821. Martha Wells (a.k.a. The Raksura Amanuensis) — Murderbot and More
https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/sand-f-821-martha-wells/SandF_821_MarthaWells.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSFanbots, questionable eye contact, and steampunk adventurers, oh my! Shaun Duke and Paul Weimer are joined by the wonderful Martha Wells for a discussion about her career, Murderbot (and the new TV show on Apple TV+), the Emilie books, and more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode!
Movie Review: Signale – Ein Weltraumabenteuer (Signals: A Space Adventure)(1970; dir. Gottfried Kolditz)
About Signale – Ein Weltraumabenteuer (1970): In the middle of the 21th century, a spaceship loses its bearings, and the commander of another space crew, seemingly on a routine check flight, decides to investigate. The first and most ambitious of two epic space operas that prolific East German genre director Gottfried Kolditz (1922-1982) made for the state-run DEFA film studios, SIGNALS was DEFA’s cheeky attempt to outdo Kubrick’s 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY behind the Iron Curtain. The film used many of the same tricks: expansive, visually stunning shots of the cosmos … gorgeous Futurist space-design with ergonomic chairs, IBM lookalike computers, Mod mini-dresses and “STAR TREK” space uniforms … even a copycat free-floating in tunnel sequence with a wild electronic Perry-Kingsley type score. Featuring breathtaking 70mm cinematography, recently restored in 6K from the original camera negative by the University of Massachusetts Amherst / DEFA Film Library for its first-ever world Blu-ray release by Deaf Crocodile. The Blu-ray is available via Deaf Crocodile along with Koldtiz’s Im Straub der Sterne (In the Dust of the Stars). Note: The film was adapted from Carlos Radsch’s Asteroidenjäger (1961)!
Short Fiction Review: March–April 2025
My favorite stories from March and April all lift up the importance of human connection in one way or another.
Book Review: The Godel Operation by James Cambias
It’s a style of science fiction that may feel rather retro.² However, stylistically, the writing from Cambias does make The Godel Operation a throwback and calling back to relatively breezy and fun science fiction novels.
Book Review: Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Alpha Centauri: Alien Clay
And on a planet like Kiln, where the alien life is incompatible with human life…but the alien life is extremely good at trying to bridge that gap, this is a slow death sentence…or is it? Daghdev is a classic protagonist in the Tchaikovsky model, often isolated from his fellows and only slowly coming to bridge those gaps as well…
817. Atlantic Rim (2013) — Torture Cinema #153
https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/sand-f-817-atlantic-rim/SandF_817_AtlanticRim.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSCanned performances, cheap sets, and lost plots, oh my! Shaun Duke and Daniel Haeusser join forces discuss 2013’s Atlantic Rim! Together, they talk about the mockbuster genre, examine the film’s plot and cast, laugh about nonsensical stock footage and shot sequences, and much more! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoy the episode!
