028- The Jester, by William Tenn, 1951

Wherein a robot is given a "sense of humor".

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are discussing "The Jester" by William Tenn, from 1951. William Tenn is known as a comedic science fiction writer, and this story features a comedian, so I guess that counts. This story does not, however, contain too many Good Ideas in terms of how robots should be built; and as Turing Test Administrators, should Ruiz and Marguerite ever chance to meet a robot as unruly as "Rupert" from "The Jester", they would immediately (necessarily) burn it with fire.

027- The City of Force, by Daniel F. Galouye, 1960

Wherein it's Man Vs. Pac-Man in an alien city on a future, invaded Earth!

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in Strontium, Japan, hunting down an AI named Gary, and discussing the 1960 novella, "The City of Force" by Daniel F. Galouye.

The story concerns a human exploring an alien city in a future, invaded Earth; and Ruiz Tremello absolutely loved this story. It had action, intrigue, romance, and some other stuff; and it's most certainly his most boringest podcast episode yet!

Seriously though, this one's not as snappy as most of the other episodes because it's just too damn good. This was the first Daniel F. Galouye story Ruiz has ever encountered, and he very much wants to read more.

026- Angel Fix, by Raccoona Sheldon, 1974

"Wherein good guys get all the unclean matter."

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are on the island of Treppenwitz, Japan, and discussing the 1974 short story, "Angel Fix" by Raccoona Sheldon (aka, James Tiptree Jr., aka, Alice Hastings Sheldon).

"Angel Fix" features an alien who's casually passing by Earth, when he notices that we're having some troubles and he stops by to offer some help. "How benevolent of him," you may be thinking, and you are definitely correct; because as usually, nothing can possibly go wrong or be amiss.

Alice Hastings Bradly wrote under several pseudonyms including most famously, "James Tiptree Jr". This is the first of her works that Ruiz Tremello has ever read and he wants to read more, and encourages you to do the same.

025- Growing Season, by F.L. Wallace, 1959

Wherein a boy genius hallucinates and conspiratorializes!

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in the Casserole Islands, sailing across the Pacific and headed for Japan, discussing the 1961 novella, "Growing Season" by F.L. Wallace.

This story concerns a boy genius plant mechanic/psychologist who spends a fair amount of time being paranoid. Ruiz in particular enjoyed this story, as it reminds him of his time among the French Foreign Legion.

F.L. Wallace (1915-2004) was a mechanical engineer who published numerous short stories and novellas apparently all between 1951 and 1960. If anyone wants to help fill in the missing years of his biography, his Wikipedia entry is insufferably short, and his entry on the SF Encyclopedia is missing several of his works, including this one, "Growing Season".

Quick apology: Ruiz accidentally credits the year on "Growing Season" as 1961. This is an error, as it was actually 1959. Our apologies to all who are negatively affected by this unfortunate incident.

While visiting New Eagleville, USA, Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite stop to discuss "The Cage", by Bertram Chandler, from 1957.

This story is especially fun; following the misadventures of a group of survivors from a crashed spaceship! It's basically "Naked & Afraid" sixty years before that show was even a show.

This was the first Bertram Chandler story Ruiz has ever read, and he wants to read more, and MORE!

023- Killashandra- Crystal Singer, by Anne McCaffrey, 1976

Wherein a woman goes on a tropical summer vacation!

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are back for their Season 2 premiere, featuring "Killashandra- Crystal Singer", a short story by Anne McCaffrey, from 1976!

In today's story, the iconic Killashandra goes on vacation. ...That's pretty much the whole plot, and it's glorious because Anne McCaffrey is an AMAZING author. Clearly rusty from their seasonal break, Ruiz & Marguerite completely fail to properly convey how fantastic an author Anne McCaffrey is and properly give her props for her "Dragonriders of Pern" series, and the fact that she was the first female author to win both the Hugo and Nebula Awards! Seriously, read her books. And other books besides hers. Mostly, just keep reading.

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are back in their home in Everett for Part 2 of the Season Finale! Jack Vance's magnificent novella, "The Man From Zodiac" comes to a stunning conclusion, as Milton Hack attempts to bring infrastructure and peace to the war-like Phrones!

As this is our Season Finale, Everett Book Club is on winter break, but we'll be back with a very special episode just in time for Valentine's Day!

For Part 1 of the Season 1 Finale, Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are back home in Everett, and discussing "The Man from Zodiac", by Jack Vance, from 1967.

Jack Vance is both Ruiz & Marguerite's favorite author, which is why this episode is (part 1 of) the Season Finale- Ruiz has been waiting for this one for a while.

Jack Vance (1916-2013) was a prolific Hugo & Nebula Award-winning author of over 50 books, including some fantastic series' like "Tales of the Dying Earth", "Lyonesse", "The Demon Prices", "Araminta Station", and "The Durdane Series"; as well as lots of other books R&M recommend.

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in New Giraffe City, Latvia, discussing the 1881 short story, "The Clock That Went Backward" by Edward Page Mitchell!

Taken from "The Time Traveller's Almanac" short story collection, the aforementioned volume claims that "The Clock That Went Backward" is the first time travel story ever published; but it's not. It IS the first story ever published that features a Time Machine, however; a fact that is pretty cool; or would be if it weren't for "philosophy".

A quick correction: Ruiz inaccurately states that "The Time Traveller's Almanac" is over a thousand pages, but that is incorrect, because it's actually 948 pages. He apologizes for any inconvenience.

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in Neo Rio DeJanero, Norway! The legendary Earthcore Elevator connecting Norway to Brazil is here, and Ruiz insists upon calling it The Earthshaft. Also, our heroes are discussing "Gleaners" by Clifford D. Simak, wherein a Time Travel Manager has a bad day at the office.

Clifford D. Simak is a very prolific writer of science fiction, whose titles include "Time is the Simplest Thing", and "Way Station". He won the Hugo Award 3 times, and this short novella was the first of his works that Ruiz has read. As you'll hear, Ruiz and Marguerite were both enamored by this story, and will definitely read more by this talented author.