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In this episode, Cat and Alan discuss the concept of Hopepunk with Alexandra Rowland, coiner of the term. Other topics include the hopeful nature of Lord of the Rings, why there has to be a protagonist in fiction, and why sometimes you have to sell out. Alan also reviews the second season of The Witch Who Came in From the Cold published by Serialbox

This episode details the who, what, why, and how of the new podcast.  Please subscribe to the If This Goes On (Don't Panic) podcast feed most places you can find podcasts. Uploads to the AJVSSF feed will be limited.

In our final episode, we discuss Cixin Liu's story "The Wandering Earth" with Chinese author and professor Xia Jia. We talk about her first collection, currently being translated to English via Neil Clarke (of Clarkesworld). And we discuss the Golden Age of SF (in America), the current SF boom in China, and what it's like making an SF movie in China. We also make a big announcement about our new podcast If This Goes On (Don't Panic) coming out early in 2020. My guest co-host for this episode is, fittingly, Cat Rambo, author of Hearts of Tabat and many others Books reviewed: Radiance by Catherynne Valente

This episode we discuss "Under the Grid" by Andrew Dana Hudson with our guest Sarena Ulibarri. Sarena is a writer and the Editor-in-Chief of World Weaver Press. We discuss Solarpunk, economics in Science Fiction, and emojis among other topics. Our guest co-host is TJ Berry, author of Space Unicorn Blues and it's sequel Five Unicorn Flush. You can find the book Weight of Light here: https://csi.asu.edu/books/weight/ Books Reviewed: Junction by Daniel Benson

This episode we discuss "Portrait of the artist" by KJ Parker with our guest Scott H. Andrews, Editor-in-Chief, and publisher of Beneath Ceaseless Skies.  We discuss aesthetics, short fiction in fantasy, and character driven stories among other topics. Our guest co-host is TJ Berry, author of Space Unicorn Blues and it's sequel Five Unicorn Flush. You can find "Portait of the Artist"on September 26th, here: http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/ Books Reviewed: The Ready Made Bodhisattva edited by Sunyoung Park & Sang Joon Park   Cities of Light Planes of Dust by Air and Nothing Press The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett    

This is the fourth and final installment of a series of interviews conducted at ReaderCon 2019. In this episode we discuss sexbots and a new collection of stories with James Patrick Kelly. Then we discuss touring, music, and writing with Sarah Pinsker. Finally, we debrief with  Chris about his first every SF Con.

This is the third of a series of interviews conducted at ReaderCon 2019. In this episode we discuss Tananarive's career, music, movies, and history with the author, academic, and journalist herself.

This is the second of a series of interviews conducted at ReaderCon 2019. In this episode we discuss ReaderCon memories and politics in Science Fiction & Fantasy with Scott H. Andrews, editor of Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and author Matthew Kressel.

This is the first of a series of interviews conducted at ReaderCon 2019. In this episode we discuss podcasting and writing with RJ Theodore (aka Rekka Jay). We also talk to editor, writer, publisher Bill Campbell about this origin story as well as his new anthology Sunspot Jungle. Our friend and sound guy Christopher Snydroski also gets a little air time about what he expects from his first science fiction convention.

This episode we discuss "Your Authentic Indian Experience TM" by Rebecca Roanhorse with our guest Dr. Grace Dillon. Grace is a professor of Literature at Portland University, as well as an editor, and all around mover and shaker in the SFF community. We discuss cultural appropriation, Indigenous Peoples, Virtual Reality, among other topics. This is our first ever Patreon Members' story vote episode. You can find "Your Authentic Indian Experience TM" here: https://www.apex-magazine.com/welcome-to-your-authentic-indian-experience/ Books Reviewed: The Sky Woman by JD Moyer Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

In this episode, we explore flash fiction and future trends in Science Fiction with Josh Hrala and Patrick Morris, the editors of Pittsburgh based Flash Fiction Magazine The Arcanist.  Stories include "Jed Thule is a Coward" by Brad Preslar and "Throwing Static" by JW Bell. Both stories can be found at The Arcanist: https://thearcanist.io/about.   Reviews include Hearts of Tabat by Cat Rambo

