Spectology: The Science Fiction Book Club Podcast

1. 4013.1: Dark Eden pre-read w/ Kevin Kelsey: Linguistic drift, creating myths, and rogue planets.81 min

   To celebrate having been at the podcast for one full year, Matt & Adrian are joined by Kevin Kelsey of…

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2. 4113.2: Dark Eden post-read w/ Kevin Kelsey: From Stories to Legends to Myths to Religion.144 min

   We're once again joined by Kevin Kelsey of Heradas.com to discuss Dark Eden, by Chris Beckett ( ).

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3. 4213.3 (fixed): Chris Beckett discusses his novel Dark Eden, writing for realism over role models, and how he thinks about genre.53 min

   (Uploaded the wrong file earlier, if you have 2 versions of this episode, this is the correct one.) This…

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4. 4314.1: The Raven Tower pre-read w/ Reading the End: Fantasy, Genre, & Gender!80 min

   This month, we welcome the Demographically Similar Jennys from the wonderful & charming Reading the End…

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5. 44Things We Like May 2019 (feat. Reading the End): TV Shows, Art, and Fish28 min

   Our guests this month, the Demographically Similar Jennys from the Reading the End Podcast & Blog , join…

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6. 4514.2: The Raven Tower post-read w/ Reading the End: 2nd Person, Language Games, and Hamlet.100 min

   The Demographically Similar Jenny's join us again for our post-read discussion of Ann Leckie's The Raven…

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7. 4615.1: Exhalation by Ted Chiang, pre-read: Philosophical thought experiments & short stories75 min

   Adrian & Matt are back on their own this month, reading & talking about the short story collection…

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8. 4715.2: "Exhalation" post-read: Re-reading stories, philosophy of mind, & the heat death of the universe38 min

   This week's minisode is an in-depth discussion of ONLY the title story from Ted Chiang's new collection…

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9. 4815.3: Exhalation (collection) by Ted Chiang post-read: AI, Identity, & Metaphysics in Science Fiction112 min

   Welcome to our final episode on Ted Chiang's newest short story collection, Exhalation ( ).

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10. 4916.1: Empress of Forever pre-read: Space Opera, Epics, & Journey to the West70 min

    What goes around comes around on the wheel of karma, so this month Matt & Adrian talking about the new novel…

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11. 50Things We Like July 2019: Anime, Music, Poetry, and Cookbooks29 min

    [This episode comes with a content warning for discussions of depression, suicide, and drug overdose.

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12. 51Critical Conversations: "Critics: Endgame" by Soraya Roberts & the purpose of criticism in a dying world27 min

    This is the first in a new series of episodes we're calling "Critical Conversations", where we take a…

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13. 5216.2: Empress of Forever post-read: Journey to the West, Redemption, and Buddhism in Science Fiction106 min

    Through journeys and struggles, with the power of friendship, we did it!

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14. 5317.1: The Killing Moon pre-read: Worldbuilding techniques in SF & Fantasy97 min

    Hey folks!

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15. 5417.2: The Killing Moon post-read: Lucid Dreaming, Writing Compelling Villains, and Genre Blending99 min

    We've finished The Killing Moon by NK Jemisin ( ), and have a lot to say about it as usual!

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16. 5518.1: Waste Tide pre-read: Chinese Language, Literary History, and Science Fiction100 min

    It's finally happening!

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17. 56Critical Conversations: Ning Ken's Ultra Unreal, how to define a genre, and genre gatekeeping55 min

    For today's episode, Matt & Adrian read an essay about Chinese Science Fiction by Chinese SF author Ning…

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18. 5718.2: Waste Tide post-read: social class in science fiction, translation, and the problems with cyberpunk126 min

    We're back for our post-read discussion of Waste Tide by Stanley Chan / Chen Qiufan!

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19. 5819.1: Zone One pre-read: Zombies, Horror, and LitFic80 min

    Sorry for the late episode this week!

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20. 59Things We Like October 2019: Video Games, LARPS, and Music29 min

    Buh-buh-buh-bonus!

