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PODCAST

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction

A biweekly podcast exploring the history of science fiction from the Renaissance to the present day. Astrophysicist and sci-fi enthusiast Alex Howe explores how the classic books, movies, and TV shows influenced the development of the genre and continue to do so today, with book recommendations for each episode.

arts books

All Episodes

22:00

S2E12: Catch-Up Episode #5: DC Movies

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/11/14

Complementing my Marvel catch-up, I review the new DC superhero movies that have come out since the start of the pandemic. Movie recommendation: DC League of Super-Pets Other movies discussed: Wonder Woman 1984Black AdamZack Snyder's Justice League The Batman

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46:40

S2E11: Nick Nocturne Discusses Unfiction

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/10/31

I interview Nick Nocturne, host of the YouTube channel Night Mind about the emerging genre of unfiction and its relation to science fiction. Nick's recommendations: PBhere (sci-fi) Diminish (non-sci-fi)

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53:59

S2E10: Interview: Brown and Hansen on Stephen King

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/10/17

In the podcast's first panel interview, I speak to two Stephen King scholars, Simon Brown and Regina Hansen, about King's illustrious career and influence on science fiction. Book and movie recommendation: The Dead Zone.

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11:25

S2E9: Catch-Up Episode #4: Horror

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/10/03

In the first of three horror-themed episodes for October, I discuss one class work that I passed over before and one new work. Recommendation: The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham Other work discussed: Jordan Peele's Nope

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19:34

S2E8: Techno-Thrillers

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/09/19

Techno-thrillers are a surprisingly fuzzy category that sits at the border of sci-fi and suspense. In this episode, I give an overview of the subgenre and the different ways it can be classified. Book recommendation: Delta-v by Daniel Suarez Sam Boush on the categories of techno-thrillers. My review of Delta-v. Other books discussed: The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

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13:41

S2E7: Catch-Up Episode #3: Marvel Movies

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/09/05

As part of my catch-up series, I review the Marvel movies that have come out since the start of the pandemic. Movie recommendation: The New Mutants. (I really think it's underrated.)

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37:23

S2E6: Anime Science Fiction

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/08/22

Experimenting with a new format, my friend Greg and I have a conversation about anime and its place in the science fiction genre. TV recommendation: Cowboy BebopMovie recommendation: Castle in the Sky: Laputa

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47:07

S2E5: Paul Frommer Interview

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/08/08

I interview Dr. Paul Frommer, the creator of the Na'vi language from Avatar as well as Barsoomian from Disney's John Carter. Prospective movie recommendation: Avatar: The Way of Water Dr. Frommer's blog.

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11:43

S2E4: Catch-Up Episode #2: Monster Movies

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/07/25

In this second catch-up episode, I talk about the most recent monster movies (and one novel) to come out and their place in science fiction as a whole. Movie recommendation: Love and Monsters My YouTube video on the physics of giant monsters. Other works discussed: The Color out of Space (2019) Underwater (2020) Godzilla vs. Kong Jurassic World Dominion Monster Hunter (2020) The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

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31:35

S2E3: Constructed Languages in Science Fiction

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/07/11

Science fiction frequently plays with language in different ways to explore the concepts of philosophy, culture, and cognition; and constructed languages (or conlangs) are a big part of that. In this episode, I highlight how conlangs have contributed to the genre over its history. TV recommendation: Defiance (Kastithanu, L'Irathi, Indojisnen, and Kinuk'aaz, by David J. Peterson) My blog posts about language in Creationism. jan Misali’s Conlang Critic playlist. Other languages discussed: Newspeak

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14:07

S2E2: Catch-Up Episode #1

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/06/27

My first episode catching up both on classic works of sci-fi that I passed over before, and new works from the past 2 years. These are "short" episodes that will continue intermittently with longer ones. Book recommendation: To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini Other book discussed: Cities in Flight by James Blish My review of A Case of Conscience by James Blish

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41:02

S2E1: Farah Mendlesohn Interview

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/06/13

I interview Farah Mendlesohn, a scholar of children's sci-fi and fantasy literature and author of The Intergalactic Playground. Farah's website. Farah's book recommendations: The Mortal Engines Quartet by Philip Reeve The Year's Best African Speculative Fiction (free online)

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Season 2 Coming Next Week!

