<![CDATA[Wizards & Spaceships]]>14212d3c-9b8d-59d2-ac83-89f992baf34dSun, 15 Feb 2026 11:00:14 +0000Captivate.fmRachel A. Rosen & David L. Clinkhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/822fd482-8a9a-4f8f-be3e-d103e2a7b758/kTceQaZp9R4LNGaDIY8EYLwV.jpgWizards & SpaceshipsRachel A. Rosen & David L. ClinkRachel A. Rosen & David L. ClinkWelcome to Wizards and Spaceships, the only podcast that’s about wizards and also about spaceships. Well, probably not, but it does involve wizards, spaceships, and the things we love (and complain about) in science fiction, fantasy, and horror.https://wizardsandspaceships.ca/trueepisodicnopodcastCharles R. Saunders ft. Jon TattrieCharles R. Saunders ft. Jon TattrieCharles R. Saunders was a Halifax journalist and, with his Imaro novels, the founder of the "sword and soul" genre and a Black Canadian literary icon. When he died in obscurity in 2020, journalist Jon Tattrie joined fans worldwide to uncover where he was buried, commemorate his life, and bring him the prominence he deserved. For Black History Month, we're joined by Jon to tell us about Charles' remarkable career and his new biography, To Leave a Warrior Behind: The Life and Stories of Charles R. Saunders, the Man Who Rewrote Fantasy.

Show Notes:

  1. To Leave a Warrior Behind: The Life and Stories of Charles R. Saunders, the Man Who Rewrote Fantasy by Jon Tattrie
  2. Write Now with Jon Tattrie
  3. The New Moon’s Arms by Nalo Hopkinson
  4. The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin
  5. The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar
  6. Interview With the Vampire (2022-)
  7. Blade
  8. Star Man’s Son by Andre Norton
  9. Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
  10. Annaka by Andre Fenton
  11. Dark Fantasy zine
  12. Jaycen Wise URAEUS
  13. Mshindo I. Kuumba
  14. Charles in the CSFFA hall of fame

Charles R. Saunders' select biography:

  1. Charles R. Saunders was a Halifax journalist and, with his Imaro novels, the founder of the "sword and soul" genre and a Black Canadian literary icon. When he died in obscurity in 2020, journalist Jon Tattrie joined fans worldwide to uncover where he was buried, commemorate his life, and bring him the prominence he deserved. For Black History Month, we're joined by Jon to tell us about Charles' remarkable career and his new biography, To Leave a Warrior Behind: The Life and Stories of Charles R. Saunders, the Man Who Rewrote Fantasy.

    Show Notes:

    1. To Leave a Warrior Behind: The Life and Stories of Charles R. Saunders, the Man Who Rewrote Fantasy by Jon Tattrie
    2. Write Now with Jon Tattrie
    3. The New Moon’s Arms by Nalo Hopkinson
    4. The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin
    5. The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar
    6. Interview With the Vampire (2022-)
    7. Blade
    8. Star Man’s Son by Andre Norton
    9. Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen
    10. Annaka by Andre Fenton
    11. Dark Fantasy zine
    12. Jaycen Wise URAEUS
    13. Mshindo I. Kuumba
    14. Charles in the CSFFA hall of fame

    Charles R. Saunders' select biography:

    1. Imaro (1981) Second Edition (2006) Third Edition (2014)
    2. The Quest for Cush (1984) Second Edition (2008)
    3. The Trail of Bohu (1985) Second Edition (2009)
    4. The Naama War (2009)
    5. Nyumbani Tales (2017)
    6. Dossouye (2008)
    7. Dossouye: The Dancers of Mulukau (2012)

    Other novels

    1. Damballa (2011)
    2. Abengoni: First Calling (2014), fantasy novel

    Non-fiction

    1. Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers from the Halifax Forum to Caesars Palace (1990)
    2. Spirit of Africville (1992)
    3. Share & Care: The Story of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children (1994)
    4. Black & Bluenose: The Contemporary History of a Community (2002)

    ]]>    4101864d-0ca2-49e8-94ab-0a6a686df93eSun, 15 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -050001:04:12truefull210102Editing Roundtable ft. Alexandra Pierce and Josh WilsonEditing Roundtable ft. Alexandra Pierce and Josh WilsonMagazines and journals have been a foundational part of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror since the very beginning and provide us with the stories, art, and critical analysis that keep the genre vibrant. These collaborations are a labour of love and the lifeblood of the literary scene. With us to talk about the work of editing and producing them are two rising stars in the field, Josh Wilson, editor of The Fabulist, and Alexandra Pierce, editor of Speculative Insight.

