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Octothorpe

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Dec 21, 2023 • 56min

99: Keep Sending Ops Until They Fix It

John doesn’t study herpetology, Alison knows lots of words, and Liz goes first. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Games, SMOFs If I Ran the Zoo… Con PDF version Hard copy from NESFA Bidding Phase: 3401 Pre-Supporting Memberships by Leslie Turek 5501 Kill the Wabbit by Priscilla Olson, John Pomeranz, Leslie Turek, Mark Olson Planning Phase: 2201 The “Relationship” by Priscilla Olson, Mark Olson 5901 We’re in the Money by Glenn Glazer, Leslie Turek Modest food Privy’s props Privy’s cast At-Con Phase: 701 The Lady and the Snake by Mark Olson, Leslie Turek 1101 The Dungeon Master by Joe Rico 2901 The BNF by Priscilla Olson, Fred Isaacs, Leslie Turek Credits Cover art: “Game of Privies” by Alison Scott Alt text: John, Alison and Liz are on a large privy holding drinks with a snake wrapped around the privy. Speech bubbles surround them: “Have you seen my emotional support python?” “The perfect spot for the old pharts photo”, “It’s another ‘what if…’ episode”, and “Oi! There’s a queue here mate”. A banner with “Punctuation Worldcon 2030” appears at the top and the words “Octothorpe 99” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0) Points at the end of each phase: Phase People Financial Goodwill Bidding 2 0 1 Planning 5 4 1 At-Con 6 5 7
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Dec 7, 2023 • 59min

98: Finally, Manitoba

John thinks it’s grandfathered in, Alison doesn’t think it’s SF, and Sandra is Liz. 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: None Letters of comment Chris Garcia Curt Phillips Where to buy Moon (USA, UK) If you know of websites that do this in other countries, let John know! Mark Plummer The full text of Mark Plummer’s and Leigh Edmonds’ previous locs Glasgow 2024’s disease mitigation policy Fan funds TAFF Free ebooks Taffluorescence! #1 With news of the upcoming TAFF race Geri Sullivan’s Idea #13 is forthcoming Sandra’s books The Psychopath Club The Devil’s Finger Picks John: A City on Mars by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith (hardback, epub, Amazon) Alison: For All Mankind Sandra: Beyond Fandom: Fans, Culture & Politics in the 20th Century by Rob Hansen (ed.) Credits Cover art: “Stunt Lizard” by Alison Scott Alt text: The heads of John and Alison regard a lizard version of Sandra Bond who is doing stunts (on fire, skateboarding) while wearing her signature hat. The words “Octothorpe 98” appear at the top. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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Nov 23, 2023 • 57min

97: The Future of Language

John has played some games, Alison will play some games, and Liz is playing games RIGHT NOW 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: China, being burned alive, classism Letters of comment Chris Garcia España Sheriff Leigh Edmonds Lori Anderson Chengdu Chinese v foreign attendees An example We expect stats at the 90 day mark WSFS remote participation Current WSFS constitution and standing rules Preliminary meeting video Don Eastlake on Facebook Glasgow 2024 Online convention news Glasgow presents Catherynne M Valente and Peter S Beagle Novacon Novacon 53 Picks John: The Wicker Man Alison: Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi (physical, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Liz: Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway (physical, epub, audiobook, Amazon) Gaming corner Tabletop games Hadrian’s Wall Moon Turing Machine Villagers Cracking the Cryptic play Return of the Obra Dinn The Roottrees are Dead Credits Cover art: “To the LizBatmobile” by Alison Scott Alt text: John, Alison and Liz are depicted as Robin, Harley Quinn and Batman, but the Batman logo is replaced by “WSFS”. The Batmobile is in the centre of the three of them. The words “Octothorpe 97” appear at the top and the words “…to the LizBatmobile” at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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Nov 9, 2023 • 47min

96: A Less QR-Code-Using Society

John didn’t, Alison would’ve done, and Liz tried. 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: China Was Chengdu a shower? Nicholas Whyte signs autographs Chengdu Worldcon on YouTube WorldconEvents on YouTube Site selection meeting videos are going up here WSFS Business Meeting” group on Facebook File 770’s reporting on this year’s WSFS Picks John: Hallowe’en Alison: New Zealand Liz: Poker Face Credits Cover art: “Chengdu Worldcon Report” by Alison Scott Alt text: A giant panda stands in a metal tub wearing a rainbow show cap with helicopter blades beneath a shower made of bamboo. A purple towel with “42” on it is over the side of the metal tub. The words “Octothorpe 96” are above “Chengdu Worldcon Report” with a footnote reading “might not have been a shower after all”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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Oct 26, 2023 • 57min

95: Hugo, Girl!

John is playing a game, Alison is in New Zealand, and Liz’s head is on fire. 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: Privilege (letters of comment), carbon emissions (GUFF), grant applications (picks) Letters of comment Dave Mansfield Esther MacCallum-Stewart Chris Garcia Abigail Nussbaum SJ Johnson Hugos Congratulations to Hugo, Girl! Thanks to Nicholas Whyte for Being our designated Hugo acceptor Liveblogging the Hugo Award ceremony GUFF It goes from Australasia to Europe (and vice versa) Australasia Stonehenge Aoteroa Woomera Te Tauaarangi Air Force Royal Australian Air Force Kākāpō family tree Picks John: Don’t Play This Game (play the demo) Alison: Australia Liz: Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (epub, paperback, audiobook, Amazon) Credits Cover art: “Birds” by España Sheriff Alt text: A kakapo, a kiwi and a SIAMESE FIREBACK just chilling out. They look a bit like John, Alison and Liz. The words “Octothorpe 95” adorn the top of the cover. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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Oct 12, 2023 • 1h 13min