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/06/09

A Reader's History of Science Fiction will return next Monday with my interview with Farah Mendlesohn, author of The Intergalactic Playground. Be sure to check it out.

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29:33

#46 - Science Fiction Today

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/04/04

In the final episode of Season 1, we explore the state of the science fiction genre in the present day. Book recommendation: The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin Worlds Without End's list of sci-fi classics Worlds Without End's customizable list N. K. Jemisin on the Broken Earth trilogy Edit: corrected links. Other books discussed: The Lady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette Kowal The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

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06:50

Bonus Episode: More Alternate History

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/04/01

I missed a few important books in the previous episode on alternate history. Here is an overview of those works. Recommendation: "If Lee Had Not Won the Battle of Gettysburg" by Winston Churchill (yes, really). Other works discussed: The Grasshopper Lies Heavy from The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick Fallen Axis from this Onion article. The United Colonies Triumphant from The Two Georges by Harry Turtledove. Proposed book by Abraham Lincoln from The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove,

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26:52

#45 - Young Adult Dystopias

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/03/21

Dystopian fiction has been the core of young adult sci-fi for the past 15 years. In this episode, we explore how they got their start and what makes them so popular. Book recommendation: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins My analysis of Mortal Engines. Other books discussed: Unwind by Neal Shusterman The Maze Runner by James Dashner The Selection by Kiera Cass Uglies by Scott Westerfeld Maximum Ride by James Patterson The Chrysalids by John Wyndham The Giver by Lois Lowry Mortal Engines by Philip

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29:36

#44 - The Children's Sci-Fi Renaissance

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/03/07

Children's science fiction was pretty sparse historically, but it began to take off in the 1990s. In this episode, we explore how sci-fi for kids has changed and expanded over the most recent generation. Book recommendations: Middle grade (ages 8-12): Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke Chapter books (ages 6-10): Aliens for Breakfast by Stephanie Spinner and Jonathan Etra Picture books: How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk Farah Mendelsohn on children’s sci-fi. 1984 NYTimes article on book fairs.

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Episode 44 Delayed

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/02/28

Hi all. Unfortunately, I need to delay this week's episode. Production was already running slow because it's a long episode with a lot of supplemental material, as evidenced by the bonus blog posts. And, frankly, I've been a bit distracted by the Ukraine crisis. I do have the script written, so I should be able to get Episode 44 up next week. After that, it might a be a new two-week schedule from that date. In the meantime, look for my second supplemental blog post for this episode.

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18:06

#43 - Solar System Exploration

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/02/14

Hard sci-fi stories about the exploration of our solar system became more popular beginning in the 1990s. In this episode, we explore how these ideas rose to prominence and have developed over the years. Book recommendation: The Martian by Andy Weir. The Mundane Manifesto by Geoff Ryman et al. Kim Stanley Robinson on the Mars Trilogy. Other works mentioned: The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson The Grand Tour Series by Ben Bova The Expanse by James S. A. Corey Artemis by Andy Weir Gravity

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21:51

#42 - Blockbuster Films Part II: Superheroes Go...

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2022/01/31

As Hollywood moved into the twenty-first century, it found a new formula for superhero stories that catapulted them to some of the most popular stories in sci-fi. In this episode, we explore the history of superheroes in film and how their modern mainstream popularity has transformed the genre. Movie recommendation: X-Men Other works dicussed: The IncrediblesThe Dark Knight Trilogy The Reckoners Series by Brandon Sanderson Worm by John C. "Wildbow" McCrae Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a

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