Blog Posts

Short Fiction Review: June–August 2019

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Sometimes the stories that I review in a given month are all united by a particular theme. That is not the case this month. This time around, the only strand uniting these three stories is that each story features something I like. If (like me) you like smart stories about dis/ability and social structures, you should check out “Spectrum of Acceptance” by Nyla Bright, which appears in Escape Pod. If (like me) you like fables about Death or meditations on storytelling itself, you should check out “The Night Princes” by Megan Arkenberg, which appears in Nightmare Magazine. And if (like me) you like stories about happy queer couples or unconventional families, you should check out “A House With a Home” by Jon Mayo, which appears in Anathema Magazine.

SF in Translation, The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

Speculative Fiction in Translation #16: Looking Back on the Summer’s SFT

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/sfitepisode16lookingbackonsummersftl/SFiT–Episode_16–Looking_Back_On_Summer_SFTl.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSRachel and Daniel return this month with a wide-ranging conversation about the SFT they’ve been reading/hearing about/wanting to read from the summer. While Rachel was reading Liu Cixin’s Supernova Era (tr. by Joel Martinsen), The Aayakudi Murders by Indra Soundar Rajan (tr. Nirmal Rajagopalan), and The Dreamed Part by Rodrigo Fresan (tr. Will Vanderhyden), Daniel was finishing Laurence Suhner’s Vestiges in the original French, starting Jean Ray’s Whiskey Tales (tr. Scott Nicolay), and reading Francesco Verso’s Nexhuman (tr. Sally McCorry). Then they talk about some of their favorite short fiction from the summer, what they’re looking forward to in the fall, and the very sad closing of Haikasoru, Rachel’s favorite SFT imprint. Remember: with new stories and books coming to their attention each week, make sure to check the SFT website for updates. Enjoy, and keep reading! A bientôt!

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

Totally Pretentious #19. Fitzcarraldo (1982): The Colonial German Man and His Opera of Wickedness

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/sandftotallypretentious19fitzcarraldo/SandF–Totally_Pretentious–19_Fitzcarraldo.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSIn today’s episode, David and Shaun take a good look at Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo (1982). Before digging into the film, they discuss the controversy surrounding lead actor, Klaus Kinski, including relatively recent revelations about his abuse of his daughters and his relationship with other actors and Werner Herzog. From there, they look into the film’s themes of colonialism and indigenous betrayal, the role of opera in the narrative, the film’s portrayal of relationships and masculinity, and much more. Warning:  This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and other abuse committed by Kinski. Prepare yourselves for another foray into cinematic greatness. Enjoy the episode!

Blog Posts

Mining the Genre Asteroid: Planet of Exile

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Today on Mining the Genre Asteroid, I take you to a Planet of Exile. Last time on Mining the Genre Asteroid, I discussed Ursula K LeGuin’s first novel, Rocannon’s World. This time out, I stay in LeGuin’s Hainish universe and take a look at another early novel of hers set in that verse, Planet of Exile (1966). I look at how this novel extends and builds upon Rocannon’s World, and how it lays foundations for more of the Hainish universe. It is also a rather nifty “under siege novel” that keeps the strengths of character and worldbuilding we saw in Rocannon’s World.

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

At the Movies #79: I Am Mother (2019)

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/sandfatthemovies79iammother/SandF–At_the_Movies_79–I_Am_Mother.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSRobots, twisted motherhood, and Swankery, oh my! Shaun, Jen, Alex, and Paul join forces to discuss the truly compelling science fiction film, I Am Mother (2019). Together, our ragtag survivalist bunch talks about the film’s approach to motherhood, the power of independent SF cinema, the meaning of the film’s ending, and so much more. It’s a spoilerrific podcast, folks, but you know you won’t be able to resist. We hope you enjoy the episode!

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

#06. Star Wars: Thrawn – Thrawn and On and On (A Star Wars Literary Podcast)

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/sandfthrawnandonandon6thrawn/SandF–Thrawnandonandon6–Thrawn.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSPrep your survival manual and press those imperial officer uniforms! Shaun, Alex, and special guest, Tiara W., cast reddish eyes at the new canon to discuss Timothy Zahn’s return to the universe in Star Wars: Thrawn. Our intrepid crew talks about this new incarnation of the only member of the Blue Man Group that matters, with some attention to how his character differs from the Legends universe and just what it means to be in Thrawn’s good graces. Plus there’s a lot of conversation about imperial politics and the infamous Grand Moffs, Zahn’s exploration of the imperial navy, and even some love…err…hate for the wrinkly grumpster himself:  Emperor Palpatine. We hope you enjoy the episode!

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