244. Martha Wells (a.k.a. The Raksura Amanuensis) — The Books of the Raksura (An Interview at CONvergence)
http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SandFEpisode244MarthaWellsAtCONvergence/SandF%20–%20Episode%20244%20–%20Martha%20Wells%20at%20CONvergence.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSFlying critters, fancy worlds, and super fan Paul, oh my! In one of our last remaining recordings from CONvergence, Paul lets Shaun tag along for an interview with Martha Wells. We discuss the Raksura series, her upcoming work, writing fan and tie-in fiction, Harrison Ford’s leg issues, and much more. 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): Episode 24 — Download (MP3) Show Notes: Martha Wells’ Website Martha’s Twitter Go buy her books! Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0). That’s all, folks! Thanks for listening. See you next week.
123. Star Wars Holiday Special — A Torture Cinema “Adventure”
http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/TheSkiffyAndFantyShowseasonThreeEpisode123–TortureCinemaMeets/Sandf–Episode123–TortureCinemaMeetsTheStarWarsHolidaySpecial.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSDestroying our childhoods one crappy Holiday Special at a time… This week, Julia Rios, Paul, Jen, and Shaun take on the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special! Included in the episode: our 5-by-5s, a special skit involving our most popular impressions, and a lot of laughs. We hope you enjoy the episode! (FYI: Some of the audio isn’t as strong as I would like. Hopefully it doesn’t hurt the episode too much.) 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): Episode 123 — Download (MP3) Intro and Discussion (0:00 – 1:20:23) The Star Wars Holiday Special (IMDB) Julia’s Website You can also support this podcast by signing up for a one month free trial at Audible. Doing so helps us, gives you a change to try out Audible’s service, and brings joy to everyone. Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0). That’s all, folks! Thanks for listening. See you next week.
Question of the Week: Favorite science fiction or fantasy stories about real wars?
Those of you who read my personal blog will know that I’m working on a syllabus for a Survey in American Literature course. Science fiction, as you might guess, appears prominently in the reading list, which has inspired me to post this question: What are your favorite science fiction or fantasy novels, stories, dramas, or movies which are about real world wars (allegorically or otherwise)? For me, the list is pretty clear: The Forever War by Joe Haldeman Haldeman’s military SF classic is, in my opinion, one of the most important works of literature in the last 100 years. As an allegory about the Vietnam War (or Conflict, if you want to be correct about such things), it is a stunning foray into the operative function of SF as a genre: estrangement. If you’ve never read it, you should. Right now. Hurry… Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Vonnegut’s fiction has always intrigued me. Slaughterhouse-Five is one of those books that is at once supremely weird and cleverly autobiographical (Vonnegut served in WW2 and the title of the book comes from the place where he was imprisoned, which protected him during the firebombing of Dresden by Allied forces). Vonnegut’s experiences fill every page, which help cover the unreality of the alien visitors narrative that make the novel a piece of science fiction. “Faith of Our Fathers” by Philip K. Dick (in Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison) PKD is known for his dystopian futures and alternate histories. “Faith of Our Fathers” is one of the second variety, telling the story of a world where communism won and is run by an amoral, all-consuming godlike Party leader. The Cold War may not have been a proper war, but it’s hard to ignore its impact on fiction in general, and science fiction in particular. Dystopian fiction after WW2, as far as I can tell, saw a massive increase, with numerous stories by PKD alone dedicated to nuclear holocaust or variations thereof. Star Wars IV – VI by George Lucas A lot of folks have suggested the obvious parallels between the Empire and Nazi Germany (if I recall correctly, even Lucas has made this connection). Star Wars is so saturated with WW2 imagery that even its action sequences are obvious throwbacks to pre-jet-engine dogfights. Whether the allegories had an influence on the film’s impact is up to speculation, but one certainly can’t ignore that Star Wars has changed everything we know about science fiction today. Aliens by James Cameron I enjoyed the first Alien movie, but it pales in comparison to Cameron’s Vietnam-influenced sequel. The film mimics everything from the overbearing macho-ism of anti-communist (and anti-“other”) America and military right down to the bureaucratic amorality which started the Vietnam War. It’s hard not to include it on this list. Plus: the movie is freaking awesome! And if you don’t believe me, then this should change your mind: The big question is whether there are fantasy titles out there that deal with similar issues. If you know of some, let us know in the comments. So: which science fiction and fantasy stories about real world wars are you favorites?
Episode 46 — Brain Batteries and Star Wars Sexism (SSS)
http://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.archive.org/download/TheSkiffyAndFantyShow3.4–BrainBatteriesAndStarWarsSexismsss/Sandf–Episode3.4–BrainBatteriesAndStarWarsSexismsss.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSIn this episode, we explore the wonders of brain batteries, ask why the FBI is such a silly place, and discover what happens when you stick two scifi geeks on a podcast and tell them to critique Star Wars for its portrayals of women. It’s slightly amusing and depressing at the same time. Tune in to hear what we have to say! Feel free to shoot us an email at skiffyandfanty [at] gmail [dot] com, leave a comment, or follow us on Twitter. 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): Episode 46 — Download (MP3) Intro and Discussion (0:00 – 35:49) Hooking a 9-Volt Battery to Your Brain Improves Your Video Game Skills (You can’t make this crap up…seriously, you can’t. This guy stole it from stoners.) Intelligence Agencies Hunting for Terrorists in World of Warcraft (Because hunting for actual terrorists is too mundane for these folks…) Why Star Wars is Secretly Terrifying for Women (Cracked.com) (Because Lucas created a universe of walking carpet monsters…) Oh, and don’t forget to vote on our next Torture Cinema flick! Our new intro music is “Time Flux” by Revolution Void (CC BY 3.0). That’s all, folks! Thanks for listening. See you next week.
