Science Fiction 101

Our theme: EX-Science Fiction! Science  Fiction 101 is the podcast where we examine science fiction  from all  angles - exploring the past, present and future of the genre!  Join regular hosts Phil Nichols (Bradburymedia, Bradbury 100) and Colin   Kuskie (Take Me To Your Reader) as this episode they consider Space and  all that it offers to the SF reader and writer. Follow us at http://101sf.blogspot.com and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sciencefiction101 Podcast platforms carrying Science Fiction 101 include: Anchor - Apple Podcasts/iTunes - Audible - Breaker - Bullhorn - Castbox - Deezer - Google Podcasts - Listen Notes - Player FM - Pocket Casts - Podbean - The Podcast App - Podchaser - Podtail - RadioPublic - Spotify - TuneIn - YouTube

Phil and Colin dig into "Star Wars Sequel", the unfilmed 1978 script by science fiction legend Leigh Brackett which became STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. We look at what made it into the finished film and what got junked, and consider whether Star Wars creator George Lucas was keeping his screenwriter in the dark! For links to everything we discuss, check out the show notes at 101sf.blogspot.com

Steven Spielberg's classic UFO movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind could have been very different. In today's episode of the podcast we dig into the rejected early script for the film, which was written by Paul Schrader (famed screenwriter of Raging Bull and Taxi Driver). As well as reviewing this film-that-never-was, we have a sci-fi quiz, plus our usual run through of recommendations of past/present/future science fiction. We hope you enjoy the episode!

We're back, and we're looking forward - as we review a new book, The Skeptic's Guide to the Future. To what extent can we predict the future, and what are the pitfalls of attempting to be a modern day Nostradamus? As well as reviewing this book, we have our usual run through of past/present/future science fiction. We hope you enjoy the episode!

In the latest episode of the Science Fiction 101 podcast, we review a  new book, Extraordinary Voyages by Steven Paul Leiva. We also have a quiz based on science fiction stories adapted to film, a review of a new science fiction film museum in the UK, discussion of short-lived TV series, and an announcement of what our December episode will be about. Science Fiction 101 is presented by Phil Nichols (of Bradburymedia and Bradbury 100) and Colin Kuskie (of Take Me To Your Reader).

In the latest episode of the Science Fiction 101 podcast, we review a new book. The Apollo Murders is a novel about space - written by a honest-to-goodness real-life astronaut! The author, Chris Hadfield, has flown on the Space Shuttle, and on Soyuz,  worked on the Russian Mir space station, and commanded the International  Space Station. You can't get more astronaut experience than that. Hadfield  has also written books before, but until now has focused on  non-fiction. His best-selling book prior to this one was the  autobiographical An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. But now he turns to fiction, with a thriller set during the Apollo era. But how does it stand up? In  the podcast, regulars Colin and Phil are joined by Peter Kuskie to review the book and to join us in a Jeopardy-inspired quiz.

We  look at 2001: A Space Odyssey, the classic 1968 film directed by Stanley Kubrick, and the novel written by Arthur C. Clarke. Then Colin springs a quiz on an unsuspecting Phil. And we finish with a round-up of recommendations of past, present and future science fiction. Science  Fiction 101 is the podcast where we examine science fiction  from all  angles - exploring the past, present and future of the genre!  Join regular hosts Phil Nichols (Bradburymedia, Bradbury 100) and Colin   Kuskie (Take Me To Your Reader). Follow us at http://101sf.blogspot.com and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sciencefiction101 Podcast platforms carrying Science Fiction 101 include: Anchor - Apple Podcasts/iTunes - Audible - Breaker - Bullhorn - Castbox - Deezer - Google Podcasts - Listen Notes - Player FM - Pocket Casts - Podbean - The Podcast App - Podchaser - Podtail - RadioPublic - Spotify - TuneIn - YouTube

