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“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"...
Ray Jamison joins the podcast to share his journey from comic books and D&D to creating his new fantasy comic, The Madcaps. He delves into the creative process, the unique characters, and the ongoing Kickstarter campaign for the final issue. Additionally, Ray offers his perspective on foundational fantasy films and the genre's importance, emphasizing character-driven narratives and the desire for honest, self-contained stories.
This episode delves into Clifford Simak's classic "City," a fix-up novel set in a post-human Earth where intelligent dogs interpret fragmented oral histories of their former masters as myths. Hosts discuss Simak's pastoral style and the book's themes, including humanity's transformation into "lopers" on Jupiter, the rise of an advanced ant civilization, and the eventual departure of all Earth-dwelling intelligent species to other dimensions. The conversation also touches on Simak's somber view of progress, the role of conflict, and the book's reflections of 1950s sci-fi concerns like telepathy and the developing field of psychology.
Hosts Seth and James delve into Raymond E. Feist's "Magician," the foundational fantasy novel. They cover its unusual publication as one book split into two, its highly readable pace, and its origins in D&D campaigns. The discussion highlights the compelling character development of Pug and Thomas, the impact of Thomas's magical armor, and Macros's overarching plan. The episode also touches on the expansive world-building, court intrigue, and the broader Riftwar saga, offering insights into why this series resonates deeply with fantasy fans.
Guest Paul Weimer joins the podcast to delve into Roger Zelazny's "Nine Princes in Amber," exploring its unique blend of fantasy and early multiverse concepts. Weimer shares his personal definition of fantasy as non-mimetic fiction and how this foundational series profoundly shaped his appreciation for complex worlds and role-playing games. The discussion covers the book's 1970s context, its morally ambiguous protagonist, and the lasting impact of its imaginative scope as a comforting escape from reality.
Join the host and guest Colin Kuskie as they launch the "Foundational Fantasy" series, aiming to broaden the definition of fantasy beyond traditional tropes. They dive deep into Brian Jacques' Redwall, discussing its origin, rich sensory details, and anthropomorphic world devoid of humans. The conversation covers Colin's personal connection, the book's unexpected depth with serious themes, and its enduring influence across various media, highlighting Matthias's heroic quest and the Abbey's unique moral code.
Seth and Bob Morrell delve into Roger Zelazny's "Doorways in the Sand," a Hugo and Nebula finalist known for its humor, absurd plot, and unique narrative style. They discuss the book's protagonist, Fred Cassidy, an eternal student caught in an alien mystery, and Zelazny's masterful use of flash forwards and literary allusions. The conversation also covers the book's aging, its place in Zelazny's career, and the surprising life lessons it offers.
In this bonus episode, four friends from the Nebulugo Book Club engage in a fascinating draft, selecting and debating their most cherished science fiction and fantasy concepts. Discussions span a wide range, including the ethical implications of merged consciousness, humanity's perception of 'the other,' the unintended consequences of advanced technology, and imaginative forms of social organization and cosmology. The panel explores how these concepts reveal insights into human nature and societal structures.
Hi everyone, I hope you enjoy this microfiction fantasy story I wrote and submitted as part of NYC Midnight’s 250-word Microfiction Contest. This story made the cut in Round One, and then I had to submit another original story for Round Two, and that’s as far as I got. But I thought the story was … Continue reading "Original Fiction: Bookends, or Libromancy, by Seth Heasley"
Seth and guest Matthias delve into Jeff Vandermeer's Annihilation, the first book in the Southern Reach trilogy, praised for its immersive atmosphere and unique epistolary narration. They explore the book's pervasive themes of transition and unreliable information, Matthias's extensive history with the Nebulugo Book Club, and the unusual rapid-fire publishing of the trilogy. The discussion also covers the novel's unsettling plot developments, mutated fauna, and the controversial film adaptation, offering both spoiler-free and in-depth analysis.
James from the podcast/blog Something About Dragons joins me for a discussion of Glory Road, by Robert A. Heinlein, which was shortlisted for the 1964 Hugo Award. It’s fantasy wrapped in science fiction wrapped in good old 1950s misogyny! https://somethingaboutdrag.wixsite.com/something-about-drag Ways to support the podcast: Buy Me a Book/Coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sethheasled Support Me on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/hugospodcast Pick a … Continue reading "Glory Road, by Rober...
This episode features a lively discussion with book club guests about Alexander Boldizar's "The Man Who Saw Seconds," a Locus Award-winning novel where the protagonist can see five seconds into the future. They delve into the book's thrilling plot, the escalating conflict with government forces, and its thought-provoking themes around individual rights, state violence, and the ethical implications of advanced precognition. The conversation also covers character complexities, genre blending, and the book's ambiguous, impactful ending.
(This one had a quick turnaround and I didn’t go back through and edit it for language, or really, anything. This is about as raw as you’ll get a Hugos There episode, so it’s marked Explicit for language.) I don’t do a ton of author interviews, but I was intrigued by David’s new book and … Continue reading "Great America In Dead World, by David Agranoff (interview with the author)"...
Ways to support the podcast: Buy Me a Book/Coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sethheasled Support Me on Patreon!: https://www.patreon.com/hugospodcast Pick a Book off the Mondo List and contact me: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1s6JbgvwCB3ptr2cDZWWaEHvbc-BEmC5Y5avdf2kaLqQ/edit?usp=sharing It’s another Seth’s Picks episode, taking about an old favorite of mine, Dean Koontz’s Lightning, with guests Megan Cutter (my big sister) and Colin Kuskie. Spoilers start about 07:30. Other Notes &...