    Show Notes:

    1. The Fabulist
    2. The Fabulist on Bluesky
    3. The Fabulist on Instagram
    4. Speculative Insight
    5. Speculative Insight on Bluesky
    6. Speculative Insight on Instagram
    7. Letters to Tiptree
    8. Luminescent Threads
    9. Radon Journal
    10. Clarkesworld
    11. khōréō
    12. Trollbreath

    ]]>    Magazines and journals have been a foundational part of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror since the very beginning and provide us with the stories, art, and critical analysis that keep the genre vibrant. These collaborations are a labour of love and the lifeblood of the literary scene. With us to talk about the work of editing and producing them are two rising stars in the field, Josh Wilson, editor of The Fabulist, and Alexandra Pierce, editor of Speculative Insight.

    Show Notes:

    1. The Fabulist
    2. The Fabulist on Bluesky
    3. The Fabulist on Instagram
    4. Speculative Insight
    5. Speculative Insight on Bluesky
    6. Speculative Insight on Instagram
    7. Letters to Tiptree
    8. Luminescent Threads
    9. Radon Journal
    10. Clarkesworld
    11. khōréō
    12. Trollbreath

    ]]>    5e9bacfd-c863-4bbf-b986-d638ef7c285aThu, 15 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -050049:28truefull2992    Postcolonialism in SFFH, ft. Suzan PalumboPostcolonialism in SFFH, ft. Suzan PalumboThe famous introduction to Star Trek lays out the mission of the Starship Enterprise:  to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before! Later on, they changed it to be more inclusive—where no one has gone before. But the fundamental problem remains—if no one has gone there, what exactly are all those new civilizations? Could science fiction and fantasy have a colonialism problem? With us to discuss this thorny issue and the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers challenging Eurocentric assumptions is Suzan Palumbo, author of Countess and co-founder of the Ignyte Awards.

    • Show notes:
    • Suzan's Bluesky
    • Suzan's Instagram
    • 2024 Nebula Awards shortlist
    • Stelliform Press

    • Reading list:
    • “The Butcher of the Forest” by Premee Mohamed
    • “The Tusks of Extinction” by Ray Nayler
    • “Lost Ark Dreaming” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
    • “Countess” by Suzan Palumbo
    • “The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain” by Sofia Samatar
    • “The Dragonfly Gambit” by A. D. Sui
    • “Green Fuse Burning” by Tiffany Morris
    • “We Speak Through the Mountain and “Annual Migration of Clouds” by Premee Mohamed
    • “Blackheart Man” by Nalo Hopkinson


    ]]>    The famous introduction to Star Trek lays out the mission of the Starship Enterprise:  to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before! Later on, they changed it to be more inclusive—where no one has gone before. But the fundamental problem remains—if no one has gone there, what exactly are all those new civilizations? Could science fiction and fantasy have a colonialism problem? With us to discuss this thorny issue and the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers challenging Eurocentric assumptions is Suzan Palumbo, author of Countess and co-founder of the Ignyte Awards.

    • Show notes:
    • Suzan's Bluesky
    • Suzan's Instagram
    • 2024 Nebula Awards shortlist
    • Stelliform Press

    • Reading list:
    • “The Butcher of the Forest” by Premee Mohamed
    • “The Tusks of Extinction” by Ray Nayler
    • “Lost Ark Dreaming” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
    • “Countess” by Suzan Palumbo
    • “The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain” by Sofia Samatar
    • “The Dragonfly Gambit” by A. D. Sui
    • “Green Fuse Burning” by Tiffany Morris
    • “We Speak Through the Mountain and “Annual Migration of Clouds” by Premee Mohamed
    • “Blackheart Man” by Nalo Hopkinson


    ]]>    0157da73-edd2-4839-abaf-c641197fb10bMon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -050033:53truefull2882    How to Write a Kick-Ass Fantasy Battle ft. Suzannah RowntreeHow to Write a Kick-Ass Fantasy Battle ft. Suzannah RowntreeAnyone who’s ever written fantasy has faced this problem: You have hit the point of conflict in a story where problems can no longer be worked out with witty retorts or a magic spell. The orcs are at the gates, the peace talks have broken down…that’s right—you’re going to have to write a battle scene. In this episode, we talk to Suzannah Rowntree, author of How to Write a Fantasy Battle: Basic Medieval and Modern Military Tactics for Authors, The Watchers of Outremer Series, and other historical fantasies, about how to get a battle right.