We talk about ways the world can end in science fiction stories. We review the award-winning Naomi Kritzer short story "Little Free Library". And we bring you a quiz sent in by a listener. As well as our usual run through of recommendations from the past, present and future of SF. Science  Fiction 101 is the podcast where we examine science fiction from all  angles - exploring the past, present and future of the genre! Join regular hosts Phil Nichols (Bradburymedia, Bradbury 100) and Colin  Kuskie (Take Me To Your Reader). Follow us at http://101sf.blogspot.com and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sciencefiction101 Podcast platforms carrying Science Fiction 101 include: Anchor - Apple Podcasts/iTunes - Audible - Breaker - Bullhorn - Castbox - Deezer - Google Podcasts - Listen Notes - Player FM - Pocket Casts - Podbean - The Podcast App - Podchaser - Podtail - RadioPublic - Spotify - TuneIn - YouTube

Phil gets his quiz revenge on Colin, we review the short story that just won the Nebula Award (plus another one that was a runner-up), plus our usual discussion of SF past, present and future. Science  Fiction 101 is the podcast where we examine science fiction from all  angles - exploring the past, present and future of the genre! Join regular hosts Phil Nichols (Bradburymedia, Bradbury 100) and  Colin Kuskie (Take Me To Your Reader) as this episode they consider haunted houses, zombie moms and the discovery that Colin has never seen The Handmaid's Tale. Follow us at http://101sf.blogspot.com and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sciencefiction101 Podcast platforms carrying Science Fiction 101 include: Anchor - Apple Podcasts/iTunes - Audible - Breaker - Bullhorn - Castbox - Deezer - Google Podcasts - Listen Notes - Player FM - Pocket Casts - Podbean - The Podcast App - Podchaser - Podtail - RadioPublic - Spotify - TuneIn - YouTube

We review Andy Weir's new bestseller PROJECT HAIL MARY! And we throw in a quiz, plus our usual discussion of SF past, present and future. Science  Fiction 101 is the podcast where we examine science fiction from all  angles - exploring the past, present and future of the genre! Join regular hosts Phil Nichols (Bradburymedia, Bradbury 100) and  Colin Kuskie (Take Me To Your Reader) as this episode they consider PROJECT HAIL MARY. Follow us at http://101sf.blogspot.com and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sciencefiction101 Podcast platforms carrying Science Fiction 101 include: Anchor - Apple Podcasts/iTunes - Audible - Breaker - Bullhorn - Castbox - Deezer - Google Podcasts - Listen Notes - Player FM - Pocket Casts - Podbean - The Podcast App - Podchaser - Podtail - RadioPublic - Spotify - TuneIn - YouTube

This episode, our theme is SPACE! Science  Fiction 101 is the podcast where we examine science fiction from all  angles - exploring the past, present and future of the genre! Join regular hosts Phil Nichols (Bradburymedia, Bradbury 100) and Colin  Kuskie (Take Me To Your Reader) as this episode they consider Space and all that it offers to the SF reader and writer. Follow us at http://101sf.blogspot.com and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sciencefiction101

Science Fiction 101 is the podcast where we examine science fiction from all angles - exploring the past, present and future of the genre! Join regular hosts Phil Nichols (of Bradburymedia and Bradbury 100) and Colin Kuskie (of Take Me To Your Reader). In this first episode, Phil and Colin introduce themselves, and attempt to define "science fiction". They then move on to their recommendations of classic SF, current reading and hopes for new SF expected later this year. Find the shownotes on our website: https://101sf.blogspot.com/ Our theme music is "Action Strike" from https://www.purple-planet.com

Fifty years ago, schoolboy Phil was knocked out by a British science fiction TV show, the post-apocalyptic SURVIVORS. Created by Terry Nation - who also created DOCTOR WHO's recurring enemy the Daleks and BLAKES SEVEN - SURVIVORS ran for three seasons.Today, Phil has persuaded Colin to take a first look at this sometimes harrowing (but ultimately life-affirming) cult classic, and together they discuss some selected episodes from the series. If you check out the show notes, you'll find direct links to the episodes we've been watching, so you can watch them, too.Find the show notes at https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/08/surviving-survivors-episode-58-of.html

