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#161 Cognitive shock: five concepts to enhance your science fiction reading

#161 Cognitive shock: five concepts to enhance your science fiction reading

Update: 2025-06-12

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Rather than looking at a specific work of classic SF, this episode takes a wider view. It's my personal introduction to five concepts which I think can help enhance your science fiction reading, to boost your understanding and appreciation. Most of these concepts are highly specific to SF, and represent aspects of what makes it a unique genre with its own particular traditions and effects.

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#171 Avatar of war: The Book of Elsewhere (2024) by Keanu Reeves and China Miéville

2025-09-1807:49

#170 Solar Enemy Number One: The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester

#170 Solar Enemy Number One: The Stars My Destination (1956) by Alfred Bester

2025-09-0508:51

#169 Hollywood necromancy: Remake (1995) by Connie Willis

#169 Hollywood necromancy: Remake (1995) by Connie Willis

2025-08-2809:01

#168 Quantum uncertainty: Timescape (1980) by Gregory Benford

#168 Quantum uncertainty: Timescape (1980) by Gregory Benford

2025-08-2109:52

#167 The thing itself: science fiction and its aesthetic

#167 The thing itself: science fiction and its aesthetic

2025-08-0709:45

#166 Four futures: The Ace Double novels of Margaret St. Clair (1956 - 1964)

#166 Four futures: The Ace Double novels of Margaret St. Clair (1956 - 1964)

2025-07-3115:02

#165 After two catastrophes: The Uncertain Midnight (1958) and The Cloud Walker (1973) by Edmund Cooper

#165 After two catastrophes: The Uncertain Midnight (1958) and The Cloud Walker (1973) by Edmund Cooper

2025-07-2410:08

#164 The world outside: Non-Stop (1958) by Brian Aldiss

#164 The world outside: Non-Stop (1958) by Brian Aldiss

2025-07-1707:51

#163 Mind of the ocean: The Jonah Kit (1975) by Ian Watson

#163 Mind of the ocean: The Jonah Kit (1975) by Ian Watson

2025-07-1007:58

#162 The back of beyond: Way Station (1963) by Clifford D. Simak

#162 The back of beyond: Way Station (1963) by Clifford D. Simak

2025-06-2708:11

#161 Cognitive shock: five concepts to enhance your science fiction reading

#161 Cognitive shock: five concepts to enhance your science fiction reading

2025-06-1215:45

#160 Illusion, USA: Time Out of Joint (1959) by Philip K. Dick

#160 Illusion, USA: Time Out of Joint (1959) by Philip K. Dick

2025-06-0607:49

#159 Built-in obedience: Nekropolis (2001) by Maureen F. McHugh

#159 Built-in obedience: Nekropolis (2001) by Maureen F. McHugh

2025-05-2906:55

#158 Built different: The Rod of Light (1985) by Barrington J. Bayley

#158 Built different: The Rod of Light (1985) by Barrington J. Bayley

2025-05-2307:43

#157 Spirit and science: The Shadow Hunter (1982) by Pat Murphy

#157 Spirit and science: The Shadow Hunter (1982) by Pat Murphy

2025-05-1507:55

#156 Superstructure: The World Inside (1971) by Robert Silverberg

#156 Superstructure: The World Inside (1971) by Robert Silverberg

2025-05-0808:17

#155 Fork in the road: The Two-Timers (1968) by Bob Shaw

#155 Fork in the road: The Two-Timers (1968) by Bob Shaw

2025-05-0108:05

#154 Trial by fire: Rite of Passage (1968) by Alexei Panshin

#154 Trial by fire: Rite of Passage (1968) by Alexei Panshin

2025-04-2506:54

#153 Scarcity and abundance: Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak

#153 Scarcity and abundance: Ring Around the Sun (1953) by Clifford D. Simak

2025-04-1608:57

#152 The last city: Cinnabar (1976) by Edward Bryant

#152 The last city: Cinnabar (1976) by Edward Bryant

2025-04-1007:52

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#161 Cognitive shock: five concepts to enhance your science fiction reading

#161 Cognitive shock: five concepts to enhance your science fiction reading

Andy Johnson