With the recent death of author Anne McCaffrey I took the opportunity to look at five of the biggest science fiction personalities and their “gifts” to the science fiction world.  Along the way I got some great comments by previous guests on Highway to Mars, learned some things about Rick that I didn’t know, had to face up to my fathers mortality and ultimately my own.  Needless to say the thunderstorm that passed though my neck of the woods while I was recording was somewhat appropriate.

Arthur C Clarke created two breakthrough series that bought aliens far more advanced than humans to our solar system. Gareth joins me to cover the second series – Rendevous with Rama. While this is not the strongest book in the series it broke new ground and laid the foundations for a series that would explore not only first contact but the evolution of life and very nature of the universe.

All the discussions generated by the book that weren’t about the book. Warning, if you ever invade OZ I hope you like beer and BBQ’s and don’t touch our iPhones. Otherwise, don’t bother.

This weeks podcast is the third of the Tripods novels by John Christopher. I am joined once more by Odile from the Sending a Wave Podcast and my fellow Aussie, Liam for what was a long and very enjoyable discussion the stretched from the novel to the implication of the novel in the world we live in today. This is part 1 of the podcast, covering the topics directly relating to the book. There will be a supplementary podcast midweek covering the way the book relates to the world we live in today. 40 odd years later, there are lessons to be learned from this series of books.

Highway to Mars courts controversy once more by suggesting that maybe there is a third answer to the Kirk vs Picard question. This week I look at the Star Trek Deep Space 9 character Benjamin Sisko and discuss the character, his philosophy and some of the important relationships that define him. Along the way I discover that’s easier said than done just because that list is a long one but I hope I covered enough to make it worth while.

We promised it, some martian madness for Halloween.

Thank you to Rick Moyer, Simon Meddings, Jim Moon, Dave Probert, Sarah Gilbertson, Daniel Vieira, Gareth Edwards, Al Kessel, Amy, Ricky, Phoenix, Raven and Kiarra.

Martians love halloween and so I contacted a bunch of very generous friends who agreed to help out with our first TMAH special in some time. It will be released on halloween and have a much wider cast than usual. We also have some fun guest appearances and a haunting monologue from Jim Moon. Of course the story has martians in it…

This week as a pre Halloween Podcast we celebrate 30 Years of the 1981 movie “Heavy Metal”. Definitely in the “classic science fiction” category, this movie broke ground in more ways than one and as Halloween viewing goes you would do worse than selecting this one. I also discuss the sequel (Heavy Metal 2000) and the surprisingly good game Heavy Metal FAKK2.

This week a little bit of Aussie Science Fiction, the Comedy series DAAS KAPITAL. The Shitsu Tonka Corporation have decided to erase history and to this end they have stored the worlds great artworks on a submarine the Titanic II. Three Musicians Paul, Tim and Richard have been assigned the task of cataloguing the artworks but they are not alone. Genies, Psycho’s and Mutant Crabs are just some of the things that await them and let’s not forget Ross the Cockroach.

Links to the first part of each episode (bar series 2 episode 1 below).

Series 2 Ep. 1 – Lust

Series 2 Ep. 2 – Avarice

Series 2 Ep. 3 – Gluttony

Series 2 Ep. 4 – Envy

Series 2 Ep. 5 – Sloth

Series 2 Ep. 6 – Pride

Series 2 Ep. 7 – Anger

Series 2 Ep. 2 – Humility

Series 2 Ep. 3 – Felicity

Series 2 Ep. 4 – Chastity

Series 2 Ep. 5 – Charity

Series 2 Ep. 6 – Hope

Series 2 Ep. 7 – Patience

My daughter Phoenix joined me to discuss a movie that deeply influenced my thinking of central characters as a writer – Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds. There are two english versions available the “Warriors of the Wind” and the later official version. Despite a lot of people dumping on the Warriors of the Wind, it’s a pretty true version and in many ways tighter because it doesn’t try and bridge between the mythology Miyazaki developed in the Manga version. As such the story is more direct but lacks some of the environmental themes Miyazaki was very passionate about. It’s also a bit hokey on the voices which basically makes it a very “80’s” version. Either way I leave it open to the listener to choose, there are faults in both versions but it’s a brilliant story none the less.