    Show Notes:


    ]]>    Anyone who’s ever written fantasy has faced this problem: You have hit the point of conflict in a story where problems can no longer be worked out with witty retorts or a magic spell. The orcs are at the gates, the peace talks have broken down…that’s right—you’re going to have to write a battle scene. In this episode, we talk to Suzannah Rowntree, author of How to Write a Fantasy Battle: Basic Medieval and Modern Military Tactics for Authors, The Watchers of Outremer Series, and other historical fantasies, about how to get a battle right.

    Show Notes:


    ]]>    60d604eb-620d-4cc3-924c-08eb3e03a932Sat, 15 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -050038:24truefull2772    WITCHES!WITCHES!Happy Halloween! We're talking about WITCHES! A staple of fantasy, horror, and Broadway musicals, witches can be anything from a murderous presence in the woods to the friendly neighbourhood Wiccan who revives your dying African violet. So let's get our witch on!

    Show Notes:


    ]]>    Happy Halloween! We're talking about WITCHES! A staple of fantasy, horror, and Broadway musicals, witches can be anything from a murderous presence in the woods to the friendly neighbourhood Wiccan who revives your dying African violet. So let's get our witch on!

    Show Notes:


    ]]>    2226433d-274a-4b15-ad06-6120609015b6Wed, 15 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -050047:53truefull2662    The Science Bros Answer Your Science Questions, Part 2, ft. Rob & Jon MoundThe Science Bros Answer Your Science Questions, Part 2, ft. Rob & Jon MoundYou guys had so many science questions that our resident scientists couldn't answer them all in just one episode! In this episode, Rob & Jon Mound tackle important questions such as time travel, the mutability or lack thereof of the laws of physics, and dragon taxonomy. Also, why we are not going to Mars.


    Keep the conversation going, or ask the Science Bros more questions by joining our Discord or Facebook group!

    ]]>    You guys had so many science questions that our resident scientists couldn't answer them all in just one episode! In this episode, Rob & Jon Mound tackle important questions such as time travel, the mutability or lack thereof of the laws of physics, and dragon taxonomy. Also, why we are not going to Mars.


    Keep the conversation going, or ask the Science Bros more questions by joining our Discord or Facebook group!

    ]]>    1c0221f6-5785-4614-932c-3304f5ac309eMon, 15 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -050048:33truefull2552    The Science Bros Answer Your Science Questions, Part 1, ft. Rob & Jon MoundThe Science Bros Answer Your Science Questions, Part 1, ft. Rob & Jon MoundSuspension of disbelief is a cornerstone of speculative fiction, but as writers and fans, we often find ourselves wondering just how grounded in reality our favourite stories really are. We asked you, our listeners, for questions like:

    • What would happen if I went through a wormhole?
    • Does a Star Trek transporter just kill you and create a new copy of you?
    • What kind of technology can or can’t you use to blow up the world?

    And then we got biologist Rob Mound and geophysicist Jon Mound to answer the questions you sent. There were so many we had to split it into two parts! In this part, we look at jumping out of a spaceship without a suit (why?), octopus people (yes!), sex in space (obviously!), and more!


    Keep the conversation going, or ask the Science Bros more questions by joining our Discord or Facebook group!

    ]]>    Suspension of disbelief is a cornerstone of speculative fiction, but as writers and fans, we often find ourselves wondering just how grounded in reality our favourite stories really are. We asked you, our listeners, for questions like:

    • What would happen if I went through a wormhole?
    • Does a Star Trek transporter just kill you and create a new copy of you?
    • What kind of technology can or can’t you use to blow up the world?

    And then we got biologist Rob Mound and geophysicist Jon Mound to answer the questions you sent. There were so many we had to split it into two parts! In this part, we look at jumping out of a spaceship without a suit (why?), octopus people (yes!), sex in space (obviously!), and more!


