In this episode of Other Worlds, we explore some of the most iconic works of dystopian and utopian literature and the value of reading these works within the science fiction genre.

Joining Sue Berman to discuss this theme is Other Worlds exhibition curator Renee Orr. We talk about Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World', Margaret Atwood’s 'The Handmaid's Tale', the utopian vision of Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 'Herland' and the 1970s classic, Marge Piercy’s 'Woman on the Edge of Time'.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Aldous Huxley, with illustrations by Leonard Rosoman. Brave new world. London: Folio Society, 1971.

Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood’s end. London: Pan Books, 1961.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Herland. New York: Pantheon Books, 1979.

Margaret Atwood. The handmaid’s tale. London: Jonathan Cape, 1986.

Marge Piercy. Woman on the edge of time. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1976.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image from Aldous Huxley, with illustrations by Leonard Rosoman. Brave new world. London: Folio Society, 1971.

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.

In this episode of Other Worlds, we look Beyond Books into the fascinating world of science fiction related pop culture, and the artefacts that bring these worlds to life.

We check out pop up books and bubble gum cards, 8mm film, figurines and LPs in this romp through collectables and material culture. To look at this theme I am joined by Other Worlds exhibition activation curator Brent Giblin.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Reproduction cards of science fiction pulp magazines. 1980s. Eph-Books.

Return of the Jedi bubblegum collector card, 1983. On loan from a private collection.

Conquest of the planet of the apes Super 8 film cases, 1974. On loan from a private collection.

Blade runner, Westwood Studios, 1997. On loan from a private collection.

LP. Patea Māori Club. Aku raukura. Hawera: Maui, 1984.

LP. Louis and Bebe Barron. Forbidden planet soundtrack. Planet Records, recorded 1956, released 1976. On loan from a private collection.

Metaluna mutant figure from the film This island earth sculpted by Olav Hartvigson, 2000. On loan from a private collection.

Mini epics Xenomorph figure sculpted by Mauro Santini for Wētā Workshops, 2017. On loan from a private collection.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image from cover 'Conquest of the planet of the apes', Super 8 film cases, 1974. On loan from a private collection.

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.

In this episode of Other Worlds, we explore how the mysterious red planet has fascinated writers and scientists for centuries. Mars has inspired many different narratives, including Martian invasions, philosophical reflections on life beyond Earth, visions of terraforming and colonisation.

Joining Sue Berman to discuss the works of H.G. Wells to modern depictions of a colonised Mars in Kim Stanley Robinson’s 'Green Mars' and many more great reads, is Other Worlds exhibition curator Renee Orr.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

H. G. Wells. The war of the worlds. London: William Heinemann, 1898.

LP booklet. Jeff Wayne’s musical version of 'The war of the worlds', 1978. Cover illustration by Mike Trim. On loan from a private collection.

Louis Pope Gratacap. The certainty of a future life in Mars: being the posthumous papers of Bradford Torrey Dodd. New York: Brentano's, 1903.

Louis Charbonneau. Corpus earthling. New York: Zenith Books, 1960.

Robert A. Heinlein; The rolling Stones. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1952.

Kim Stanley Robinson. Green Mars. New York: A Tom Doherty Associates Book, 1988.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image from cover; Louis Charbonneau. Corpus earthling. New York: Zenith Books, 1960.

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.

In this episode of Other Worlds, we explore the theme and concept ‘The Empty City’. This theme stretches across time, art, literature, and imagination as we examine the many ways that the empty city, or the city emptied of its people, has been represented in science fiction.

Joining Sue Berman to discuss this theme is Other Worlds exhibition curator Andrew Henry.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Gustave Doré and Blanchard Jerrold. London: a pilgrimage. London: Grant, 1872.

Europa's fate, or, The coming struggle: a history lesson in New Zealand A.D. 2076. London: Griffith and Farran, 1875.

Nevil Shute. On the beach. Melbourne: Heinemann, 1957.

Craig Harrison. The quiet earth. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1981.

New worlds SF, vol. 49, no. 152. London: Roberts & Vinter, July 1965.

