Science Fiction 101

Join us for a trivia quiz bonanza! Making a return visit to the pod is Colin's co-host from another podcast, Seth Heasley, who is here to administer a deadly science fictional quiz! Phil is already quaking in his sci-fi Moon boots. At the time of recording, Colin and Seth had just returned from this year's World Science Fiction Convention, held in Seattle. So in this episode, they give their behind-the-scenes perspectives of what went on at the con: Colin as a volunteer camera operator and video director, and Seth as a Hugo Award nominee and panel moderator. Among the items discussed in today's show: The 2025 Hugo Awards The 1944 film version of J.B.Priestley's  They Came to a City The perennially meaningful graphic novel  Maus by Art Spiegelman The Ray Bradbury Center - which houses the papers, artefacts and office of the famous writer (in Indianapolis) - is raising funds to move into expanded, future-proof (not to mention waterproof) accommodation Adrian Tchaikovksy...

August 2024 saw the World Science Fiction Convention, held in Glasgow, Scotland. Phil stayed at home, but intrepid traveller Colin crossed a continent and an ocean to experience his first Worldcon. Find out how he got on - and how Phil and Colin somehow managed not to meet, despite both being in England at the same time... Also in today's show, a special quiz from friend of the podcast Peter Kuskie (last seen in episode 11), and our usual round up of all good things science fictional. Among the items mentioned in this episode: The Interocitor - a new magazine with classic science fiction Galaxy Science Fiction - a new reincarnation of a classic SF magazine. First PDF issue free, later issues available for purchase 2024 Hugo Award Ceremony - as streamed live from the Worldcon... ...and the full list of Hugo nominees and winners Science Fiction Hall of Fame Inductees for 2024 - including the "creation" category Skynet   Find the new episode in your podcast app of choic...

In this episode, we review the short stories nominated for the 2023 Hugo Awards - the awards voted on by the members and attendeeds of the World Science Fiction Convention. Since the Worldcon is in China this year, the shortlist includes a number of Chinese stories. We recorded this episode shortly before the Hugo Winners were announced, so cut us some slack s we speculate on what the outcome of the voting might be! Normally, we would post links to all the stories, but not all of the stories have an online version. We hope that the Chinese stories will be properly published in English at some point, but we may have to wait for the "year's best" anthologies to pick them up. Here are links to the two English-language stories: " D.I.Y. " by John Wiswell " Rabbit Test " by Samantha Mills  You can see the full list of Hugo Award winners (in all categories) here . Other items mentioned in this episode: The Internet Speculative Fiction Database and the Chine...