Social Science Fiction

A big thanks to Stephen Kent for joining me this week. We talk about growing up with Star Wars and growing into Star Wars fans. Stephen shares some ideas from his upcoming book. We close with a discu…

Welcome to 2021! We start off the new year with Star Wars. Discussing authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and the politics and government of the Empire. 

Notes:

3:01 - Hence the term "totalitarianism." …

I've still barely scratched the surface of the game but I have a few more thoughts. I've also read up on the criticism of CDPR by fans and observers and I have more to say about the mess that is the …

Are we heading towards a Cyberpunk future? A discussion of how Cyberpunk (the game and the genre) depict the state and other political entities. Other topics include balancing against threats in inte…

So much fiction of the 2000s seemed eager to comment on the politics of the time. From the War on Terror, to the Patriot Act, we discuss how the politics of the Bush-era were examined through sci-fi …

A discussion of political legitimacy in A Song of Ice and Fire and the Game of Thrones tv series.  How do different regimes legitimize their rule? Why is it dangerous to share power with a religious …

Happy Thanksgiving! A big thanks to all my listeners. This week I share my thoughts on the muddled political message of Buffy's Thanksgiving episode. Also, my brother and I talk X-Files, Mass Effect,…

I'm joined by my brother Adam and we revive a childhood discussion. If the War of the Ring was World War II, who would everyone be? Sidetracks include a discussion of Tolkien's theology and the overl…

I spend a whole lot of time griping about Black Mirror but I do really like the show. I close with some of my favorite episodes.

Notes:

1:53 - Everybody's who's seen this episode immediately knew what…

I heap praise on one of my favorite video games of all time and discuss the politics of the setting. Topics include theories of international relations and the structure of the United Nations and the…

I'm joined by Jon LoChiatto and we discuss the X-Files. Conspiracy theories, the current state of American politics, and the spiritual successor to the X-Files, Fringe, are also covered. 

Notes:

3:25 -…

Week three of celebrating Halloween and horror. This time it's aliens and alien invasion. From mindless monsters, to super-viruses, to conquerors, the many varieties of alien fiction. 

Notes:

1:26 - Di…

A brief history of the zombie in folklore and popular culture. Followed by a discussion of World War Z (the book, not the mediocre movie). Ending with plan for the zombie apocalypse.

Notes:

0:53 - Dis…

A discussion of Ayn Rand's Objectivism and how Buffy the Vampire Slayer opposes it. Also discussed are Faith's nihilist tendencies and Anya's love of capitalism. 

Notes: 

2:05 - "Monster of the week" i…

A big thanks to Deborah Caldwell-Stone for taking the time to speak with me! In the first half of the episode, I do a list of recommendations of books to read in honor of Banned Books Week. I'm then …

We wrap up the Heinlein series with a look at For Us the Living: A Comedy of Customs. From social credit to privacy rights, what does Heinlein's first novel tell us about how his politics evolved (or…

Examining the libertarian and hippie themes of Stranger in a Strange Land. Does this novel represent a shift in philosophy from Starship Troopers or are there consistencies to be found?

Notes:

0:55 - …

This past week, in a town in Massachusetts...

Social Science Fiction

It is a dark time for the podcast. Having launched a few weeks ago, the fledgling show works to amuse its audience with insightful …

Examining the politics of Starship Troopers. Is the Terran Federation's citizen-civilian distinction inspired by the philosophy of Jean Jacques Rousseau? Is it actually a fascist state? What would He…

I analyze the world of Vampire: The Masquerade through a Marxist lens. I begin with a short discussion of the history of the game and the setting. Next I cover the basics of Marxist theory. Then I cr…