M. R. Carey on Hopeful Dystopias
M. R. Carey is the author of "The Girl with All the Gifts" (previously discussed on this program) as well as the Koli Trilogy. He joins the show, alon...
Alienating the Audience
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About
Andrew Heaton and an army of nerds plunge deep, deep into films, books, and TV shows to ask: what's science fiction really about? What is The Twilight Zone really exploring? What are the underlying themes of Star Trek? What is the worldview of Star Wars? Also sometimes Heaton performs comedy on other planets.
The Bioethics of “Gattaca”
“Gattaca” (1997) explores a dystopian future where inequality is staggering--and genetic. Andrew Mayne joins the show to discuss the implications of g...
Andy Weir on "Project Hail Mary"
Andy Weir, author of "The Martian," joins the program to talk about science fiction, technology, and his new book "Project Hail Mary" You can find hi...
Jedi Warriors and Islamic Mysticism
Dr. H. A. Hellyer gained international attention (and flak) when he compared Jedi monks to Sufi Islamic warriors in an article for CNN. He joins the s...
Kurt Vonnegut Hated War
The science fiction of Kurt Vonnegut was permeated by ethics and politics, not the least of which included socialism, opposition to war, secularism, a...
Galaxy Quest is the Greatest Sci-fi Comedy, Ever
“Galaxy Quest” is the greatest parody of Star Trek imaginable… without technically being Star Trek. Nick Sperdute and Erin Macdonald join the show to ...
The Time-Backwards Robot Monster
"Hyperion" by Dan Simmons projects Chaucer's Canterbury Tales onto a distant scifi future. Katherine Mangu-Ward joins to discuss the multiple characte...
Darth Vader is a 19th Century Supervillain
Michael Weiss, editor-at-large at The Daily Beast, joins the show to discuss Darth Vader: why he’s such a compelling malefactor, the deep inner confli...
Watchmen Part 2: The Greenwood Massacre
"Watchmen" kicks off with the Tulsa Race Massacre, which defines the central theme of the rest of the series: race. Hannibal Johnson is the author of ...
Watchmen's Fake Psychic Squid Attack
Brian Brushwood joins the show to discuss "Watchmen," the televised sequel to the film and book, "The Watchmen." Topics include: underlying tensions i...