A Reader's History of Science Fiction

Aug 26 2024 83 ep. 28 mins 270
A Reader's History of Science Fiction Podcast artwork

A biweekly podcast exploring the history of science fiction from the Renaissance to the present day. Astrophysicist and sci-fi enthusiast Alex Howe explores how the classic books, movies, and TV shows influenced the development of the genre and continue to do so today, with book recommendations for each episode.

  Arts  Fiction
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


S3E5: Modern Sci-Fi Television

Aug 12 2024 27 mins  
In this episode, I review the recent history and current status of science fiction on television during the streaming era. TV recommendation: The Orville

S3E4: Larry Niven Interview

Jul 29 2024 32 mins  
In this episode, I interview the legendary Larry Niven, author of Ringworld, The Mote in God's Eye, Lucifer's Hammer, Footfall, and many more. Niven's book recommendations from his catalog: The Seascape Tattoo (fantasy, with Steven Barnes) Fleet of Worlds Series (with Edward Lerner) The Goliath Stone (with Matthew Harrington) Rainbow Mars (fantasy anthology)

S3E3: Cameron Kunzelman Discusses Sci-Fi Video Games

Jul 15 2024 64 mins  
I interview Dr. Cameron Kunzelman of Georgia State University about science fiction in video games. Dr. Kunzelman's game recommendations: Bioshock Halo Mass Effect Recommended reference book: https://www.amazon.com/Science-Fiction-Video-Games-Tringham/dp/148220388X Link to the Jacob Geller video in which Dr. Kunzelman appears: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPiL3-CYzWk

S3E2: Robert Silverberg Interview

Jul 01 2024 42 mins  
Robert Silverberg is the last major author whose career stretches all the way back to the Golden Age of Science Fiction. He is an extremely prolific writer and a long-time friend of Isaac Asimov. Hear his story in this interview. Silverberg’s top picks from his catalog: Dying Inside Downward to the Earth The Man in the Maze First-Person Singularities (anthology) Lord of Darkness

S3E1: Jim Harris Discusses the Classics of Sci-Fi

Jun 17 2024 63 mins  
In the first episode of Season 3, I interview Jim Harris, the creator of the Classics of Science Fiction book recommendation aggregator, which I have referenced several times in the past. The database and list-builder Jim's website Scan of the original list from 1989 (page 46) Jim's book recommendations not from the list: Empire Star by Samuel R. Delany The Sea and Summer b

S2E25: Lisa Yaszek Interview

May 15 2023 70 mins  
In the series finale, I interview Dr. Lisa Yaszek, a sci-fi historian from Georgia Tech, about where we can expect science fiction to go in the future. Dr. Yaszek's recommendations: Wormwood Trilogy by Tade Thompson The Matrix Sunspot Jungle, ed. Bill Campbell Other works discussed: Binti Trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor "The Sixth World" by Nanobah Becker The Stars are Legion by Kameron

S2E24: Catch-Up Episode #9: Classics Lightning Round

May 08 2023 20 mins  
Okay, not exactly all classics and not exactly lightning either, but in this episode, I discuss four books that I wanted to talk about in Season 1, but never got around to. Book recommendation: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Other books discussed: Helliconia Trilogy by Brian Aldiss The Road by Cormac McCarthy Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard

S2E23: Space Opera

Apr 24 2023 26 mins  
In this episode, I discuss the precise nature of space opera, its origins, and its path through the history of sci-fi up to the current resurgence it's had in recent years. Book recommendation: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

S2E22: Catch-Up Episode #8: Space Sci-Fi

Apr 03 2023 20 mins  
Not quite as space-themed as I intended, but these are the latest stories about aliens and comets and such. Movie recommendation: Dune (2021) Other works discussed: Greenland Don't Look Up Moonfall (anti-recommended) The Tomorrow War The Firefly tie-in novels

S2E21: Donna Barba Higuera Interview

Mar 20 2023 42 mins  
In this episode, I interview Donna Barba Higuera, author of the Newbery winning sci-fi novel, The Last Cuentista (which I've previously recommended). Donna's book recommendation: Reclaim the Stars, edited by Zoraida Córdova Donna's website