DEATH // SENTENCE

Langdon and Eden explore the significance of literary awards, discussing their curatorial value and how to discover new books. They delve into John M. Ford's 'Web of Angels,' highlighting its unique take on cyberpunk with psychedelic space opera elements. The hosts trace the evolution of phone networks and telephony, and they praise Ford's messy brilliance and his visionary themes. Their discussion also touches on the connections between Ford's work and other influential authors in the genre, rounding out with thoughtful music recommendations.

Naruto run with us to the local picture house to watch a double bill of Ari Aster's Eddington and Zack Cregger's Weapons, with Kayte Terry of the excellent Tender Subject podcast. Music by Umulamahri: https://umulamahri.bandcamp.com/album/learning-the-secrets-of-acid-2

Langdon and Eden discuss the too-often bland and safe nature of science fiction and fantasy before diving in to a work that's anything but, "One Hand to Hold, One Hand to Carve"! Body horror, familial obsession, and finally being at peace with yourself mix in this arresting and clever novella about a man sawed in half! Music played: Rintrah - Fearful Symmetry https://rintrahmusic.bandcamp.com/track/fearful-symmetry Kayo Dot - Oracle By Severed Head https://kayodot.bandcamp.com/track/oracle-by-severed-head

Ishiguro season is done now that we've reached 2022's Klara and the Sun, the heartwarming story of a M3gan learning what it is to love. We also talk about Anime, for Satan. Music by https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/changelings

This time around, Langdon and Eden peer into the world, which is actually many things and not just one (and that's good!) Then, they take a look at Ursula K. Le Guin award nominee, Ursula Whitcher's North Continent Ribbon! Weird spaceships, radical politics, interesting AI, and a lot of emotions mix in this short story suite! Music played: Hypomanic Daydream - Dissociative https://hypomanicdaydream.bandcamp.com/track/dissociative Editrix - The Big E https://editrix.bandcamp.com/track/the-big-e

Langdon and Eden kick things off by asking the important questions: which member of the Friends cast would you follow into battle? They also discuss the inherent futility and horror of war. Then, they tackle Roger Zelazny's weird and feverish Creatures of Light and Darkness, touching on elements of myth, explosive prose, attention to detail, and Zelazny's unfortunate misogyny. Music played: Mathilde - Kepler- 186f https://mathilde-blackmetal.bandcamp.com/track/kepler-186-f Imipolex - Martian Blood Mother https://imipolex.bandcamp.com/track/martian-blood-mother

We made it - the podcast's personal favourite Kazuo Ishiguro book, The Buried Giant. It turns out a book about memory and genocide is kind of relevant to the world today, but we set it as part of Ishiguro's grand project of showing how Britain is bad and should sink below the waves. Music by Planning for Burial Theme tune by Caina

Gareth and Eden explore Nisi Shawl's Everfair, a mostly successful attempt at writing better, less racist, and more "complete" historical fiction. Nuclear dirigibles, proto-socialist societies, cool knife-hands, and lots and lots (and lots) of character PoVs mix and mingle with geopolitics and complex racial identities! Music played: Knives - PHD https://knivesnoise.bandcamp.com/track/phd

Eden flies solo on this episode, diving deep into the masterful, subtle, and rich Growing Up Weightless by the criminally under-read and under-recognized John M. Ford. Lunar politics, coming of age, and weird interstellar drives clash in this unique, hard sci-fi bildungsroman! Music played: Changeling - Changeling https://changelingofficial.bandcamp.com/track/changeling

Langdon and Eden kick things off by discussing their favorite Metallica tracks and also how good Metallica really are. Then, they dive into Oliver K. Langmead's "Calypso", a beautiful, if limited, verse novel about terraforming, memory, personhood, and endings. Music played: Slave Agent - Forced to Suffer https://slaveagent.bandcamp.com/track/forced-to-suffer Grails - Silver Bells https://grails.bandcamp.com/track/silver-bells