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!

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

363. Alix E. Harrow (a.k.a. The Door Builder) — The Ten Thousand Doors of January (An Interview)

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/sandfepisode363alixeharrowtenthousanddoorsofjanuary/SandF–Episode363–Alix_E_Harrow_Ten_Thousand_Doors_of_January.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSFootnotes, diaries, and doors, oh my! In today’s episode, Jen Zink and Paul Weimer interview the Hugo Short Story winning writer, Alix E. Harrow, about her debut novel, The Ten Thousand Doors of January! Find out how this book puts Alix’s cheating methods on display, how she worked to subvert the white colonial narrative of classic portal fantasy, what books she used as a model, and so much more! We hope you enjoy the episode! Don’t forget, if you sign up for our Patreon, you’ll be able to listen to our Patreon exclusive interview, 5 Questions with Alix E. Harrow!

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

Torture Cinema #93: Next (2007) at Worldcon in Dublin (w/ Linnea)

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/sandftorturecinema93next/SandF–Torture_Cinema_93–Next.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSGreasy chest hair, lasting 2 minutes, and animal abuse, oh my! Recorded (sorta last minute) in a hotel room in Dublin, Ireland, this special edition features Shaun Duke, Alex Acks, Julia Rios, Jen Zink, Brandon O’Brien, and special guest / friend of the show, Linnea! Together, our intrepid crew tackles yet another Nicolas Cage debacle, Next, which could charitably be called a loose adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story. From questionable dating practices to equally questionable government tactics to additionally questionable life choices, this episode is packed with laughs, jetlag, absurd rants, and, well, lots of the stuff y’all want in an episode of Torture Cinema! We hope you enjoy the episode!

Blog Posts

Book Review: FKA USA by Reed King

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Marketed as a cross between The Wizard of Oz, A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Road, and Ready Player One, Reed King’s FKA USA chronicles a misfit cast’s perilous and irreverent road-trip across the variegated geopolitical landscape formerly known as the United States of America. Published under the acknowledged “Reed King” pseudonym of a bestselling author and TV writer, the novel presents itself as an unabridged and annotated memoir composed by protagonist Truckee Wallace between 2086 and 2088 about events he experienced a year prior. With an irreverent tone lampooning social and political issues, the novel puts a lot of disparate ingredients into one romp of a tale. Its ultimate success for any given reader will largely depend on the type of humor they appreciate.

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