As snow and ice bury the east coast, John E. O. Stevens, Fred Kiesche and Jeff Patterson turn their thoughts to the cold, merciless abyss that engulfs us all. That’s right, SPACE is the place, and they’ve invited Leah Petersen along to talk about the stories set there, and the role it plays.

Science Fiction’s early depictions of space cast it as a medium to be crossed, or an analog for the sea, facilitating trade, exploration, and empire-building. Frank Herbert made it a commodity, accessible only to those who gave up their humanity. Stephen Baxter filled it with incomprehensible machinations. Star Trek used it as a divide between cultures. Kristine Katherine Rusch riddled it with lethal anomalies. Vernor Vinge gave it dominion over the rise of intelligence. C. J. Cherryh, Samuel Delany, Karen Lord, Alastair Reynolds, Lois McMaster Bujold, and many others shaped the infinite void into a narrative tool. Now, with Star Wars,The Expanse, and a possible new ninth planet, space is once again imposing itself on popular culture. Is it up to the challenge?

As always, the discussion turns to recent culture consumed.

Fred Kiesche, John E.O. Stevens and Jeff Patterson with Leah Petersen

Show Notes

Fighting Gravity, Leah Petersen

Cascade Effect, Leah Petersen

Impact Velocity, Leah Petersen

Carbide Tipped Pens, edited by Ben Bova and Eric Choi

Measuring the Universe, Kitty Ferguson

Downbelow Station, C.J. Cherryh

Powersat, Ben Bova

Diving into the Wreck, Kristine Kathryn Rusch

The Forever War, Joe Haldeman

Sex and Violence in Zero-G: The Complete “Near Space” Stories, Allen M. Steele

Shadowshaper, Daniel Jose Older

Secret Wars, Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic

Additional Show Links

2016: The Year in Books

2016: The Year in Shorts

Outermost: The Art and Life of Jack Gaughan, Luis Ortiz

The Atrocity Archives, Charles Stross

Dhalgren, Samuel R. Delany

How Great Science Fiction Works, Gary K. Wolfe

Collected Fiction, Leena Krohn