Hugos There Podcast

Peter Watts, the scientifically rigorous Canadian author behind Blindsight, discusses Fold Catastrophes and the boundary between biology and science fiction. They explore technological predictions, organic brains versus silicon AI, shared consciousness, ecological collateral damage, prediction markets, simulated faith, and the ethics of future catastrophe. Watts also recounts giving Blindsight away online and how it unexpectedly boosted sales.

“Fantasy is …when you take something either completely made up or something that starts in the real world and you add something to it.” …less of a technological fiction and more of a biological fiction…inventing races or magical abilities.” “Fantasy…includes elements of fairy tales and myths and legends.” This time I’m revisiting a book I … Continue reading "Foundational Fantasy: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, by Patricia McKillip, with Karen Beck and Rachel Young"

It’s the Hugo shortlist time of year! I’m doing my part (a very small part) by hosting some of my Internet Friends to discuss the 2026 finalists for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story! This was a super quick edit, so it’s perhaps not quite a tight or clean as a typical episode. But … Continue reading "2026 Hugo Award for Best Short Story nominees panel!"

My sister Megan joins me for a discussion of the much-loved book she’s had since the early 80s, Beauty, by Robin McKinley, a retelling of “Beauty and the Beast.” Megan’s copy of the book, held together by a hair tie.

A few of us from the Portland (and broader Pacific NW) chapter of the Nebulugo Book Club Discord got together in Portland to do a Hot Ones style challenge, with the questions done Book Club style as the sauces got hotter (well, that was the intent, but our sauces were all over the place). Audio … Continue reading "Hothouse, by Brian Aldiss (Hot Ones challenge), with Mythius, Sophia, and Sarah"

“Fantasy is when we are presenting a world that isn’t our world, even if it’s just slightly off from our world.” Dan Harris from the Nebulugo Book Club Discord joins me for a Foundational Fantasy about Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast series, starting with Titas Groan. I highly recommend the print or ebook for this one, as … Continue reading "Foundational Fantasy: Titus Groan, by Mervyn Peake, with guest Dan Harris"

“Fantasy reflects…a simpler lifestyle and…an exaggeration of physical ability…and many different types of people.” Ray Jamison joins me for a quick Foundational Fantasy discussion about Fantasy Films, but is mostly here to plug his cool fantasy comic project, The Madcaps, currently running a Kickstarter campaign. I thought the project looked cool, so I invited him … Continue reading "Interview with Ray Jamison, author of The Madcaps (and a sprinkling of Foundational Fantasy)"

Back to a regular episode this time with Clifford Simak’s City, winner of the International Fantasy Award in 1953, and I’m joined by the newest entry in what I call The Hugo Collective, Christine Baker from the excellent podcast, Hugo History! We go pretty much full spoilers right away, but this is a 70+ year … Continue reading "City, by Clifford Simak, with Christine Baker"

“It’s fantastical, it’s awe-inspiring, it’s extraordinary, it’s something that really doesn’t exist, hence the name fiction…you know, it inspires you.” – James Ralston It’s another Foundational Fantasy episode!Returning guest James (also my Take Me To Your Reader co-host) joins me for a discussion of Raymond E. Feist’s Magician, the first book (or is it two … Continue reading "Foundational Fantasy: Magician, by Raymond E. Feist, with guest James Ralston"

“Fantasy is a comfort, an escape, a way to imagine other sorts of realities other than the one I’m in.” – Paul Weimer It’s another Foundational Fantasy episode!Returning guest Paul Weimer joins me for a discussion of Roger Zelazny’s Nine Princes in Amber, the first book of the Chronicles of Amber. And we chip away, … Continue reading "Foundational Fantasy: Nine Princes in Amber, by Roger Zelazny, with guest Paul Weimer"