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21. 6019.2: Zone One post-read: Depression, Surviving the Apocalypse, and New York City in fiction90 min

    Coming at you in person, Matt & Adrian sat down in the same room to record an episode about Colson…

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22. 6120.1: An Unkindness of Ghosts pre-read: Reading with privilege, using genre conventions, and truth in fiction62 min

    In what ends up being a surprisingly introspective episode of Spectology, we introduce our new book: An…

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23. 62In Conversation: Fancasting Binti, Black Tom, the Culture, and Ninefox Gambit39 min

    Join us as we reflect on a few of the novels we've read for the podcast so far, and imagine what they might…

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24. 6320.2: An Unkindness of Ghosts post-read: Slave States, Trauma, and Theocracy94 min

    [A note: the content warnings at the beginning also apply to the episode as a whole.

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25. 6421.1: Classic SF pre-read: On creating cannons, and how to read problematic fiction & authors.75 min

    Welcome to a very special pre-read episode.

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26. 6521.2: Childhood's End post-read w/ Seth Heasley: Religion, Psionics, and Big Ideas in Science Fiction86 min

    Seth Heasley of the Hugos There podcast ( ) joins us to discuss Arthur C.

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27. 6621.3: Ice by Anna Kavan post-read with Charlotte Geater: Experimental & Postmodern Fiction, and Death Meditations101 min

    A doozy of a book, and one where we start off the episode not agreeing on how we liked it!

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28. 6721.4: Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand w/ Bee: Radical visions of Identity, Class, and Gender113 min

    For our final book in our "classics" series, we read Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand, a novel by…

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29. 6818.3: Stanley Chan discusses Chinese Science Fiction, the process of translating his novel Waste Tide, and trends in technology.64 min

    Happy New Year, Spectologists!

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30. 6922.1: A Memory Called Empire pre-read: Martine's academic work, historical ambassadors, and what it means to be a member of an empire57 min

    It's the future baby!

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31. 70In Conversation: How & Why to Vote for the Hugo Awards16 min

    Really short bonus/emergency episode today.

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32. 7122.2: A Memory Called Empire post-read: Matters of Taste, Culture Shock, and Historical Worldbuilding86 min

    Well, we've finally found a book we disagree on!

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33. 7223.1: The Ghost Network pre-read w/ Ben Roswell: Experimental Narratives, Storytelling Games, and Postmodern Literature77 min

    New month, new book, new guest!

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34. 73In Conversation: 2019 Recap, Book Stats, & Reader Questions37 min

    Matt & Adrian sit down for a chat looking back at 2019—which books ended up being our favorites, which…

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35. 7423.2: The Ghost Network post-read w/ Ben Roswell: Celebrity, Internet Culture, Architecture, and Secret Utopias111 min

    We've finally done it!

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36. 7524.1: Wittgenstein's Mistress pre-read: Philosophical Science Fiction & being lonely at the end of the world67 min

    This March, Spectology brings you a discussion on the little-known but largely influential novel by David…

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37. 76Things We Like: Quarantine Edition! What to do, watch, and play while you're stuck inside.36 min

    Last week, anticipating this week's shutdown of major US cities, Matt & Adrian sat down to talk about the…

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38. 7724.2: Wittgenstein's Mistress post-read: In February reading this seemed like a good idea.48 min

    This is a somewhat personal & sometimes somber episode, recorded while the world was changing rapidly around…

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39. 7825.1: The Tea Master & the Detective pre-read w/ Julia Rios: Domestic Cozy Detective Fiction, in Space!63 min

    This month we're joined by special guest Julia Rios!

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40. 79In Conversation: Our Favorite Aliens in Science Fiction46 min

    A quick bonus episode this week, with Matt & Adrian discussing their favorite Aliens in science fiction and…

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41. 8025.2: The Tea Master & The Detective post-read w/ Julia Rios: Cozy Murder Mysteries in Space!83 min

    Julia Rios of the This is Why We're Like This podcast is back for our post-read discussion of Aliette de…

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42. 81Announcing the Digital Book Tour, hosted by Bee10 min

    Hi everyone!