    Keep the conversation going, or ask the Science Bros more questions by joining our Discord or Facebook group!

    ]]>    72238178-af0d-4add-9d5d-8b7ef7a86757Fri, 15 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -050001:01:16truefull2442    Against Hopepunk ft. Nick MamatasAgainst Hopepunk ft. Nick MamatasSci-fi and fantasy has always had an optimistic current, whether it’s utopian space-age cities or noble chosen ones vanquishing a dark lord. In recent years, with the popularity of romantasy and cozy fantasy, it’s easier than ever to immerse yourself in a more hopeful world.

    But what if instead we made you feel bad?

    In this wide-ranging conversation with multitalented author and editor Nick Mamatas, we talk about crushing your joy, corporate greed in the publishing and music production industries, and why the 80s and 90s were objectively the best time for music.

    Show Notes:


    Have you bought Blight yet? If you like dark things, you should!


    "Do You Love the Colour Of the Sky?" in Trollbreath Magazine

    ]]>    Sci-fi and fantasy has always had an optimistic current, whether it’s utopian space-age cities or noble chosen ones vanquishing a dark lord. In recent years, with the popularity of romantasy and cozy fantasy, it’s easier than ever to immerse yourself in a more hopeful world.

    But what if instead we made you feel bad?

    In this wide-ranging conversation with multitalented author and editor Nick Mamatas, we talk about crushing your joy, corporate greed in the publishing and music production industries, and why the 80s and 90s were objectively the best time for music.

    Show Notes:


    Have you bought Blight yet? If you like dark things, you should!


    "Do You Love the Colour Of the Sky?" in Trollbreath Magazine

    ]]>    673447c1-3594-4c81-ba6e-71cfbbdaefc5Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -050045:07truefull2332    The Ur-Pisode: The Queer Heart of The Epic of Gilgamesh, ft. Julian GunnThe Ur-Pisode: The Queer Heart of The Epic of Gilgamesh, ft. Julian GunnFor 4000 years, The Epic of Gilgamesh has influenced mythology, theology, and literature, and its rediscovery in the 1850s is itself an epic tale of war, theft, and Hobby Lobby. A meditation on love and death, rage and grief, civilization and nature, starring two problematic queer frat boys, it is the foundation of so many of our stories. In this episode, we talk to poet, artist, and essayist Julian Gunn about the story that started it all.

    Show Notes:


    If you haven't had enough problematic gays raging against the gods by the end of this episode, you might enjoy Rachel's new novel, Blight! Buy it from your favourite online bookstore or directly from the publisher.

    Also, voting for the Aurora Awards opens June 7th! You can vote for us. Or other people. But please vote for us.

    ]]>    For 4000 years, The Epic of Gilgamesh has influenced mythology, theology, and literature, and its rediscovery in the 1850s is itself an epic tale of war, theft, and Hobby Lobby. A meditation on love and death, rage and grief, civilization and nature, starring two problematic queer frat boys, it is the foundation of so many of our stories. In this episode, we talk to poet, artist, and essayist Julian Gunn about the story that started it all.

    Show Notes:


    If you haven't had enough problematic gays raging against the gods by the end of this episode, you might enjoy Rachel's new novel, Blight! Buy it from your favourite online bookstore or directly from the publisher.

    Also, voting for the Aurora Awards opens June 7th! You can vote for us. Or other people. But please vote for us.

    ]]>    b45abe33-7807-4b93-b407-10cfc79fb90cSun, 15 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -050054:30truefull2222    Blight, ft. Rachel A. RosenBlight, ft. Rachel A. RosenBreak out the cake, balloons, and gigantic bone tentacles, it's season 2 of Wizards & Spaceships! Rachel has a new book out, Blight, the sequel to her first novel, Cascade. In this episode, you get a behind-the-scenes look at the newest instalment in the Sleep of Reason series.


    And did you know that tomorrow is Rachel's birthday? Why not celebrate by buying one or more of her books?



    ]]>    Break out the cake, balloons, and gigantic bone tentacles, it's season 2 of Wizards & Spaceships! Rachel has a new book out, Blight, the sequel to her first novel, Cascade. In this episode, you get a behind-the-scenes look at the newest instalment in the Sleep of Reason series.