94: Satisfying Meat

John is eating cinnamon rolls, Alison doesn’t think it’s funny, and Liz has two lists. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X, on Mastodon, or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: colonialism (chapter 2), COVID (chapter 3), organised crime (chapter 5), privilege and capitalism (chapter 7). No letters of comment this week, normal service resumes next week! Books in the order they were discussed The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The Kaiju Preservation Society, by John Scalzi Legends & Lattes, by Travis Baldree Coffee Shop AU Nona the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir The Spare Man, by Mary Robinette Kowal Nettle & Bone, by T Kingfisher John’s ranking: Nettle & Bone The Daughter of Doctor Moreau Nona the Ninth The Spare Man Legends & Lattes The Kaiju Preservation Society Alison’s ranking: Nettle & Bone The Daughter of Doctor Moreau The Kaiju Preservation Society Nona the Ninth Legends & Lattes The Spare Man Liz’s ranking: Nettle & Bone The Daughter of Doctor Moreau Nona the Ninth The Kaiju Preservation Society Legends & Lattes The Spare Man Consensus ranking: Nettle & Bone The Daughter of Doctor Moreau Nona the Ninth The Kaiju Preservation Society Legends & Lattes The Spare Man 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 word “Octothorpe” appears in scattered letters around the artwork, against a pinky-purple background. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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Sep 28, 2023 • 42min

93: The Good Thing About the Hugos

John is husky, Alison is a dingo, and Liz is a ridgeback. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Chris Garcia Ersatz Culture Chengdu is a shower Relevant Pixel Scrolls: Fanzine and Fan Writer added; videos of the construction Panoramic views of the convention site Arthur Liu’s post on Weibo Glasgow 2024 Glasgow 2024 Presents: The Media of Storytelling: Print v Screen Hugo discussion GUFF LEGO postcards from Australia You can donate £5 or £10 to guffeurope@gmail.com to get a personalised postcard from Alison Postcard from Australia for £5 Photo postcard from the Internet for £5 Special surprise exclusive GUFF 2023 Art postcard for £10 Postcard with an “unreasonable special request” for £10 [don’t ask me what this means, I just wrote down the words Alison said—John] Picks We did a lot of talking about our opinions of SF this episode, so picks return in future! Credits Cover art: “Flying to Australia” by Alison Scott Alt text: A photograph of Alison’s Apple Watch on a plane to Australia. This episode of Octothorpe is playing on that Apple Watch, which is on her wrist. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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Sep 17, 2023 • 48min

92: Shouting From Inside the Room

John went to Reno, Alison went to San Francisco, and Liz went to Chicago. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Murder and sexual violence (chapter 4) Letters of comment Chris Garcia Dave Mansfield Duncan MacGregor Ersatz Culture Irwin Hirsch Juan Sanmiguel Nick Hubble Peter Sullivan ConFrancisco Ansible 75 (October 1993) File 770’s Worldcon Wayback Machine: Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Chengdu is a shower The Hugo Voter Packet still doesn’t have Best Fanzine or Best Fan Writer Ersatz Culture’s page on the Hugo Voter Packet now contains downloads for both Arthur Liu/Heaven Duke has two pages in Chinese covering similar ground: one, two Glasgow 2024 Progress Report 2 is now out They’ve got a big organ John is moderating “The Media of Storytelling: Print v Screen” for Glasgow Presents 21 September at 19:00 BST Dan Hanks, A M Justice, Jim Mcleod, and R W W Greene Tickets are free Picks John: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 and 1978) Alison: The Thin Man (1934) and The Island of Doctor Moreau by H G Wells (1896) Liz: Credits Cover art: “1993 Time Machine” by Alison Scott Alt text: A drawing of España Sheriff with “gosh wow oh boy oh boy” in a thought bubble to the left of a drawing of Alison saying “displays include Hugo history and antique vibrators” behind an info desk. Computer monitors display the text “Coming soon! Websites!” and “Try Virtual Reality, it’s the next big thing”. A Dalek and the Golden Gate Bridge adorn the scene. Above, the words “Moscone North” are below the words “We travel to a land that photography forgot” which are in turn below “Octothorpe 92”. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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Aug 31, 2023 • 55min

91: O— O— O—

John is a journalist, Alison is fundraising, and Liz is approved. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Chris Garcia David Curry Edward Morland Farah Mendlesohn Jonathan Baddeley Lori Anderson Not Laurie Anderson The Clarke Award Liz read them all! 🌟 Hugo Voter Packet Ersatz Culture’s report on what’s in the packet Site selection Voting has started! Seattle in 2025 Alison’s GUFF plans If you are in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Christchurch, Picton/Nelson, Wellington, Auckland or Perth, email Alison Picks John: The (Kenner)Spiel des Jahres shortlist Alison: LEGO Liz: The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler (hardback, epub) Credits Cover art: “Plenty of Bits” by Alison Scott Alt text: A photograph of three mini figures made to look like John, Alison nad Liz with a dragon in the background. John is holding a lightsaber, Alison a fish and a cup o f coffee, and Liz an ice cream. Two cats accompany them. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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Aug 17, 2023 • 40min

90: Resolutely Alison All the Time

John, Alison and Liz read Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, check out our subtitles/transcripts, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Twitter or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Murder, death Other works we discussed: Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee Rosewater by Tade Thompson This didn’t make the edit due to Liz’s audio being troublesome The 2018 Hugo Award ballot Credits Cover art: “Standard-Sized Cryochambers” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three cryochambers marked “Coxon J, Scott A and Batty L” reside in a room marked “Clone Bay”. John and Liz’s heads are visible through the windows int heir chambers; Alison’s is not. Blood floats in front of them underneath the words “Octothorpe 90”. Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

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