Sci-Fi Saturday Night

Kristina Rienzi

Hey and hi, everyone. Welcome to the new normal of the pared down interview where, because of the current “world wide crisis”, bandwidth is limited 24/7 which makes using the internet a problem for us to work in. That being said, we will continue on as best we can with whatever limited resources are available.

Our first attempt at normalcy begins with an interview with author Kristina Rienzi. If she isn’t in your science fiction reading lexicon, she should be and here’s why. Kristina has written a really wonderful first Science Fiction novel; Among Us. What makes this really interesting is that it is her first foray in SF having written numerous short stories and novels in the “Adult Paranormal” and the “Domestic Thriller “genre. Her writing skills shine in her first attempt in SF and Among Us is a standout. The depth of characterization and precision of setting and tech is kinda mind-blowing BUT not as mind-blowing as the interview Capt. Cam and I had with her. Her skills and passion for her writing came through in what was a wonderfully relaxed and engaging interview. Normally, at this point, I would give a rundown of some of the topics we covered, but I can’t. Let me just say the conversation went almost everywhere between Snookie and Majestic 12.

Think that’s weird? It was. Enjoy it. We did.

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Among Us

Ryan Lessard

Welcome, my friends to this edition where we get to talk with fellow broadcaster, journalist  and comic creator Ryan Lessard about his 20 year old new project. What does he mean by that? We spend a good portion of the discussion talking about just how long this went from seed of a concept in a notebook and how he kept returning to it over and over as life intervened until his work became Sentinel, Volume One, with many more issues to come in the next few years.

As a side note, Lawrence Made Me Cry, aka our wonderful friend of the show, artist and musician Jo Whitby, has released a new EP on Bandcamp called F’Sake Lovejoy  and it is amazing.  Check it out and plunk down some coin for some great music from a truly exceptional multi-talented artist we haven’t heard music from in years and all of us here have come to love. Enjoy our new end music from the EP titled  (I Think I) Remember The 90’s.

Enjoy the chaos.

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Sentinel Vol. 1 All Roads

Not Joseph J. Madden At All!

We need more fun. A statement; direct, simple and to the point. At the time of this podcast, we

Actually Joseph J. Madden

need more fun. Due to ecological circumstance our daily lives are becoming more like “The Caves of Steel”, so DAMN IT, WE NEED MORE FUN!!!

What has that got to do with the deadly, vicious Australian Quokka? Of paramount importance, what has that got to do with Joseph J. Madden? All very good questions, dear listeners, and as someone who inherited the title of The Dome, I sought to bring clarity to this and other questions.

We got to speak with Joseph about his series The Starhawk Chronicles. This is a series of books, short stories. character and plots that have been ruminating in his head for decades and can be blamed (let’s use the term “inspired” instead) on Disney. Our conversation meandered around when this happened, why it happened, the overall influence of non-sci fi writer Louis L’Amoure on the series, how it got to where it is as a series and where it is going in the coming volumes. The great thing is the series is well written fun, Joseph is fun to talk to and despite all technical and ecological boulders we had to overcome, this was a very fun show to do.

For those of you keeping score at home, there is a Manhattan, Kansas.

Enjoy the chaos.

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The Starhawk Chronicles

Jeffrey A, Carver

On this show we welcome Boston “semi-native” Jeffrey A.Carver. His work ranges from hard SF to space opera with a healthy sense of wonder. He has taught writing in many settings, from educational television to Odyssey to MIT to his own workshops He is the author of eighteen science fiction novels, including the recently published “Time Out Of Sequence” duology,

The Reefs of Time and Crucible of Time).With this two-part novel, Carver returns to his signature series, The Chaos Chronicles.

Once in conversation, we got to learn about Jeffrey’s writing style and habits. Ever a stickler for detail and clarity, one of the finer points of his writing is his continuity. Be it characters, settings, technology or mythos, the precision of his style is such that the reader is never left hanging,,, but, to be fair, leaving the reader wondering is quite another story.

You can visit Carver and his blog at starrigger.net, or his free guide for aspiring authors of all ages writesf.com.. Enjoy the wonderful conversation.

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The Reefs Of Time

Side note: In the course of the discussion Jeffrey mentioned two very interesting workshops. Here are the links:

The Mighty Mascots

What do Heckle and Jeckle, Huckleberry Hound and Diver Dan have to do with this episode? Honestly, nothing….and EVERYTHING. Join us on an old timey/futuristic voyage with the adventures of The Mighty Mascots, a unique comic from the interesting mind of Keith Gleason, and their collective future.