In this episode we discuss CL Moore's story "Shambleau" with authors Cat Rambo and Diane Morrison. We also discuss cross genre fiction, life after death, and feminism.   Book reviewed: The Witch Who Came In From The Cold by MAx Gladstone, Lindsay Smith, Ian Tregillis, Cassandra Rose Clarke, and Michael Swanwick You can also find the story here: "Shambleau" - http://blogs.iac.gatech.edu/mars1102/files/2016/01/Moore-Shambleau.pdf

In this episode we discuss  "And You Shall Know Her By The Trail Of Dead" by Brooke Bolander with our guest Dan Moren an author, journalist, and podcaster. We also discuss the art of swearing, cyberpunk, and famous character duos. We review The Strange Bird by Jeff Vandermeer and October Country by Ray Bradbury. Here's where you can find everything: "And You Shall Know Her By The Trail Of Dead" by Brooke Bolanderhttp://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/shall-know-trail-dead/  Dan Moren: https://dmoren.com/

In this episode, we discuss "The Catherine Wheel" by Ian McDonald with our guest Diane Turnshek an scientist, writer, and professor. We also talk about light pollution, terraforming, and religion.   Books Reviewed: Strange Bird by Jeff Vandermeer                               October Country by Ray Bradbury

In this episode we review our year. We also invite Tade Thompson back to the podcast, Ryan Pruchnic, and for the first time ever, the Chinese Science Fiction author Zhang Ran.  We talk about a wide range of things from Marvel movies, to our favorite books, to cryogenic freezing yourself in order to time travel.  We also have a lot of fun making this episode and some of us get tipsy.  Thanks to all our listeners for a great 2018. Here's to having an even better 2019.      

In this episode, we discuss "The Cold Equations" by Tom Godwin with our guest BJ Mendelson an author, comic book writer, and speaker. We talk about big data, the trolley problem, and the future of privacy.   Books reviewed: Blackfish City by Sam J Miller. The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson   You can find everything here: "The Cold Equations" - http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-cold-equations/ BJ Mendelson - https://bjmendelson.com/  

In this episode, we discuss "The Martian Obelisk" by Linda Nagata with our guest Aubrey Hirsch an author, essayist, artist, and professor. We talk about the meaning of art, the likelihood of people on Mars, and Mars in fiction.   Books reviewed: The Anthology Life on Mars edited by Johnathan Strahan.   You can find everything here: "The Martian Obelisk" - https://www.tor.com/2017/07/19/the-martian-obelisk/  Aubrey Hirsch - https://aubreyhirsch.com/ 

In this episode, we discuss "The Last Question" by Isaac Asimov with our guest Dr. Derek Leben, professor of Ethics. We talk about Artificial Intelligence, why Asimov's three laws of robotics suck, Asimov's positive outlook on technology, and the trolley problem.   Books reviewed: The Apocalypse Index by Charles Stross & Artemis by Andy Weir   You can find everything here: "The Last Question" - http://www.multivax.com/last_question.html  Derek Leben - https://www.amazon.com/Derek-Leben/e/B07G5GHBQ5 

In this episode we discuss the story "The Immortal" by Jorge Borges with our guest Tade Thompson. We discuss "monstrous immortality", Jorge Borges' literary significance, and Plato. Here is where you can find everything: Tade Thompson: https://www.amazon.com/Tade Thompson/e/B00KU8RQFO  "The Immortal" wiki entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Immortal_(short_story) Daughters of the Forgotten Light by Sean Grigsby: https://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Forgotten-Light-Sean-Grigsby-ebook/dp/B079KSFHV5/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1538701466&sr=1-3&keywords=sean+grigsby The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett: https://www.amazon.com/Color-Magic-Novel-Discworld-ebook/dp/B000W9399S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1538701518&sr=1-1&keywords=the+color+of+magic+terry+pratchett 

In this episode we discuss the story "Martian Raga" by Phillip Trippenbach & Blake Jessop with our guests Frank Oreto and Douglas Gwilym. We lock editors in the basement, get drunk, and talk about the importance of short fiction. Here is where you can find everything:   Douglas Gwilym: http://douglasgwilym.com/ Frank Oreto: https://www.facebook.com/FrankisWriting/ Blake Jessop: https://www.amazon.com/Blake-Jessop/e/B07BB7Z73N "Martian Raga": https://www.amazon.com/Triangulation-Appetites-Frank-Oreto/dp/1548648116/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1510605554&sr=8-1