In this episode, Catherine and Paul discuss The Gods Themselves, Asimov's first Hugo win. They talk about the joys of being born during the Russian Revolution, their ideal moon culture, and why Asimov's science fiction has proved so enduring.
Host Catherine and her guest Miguel discussed the third book of the 1970s, To Your Scattered Bodies Go. They talked about placing historical figures into fiction, how fast one can learn a new language, and what it means to put a self insert character in your books.
Host Catherine and returning guest Aleksei read Ringworld and discuss why anyone would ever drink carrot juice, the clash between real science and fantasy ideas in science fiction, and what life might be like for someone incredibly lucky.
Catherine welcomes on a new guest, her cousin Luke to discuss the Left Hand of Darkness, the first win for Ursula K. Le Guin, one of the greatest sci-fi writers ever. They discuss what it would mean to live on a world without clear genders, if technology equals progress, and what it entails to truly understand someone else.
Join Catherine and Kyle as they discuss Grasshopper Jungle. They talk about the difficulties of being a teenager, the usefulness of repetition in writing, and what is the real liklihood of creating a monster from experimenting with corn.
In the third in-between episode, Cain joins Aleksei and Catherine to discuss the Restaurant at the End of the Universe just is case any listeners were feeling a bit peckish. This book follows one of the great novels of sci-fi and though it may not quite live up to it's prequel, this book is still packed full of humor. There are talks of prophets appearing at the end of time, vortexes supported by fairy cakes, and cows that wish to be eaten.
The In-betweens continue with a classic. Amazingly, the Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy did not win a Hugo, so Aleksei selected it. Catherine and Aleksei talk about the future of artificial intelligence, sci-fi where the Earth is destroyed, and of course, what question would prompt the answer 42. Few science fiction books are as beloved as Hitchhiker's Guide, and for good reason. This is your friendly reminder to never leave home without your towel.
In the first episode of the In-Betweens, Catherine and her guest Paul discuss a classic instant bestseller, Altered Carbon. They talk about the price of immortality, what it means when a book's plot is less important than the ambiance, and the origin of the Patchwork Man.
Happy Halloween everyone! Join Catherine and her guest Matthew for a special Halloween episode about Jeff VanderMeer's book Annihilation. They discuss what it means to live in a place where no one has a name, how an environment can change who you are, and of course what it means to be a dolphin with human eyes.
It is the final episode of the 1960s! Join Catherine and her returning guest Kyle as they discuss the absurdity of Stand on Zanzibar. They talk about John Brunner's distinctive style of writing chapters where every sentence is about a different character, the possibilities of a sci-fi world where the world's happiest country is in Africa, technology that can put anything into someone's brain, and if humanity is doomed now that everyone in the world can not stand on Zanzibar.
The best sci-fi explores the possibilities of what our universe could look like in the future. Join Catherine and her returning guest Aleksei as they discuss one of these books that holds the genre to a high standard, Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny. They enter a world where people live for hundreds of years in many forms, heaven is real (if overly populated with gods of young love), and humans have begun to forget what Earth was like entirely.
Catherine meets up with returning guest Paul to bid a final farewell to Robert Heinlein through reading The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. They discuss Libertarianism, Heinlein's sexism, and his love of self-insert characters.
Host Catherine and her guest Rowan discuss Call Me Conrad, Roger Zelazny's first Hugo win. They talk about the endless Greek myth references, the strange blue aliens who have essentially turned Earth into a museum, and what to do with a book that seems more interested in side stories than any main plot. Join us for a discussion of if the book is worth a read.
Catherine and her guest Ella meet up for the second Pride episode to discuss Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire. They talk about what it means to love a country that is not yours, the future of the Google Glasses technology, and whether a culture in love with poetry could ever truly conquer the galaxy. Join us for the discussion of a truly remarkable book.
Join host Catherine and guest Kyle in the first episode of Pride Month! They discuss this novella's beautiful prose, the adorable love between Red and Blue, and why there are so few sci-fi romance novels.
Catherine and Liam explore the wild world of Fritz Leiber's "The Wanderer." They dissect the strangely sexualized cat aliens and other peculiarities of the plot. Plus, they sip and rate two ChatGPT-crafted mocktails inspired by the book. Tune in for literary analysis, mixed drinks, and laughs!
If you enjoyed this or have thoughts or want to tell me I should make a podcast book bingo- message me at Cosmosinthecosmos@gmail.com or my instagram Cosmosinthecosmos23. Thanks for listening!
Host Catherine and guests Natalie and Julian come together to discuss if Villeneuve's newest movie actually lives up to the hype. They discuss Zendaya's different portrayal of Chani, the breathtaking beauty of the film, and why Villeneuve insists on maintaining he hates dialogue.
Together, host Catherine and her friends Simon and Harriet finish their conversation about David Lynch's Dune and Villeneuve's Dune Part 1. They discuss the director's different styles, how some characters are portrayed so variably, the mysterious pug that infiltrated the Lynch film, and what exactly makes a film worth watching.
https://cahatstrophe.neocities.org/ (Harriet's Website)- Please check it out :)
Join host Catherine and her friends Simon and Harriet on an epic journey through the sands of Arrakis as they compare and contrast two cinematic visions of Frank Herbert's "Dune." In this thrilling episode, the trio delves deep into the world of science fiction cinema, exploring the David Lynch adaptation's cult status and the ways Denis Villeneuve Part 1 succeeded in following the books and ways it fell flat.
Together, they dissect Lynch's bold and divisive interpretation of the classic novel and discuss why he believes that villains are automatically gingers. From its surreal visuals to its memorable performances, (especially by the dog), they uncover the layers of Lynch's vision and its impact on the Dune fandom. Catherine, Simon, and Harriet also discuss their hopes, dreams, and expectations for the upcoming film. Will Villeneuve capture the essence of Herbert's universe? Can he surpass the legacy of Lynch's adaptation?
Within this episode, host Catherine and her guest Simon continue their discussion of the Dune books. They talk about the empire that Paul has built in Dune Messiah, if he and Alia successfully built the world they wanted, and what it means to have the power to see the future so completely.