A bit of a download about WorldCon 2025, about people I met, interviews I did, and some plans for the future. Links and Photos! Translated Hugo Initiative: https://translatedhugo.org/about-us Endeavour Award: https://osfci.org/endeavour/ Brian Aldiss: https://brianaldiss.co.uk/ Ray Bradbury Center: https://give.myiu.org/iu-indianapolis/I380010312.html https://www.instagram.com/bradburycenter https://raybradburycenter.substack.com https://today.iu.edu/iu-indianapolis/live/news/46788-ray-bradbury-...
Seth welcomes Andrew and Hannah from the Authorized Novelizations Podcast to dive deep into the fascinating world of science fiction and fantasy novelizations. They share their experiences, discuss the surprising quality of some adaptations, and reveal the constraints authors face. The conversation covers the history of novelizations, their personal favorites, and even features a lively quiz on obscure book details.
I’m joined for a discussion of the 2025 Hugo nominees for Best Novella by a few of my best Internet Friends. Guests include: Video will be posted hopefully tomorrow. These episodes get very little editing, so if it sounds a bit rougher than normal, that’s to be expected, but the discussion was terrific, so I … Continue reading "2025 Hugo-nominated Novellas panel"
I’m joined for a discussion of the 2025 Hugo nominees for Best Novel by a few returning guests, and a couple of new people. Guests include: No video for this episode. Technology let us down and we lost Mythius and his video recording toward the end, which is why he’s not in the sign off, … Continue reading "2025 Hugo-nominated Novels Panel"
Join the discussion of the 2025 Hugo Award nominees for Best Short Story. The panel analyzes each of the six nominated works, exploring unique narrative forms, historical and cultural themes, linguistic science fiction, and responses to classic literature. They share personal reactions and debate the impact and standing of each story.
Seth Heasley and guest Ray Alston discuss Tim Powers' 1989 novel, "The Stress of Her Regard." This secret history novel intertwines the lives and deaths of Romantic poets like Shelley, Byron, and Keats with a dark fantasy/horror narrative involving supernatural entities. They explore the book's unique premise, literary inspirations, themes of creativity, sacrifice, and the nature of its supernatural beings, comparing it to Powers' other works.
Seth and guest Nic Pietersma dive deep into the works of Kurt Vonnegut. They discuss Vonnegut's background and influences, recommend starter and advanced reading lists, and explore key novels like Slaughterhouse-Five, Breakfast of Champions, Cat's Cradle, and Sirens of Titan, touching on themes like science fiction, loneliness, guilt, and how his work holds up today.
Seth and Leah discuss Neal Stephenson's cyberpunk classic, Snow Crash, exploring its themes, characters, and impact. They delve into the novel's portrayal of the metaverse, linguistic viruses, and fragmented societies, reflecting on how the book's themes resonate differently today. They also examine the strengths and weaknesses of the characters and plot, offering a comprehensive analysis of this influential science fiction work.
While I was recording with my TMTYR co-hosts, I realized I never recorded a reaction to my 2025 Hugo nomination, so I just sprang it on them (they were already in the know about the nomination because I can’t keep a secret from them). Thanks so much to everyone who nominated this podcast!
This episode dives into the fascinating subgenre of sports science fiction, exploring its unique blend of athletic competition and speculative elements. Chris Garcia joins the podcast to discuss key characteristics, notable authors like Jack Haldeman and George R.R. Martin, and recommended stories and films, highlighting the genre's capacity for allegory and social commentary. The conversation covers classic anthologies, the importance of accurate sports depictions, and the potential for world-building through fictional sports.
Seth and Tony discuss John Scalzi's "Old Man's War", exploring its military science fiction themes, humor, and philosophical elements. They delve into the characters, plot, and the book's unique take on aging and warfare, along with Scalzi's writing style and its place in the broader series. The conversation includes a spoiler-filled analysis and recommendations for the sequels.
This time it’s another Zoomed Out, Author Deep Dive episode on Lloyd Alexander. Joining me for this discussion is Jared Crossley, creator of the Lloyd Alexander documentary on YouTube. This episode includes an unedited transcript which will be updated at a later time. Segments and time codes: (03:00) – Intro to Lloyd Alexander (08:00) – … Continue reading "Zoomed Out: Lloyd Alexander, with Jared Crossley"...
Just a quick look back at everything I read in 2024, including a bit of podcast reading, lots of graphic novels, and more than a little leisure reading. Video link here: https://youtu.be/9A2p_9y3TvE Adjoa Andoh is the narrator of Translation State and she’s an absolute beast. My Year in Books: https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2024/2459540# (or my 2024 Reading Challenge): … Continue reading "My 2024 in books!"
Guest Evan Bradtke joins me for a fairly lengthy discussion of CS Lewis’s Space Trilogy (more aptly called the Cosmic Trilogy), all three volumes of which were nominated for the Retro Hugo. It’s a normal-ish episode, with the exception being that we discuss all three books in some detail. The books are, to me, less accessibly … Continue reading "The Space Trilogy, by CS Lewis (feat. Evan Bradtke)"
In this bonus episode, Michael Gabriel and I discuss (at length) live action Superman, particularly the recently-ended CW show Superman & Lois, with stops along the way to talk about our histories with Superman, the Arrowverse, and some comic book recommendations for anyone who’s interested in reading a few Superman books. Topics Covered: Michael’s social … Continue reading "“We’re all Superman to somebody, sometime,” a conversation about live-action Superman with Michael Gabriel"...
Follow me on Bluesky! https://bsky.app/profile/hugospodcast.com This time it’s another Zoomed Out, Subgenre Spotlight episode on Military Science Fiction. Joining me for this discussion is returning guest William Bregnard from Future War Stories. An unedited transcript is included with this episode. A more polished transcript will be posted at a later date. Segments and time codes: … Continue reading "Zoomed Out: Military Science Fiction, with William from Future War Stories"...
