Welcome to Part 2 of our recap of the Ten Percent Thief. This week we explore the second half of tales from Apex City, and ask the question: Did Lavanya Lakshminarayan pull it off? Once again we are joined by Geoff of the Astronomica podcast to lend his beautiful brain to the project. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://www.astronomicapodcast.com Bite The Hand: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/spellbook-gaming/bite-the-hand-cyberpunk-panic-engine-ttrpg?ref=bk-social-project Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
This week we are covering the book The Ten Percent Thief by Lavanya Lakshminarayan. The book is about a world strictly divided by social hierarchy, and told via interlocking short stories, ranging from humorous to horrific. Your boys were divided on this one, but even if it fell short in places, the book definitely set itself up for a monumental task, and, for the most part, accomplished that task. As with most of our book episodes these days we are thrilled to be joined by Geoff of the Astronomica podcast to help us break it down. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://www.astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com Cover art by Gillyvor
Once in a while we pick a movie neither of us have heard of but yet of which we both end up singing the praises. It's pretty rare, but thankfully Sleep Dealer is one of those movies. The Budget: Low. The effects: Not so special. But there is an unmistakable talent in the writing, directing, and acting that more than makes up for the small amount of money they had to make this film. And to top it off, the theme of the film is extremely important for the time we are living in, despite the fact that it was made 18 years ago. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
It's an anime ep! AD Police is a horny, cheap, and blessedly short collection of cyberpunk tales from 2027 Neo Tokyo. We have covered a couple other series just like it, and it is, unfortunately, the worst of the bunch. There might be a few nuggets of cool to pan out of this river of mediocrity, however, so stay tuned and see if these old prospectors manage to... sluice some... gold? This metaphor has gotten away from me. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
The Dream of the 90s is alive on the High Tech Low Life Podcast. This week we watch The Net starring Sandra Bullock. This movie is as 90s as it gets, and even though it's incredibly flawed and not that great, we just can't bring ourselves to hate it. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
As promised the thrilling conclusion of our Alien Earth recap featuring Colin of the Astronomica Podcast. In this installment we cover episodes 3-8 of the series, and give it our ratings. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://www.astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com Cover art by Gillyvor
This week we are thrilled to be joined by Colin of the Astronomica podcast to recap the recently concluded first season of Alien: Earth. The show is a mixed bag of good and bad, but lots of interesting details to discuss and pontificate upon. So many details that this is, once again, being split into two parts, however FEAR NOT! The second part will be released in just a few days and we will have another full episode next week covering a completely different property. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://www.astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
We had intended to cover a cool looking French film called Ares this week, however that was not to be as all the copies we found had unintelligible subtitles. In lieu of that we decided to just put out an off the cuff episode with extended dystopia and recommendos, and a bonus review for the current Mark Wahlberg picture: Play Dirty. What a treat! The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
This week, after a freshly recorded intro recapping the horrors of the day, we dive back in and wrap-up our recap of Blade Runner 2049. Thanks again to Sean Faust for joining on this deep dive. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Sean Faust: https://linktr.ee/seanfaustmusic Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
For our centennial episode we have the pleasure of recapping Denis Villeneuve's 2017 sequel to Blade Runner: Blade Runner 2049. Thirty years after the original and Deckard is back up to his old blade running tricks, and this time he has a hot new sidekick you might recognize, The Gray Man himself: Ryan Gosling. We are excited to be joined by our old friend Sean Faust to cover this one, and cover it we do. This is the first of two parts. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Sean Faust: https://linktr.ee/seanfaustmusic Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
In our final double digit episode ever, we cover 2015's moody and sleek Ex Machina. This movie features a baby Domhnall Gleeson, a robot Alicia Vikander, and an Oscar Isaac that can really "get it", despite his toxic personality. A beautifully shot and acted film and might I say handsomly recapped by your hosts. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
The Final Installment of our Shadowrun Lore extravaganza! The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Pink Fohawk: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fKd0STUvxIlaqOdPu7ejE?si=8cdb8600091647eb Dean: https://www.nullsheen.com Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor
Dean and Ben are back to continue helping us dig into the lore and timeline of the Shadowrun table top roleplaying game. This week we finish up the pre-game timeline and get into first edition and some second edition shenanigans. And oh yes, we've got bug spirits, if that's what you're into you sick freak. It's me. The sick freak is me. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Pink Fohawk: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fKd0STUvxIlaqOdPu7ejE?si=8cdb8600091647eb Dean: https://www.nullsheen.com Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
We are back from break and ready to take on one of our most requested and anticipated properties: Shadowrun. Man be meeting magic and machine up in here, folks. Don't go into this expecting a lot of coverage of Shadowrun as a game, our wheelhouse is lore, not game mechanics, so we focus on the story and what came to pass to get us to where we are in the 6th world. We are also happy to be joined by Ben from Pink Fohawk and Dean from nullsheen.com The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Pink Fohawk: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fKd0STUvxIlaqOdPu7ejE?si=8cdb8600091647eb Dean: https://www.nullsheen.com Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
We're almost back, baby! On this mini-ep we talk about some aesthetic changes to the pod, and announce our big Season 3 premiere episode coming next week. Also read a couple of emails for good measure. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Cover art by Gillyvor Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
I know, podcast "seasons" are dumb, nevertheless we are about to take a break and figured we'd kick out one more episode to cover the insane dystopian week we've had and read a few listener questions and comments. Enjoy the heat and stay safe out in them streets! The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
This week ya boys dip their toe into one of the more popular dystopias of the modern era: The Hunger Games, specifically the prequel A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. And like any good quest into uncharted territory, they dare not go alone. Thankfully, Kristen from the Astronomica podcast has been kind enough to join us and lend her considerable expertise. Yes, I'm aware that Josh is actually quite familiar with the franchise but will you just let me have the metaphor? Writing these things every week isn't as easy as it looks. Anyway, lets get hungry! The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://www.astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
While it may not be very cyberpunk, Sneakers is still well worth a watch and does kinda share some vibes skirting the edges of the genre. Who doesn't like a good caper? Who doesn't like this cast? Who doesn't like watching a blind man drive a panel van full throttle over a multi-level parking lot? Cyberpunk it isn't, but a fun and well-made movie it very much is. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
What a strange bit of media Captain Laserhawk is. Basically an extended commercial for a video game company, ripping off every cyberpunk trope in the book, you might expect it to be straight garbage. Against all odds, however, it actually pulls off a fun and interesting little tale with some depressingly familiar dystopian world building. Kudos to Ubisoft, I guess! The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com
In Time has an awesome concept. What if time was literally currency? What if centuries were horded by an elite that used the market to control and subjagate the majority of the population who had to toil and stress for every hour in the day? Sounds like fertile ground for cyberpunkery! Unfortunately this story is not told very well, and the result is kind of boring and hamfisted, and certainly not helped by some of the worst performances given by actors that we usually expect much better of. In the end, 2 hours of your life watching this movie feels like you overpaid. Hopefully 2 hours of this podcast is at least fair market value, maybe not a stellar deal, you could probably do better at another podcast, but at least it isn't a waste? I'm lost in the time metaphors lets press on. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Bluesky: @hightechlowlife.bsky.social Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com