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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.

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All Episodes

21:04

#26 - Vonnegut, Adams, and Modern Satire

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2021/04/12

While many early works of proto-sci-fi were satires like Gulliver's Travels, satirical works also appear in modern sci-fi. In this episode, we take a look at the two most famous authors of this subgenre, Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams. Book recommendation: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut's letter to his family during World War II. Other works discussed: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

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31:13

#25 - Strange New Worlds

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2021/04/05

While much of the New Wave was about exploring inner space, some authors were still writing about exploring other words. In this episode, we see how this subgenre of "strange new worlds sci-fi" developed, both through Star Trek and through the literature of the time. Book recommendation: Inverted World by Christopher Priest. The Sci-Fi Encyclopedia on aliens, mentioning the influence of John W. Campbell. Neil deGrasse Tyson's interview with Nichelle Nichols. Shannon Chamberlain on fanfiction

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Episode 25 Delayed

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2021/03/29

Hi all. Sorry there's no new episode this week. I have the script finished and everything, but my computer's gone on the fritz. I barely got it working again after the mess it got into yesterday, and until I have a better idea of how it's doing, I don't trust it to get through recording and editing an episode. I'm going to have to play it by ear for now. If the problems resolve themselves, I should be able to record and release Episode 25 next week and continue with Episode 26 on schedule. If not,

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25:34

#24 - The New Dystopias

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2021/03/15

In the New Wave, a new batch of dystopian stories appeared that reflected the newer concerns of the time. These were different from the classics like Nineteen Eighty-Four--more diverse, and very often more hopeful. In this episode, we explore the highlights of these stories. Short story recommendation: "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut. My essay on the classic dystopias. Kurt Vonnegut on "Harrison Bergeron." Darryl Hattenhauer on "Harrison Bergeron." My analysis of Logan's Run. Other works

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25:34

#23 - Overpopulation and Environmental Collapse

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2021/03/01

In the 60s and 70s, awareness of environmental issues was rising, and that was reflected in the New Wave of science fiction. Of particular note were overpopulation and pollution (leading to widespread environmental collapse). In this episode, we explore the highlights of this subgenre. Book recommendation: Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner Other books mentioned: Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi Paolo Bacigalupi interview

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21:57

#22 - Nuclear War

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2021/02/15

The Cold War brought with it new tales of nuclear war in science fiction, both in the early days of the 50s and 60s, and later, when fears began to rise again. In this episode, we look at the highlights of these stories and how they vary widely in how they address the consequences of nuclear war. Book recommendation: Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. The Office of Technology Assessment's 1979 nuclear war study. Other works mentioned: On the Beach by Nevil Shute (un-recommended) A Canticle for Leibowitz by

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14:38

#21 - Apocalypse How?

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2021/02/01

In the 1950s and 60s, disaster and apocalyptic stories became prominent. However, the earliest ones could get pretty weird. In this episode, we take a look at the fantastic apocalypses that gave way to more realistic ones later on. Book recommendation: The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. Other books mentioned: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson The Wind from Nowhere by J. G. Ballard The Drowned World by J. G. Ballard The Burning World by J. G. Ballard The Crystal World by J. G. Ballard

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30:57

Writer's History #1 - Max Hawthorne Interview

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2021/01/18

For my first interview on the show, I spoke to Max Hawthorne, author of the paleo-fiction thriller, Kronos Rising, about his writing and his experiences with science fiction as a whole. Max's website. Max's peer-reviewed scientific paper on Plesiosaurs. Max's book recommendations: The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin Hiero's Journey by Sterling Lanier

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15:52

#20 - Philip K. Dick

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2021/01/04

Despite his often inconsistent writing, Philip K. Dick is notable for having more film adaptations of his novels and short stories than almost every other sci-fi author, making him one of the most important writers of the New Wave. Here, we explore an overview of his work. Book recommendation: Time Out of Joint Ryan Britt on Dick's writing style. Other books mentioned: The Man in the High Castle Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? A Scanner Darkly

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22:41

#19 - The New Wave

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/12/21

In the 1960s, science fiction went through a major change as the New Wave moved it away from the hard sci-fi of the 50s into a softer, but more socially conscious space. In this episode, we overview the new ideas, themes, and authors of this period. Book recommendation: The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester. Selected other books: The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester Non-Stop by Brian Aldiss Hothouse by Brian Aldiss Greybeard by Brian Aldiss High-Rise by J. G. Ballard And, in the spirit of the

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20:02

#18 - Movies in the Golden Age

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/12/07

Like books, movies and television also went through a golden age in science fiction in the 1950s. In this episode we explore the trends in the visual medium at the time and how they compared to print. Movie recommendation: The Day the Earth Stood Still. Rotten Tomatoes's list of top sci-fi films.