    And did you know that tomorrow is Rachel's birthday? Why not celebrate by buying one or more of her books?



    ]]>    839d360c-ad31-465f-a774-ef200a58c40bThu, 15 May 2025 08:00:00 -050049:28truefull2112    Transhumanism and AI ft. Robert J. SawyerTranshumanism and AI ft. Robert J. Sawyer It's been an entire year of Wizards & Spaceships! Thank you for coming along with us on this wild and magical space ride. You can't turn on the news or doomscroll social media without hearing about how AI will revolutionize everything. Unfortunately, the worst people in the world seem to be in charge of it. In this episode, we talk to sci-fi legend Robert J. Sawyer about what AI and transhumanism really mean for humanity and our planet and how we can stand up to corporate hype and greed.
    Show notes:



    ]]>     It's been an entire year of Wizards & Spaceships! Thank you for coming along with us on this wild and magical space ride. You can't turn on the news or doomscroll social media without hearing about how AI will revolutionize everything. Unfortunately, the worst people in the world seem to be in charge of it. In this episode, we talk to sci-fi legend Robert J. Sawyer about what AI and transhumanism really mean for humanity and our planet and how we can stand up to corporate hype and greed.
    Show notes:



    ]]>    3a69c67e-f365-4e9d-8f34-36f104e68618Tue, 15 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -050001:00:03truefull112121    TTRPG Design ft. Jesse PohlmanTTRPG Design ft. Jesse Pohlman There’s a huge crossover between tabletop role-playing game players, genre fans, and genre writers, and many of us fell in love with genre fiction by playing D&D in the basement. In this episode, we're joined by author and game designer Jesse Pohlman to talk about the considerations that go into building your own TTPRG.
    Show notes:


    ]]>     There’s a huge crossover between tabletop role-playing game players, genre fans, and genre writers, and many of us fell in love with genre fiction by playing D&D in the basement. In this episode, we're joined by author and game designer Jesse Pohlman to talk about the considerations that go into building your own TTPRG.
    Show notes:


    ]]>    f0826222-7048-472d-820e-db5e56d4601bSat, 15 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -050036:31truefull111111    Toxic Schlock Syndrome ft. Shawn WhitneyToxic Schlock Syndrome ft. Shawn Whitney Pulp fiction is a cornerstone of the genres we love. In this episode, we talk to screenwriter, ghostwriter, and author of the new zombie novel Deads Rise, Shawn Whitney, about manly men doing manly things, the perils of writing romance, and close encounters with sexy lizard aliens.
    Show notes:



    ]]>     Pulp fiction is a cornerstone of the genres we love. In this episode, we talk to screenwriter, ghostwriter, and author of the new zombie novel Deads Rise, Shawn Whitney, about manly men doing manly things, the perils of writing romance, and close encounters with sexy lizard aliens.
    Show notes:



    ]]>    dfa84f1b-62ba-4d90-9ee6-364ae14461d8Sat, 15 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -050040:41truefull110101    Can*Con Can-Can ft. Ira Nayman and Shirley MeierCan*Con Can-Can ft. Ira Nayman and Shirley Meier Rachel and David take the show on the road to Can*Con 2024 in Ottawa. We recorded the launch of The Dance, a multiverse anthology, as well as some general table silliness.
    Show notes:



    ]]>     Rachel and David take the show on the road to Can*Con 2024 in Ottawa. We recorded the launch of The Dance, a multiverse anthology, as well as some general table silliness.
    Show notes:



    ]]>    2de3e3bf-e5ed-4545-aebe-9a728ddc5e87Wed, 15 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -050035:57truefull1991    Worldbuilding ft. Ursula WhitcherWorldbuilding ft. Ursula Whitcherput notes here

    ]]>    put notes here

    ]]>    419ea74d-1070-4f0b-9122-4aba35454a04Sun, 15 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -050030:16truefull1881    The Great Hugo Awards Controversy ft. Diane LaceyThe Great Hugo Awards Controversy ft. Diane Lacey6d36c0c8-9ac4-47f8-888e-8d59963ac54dFri, 15 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -050045:37truefull1771The King of Horror ft. Troy HarkinThe King of Horror ft. Troy Harkin Happy Halloween! To celebrate all that is spooky and monstrous, we're joined by poet, novelist, and David's other podcast co-host, Troy Harkin, to talk about the master of horror himself, Stephen King. Also cocaine.
    Show Notes:



