Octothorpe

John, Alison, and Liz discuss what they’re voting for in the Hugo Awards. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks Bridget Bradshaw Chris Garcia Colette Reap Duncan MacGregor Edward Morlund Farah Mendlesohn Mike Scott Raj Fantasy Book Swap Alison Scott, Marianne Dreams and Tamarind and the Star of Ishta ”More funny than Thomas Hardy”: John Coxon, Rebecca‘s World and Flora & Ulysses Hugo Awards: Novella Novelette Short story ”Gathered in Translation” by Ken Liu “Disconnected Tales: Contrasting Ken Liu’s Original and Translated Works” by Stephanie Gao Series Graphic Story or Comic Best Related Work Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) Fan Categories The Midnight Pals that made Liz laugh Picks John: Star Wars: Jedi: Survivor Alison: Cinco Paus by Michael Brough Liz: No pick Credits Cover art: “Worldcon Community Group Bingo Card” by Alison Scott Alt text: ”Octothorpe 114” is at the top, and the word ”Octothorpe” is written on a series of lottery balls. Below that, a bingo card, and below that, the words ”Worldcon Community Group Bingo Card". The items on the card are as follows: Can I convert pounds to Scottish money? Does anyone have any opinions on…? Do you know my Scottish cousin? This list is too long to read so can someone… Is the programme out yet? Can I swim in the Clyde? Can I visit Stonehenge for the day? Asks question answered in PR5 Does Glasgow Zoo have live haggis? Volunteering is the best way to have fun What’s with all the armadillos? Shouldn’t the subway be a Digital Orange now? Free! Is the con organising an aurora viewing? Is it too late to get on the programme? Will Nessie be doing a signing? Mention of Glasgow, England Can anyone go to the Hugo Awards? Why don’t we do this the way we did in 1956? Can I fly from Glasgow to Edinburgh? Will there be any authors there? Can I bring my Emotional Support Moose? Are tartan and/or kilts compulsory? What I reckon… Mention of deep-fried Mars Bar Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is doing Discord, Liz is doing programme, and Alison isn’t working on the Worldcon. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Karen Schaffer Peach and bourbon pie Chris Garcia Peter Sullivan Kat Kourbeti Facebook Farah Mendlesohn Mike Scott The Great Paladin Hunt by Mike Brunton Malcolm Hutchison Jonny Baddeley Glasgow 2024 Glasgow 2024 Worldcon Community Group on Facebook Cerebus Humble Bundle Reviews by Tom Ewing Why is Alison collecting a big pile of con badges? The Streisand Effect (I know I got it slightly wrong in the episode!) Awards 2024 Locus Award winners 2024 Nebula Award winners Antipodes Brisbane in 2028 File 770 report (with details of their socials/mailing list) Worldcon 1939 Minneapolis in 2073: Progress Report 11 Torched by Alissa Walker Continuity 2024 The 2024 New Zealand NatCon John spent ages assuming that the above was just the online portal, but it is in fact the convention website There is some backstory on this at SFFANZ Picks John: Alan Wake 2 Saga Anderson’s sweater I didn’t mention it on the podcast at all and it’s just for you, the show note reader, but I was watching this sketch when I was waiting for Alison and Liz this morning: ”Beavis and Butt-Head” from SNL Alison: Animal Well Liz: Will Anderson’s YouTube channel about Scrabble Credits Cover art: “Massive Lizard” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three stick figures run from Godzilla, who is depicted in the style of Godzilla Minus One. The words “Octothorpe 113” used to be at the top of the art, but Godzilla has knocked off the letters “O C T O”, is holding “H”, and is trying to eat “T”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John was gaming, Alison was dancing, and Liz was batty. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, or tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Wealth privilege (chapter 3) Letters of comment Chris Garcia Curt Phillips Starter Villain review David Ian Salter Ersatz Culture Peter Sullivan Sandra Bond Levitation (Eastercon 2024) Post-convention report FunCon Alan Fleming’s report UK Games Expo Glasgow 2024 (Worldcon 2024) Site selection is open for Worldcon 2026 Brisbane has (re-)announced their bid for Worldcon 2028 Picks John: The Beast Spoilery interview with George MacKay Alison: Baldur’s Gate 3 Liz: Godzilla Minus One (Netflix) Credits Cover art: “That Octothorpe Series” by España Sheriff Alt text: John, Alison and Liz stand in the transporter on a Constitution-class Federation starship. They are mid-transportation, made of sparkles instead of fully fleshed out. The words “Octothorpe 112” appear beneath them. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison, and Liz read the 2024 Hugo Award finalists for Best Novel. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Rape and murder during a brief discussion of historically accurate piracy in Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, discussion of billionaires during Starter Villain John’s rankings: Some Desperate Glory Translation State Saint of Bright Doors Witch King Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Starter Villain Alison’s rankings: Saint of Bright Doors Some Desperate Glory Translation State Witch King Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Starter Villain Liz’s rankings: Some Desperate Glory Saint of Bright Doors Translation State Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Witch King Starter Villain Consensus: Some Desperate Glory Saint of Bright Doors Translation State Witch King Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Starter Villain Credits Cover art: “Favourite Reading Positions” by Sue Mason Alt text: John is in the bottom-left, sitting in a chair, wearing a blue shirt and purple trousers, holding a can, and reading an ebook. Alison is in the upper-middle, lying down upside down, wearing a purple shirt and stripy trousers, and reading an ebook. Liz is in the bottom-right, wearing a pink shirt with green trousers, holding a mug of a hot beverage, and reading a physical book. They are surrounded by floating beer bottles, books, the Moon, a mug with a moose on it, and two cats. The text “Octothorpe 111” and “Hugo Novels 2024” appears to the top and the bottom of the image. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is a professor, Alison doesn’t have a bucket list, and Liz is the country’s foremost fan historian. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: More wealth privilege (chapter 2) Letters of comment Bridget Bradshaw Christopher J Garcia Farah Mendlesohn Jonathan Cowie Jonny Baddeley Kin-Ming Looi Sandra Bond Tammy Coxen Awards Babel wins “Best Translated Work” at the 2024 Xingyun Awards Clarke Award finalists John: 0, Alison: 1, Liz: 3 The winner will be announced on 24 July 2024 Nebula Awards 2023 Nebula Awards Locus Awards Glasgow 2024 The Hugo Packet is now available Joel’s Whisky Zoom is hosting a tour of the Clydeside Distillery on 9 August at 7pm Picks John: Sunderland Shorts Film Festival Soulmate, Beautiful Things, Ensouled, Finger Food, Bisected, Own Home?, R1CO, The First Time I Never Met You Wes Anderson’s short adaptations of Roald Dahl Alison: Aurora Liz’s view on auroras Liz: A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin [paper, ebook, audiobook, Amazon] Credits Cover art: “Explain 2233” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three photographs of the night sky, labelled Newcastle, Bangkok, and “Quite near London” (the labels were written by a Londoner, which is why it doesn’t just say “London”). Text above reads “Octothorpe 110” and below reads “Local Aurora Snapshots”. The Newcastle and London images show photographs of aurora with some minor bits of vegetation intruding; the Bangkok picture shows a skyline of buildings underneath a thunderstorm. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is middle, Alison is even sadder, and Liz is sorry. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Discussion of access issues (chapter 2), wealth privilege (chapter 6) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Andrew January The Eastercon members’ portal Caroline Mullan DC Farah Mendlesohn Critical Friends 8 Jacob Holder Mark Plummer Meg MacDonald Doc Weir award Dave Langford receives the trophy Alt text: Dave Langford triumphantly lofts a blue Bag for Life from Tesco, which we are expected to believe contains the Doc Weir trophy. He is standing in front of a house. GUFF The results Chengdu 2023 “The Pidu district of Chengdu announces a 10-year science fiction plan” Glasgow 2024 Town Hall Event: Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Glasgow Town Hall Event: Site Selection Glasgow 2024 Eastercon and money Picks John: Dredge Alison: Hopeland by Ian McDonald (paper, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Liz: Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (paper, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Credits Cover art: “Voyagers” by Ulrika O’Brien Alt text: The background is a starry, lightning-filled square in blues, purples, and yellows. Atop that, there is a spaceship, somewhat like a rocket, with engines coming out of the sides. There are yellow lights shining from it, and a ladder reaches up to a central archway. John, Alison and Liz are depicted as silhouettes, regarding it with wonder. Their shadows stretch off the canvas, and they look faintly alien or futuristic in a hard-to-define manner. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is ignorant, Alison is first, and Liz is a trendsetter. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: COVID (chapter 8). Letters of comment Andy Openshaw Chris Garcia Maundy Thursday DC’s loc Meg MacDonald Nuala on Bluesky: sorry! Raj recommends pizza crunch Mono Raj on Mastodon Track Changes Eastercon 2024 Telford Telford International Centre KFC Catchup Members’ area Catchup will be closing at the end of April Dealers’ room Beyond Cataclysm COVID No reported cases, as far as we are aware Picks John: Thunder Road: Vendetta Alison: Fallout (the TV series) Liz: Stardew Valley Credits Cover art: “Vibrant Food Culture” by Alison Scott Alt text: A drawing of a blackboard with text that reads: “Octothorpe 108 guide to Glasgow street food.” A picture of a deep fried pizza with glasses is next to text reading ’The “Coxon” pizza crunch’, a picture of three pakora with glasses next to ‘The “Scott” haggis pakora’, and a picture of a deep fried Mars bar next to ‘The “Batty” deep fried Mars bar”. Stars also adorn the backboard, and bottles of red and brown sauce are in the bottom-left-hand corner. