Rocket Talk Podcast - Reactor

In this week’s podcast episode, Justin talks with Andrea Phillips about her new novel, Revision. They discuss how technology has changed the way we perceive reality, and how that same technology is impacting our fiction.

Andrea Phillips is a transmedia game designer and writer. She published A Creator’s Guide to Transmedia Storytelling in 2012, and in 2013 successfully funded a project on Kickstarter called The Daring Adventures of Captain Lucy Smokeheart. Her newest story telling endeavor is a novel called Revision, available May 5th from Fireside Books. Follow Andrea on Twitter @andrhia.

Rocket Talk, Episode 52 (46:44)

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Episode 52: Andrea Phillips

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Also! If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present an audio edition of “Six Months, Three Days,” an original story by Charlie Jane Anders—and winner of the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Novelette—as read by Emmet Asher-Perrin.

Doug and Judy have both had a secret power all their life. Judy can see every possible future, branching out from each moment like infinite trees. Doug can also see the future, but for him, it’s a single, locked-in, inexorable sequence of foreordained events. They can’t both be right, but over and over again, they are.  Obviously these are the last two people in the world who should date. So, naturally, they do.

The short story can be read online for free here.

Rocket Talk, Episode 30: “Six Months, Three Days” by Charlie Jane Anders (51:11)

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Episode 30: Six Months, Three Days by Charlie Jane Anders, Narrated by Emmet Asher-Perrin

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If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin invites literary agents Lisa Rogers and Sam Morgan to the show to talk about Fox’s new series Gotham. It’s a cop show, but with Batman! The conversation covers the pilot episode, what’s working, what isn’t working, on why super hero shows are becoming more prominent. Sam even explains why Doctor Who is important. Lisa and Justin are skeptical.

Lisa and Sam are agents at JABberwocky Literary Agency, which represents clients like Brandon Sanderson, Elizabeth Moon, Charlaine Harris, and Peter V. Brett. Follow them on twitter at @_LisaRodgers and @samroebuck.

Sam and Lisa mention two books on the podcast: The Bloodbound by Erin Lindsey, and The Unnoticeables by Robert Brockway.

Rocket Talk, Episode 29 (39:43):

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Episode 29: Literary Agents Lisa Rogers and Sam Morgan talk GOTHAM

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Also! If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin welcomes Nick Mamatas, author and editor, to discuss the newest anthology from Haikasoru: Phantasm Japan. Mamatas holds court on the subject of Japanese publishing, the nature of exported fiction, and how he functions as an editor of Japanese fiction without being able to read Japanese.

Mamatas is the author of eight novels, including the recently released The Last Weekend and Love Is the Law. His fiction has been nominated for several awards, including the Bram Stoker Awards. He comes to Rocket Talk in his capacity as an editor. Formerly of Clarkesworld, Mamatas now edits for Japanese science fiction imprint Haikasoru, an imprint of Viz Media.

Rocket Talk, Episode 28 (35:55):

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Episode 28: Nick Mamatas of Haikasoru

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Also! If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin brings on Karen Lord and Tobias Buckell to discuss their most recent works, what they mean when they talk about Caribbean Science Fiction, and the challenge of reading western literature from a different point of view. Justin also manages to squeeze in some talk about how the two see series fiction.

Karen Lord has been a physics teacher, a diplomat, a part-time soldier, and an academic at various times and in various countries. Her debut novel, Redemption in Indigo, won the Frank Collymore Literary Award, the William L. Crawford Award, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature, and was nominated for the 2011 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. Her latest novel, The Best of All Possible Worlds is a stunning science fiction epic available from Quercus Books. Follow her on Twitter.

Science Fiction author Tobias Buckell was born in the Caribbean and grew up on a boat. His novels and over 50 short stories have been translated into 17 languages, and he has been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, Prometheus, and John W. Campbell Award for Best New Science Fiction Author. His latest novel, Hurricane Fever, is a technothriller available from Tor Books. Follow him on Twitter.

Rocket Talk, Episode 27 (1:00:23):

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Episode 27: Tobias Buckell and Karen Lord

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Also! If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present “The Hanging Game,” an original audio story by Helen Marshall, as read by Emmet Asher-Perrin.

Sometimes a game, even a sacred game, can have far-reaching consequences. In bear country young Skye learns just how far she is willing to go to play the game properly in order carry on the traditions that came before her and will most likely continue long after she is gone.

The short story can be read online for free here.

Rocket Talk, Episode 26: “The Hanging Game” by Helen Marshall (20:12)

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Episode 26: “The Hanging Game” by Helen Marshall

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If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin invites author Robert Jackson Bennett on to discuss his article titled “The Genre Fountain,” which posits that an increasing fracturing of genre definitions is a danger to the future of genre fiction. The conversation covers a lot of ground, including weird metaphors comparing genre to mating rituals. They also talk about Bennett’s new book, City of Stairs.

Robert Jackson Bennett is the author of American Elsewhere, The Troupe, The Company Man, and Mr. Shivers. His books have been awarded the Edgar Award, the Shirley Jackson, and the Philip K. Dick Citation of Excellence. His latest, City of Stairs, is an atmospheric and intrigue-filled novel of dead gods, buried histories, and a mysterious, protean city. Read an excerpt here on Tor.com!

Rocket Talk, Episode 25 (1:00:23):

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Episode 25: Robert Jackson Bennett

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Also! If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin invites Hugo-nominated blogger Foz Meadows and Hugo-winning blogger Aidan Moher on the show to talk about their experience at Loncon3 and the Hugo Awards ceremony. Their conversation covers the convention itself, the winners and losers of the Hugo Award, the nature of fandom, how fandom is evolving, and finishes with a few book recommendations for the voracious genre reader.

Rocket Talk, Episode 24 (1:04:24):

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Espidoe 24: Foz Meadows and Aidan Moher Recap Worldcon

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Also! If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin invites authors Kate Elliott and N.K. Jemisin on to the show to talk about reader, writer, and publisher bias. How do our own blind spots influence the choices we make? How does that impact society? How can we do better?

Kate Elliott is the author of over twenty novels including the recently completed Spiritwalker Trilogy. The Court of Fives, Black Wolves, and The Very Best of Kate Elliott are all set to be released during 2015. She lives in Hawaii.

N.K. Jemisin’s debut novel, One Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, was nominated for a Hugo Award. Since then she has written two other novels set in the same world to complete the Inheritance Trilogy. Her second series, the Dreamblood Duology, came out in 2012. The Inheritance Trilogy Omnibus will be released this year, including a never before seen novella. Her sixth novel, The Fifth Season, comes out in 2015.

Rocket Talk, Episode 23 (1:00:08):

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Episode 23: Kate Elliott and NK Jemisin Talk Bias

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Also! If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present an original audio story by Kij Johnson! The winner of the 2010 Nebula Award for Short Story, “Ponies” is read by Emmet Asher-Perrin.

If you want to be friends with The Other Girls, you’re going to have to give something up; this is the way it’s always been, as long as there have been Ponies.

The short story can be read online for free here.

Rocket Talk, Episode 22: “Ponies” by Kij Johnson (10:32)

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Episode 22: “Ponies” by Kij Johnson

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If you have an idea for an episode of Rocket Talk or would like to come on as a guest, reach out to Justin Landon at [email protected]. Obviously, we can’t accommodate everyone, but we’re always looking for new ideas and fresh perspectives.

You can find all of the episodes on Tor.com here.

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