new bookstore honoring Octavia Butler, their most anticipated books for January through June of 2023, and more! Follow the podcast via RSS here, Apple Podcasts here, Spotify here. The show can also be found on Stitcher here. To get even more SF/F news and recs, sign up for our Swords and Spaceships newsletter! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. NEWS DISCUSSED A new bookstore in Pasadena: Octavia's Bookshelf [LAist] Trailer for Renfield [Twitter] Most Anticipated [The Mary Sue] Wakanda Forever Streaming 2/1 [Twitter] BOOKS DISCUSSED Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi (2/14) – William Morrow Lone Women by Victor LaValle (3/21) – One World A Brief History of Living Forever by Jaroslav Kalfar (3/28) – Little Brown Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee (4/11) – Tordotcom The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro (Apr 18) – PRH The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (Mar 7) – Tordotcom Witch King by Martha Wells (May 30) – Tordotcom JENN'S EXTENDED LIST Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai (1/10) Karma of the Sun by Brandon Ying Kit Boey (1/17) Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen (1/31) Everything Good Dies Here by Djuna, translated by Adrian Thieret (3/7) The Ten Percent Thief by Lavanya Lakshminarayan (3/28) Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway (5/16) Translation State by Ann Leckie (6/6) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breq used to be the Justice of Toren - the huge, complex AI that inhabited a colossal starship and all of its thousands of ancillaries in the service of the Radch, the largest of the human empires.Ancillaries are human bodies that were captured in previous Radchaai annexations (or colonizations) – those who resist the takeover are killed and their bodies frozen and stored, ready to be activated and controlled by Radchaai AI in future annexations. The ancillaries are terrifying soldiers – each one is protected by almost impenetrable armor, and the AI never miss a shot.But now Breq has been reduced to only one ancillary body. The book follows two parallel timelines – one as she closes in on the end of her quest for revenge, and the other showing how she was betrayed twenty years ago.There are two small things that hold this book back just a little bit. First, it's fairly complicated – perhaps too much so. Second, it starts off slowly – but once it gets going, it is incredibly propulsive. So, push through the first 50-80 pages, and know that it's an incredible experience once you are immersed in the world!We also talk a bit about the two sequels in the Imperial Radch trilogy – those books aren't as good and are a lot smaller in scope, but if you absolutely love Ancillary Justice, they can still be worth a read.As always, we also recommend and discuss some similar books if you are looking for more great books to read. This week we recommend:The Murderbot series by Martha WellsA Memory Called Empire by Arkady MartineThe Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le GuinOr you can watch the show on YouTube here.

In this week's episode, we talk about something that infuriates us more than anything else - banned books. The original idea was to talk about ban books from around the world, but we focus a lot on the 10 most popular banned books in America. Book bans and challenges aren't new, and it's extremely frustrating to see challenges focused on gender identity, race, sexual orientation and racism. Current times have seen a significant increase in book challenges and we wanted to focus on and bring attention to the books that are being targeted.  What We Read and What We Are Reading: Stuck with You (The STEMinist Novellas #2) by Ali Hazelwood Lotus by Jennifer Hartman All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata Noodle and the No Bones Day written by Jonathan Graziano and illustrated by Dan Travis The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and narrated by Shayna Small Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Fangirl Vol. 2 - the Manga by Rainbow Rowell and adapted by Sam Magg and illustrated by Gabi Nam. Thanks to VIZ Media for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie and narrated by Adjoa Andoh The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas Ace by Angela Chen Additional Mentions: Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey Home Field Advantage by Dhalia Adler Den of Vipers by K. A. Knight Still Beating by Jennifer Hartman Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart Ariadne by Jennifer Saint From Twinkle, With Love by Sandya Menon Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin The Hatchet by Gary Paulson The Color Purple by Alice Walker A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #1) by Sarah M. Maas 1984 by George Orwell Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Ecstasy and Me by Hedy Lamarr The Anarchist Cookbook by Wiliam Powell American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz Alice's Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Mein Kampf by Adoplf Hitler A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway Sophie's Choice by William Stryon The Da Vinci's Code by Dan Brown Frankenstein by Mary Shelly Links referenced https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/g39908103/banned-books/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2022/06/09/rise-book-bans-explained/ Check out Pages n' Pages on Instagram. These opinions are entirely our own. Image by Kapona via Vector Stock.

