Science Fiction Book Club
Lore Party Media LLC
Science Fiction Book Club is a podcast for bookworms and stargazers. In every episode, hosts Abu and Obssa dive into the pages of their favorite science fiction novels to break down the big ideas and ask the nerdy questions. This isn't just a generic book review podcast – it's a show made for and with a community of passionate sci-fi fans. So join the club, and get reading! New episodes every other Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 1, 2026 • 44min
Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa complete their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the ninth short story in the collection, Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom, and explore the horrifying and empowering cost of true free will.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(02:38) Summary
(07:17) Our Impressions
(17:03) Free Will is Dizzying
(21:22) Are Your Decisions Meaningless?
(24:01) The Horrible Price of Free Will
(27:08) Grappling with Infinite Possibilities
(32:52) You Have the Power to Change
(36:36) Final Ratings
(39:24) What We're Reading Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2025 • 38min
Omphalos (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the eighth short story in the collection, Ompahlos, and explore the philosophy of existentialism.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(02:56) Summary
(08:49) Our Impressions
(15:43) A Small Nitpick
(17:59) What is Existentialism?
(19:46) Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir
(21:17) Core Tenets of Existentialism
(23:05) Critiques of Existentialism
(25:40) Are We Existentialists?
(29:34) The Absurd Part of Existentialism
(33:31) What We're Reading Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4, 2025 • 36min
The Great Silence (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the seventh short story in the collection, The Great Silence, and explore how close we are to communicating with animals.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2025 • 33min
The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the sixth short story in the collection, The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling, and explore the ways technology has always helped us remember our lives.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2025 • 36min
Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the fifth short story in the collection, Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny, and explore the challenges of raising children in a technological world.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2025 • 51min
The Lifecycle of Software Objects (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the fourth short story in the collection, The Lifecycle of Software Objects, and explore the realities of forming relationships with artificial intelligence.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(03:01) Summary
(10:52) Our Impressions
(16:40) Abu's Favorite Moment
(18:25) Weakest Story in the Collection
(20:38) The Icky Truth About Marco
(23:15) Can We Have Relationships with AI?
(28:22) The Case for AI Relationships
(35:13) The Case Against AI Relationships
(42:41) There Are No Shortcuts to Relationships
(46:47) Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 9, 2025 • 34min
What's Expected of Us (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the third short story in the collection, What's Expected of Us, and explore the existential dread of not having free will.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2, 2025 • 29min
Exhalation by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the second short story in the collection, the titular Exhalation, and explore why humans are unique in their pursuit of meaning.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11, 2025 • 31min
The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa begin their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the first short story in the collection, The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate, and explore the power of storytelling to change our perspective on life.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 8min
Parable of the Sower (Earthseed #1) by Octavia E. Butler I Ch. 14-25
Abu and Obssa complete their read-through of Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. They explore how Lauren Olamina embodies an ideal leader, the evolution of religion in the face of scientific understanding, and the importance of community and connection in survival.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(02:37) Chapter Summaries
(11:17) Our Impressions
(21:17) Lauren's Leadership Style
(32:54) How Science Reshapes Religion
(35:53) Does Religion Need Mysticism?
(42:39) Survival Through Community
(53:32) This Is More Important Than Survival
(01:00:36) Final Ratings
(01:03:37) What We're Reading Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