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43. 82Digital Book Tour: Laura Lam on Goldilocks, a scifi thriller where a group of women steal a spaceship to save humanity34 min

    Welcome to our inaugural Digital Book Tour, featuring Laura Lam, author of Goldilocks .

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44. 8326.1: The True Queen pre-read w/ Reading the End: Historical Fantasy, Trash Birds, and Chaotic Quarantine Brain92 min

    Adrian + Matt are joined once again by our favorite podcast duo, Gin Jenny & Whiskey Jenny from the Reading…

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45. 84In Conversation: Our Favorite Underrated SF Movies, with Seth Heasley of the Hugo's There podcast64 min

    Once again we're joined by Seth Heasley of the Hugo's There podcast ( ) to talk about science fiction films!

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46. 85Digital Book Tour: Veronica Roth on Chosen Ones, a story of what happens after the "chosen ones" have saved the world36 min

    Bee is joined this time by Veronica Roth , bestselling author of the Divergent series, to discuss her new…

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47. 86Digital Book Tour: Melissa Caruso on The Obsidian Tower, a story of a young woman on the run from her own magical power52 min

    Bee is joined by Melissa Caruso , author of the Sword & Fire trilogy, and the upcoming Obsidian Tower…

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48. 8726.2: The True Queen post-read w/ Reading the End: Inclusion in Historical Fantasy, Comfort Reads, Sisterhood, and more114 min

    Hey all, a few things: 1.

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49. 88Digital Book Tour: SA Jones on The Fortress, a book about restorative justice inside an all-women society41 min

    For our fourth Digital Book Tour episode, Adrian is joined by Serje Jones, whose new book The Fortress ( )…

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50. 89Digital Book Tour: Nino Cipri on Finna, a story of parallel universes as found in low-wage furniture stores53 min

    Sometimes a book comes along that is both so unlike anything that came before it, but also so vital &…

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51. 9027.1: The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull pre-read w/ Lydia: Alien invasion and a history of capitalism & colonialism.81 min

    We're back?

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52. 91Digital Book Tour: Nick Mamatas on Move Under Ground, a novel of Beat literary figures fighting Lovecraftian monsters45 min

    Today Bee is joined by Nick Mamatas, Bram Stoker award-winning editor & author of the just-re-released novel…

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53. 92Digital Book Tour: WM Akers on Westside Saints, detective novels, RPGs, and sequels50 min

    This week we're joined by WM Akers to promote his new novel, Westside Saints ( ).

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54. 9327.2: The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull post-read w/ Lydia: Colonial Power in SF and Rural & Island Culture.94 min

    Lydia joins us again as we discuss The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull!

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55. 9428.1: Do You Dream of Terra-Two pre-read w/ Bee & Estelle: Alternate History, Destiny, and Space Travel66 min

    This month Adrian is joined by Bee & Estelle to talk about Do You Dream of Terra-Two?

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56. 95Digital Book Tour: Somaiya Daud on Mirage & Court of Lions: Body doubles, court politics, and historical science fantasy.39 min

    This week, Adrian is joined by Somaiya Daud to discuss her new book, Court of Lions, the 2nd in the Mirage…

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57. 96Digital Book Tour: Kathleen Jennings on Flyaway: Small Towns, Fairytales, and Linguistics60 min

    This week Bee is joined by writer & artist Kathleen Jennings to talk about her book Flyaway .

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58. 9728.2: Do You Dream of Terra-Two? post-read: Belief, Depression, and Courage in Sociological Hard SF85 min

    Bee is back (although Estelle could not join us due to IRL events) to discuss Temi Oh's wonderful debut…

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59. 98Announcement: Spectology "series finale" and the future of the podcast13 min

    Soo....

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60. 99Interview w/ the Hugo Administrator, Will Frank, on how & why to get involved with the Hugos29 min

    Today Adrian is joined by Will Frank, this year's Hugo Awards Administrator, to talk all things Hugos.

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Showing the first 60 of 99 episodes. The rest are at the source.