    ]]>     Happy Halloween! To celebrate all that is spooky and monstrous, we're joined by poet, novelist, and David's other podcast co-host, Troy Harkin, to talk about the master of horror himself, Stephen King. Also cocaine.
    Show Notes:



    ]]>    c2f2925d-f722-4c9c-aaa9-b90e391f3cf4Tue, 15 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -050001:05:08truefull1661    Speculative WhitenessSpeculative Whiteness In this episode, we talk to Jordan S. Carroll about his new book, the Sad and Rabid Puppies, and how to avoid getting your sci-fi co-opted by fascists.
    Show Notes:
      • Jordan’s Bluesky: jordanscarroll.bsky.social






    ]]>     In this episode, we talk to Jordan S. Carroll about his new book, the Sad and Rabid Puppies, and how to avoid getting your sci-fi co-opted by fascists.
    Show Notes:
      • Jordan’s Bluesky: jordanscarroll.bsky.social






    ]]>    3c9af949-1d6d-4659-8e57-5e24a66a3d59Sun, 15 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -050035:46truefull1551    In the Beginning ft. Shiraz JanjuaIn the Beginning ft. Shiraz Janjua How do you begin your epic sci-fi, fantasy, or horror story? How do you grab a viewer or reader’s attention, introduce your characters and world, and avoid the dreaded infodump? To discuss these questions and much more, we talk to Shiraz Janjua, host of the YouTube channel How the Novel Starts.
    Show Notes:



    Reading and Watching List:
      • George Orwell, 1984


      • Karen Russell, Swamplandia


      • Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell


      • William Gibson, Neuromancer


      • Michael Chabon, Yiddish Policemen's Union


      • Vajra Chandasekera, The Saint Of Bright Doors


      • Frank Herbert, Dune


      • JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 


      • Christopher Nolan, Inception


      • George Lucas, Star Wars


    ]]>     How do you begin your epic sci-fi, fantasy, or horror story? How do you grab a viewer or reader’s attention, introduce your characters and world, and avoid the dreaded infodump? To discuss these questions and much more, we talk to Shiraz Janjua, host of the YouTube channel How the Novel Starts.
    Show Notes:



    Reading and Watching List:
      • George Orwell, 1984


      • Karen Russell, Swamplandia


      • Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell


      • William Gibson, Neuromancer


      • Michael Chabon, Yiddish Policemen's Union


      • Vajra Chandasekera, The Saint Of Bright Doors


      • Frank Herbert, Dune


      • JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 


      • Christopher Nolan, Inception


      • George Lucas, Star Wars


    ]]>    8d7984ed-d889-4c92-a841-4e6676290521Thu, 15 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -050054:50truefull1441    A New World In Our HeartsA New World In Our HeartsShow Notes: The Early Days of a Better Nation Russian Cosmism Utopia and the Return of History Postwar as the war generation's utopia China 2019, just before the pandemic Reading/Watching List The Culture, Iain M. Banks News From Nowhere, William Morris Half-Earth Socialism: https://www.half.earth/ Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072 by M.E. O’Brien and Eman Abdelhadi The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin The Green-Sky Trilogy by Zilpha Keatley Snyder This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar Red Star by Alexander Bogdanov Another Now by Yanis Varoufakis Desert by Anonymous The English Utopia by A.L. Morton Utopia by Thomas More Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach Elysium (2013) The Creator (2023) Noon Universe by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky We by Yevgeny Zamyatin Lenin Lives by Philip Cunliffe Merrie England by Robert Blatchford Ministry For the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson]]>Show Notes: The Early Days of a Better Nation Russian Cosmism Utopia and the Return of History Postwar as the war generation's utopia China 2019, just before the pandemic Reading/Watching List The Culture, Iain M. Banks News From Nowhere, William Morris Half-Earth Socialism: https://www.half.earth/ Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072 by M.E. O’Brien and Eman Abdelhadi The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin The Green-Sky Trilogy by Zilpha Keatley Snyder This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar Red Star by Alexander Bogdanov Another Now by Yanis Varoufakis Desert by Anonymous The English Utopia by A.L. Morton Utopia by Thomas More Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach Elysium (2013) The Creator (2023) Noon Universe by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky We by Yevgeny Zamyatin Lenin Lives by Philip Cunliffe Merrie England by Robert Blatchford Ministry For the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson]]>86ba98c1-cce2-4f5d-ba31-12fc0869251dMon, 15 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -050001:03:36truefull1331You Never Get a Second Chance to Make First ContactYou Never Get a Second Chance to Make First Contact In this episode, we talk about meeting sentient extraterrestrials: The challenges of communication, what first contact stories say about our own Earthbound society, and why the aliens won't return our texts.
    David's recommendations:
      • "Darmok" (Star Trek TNG)


