Originally recorded July 25, 2023

We REALLY recommend you read the story first.

When we first looked over the list of stories we had to read, Jack was thrilled at the chance to eventually talk about honorary friend of the pod Ursala K. Le Guin and her utopia of Omelas. Since then Sam has also gotten aboard the Le Guin train and the two gush over one of the best stories we've read so far. This is EHE at its finest: politics, philosophy, morality, tangents from the past and present, and Sam annoying Jack by agreeing with him. All wrapped up in some beautifully written words. Oh, and the boys get to talk about wrestling! This is a good one, folks.

Spoilers for The Last of Us at 1:02:00

The essay Jack mention by Micheal Moorcock criticizing Tolkien and praising Le Guin among other authors

Recommendations:

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Next Episode: 1990’s “Boobs” by Suzy McKee Charnas

Support Us on Ko-fi

Follow us on Twitter

This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded June 27, 2023

Content Warning for descriptions and discussions regarding sexual assault after the break.

Apologies for the rough audio. These files have been through the virtual wringer over the months.

From Romulus and Remus to Washington epically crossing the Delaware River, empires and nations throughout history have used stories of their founding to be the bedrock of their society, Many are fabrications, others leave out critical details, and more have an uglier side. Geoffrey Landis takes us to the Martian penal colony, and how the few survivors murdered and pillaged their way into building a home on the red planet.

Recommendations:

Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo

Mad Max: Fury Road directed by George Miller

Next Episode: 1974’s “Those Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin

Support Us on Ko-fi

Follow us on Twitter

This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com and Pixabay.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded June 20, 2023

Back in my day you had to go to a store, in person, to pick up a DVD or VHS tape if you wanted to watch a specific movie at home. Ok, Sam and Jack aren't that old but they do remember when Netflix delivered discs in the mail. Tim Pratt writes about the old magic of browsing the shelves at the local video rental store in the 2007 Hugo Short Story winner "Impossible Dreams", and how stories on screen enrapture us just as much as those in text. Romance ensues.

Mentioned in this episode:

Superman Lives script (written by Kevin Smith!) and some more behind the scenes info

Quick read on how indie bookstores have survived corporation and digitization

An Oral History of Kingdom of the Sun (not Empire) and Yzma's song "Snuff Out The Light"

Short Film adaption by Shir Comay

Recommendations:

Ready Player One directed by Steven Spielberg

Your Name directed by Makoto Shinkai

I Met a Traveler in an Antique Land by Connie Willis

F for Fake directed by Orson Welles

Next Episode: 2003’s “Falling Onto Mars” by Geoffrey A. Landis

Support Us on Ko-fi

Follow us on Twitter

This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com and Pixabay.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.