Samuel R. Delany, Dhalgren. New York: Bantam Books, 1975.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image credit: Cover image from Samuel R. Delany, Dhalgren. New York: Bantam Books, 1975.

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.

In this episode of Other Worlds, we discuss colonisation, a theme explored through science fiction writing. Joining Sue Berman to discuss this theme is Other Worlds exhibition curator Renee Orr.

We talk about how writers have used science fiction to explore very real and complex aspects of human society and history, and, how the themes of invasion, colonisation, language and cultural difference come up again and again in speculative fiction.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Alaisea Fa'alafi Iosefa. Malaga I le vanimonimo = A trip to space. Los Angeles: National Dissemination and Assessment Center, 1980.

Liu Cixin. 三体. II, 黑暗森林 / 刘慈欣著. San ti. II, Hei an sen lin. The three-body problem II: The dark forest. Chongqing: Chongqing chu ban she, 2008.

Ursula K. Le Guin. The left hand of darkness. London: Macdonald Science Fiction, 1969.

Octavia Butler. Dawn. London: Victor Gollancz, 1987.

Samuel R. Delany. Babel 17. London: Victor Gollancz, 1967.

Tīhema Baker. Turncoat. Wellington: Lawrence and Gibson, 2023.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image from: Alaisea Fa'alafi Iosefa. Malaga I le vanimonimo = A trip to space. Los Angeles: National Dissemination and Assessment Center, 1980.

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.

In this episode of Other Worlds, we delve into the fascinating world of robots and monsters, and the intersection of science fiction writing and pop culture.

Robots and monsters have clearly captivated the imagination of writers and artists for centuries, to discuss this theme is Other Worlds exhibition curator Renee Orr.

We discuss magazines with evocative cover art, 19th and 20th century classics like Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein' and Frank Herbert’s 'Dune', and objects like the Blade runner origami unicorn and a gorilla soldier from Planet of the Apes.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Astounding science fiction, vol. 7, no. 1. London: Atlas, January 1950.

Mary Shelley, with engravings on wood by Lynd Ward. Frankenstein: or, The modern Prometheus. New York: Harrison Smith and Robert Haas, 1934.

Phillip K. Dick. Do androids dream of electric sheep? London: Rapp & Whiting, 1969.

Blade runner origami unicorn, 2007. On loan from a private collection.

Frank Herbert, with illustrations by John Schoenherr. Dune world. From: Analog science fact, science fiction. New York: Street & Smith Publications, December 1963.

Samuel Butler. Erewhon, or, Over the range. London: Trübner, 1872.

Arthur C. Clarke. 2001, a space odyssey. London: Arrow, 1968.

Pierre Boulle, translated from the French by Xan Fielding. Monkey planet. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1975.

Samuel R. Delany, cover illustration by Jack Gaughan. The jewels of Aptor. New York: Ace Books, 1962.

John Wyndham, cover illustration by Richard Powers. Re-birth. New York: Ballantine Books, 1955.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image credit: Astounding science fiction, vol. 7, no. 1. London: Atlas, January 1950.

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.

In this episode of Other Worlds, we explore the notion of Inner Worlds by looking closely at the idea of inner space vs. outer space - the power and problems of our own minds.

Exploring these ideas with Sue Berman is Other Worlds exhibition curator Andrew Henry. We discuss a range of texts including 'Return to Tomorrow' and 'Dianetics' by L. Ron Hubbard, 'The World of Null-A' by A.E. Van Vogt, and 'The Dreaming Jewels' by Theodore Sturgeon as well as the well-known Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic 'Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde'.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

L. Ron Hubbard, Return to tomorrow. London: Hamilton, 1957.

L. Ron Hubbard. Dianetics: the evolution of a science. London: Hubbard Association of Scientologists International Limited, 1958.

A.E. Van Vogt, The world of Null-A. New York: Ace Books, 1964.

Theodore Sturgeon, The dreaming jewels. London: Corgi Books, 1975.

Alfred Bester. The demolished man. London: Hamilton, 1959.

Robert Louis Stevenson, The strange case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. London: John Lane, the Bodley Head, 1930.