      • "The Inner Light" (Star Trek TNG)


      • The Day the Earth Stood Still


      • Arrival


      • The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell


    Rachel's recommendations
      • "Species 10-C" (Star Trek Discovery)


      • Children of Time, Adrian Tchaikovsky


      • Attack the Block


      • Xenogenesis Trilogy (Lilith’s Brood), Octavia E. Butler


      • Blindsight, Peter Watts


    ]]>     In this episode, we talk about meeting sentient extraterrestrials: The challenges of communication, what first contact stories say about our own Earthbound society, and why the aliens won't return our texts.
    David's recommendations:
      • "Darmok" (Star Trek TNG)


      • "The Inner Light" (Star Trek TNG)


      • The Day the Earth Stood Still


      • Arrival


      • The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell


    Rachel's recommendations
      • "Species 10-C" (Star Trek Discovery)


      • Children of Time, Adrian Tchaikovsky


      • Attack the Block


      • Xenogenesis Trilogy (Lilith’s Brood), Octavia E. Butler


      • Blindsight, Peter Watts


    ]]>    f6f7ee7c-92ce-4584-8a23-3548dd1c8d97Sat, 15 Jun 2024 17:00:00 -050043:21truefull1221    Some People Call Me the Space CowboySome People Call Me the Space CowboyIn this episode, we're talking about the Space Western! Was Firefly cancelled too soon or is it massively overrated? Why does it continue to grip the Nerd Imagination? Is it even okay to use Western elements in SFFH?

    Credits: Shamelessly stolen from Star Trek's "Spectre of the Gun," the Expanse Season 1 trailer, UFO Cowboy's official trailer, and Firefly's "Jayne's Town." The background music clips are "Somewhere In the Dark" and "Western Showdown" by Holizna and licensed under Creative Commons.

    ]]>    In this episode, we're talking about the Space Western! Was Firefly cancelled too soon or is it massively overrated? Why does it continue to grip the Nerd Imagination? Is it even okay to use Western elements in SFFH?

    Credits: Shamelessly stolen from Star Trek's "Spectre of the Gun," the Expanse Season 1 trailer, UFO Cowboy's official trailer, and Firefly's "Jayne's Town." The background music clips are "Somewhere In the Dark" and "Western Showdown" by Holizna and licensed under Creative Commons.

    ]]>    5fac86eb-e4b1-4cf7-98ef-4e421400de2eWed, 15 May 2024 08:00:00 -050035:28truefull1111    Where Are We, and Why Are We In This Handbasket?Where Are We, and Why Are We In This Handbasket?Welcome to Wizards & Spaceships, a podcast that's about both wizards and spaceships, featuring poet David L. Clink and novelist Rachel A. Rosen. In this episode, we introduce ourselves, talk about our favourite media, and explain why genre snobs need to get a lot less snobby. Do infodumps have a place in literature? Do all fantasy novels need to be a series? Grab a metaphorical drink with your newest nerdy friends and join us for our podcast launch.

    ]]>    Welcome to Wizards & Spaceships, a podcast that's about both wizards and spaceships, featuring poet David L. Clink and novelist Rachel A. Rosen. In this episode, we introduce ourselves, talk about our favourite media, and explain why genre snobs need to get a lot less snobby. Do infodumps have a place in literature? Do all fantasy novels need to be a series? Grab a metaphorical drink with your newest nerdy friends and join us for our podcast launch.

    ]]>    7ddd2265-7cb7-45c3-8a10-e6ad8279bf54Mon, 15 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -050035:27truefull11