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison, and Nicholas are live from Levitation! A transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Thank you very much to our stunt Liz, Nicholas Whyte! Nicholas’ blog, From the Heart of Europe April Fool’s Day The rocket in all its glory! The Hugo Awards Hugo Award finalists The announcement video Thank you to everyone who nominated us! Congratulations to the other Fancast finalists: The Coode Street Podcast Hugos There Publishing Rodeo 科幻Fans布玛 (Science Fiction Fans Buma) Worldbuilding for Masochists The first Town Hall will be on 20 April 2024 Tickets available on Eventbrite The stream will be available on YouTube Three Black Halflings Tammy Coxen The Glasgow Gimlet Tammy’s Tastings Tammy’s podcast, My Tiny Bottles Bigolas Dickolas Gallifrey One BSFA Join their Discord! Picks John: Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace (Channel 4) Our cosplay Alison: Eastercon catch-up Nicholas: The Black Archive David Whitaker in an Exciting Adventure with Television by Simon Guerrier Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe at Levitation” by Sue Dawson Alt text: John, Alison, and Nicholas Whyte stand in front of a projection of the Octothorpe podcast and behind a panel table. Each of them wears a convention badge, and Nicholas holds the Glasgow Landing Zone Rocket. Nicholas is looking at the camera, while John and Alison are not quite as good at this. The table they stand behind holds beers, coffees, convention newsletters, phone batteries, microphones, and table tents. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John used to be an undergraduate, Alison has been keeping a list, and can Liz be a stunt Liz? A transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Death (Deb Geisler, chapter 3) and gambling (Hugo Awards, chapter 7; Alison’s pick, chapter 8). Letters of comment Chris Garcia Mike Glyer Transcripts Bob Morrell Colin Murtagh We also heard from Jonny Baddeley, Alex Holden, Farah Mendlesohn, and Ang Rosin Deb Geisler File 770 Eastercon Programme Octothorpe Live is at 13:00 on Monday! Games Newsletter Please come help, post in the Discord if you’d like to volunteer! GUFF Vote here! Doc Weir BSFA Awards Awards Nebula Award finalists Android Press Games The Bread Must Rise Hugo Award betting markets Liz has decided not to put her referral link here because the people who run the website might be a bit too Silicon Valley-y Hugo, Girl! un-recuse Picks John: Airecon Overs: The Cricket Card Game Alison: The 2023 Eastercon souvenir book Balatro Liz: “No CGI is really just INVISIBLE CGI” on YouTube Todd Vaziri on X, BlueSky, Mastodon Credits Cover art: “Podcasting Is Magic” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three ponies in the style of My Little Pony adorn the cover. The left-hand one is orange, and has a six-sided die as a cutie mark. The central one is teal, and has a rainbow Apple logo for a cutie mark. The right-hand one is blue, and has a Hugo Award for a cutie mark. They look like they are having a nice time. The words “My Little Octothorpe 106” appear at the top, and the words “Podcasting Is Magic” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John watches movies, Alison walks on the Moon, and Liz has special bonds. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Censorship, in the form of more Hugo Award controversy Letters of comment Ang Rosin Andy Openshaw Chris Garcia Zodiac Speaking ErsatzCulture and Raj España Sheriff Brighton 1987 Martin Easterbrook Tammy Coxen Sandra Bond Keep an eye out for Poetry Slum! Click here to see the cover Nicholas Jackson on Bluesky Harry Payne on Bluesky BSFA Awards shortlist Hugo Awards The 2023 Hugo Awards: A Report on Censorship and Exclusion by Chris M Barkley and Jason Sanford Charting the Cliff: An Investigation Into the 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics by Camestros Felapton and Heather Rose Jones More on Other Chinese Hugo Nominations, based on “Charting the Cliff” by Prograft Recent updates from the MPC/WIP Journey Planet #79 Picks John: Monolith dir. Matt Vesely Alison: Moonwalkers Liz: FRIENDSHIP Credits Cover art: Liz’s Bedtime Reading by Alison Scott Alt text: A famous photograph of Margaret Hamilton standing beside printed outputs of the code that took the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon, overlaid with the words “Octothorpe 105” and “Liz has finished reading the latest Hugo Award exposés”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)