New worlds science fiction, vol. 30, no. 89. London: Nova, December 1959.

New worlds science fiction, vol. 40, no. 118. London: Nova, May 1962.

Analog science fiction, science fact, vol. 90, no. 4. New York: Condé Nast, December 1972.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image from Robert Louis Stevenson, The strange case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. London: John Lane, the Bodley Head, 1930.

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.

In this episode of Other Worlds, we explore the literary convergence of science fiction and science fact.

To explore this theme, Sue Berman is joined by Other Worlds exhibition curator Andrew Henry. We discuss the exciting crossroads between science fiction and real world scientific developments, illustrated through published material that intone seer-like qualities to the authors - everything from consumer electronics to future war machines.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

H.G. Wells. ‘The Land Ironclads’. From: The Strand magazine, vol. 26, no. 156. London: G. Newnes, 1903.

Radio craft, vol. 10, no. 5. New York: Gernsback Publications, November 1938.

Startling stories, no. 10. Manchester: Pemberton's, 1952.

Astounding science fiction, vol. 10, no. 4. London: Atlas, April 1954.

Analog, vol. 101, no.7. New York: Davis, June 1981.

Wolfgang Schroeder. First stop, the Moon: a look into the future of space travel. London: Odhams, 1959.

Arthur C. Clarke, illustrated by Ralph Smith. The exploration of the Moon. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1954.

T.A. Heppenheimer. Colonies in space. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole, 1977.

Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Bruce Murray, Carl Sagan, Walter Sullivan. Mars and the mind of man. New York: Harper & Row, 1973.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image from Analog, Apollo 11: Tenth Anniversary, July 1979, New York

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.

In this episode of Other Worlds, we discuss an important part of the history and development of the science fiction genre - the power and influence of fans!

To discuss this, Sue Berman is joined by Other Worlds exhibition curator, Andrew Henry. We examine how the influence of fandom has helped shape and define science fiction since its inception as a genre, and just how integral the fan base is to the development of seminal works.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Julius Vogel. Anno Domini 2000, or, Woman's destiny. London: Hutchinson, 1889.

Sascha Stronach. The dawnhounds. Wellington: Little Hook Press, 2019.

Larry Niven. Ringworld. London: Sphere, 1973.

Amazing stories, vol. 21, no. 4. Chicago: Ziff-Davis, April 1947.

Amazing stories, vol. 25, no. 10. Chicago: Ziff-Davis, October 1951.

Astounding science fiction, vol. 7, no. 7. London: Atlas, December 1950.

Analog, vol. 81, no. 1. New York: Condé Nast, March 1968.

Noumenon: the New Zealand science fiction magazine, no. 1. Waiheke: B. Thurogood, 1976.

Sneetche: science fiction fan magazine, vol. 1, no. 1. Auckland: Faniverse Publishing, March 1983.

Time space visualiser: the journal of the New Zealand Doctor Who Fan Club, no. 73. Auckland: Adam McGechan, May 2006.

Warp: the magazine of the National Association for Science Fiction, no. 22. Wellington: The Association, May 1981.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image from covers of Julius Vogel. Anno Domini 2000, or, Woman's destiny. London: Hutchinson, 1889 and Amazing stories, vol. 21, no. 4. Chicago: Ziff-Davis, April 1947.

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.

In this first episode of Other Worlds, we discuss one of the most important and thought-provoking books of the 20th century — Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

First published in 1953 as a short story called 'Fahrenheit 451', this novel has captivated generations of readers with its chilling portrayal of a dystopian world of book burning. Beyond its gripping narrative, Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 offers us a powerful reflection on censorship and the importance of intellectual freedoms.

To discuss this masterpiece, Sue Berman is joined by Other Worlds exhibition curator, Renee Orr.

Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition

For recommended reads visit:

www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads

Books mentioned in the podcast:

Ray Bradbury, illustrated by Joseph Mugnaini. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Limited Editions Club, 1982.

Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/

Image from: Cover of Ray Bradbury, illustrated by Joseph Mugnaini. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Limited Editions Club, 1982.

Produced by Sue Berman and JL.