Starship Alexandria
Emma Newman and Adrian Tchaikovsky
The Sci-fi and Fantasy podcast from the best of futures!
In this future, humanity has solved its problems and is now sending spaceships from Earth, not in a desperate attempt to escape the apocalypse but because we can do so in a spirit of hope and exploration.
As a part of the Starship Alexandria Project, the far-future analogues of 21st century authors Emma Newman and Adrian Tchaikovsky have been tasked to make recommendations from the ship's vast library of creative works based on the preferences of our 21st century counterparts.
Each of us will take it in turns to nominate a book, film or similar work, and the other will play judge and give the thumbs up or thumbs down to be recommended across the fleet.
In this future, humanity has solved its problems and is now sending spaceships from Earth, not in a desperate attempt to escape the apocalypse but because we can do so in a spirit of hope and exploration.
As a part of the Starship Alexandria Project, the far-future analogues of 21st century authors Emma Newman and Adrian Tchaikovsky have been tasked to make recommendations from the ship's vast library of creative works based on the preferences of our 21st century counterparts.
Each of us will take it in turns to nominate a book, film or similar work, and the other will play judge and give the thumbs up or thumbs down to be recommended across the fleet.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 8, 2025 • 5min
Day 8 - 2025 Advent Calendar
For the eighth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian enthuses about an animated series that people recommended to him because of his novel Alien Clay. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
Dec 7, 2025 • 9min
Day 7 - 2025 Advent Calendar
For the seventh day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma's choice is another show from the 1970's, but a lot less fantastical that the one from yesterday! If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
Dec 6, 2025 • 6min
Day 6 - 2025 Advent Calendar
For the sixth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian evokes the drama of a classic SF show from the 1970's. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
Dec 5, 2025 • 6min
Day 5 - 2025 Advent Calendar
For the fifth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma tries to put into words how much she loves season five of an unusual television show. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
Dec 4, 2025 • 7min
Day 4 - 2025 Advent Calendar
For the fourth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, it's Adrian's turn to talk about a favourite space based SF show from the nineties! If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
Dec 3, 2025 • 4min
Day 3 - 2025 Advent Calendar
For the third day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma recommends an Australian TV show called Mr Inbetween. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
Dec 2, 2025 • 4min
Day 2 - 2025 Advent Calendar
For the second day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian champions the television series Spaced. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
Dec 1, 2025 • 7min
Day 1 - 2025 Advent Calendar
For our first day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma sings the praises of Star Trek: The Next Generation and explains why it's so special to her. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
Nov 9, 2025 • 1h
Episode 8 - Mythago Wood
Join a journey into the enchanting world of Mythago Wood, exploring the deep roots of myth and family obsession. Hear about the unique mythagos shaped by cultural memory and the haunting allure of Gwyneth, the tragic love interest. Delve into the art of readable writing that enhances the mythic experience. Discover how the wood acts as a character, influencing fate and emotions, and find out why this story resonates with a distinctly British essence. The hosts weave in personal connections and literary influences, making this a compelling discussion.
Oct 9, 2025 • 52min
Episode 7 - The Ministry for the Future
For our seventh episode of Starship Alexandria, Emma puts forward the novel The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson, for Adrian to consider. Other talking points: Wet Bulb Events Nonconformist plot structures The Doyenne of Climate Fiction The balance of hope and despair Asshole billionaires again National stereotypes in spec fic Adrian thinking he's being clever SFF as stealth literature for change Media Mentions: Saturation Point, novella by Adrian Tchaikovsky, narrated by Emma Newman The Windup Girl, novel by Paulo Bacigalupi The Remains of the Day, film dir. James Ivory Star Trek: The Next Generation, TV series Piranesi, novel by Susanna Clarke Our next episode will look at the novel Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock. Emma's music recommendation: Borodin's String Quartet No.2 in D Major https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKsCxvT8e8Y&list=RDRKsCxvT8e8Y&start_radio=1 Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: The Hungry Gods https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-hungry-gods-adrian-tchaikovsky/7756963 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