For the first week in July, we're joined by Nebula Award winner Rachel Swirsky, whose novella January Fifteenth ( just out from Tordotcom) is a provocative exploration of the idea of Universal Basic Income (UBI) as it might play out in the lives of four women in very different circumstances. We touch upon Rachel's decision to focus on characters rather than systems, to set the tale in a recognizable near future, and to deliberately restrain from many science-fictional bells and whistles. This leads to how SF deals, too rarely, with questions of economic policy and the effects on individual lives —in the case of January Fifteenth, a woman escaping from an abusive ex-spouse, a journalist covering the effects of UBI, a well-off college student whose friends deliberately waste their annual checks, and a young member of a repressive religious cult. As usual, we touch upon what's next for Rachel, including an intriguing collaboration with Ann Leckie. As always, our thanks to Rachel for making the time to talk to us. We hope you enjoy the episode!

It is the official end of season two of Pages n' Pages and the one-year anniversary! We are so thankful to you for a year of book-ish fun and a year of us two going about our crazy lives. Thanks to everyone who listens, whether you've been here from the beginning or are just finding us, we appreciate every one of you! In this week's episode, enjoy the random things we've cut out of episodes over the past few months that have really made us laugh. What We Read and What We Are Reading: Ace by Angela Chen and narrated by Natalie Naudus The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin and narrated by Laura Knight Keating Not Exactly What I Had in Mind by Kate Brook. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann The Vanishing Half by Brig Bennett and narrated by Shayna Small Fangirl, Vol. 2: The Manga, adapted by Sam Maggs, written by Rainbow Rowell, and illustrated by Gabi Nam Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie and narrated by Adjoa Andoh Additional Mentions: Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston Check out Pages n' Pages on Instagram. These opinions are entirely our own. Image by Kapona via Vector Stock.

We explore queerness in speculative fiction, featuring Keely Shinners talking about their debut novel, How to Build a Home for the End of the World, and with recommendations from Colin Pegon. Colin and Vasti talk about ‘The Left Hand of Darkness' by Urusula K Le Guin, ‘Ancillary Justice' by Ann Leckie, ‘It Doesn't Have to Be This Way' by Alistair Mackay, and ‘Kindred' by Octavia Butler. Hosted by Vasti Calitz. Produced by Vasti Calitz and Andri Burnett. This season is made possible by a grant by the National Arts Council.

We stretched our remit to the breaking point with this one, but Ann Leckie definitely helped usher in the current W vs L zeitgeist so we felt the need to cover her work.  Provenance is a social sciences murder mystery, Cherryhesque in both its style and execution, and a lot of fun.

Perry and David talk about a diverse selection of books they've been reading lately, and Perry talks to Dr. Lucy Sussex about the best books she read last year. NASA naming of Perseverance landing spot (02:00) Nebula Awards (06:25) Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (04:53) Cross-cultural influence of The Beatles (01:41) Website Galactic Journey - http://galacticjourney.org/ (08:48) The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (05:54) The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie (09:36) Daria's Daughter by Linda Huber (06:28) Queen of the Conquered by Kacen Callender (09:48) Interview with Lucy Sussex (19:03) Square Haunting by Francesca Wade (01:29) Truganini by Cassandra Pybus (04:03) Friends and Rivals by Brenda Niall (01:05) The Haunting of Alma Fielding by Kate Summerscale (02:29) No Love Lost by Marjorie Allingham (01:41) Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (07:22) Windup (01:07) Image: detail from "High Treason" by Sir John Lavery

In which we examine the emotions and motivations of AI, debate what constitutes a "slow burn," and discuss how perception of gender affects characterization. All this and more as the Bluestockings discuss the book Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie.

Author : Scott Lynch Narrators : Norm Sherman, Peter Wood, Dave Thompson, Wilson Fowlie, M.K. Hobson, Graeme Dunlop, Anna Schwind, Ann Leckie, Alasdair Stuart, Rachel Swirsky and Marshal Latham Host : Peter Wood Audio Producer : Peter Wood Discuss on Forums Originally Published in Swords and Dark Magic: The New Sword and Sorcery. Rated R: Contains violence, […] The post PodCastle 516b: 10th Anniversary Special, The Best of PodCastle #4 – In the Stacks appeared first on PodCastle.