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23:01

#17 - Arthur C. Clarke

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/11/23

Arthur C. Clarke was the fourth of the "Big Four" authors of the golden age of science fiction. In this episode, we explore his work and his unique writing style, especially centered around "sufficiently advanced technology." Book recommendation: The City and the Stars. Other books mentioned: Childhood's End A Fall of Moondust 2001: A Space Odyssey The Colours of Infinity on YouTube. Clarke's three laws.

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19:23

#16 - Ray Bradbury

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/11/09

Ray Bradbury is most famous as the author of Fahrenheit 451, but he was an important and unique figure in science fiction at-large, a master of short fiction with a colorful, Hollywood-centered career. Here, we explore some of his most notable works, and his philosophy in writing. Book recommendation: Fahrenheit 451. Bradbury's 1999 interview about his writing. Bradbury in Hollywood. Gautham Shenoy on Fahrenheit 451. Louis Friedman's tribute to Bradbury. Other books mentioned: The Martian

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25:59

#15 - Robert Heinlein Part II: Politics, Religion,...

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/10/26

Robert Heinlein's later career went to some unusual places, including books with heavy philosophical and political themes, while still continuing with his classic hard sci-fi rigor. In this episode, we explore the highlights of his later work. Book recommendation: The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. Other books mentioned: Starship Troopers Stranger in a Strange Land Time Enough for Love Floyd Gale on Starship Troopers. Cory Doctorow on Heinlein's less savory works.

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22:27

#14 - Robert Heinlein Part I: The Juveniles

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/10/12

Robert Heinlein was one of the first major authors to write science fiction specifically for children. In this episode, we explore how he did it and what sets him apart from his contemporaries in this area, along with the other classic children's sci-fi books up through the golden age. Book recommendation: Have Spacesuit--Will Travel Other books mentioned: The Tom Swift Series The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The Chrysalids by John Wyndham Grumbles from the Grave, Chapter 3 John J

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19:05

#13 - Isaac Asimov Part II: Robots

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/09/28

We continue our exploration of the work of Isaac Asimov with a study of his Robot Series and an introduction to robot fiction in general, which he shaped in ways that remain important to this day. Book recommendation: I, Robot by Isaac Asimov.

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19:32

#12 - Isaac Asimov Part I

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/09/14

Isaac Asimov was own of the most prolific authors of the golden age of sci-fi, especially when it comes to short stories. In this episode, we explore an overview of his work. Book recommendation: The End of Eternity. "The Last Question": Full Text Narrated by Leonard Nimoy A cool fan-made illustrated version I found. My analysis of Trantor.

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18:48

#11 - John W. Campbell and the Golden Age of Sci-Fi

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/08/31

John W. Campbell was the controversial longtime editor of Astounding Science Fiction who single-handedly directed the course of science fiction in the 1940s, a time that is not called the "golden age of sci-fi." However, I argue the golden age continued through the 1950s as writers who got their start under Campbell began publishing on their own. Book recommendation: Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement. Robert Silverberg on the golden age. The Internet Speculative Fiction Database's "Most-Viewed

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21:40

#10 - Stapledon and Lewis

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/08/17

Olaf Stapledon and C. S. Lewis both explored the spiritual side of science fiction, albeit in very different ways. In this episode, we explore how they went about it and why one of them is considered a must read by many of the greats of the genre. Book recommendation: Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon.

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16:24

#9 - The Dystopia Classic

A Reader"s History of Science Fiction ·

2020/08/03

Dystopian fiction has become a popular subgenre of sci-fi in its own right, but the earliest dystopian novels shared some unique elements in common, inverting the standard tropes of the hero's journey. In this episode, we explore what has made these stories so enduring. Book recommendation: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. My essay on the inverted hero's journey. Link to the Heroine's journey. Link to O'Brien's speech.

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