Science Fiction

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

Signal Boost #40 — Claire O’Dell, Daniel Hansen, and Ilana C. Myer

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SandFSignalBoost40ODellHansenMyer/Sandf–SignalBoost40–OdellHansenMyer.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSAfter a long break, we’re back with not two but THREE WHOLE INTERVIEWS! Because you deserve it (and also we need to catch up). In today’s episode of Signal Boost, Paul talks to Claire O’Dell (the pen name of Beth Bernobich) about the first book in her new science fiction mystery series inspired by Sherlock Homes, A Study in Honor. They discuss why Claire chose both the specific new voices for Watson and Sherlock, how the setting came about, the intersections of race, class, and power that she explores, and more! Then Becca is joined by Daniel Hansen, author of The Trickster’s War Series, the short story collection, This Coyote’s Life as Told by an Old NDN, and so much more. They discuss the influence that the stories of his childhood have had on his work, why his work might be identified as magical realism, the differences between writing novels and short stories, and, as always, more! Last, but certainly not least, Paul is joined by Ilana C. Myer about the sequel to Last Song Before Night, Fire Dance! They discuss how Fire Dance builds upon the first book but still remains accessible to new readers, the real world models that influenced the world-building, the consequences of bringing magic into a world that hadn’t had any, and the power of Ursula K. LeGuin. We hope you enjoy the episode!

SF in Translation, The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

Speculative Fiction in Translation #7: Croatia, Quebec, and Condomnauts

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SFiTEpisode7CroatiaQuebecAndCondomnauts/Sfit-Episode7-CroatiaQuebecAndCondomnauts.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSJuly brought us speculative stories, books, and collections translated from the Chinese, Spanish, Croatian, French, Finnish, Portuguese, and Swedish. So much great stuff! From post-apocalyptic science fiction to Swedish horror to magical realism from Quebec, you’ll have no problem finding excellent reading material. Plus, you can check out reviews of these and other stories around the internet. I also tell you about my current reading and translation work (still working on that Italian surrealist noir!) With new stories and books coming to our attention each week, make sure to check the SFT website for updates. Enjoy, and keep reading! A bientôt! Show notes:

The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

Reading Rangers #6: Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/ReadingRangers6BordersOfInfinityByLoisMcMasterBujold/ReadingRangers6–BordersOfInfinityByLoisMcmasterBujold.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSHello, Rangers! We’re back to dig into the uhhh… I would say 6th book, but this is where things get a little complicated. We skipped Ethan of Athos, because the collective decision by the veterans is that it should be burned in the depths of hell, and went straight to Borders of Infinity, which includes the novellas Borders of Infinity, Labyrinth, and The Mountains of Mourning. In this novel, McMaster Bujold included a framing story in order to tie the trio of short stories together. Paul, Trish, Kate, and Stina (straight off a drop-ship) discuss the stories and why they’re an important addition to the Vorkosiverse, including rich world-building, excellent secondary characters, and some important character building motivations for Miles Vorkosigan himself. Have a listen! Next time in our journey through the Vorkosigan Adventures, we’ll be discussing Brothers in Arms, a favorite of the vetarans! Will the newbies agree? We hope you enjoy the episode! Note:  If you have iTunes and like this show, please give us a review on our iTunes page, or feel free to email us with your thoughts about the show! Here’s the episode (show notes are below):

Blog Posts

Book Review: THEORY OF BASTARDS by Audrey Schulman

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Scientist and MacArthur Award Fellow Francine (Frankie) arrives in the near future at a facility dedicated to the study and protection of the non-human Hominidae, the great apes. Wooed there by the Foundation that runs the facility, Frankie is eager to use its resources and her ‘Genius Grant’ to study a group of bonobos as a means of testing and extending her theories on reproduction, and their influence on the mechanisms of biological evolution. Frankie begins this new chapter in her life while facing familiar personal challenges and physical complications arising from life-long endometriosis. Her intense focus on her work and the benefits provided her through the latest technology of ‘bodyware’ augmentations help Frankie persist through any disability caused by her condition. Meanwhile, another researcher there named Stotts facilitates her education on, and introduction to, the bonobos. The gentle, reserved Stotts focuses his research on the development of tool use in primates, but he looks to the relatively simple tools of communication utilized by the bonobos with a romanticized envy when compared to human technology.

Blog Posts

Short Fiction Review: June 2018

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My favorite story last month was “In the End, It Always Turns Out the Same” by A.C. Wise, which appears in The Dark Issue 37. It’s a smart, dark take on the Scooby Doo formula that pauses and asks, “Aren’t they too young for this?” Like poetry and space opera? Go read “I Sing Against the Silent Sun” by A. Merc Rustad and Ada Hoffmann, which appears in Lightspeed Magazine Issue 97. In this harrowing yet hopeful story, a poet-revolutionary is hunted by a god of silence. (Also, this story makes me happy because of its genderfluid and nonbinary representation.) I also enjoyed “The Sweetness of Honey and Rot” by A. Merc Rustad, which appears in Beneath Ceaseless Skies Issue 254 (21 June 2018). It’s a story about the costs of resistance, and it features original, inventive worldbuilding and gorgeous, detailed prose.

SF in Translation, The Skiffy and Fanty Show Podcasts

Speculative Fiction in Translation #6: Japan in June

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https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SFiTEpisode6JapanInJune/Sfit-Episode6-JapanInJune.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSJune, sweet June. It’s brought us two novel-length works of Japanese SFT, short fiction from the Chinese and Bengali, and a lot of reviews. This has also been a month of discussions about adding an SFT category to the Hugo Awards and Italian micro speculative fiction from over a dozen authors (featured on the SFT site). With new stories and books coming to our attention each week, make sure to check the SFT website for updates. Enjoy, and keep reading! A bientôt! Show notes:

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