Colin and Phil decided to challenge each other with books, stories and films that they thought the other hadn't read or seen. The result is some suggestions for reading and watching that we'd like you all to consider.These aren't necessarily the best science fiction around, but they are all items we greatly enjoy and heartily recommend. We hope you enjoy our suggestions every bit as much as our robo-butler enjoys serving them up to you.For more information, including links to many of the items we discuss, check out the shownotes at https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/07/serving-suggestions-episode-57.html

What on earth does science have to do with science fiction? Is science fiction about science? Is it fiction that takes a scientific approach to fiction?Without getting into the tedium of multiple possible definitions of science fiction, Colin and Phil explore what they expect of something labelled "science fiction". What you can expect is a rambling conversation that touches on philosophy, physics, logic, time travel, and much more.We also have our usual quiz, and our dash through the past, present and future of our favourite genre.For more information, check the show notes at:https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/07/science-andor-fiction-episode-56.html

Every year, we review the short stories shortlisted for the famous Hugo Awards. It's our way of keep abreast of trends in the field of science fiction without having to read a ton of longer works!All of the shortlisted stories are available online for free - for links to all of them, checkout the shownotes:https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/06/reviewing-hugo-short-stories-episode-55.htmlSo why not take a look at the stories for yourself, and see if you agree with Colin's and Phil's assessment?Also in the episode we have our usual features: a quiz (about SF movies), and our recommendations of past/present/future science fiction.

Sometimes the podstreams just cross, and this episode is a prime example. When Colin suggested reviewing It Came From Outer Space, the classic 1953 science fiction movie created by Ray Bradbury, it was right up Phil's alley - and so this episode is also going out (slightly modified) as part of his Bradbury 100 pod!The discussion ranges from Bradbury's contribution to the screenplay to the quality of the 3D, and takes in your humble hosts' views on whether or not screen creatures should be revealed or concealed.For more information, check out the show notes at: https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/05/it-came-from-outer-space-episode-54.html

Flow (2024) is an extraordinary film - Latvia's most successul of all time, and winner of the Oscar for Best Animated Film. Colin and Phil discuss whether it counts as science fiction (of course it does!), and what makes this delightful movie tick.If you haven't seen the film, we think we give you enough of flavour of it for the discussion to make sense, and hopefully to inspire you to watch it.We also have a cat/SF quiz, and our traditional round-up of recommendations of past/present/future science fiction.Find the full show notes on our website: https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/04/go-with-flow-episode-53.html

Discovery of a buried skull turns a London building site into a palaeontological dig. Until, in a geological layer that's five million years old, a bomb is found. Send for Professor Quatermass!Quatermass and the Pit (1967) - aka Five Million Years to Earth in the US (1968) - is the best and most successful of the British science-fiction horror film series, based in turn on a TV series from a decade before. Colin and Phil examine it from all angles to see what makes it tick.We also have a fiendish Q-uiz, and our usual round up of past, present and future SF recommendations.For more information, check out the show notes at: https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/03/mind-gap-professor-quatermass-episode-52.html

We once claimedTintin: Destination Moon was science fiction, because an animated white dog accompanied an animated human to the moon on a rocketship. Now we outrageously extend the concept as we explore the sci-fi worlds of another animated dog/human partnership: Wallace & Gromit!If you've been living in another solar system these past thirty-six years, you may not be aware of these plasticine pals, but it's our job to bring you up to date as we examine the SF chops of every one of the Wallace and Gromit movies, coming bang up to date with the Oscar-nominated recent releaseVengeance Most Fowl.For more information on everything covered in this episode, head to the shownotes on our blog:https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/02/cracking-sci-fi-episode-51-of-podcast.html