Plastic City Comic Con

Then we got to spend some time talking about this year’s Plastic City Comic Con. Keith announced this years Guest of Honor, the Incredible Marvel Legend Roy Thomas. Plastic City has quickly become one of the most amazing single day events. You can find tons of information here. You will also find Sci Fi Saturday Night there. Come say “Hi” and win a prize.

And now for some amazing cartoon nostalgia we talked about during the show:

Enjoy the fun!

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On this episode we have our yearly chat with Daniel Abella, the man in charge of The Philip K Dick Sci Fi Film Festival.

In its 8th. Season, this year is a five-day event. We got the chance to talks about how the films are curated, the myriad of geographic locations they come from and all the different ways the conceptualization of the Philip K Dick themeography  is expressed, including ethical morality, genetic manipulation to technological implications to humanity. A myriad of  established and new voices  are being brought to the festival.

The Philip K Dick Film Festival takes place at:

The Museum of the Moving Image

36-01 35th. Street, Astoria NY

Enjoy

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Liz Butcher

In this episode, we talk with Australian author Liz Butcher about Fates’ Fury, her debut novel. As the interview begins, we briefly touched on the wildfire catastrophe that has enveloped her country. Her first hand account of the devastation there is chilling. Then we talked about how her ideas became this novel. The discussion centered on her background and interests, how her characters write the story for her, why the three main characters are so well and deeply developed, how her writing style influences her work and how wonderful a sunrise can be.

This is a book that defies a pigeonhole so we explored what, in fact, its roots are and the amount of research was necessary to keep the ring of authenticity throughout. There is a unique precision to the book as a whole and the way Liz writes, It makes the reader want more and we were assured it is on the way

Enjoy the chaos.

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Fates’ Fury

Life’s a bitch. She deals off the bottom of the deck. But you play the hands you’re given.

O.E,Tearmann

In this episode we talk with the writing team collectively known as O.E.Tearmann about their Aces High Jokers Wild series and specifically the first book in the series, The Hands We’re Given. The series is set  in an America divided into heavily guarded, high-tech corporate zones known as the Grid, and Force-controlled military installations known as the Dust.

We are in a world where climate change and political deadlock have resulted in a nation in isolation, only engaged with the rest of the world because of its technological and medical power, mirroring many of todays societal realities

These are the Mission Files of The Wildcards. Officially Democratic State Force Base 1407, the Wildcards are serving in as part of the  “new” American Revolution. In 2155, Corporations run the City Grids for profit. They own their workers. The Constitution is just an old-fashioned document. Freedom is a word. nothing more. Off “the Grid” and in the shadows, there are people fighting for change.

So, please enjoy our conversation with the writing duo of Olivia and Nonier. better known as O.E.Tearmann. We got to talk about the  genesis of this project from both of their individual perspectives as well as insight into specific motivation as well as goals in producing this series. The talk was engaging, intelligent and pleasant.

Enjoy the chaos.

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The Hand We’re Given

Dreamforge Magazine Issue #4

In this episode we get to touch base with Scot and Jane Noel, the founders of the grand experiment called Dreamforge Magazine and get the chance to both look back over the past year as well as look forward to what we can expect in the next “season of positivity” that Dreamforge brings us with each new volume. For the uninitiated, Dreamforge is a print/e magazine which combines the best qualities of both thanks to the passion and care Scot and Jane bring to each issue. They also provide a “Readers’ Portal” on the website with all sorts of hidden gems and surprises.

Our conversation began with a look back at the original Kickstarter and how the entire project has grown and evolved far beyond the original concept. Scot and Jane talked about how their passion for this project has matured over its initial year and how their own skills have evolved and grown over this time.

One of the things that shows more than anything else is their passion for this and keeping that in mind we then explored what Year Two might look like. In the course of that conversation we got to talk about some surprises for Issue 5 and beyond including a story by Grandmaster Robert Silverberg, and a cover illustration by the amazing Chaz Kemp.

The best thing about a project like Dreamforge is watching it grow and evolve. Join us for a very special conversation. The check out the website and help Dreamforge brow even more in its’ second year.

Enjoy!

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Tosca Lee

Our guest in this show is a New York Times Best Selling Author Tosca Lee who comes by to talk about her new book A Single Light, sequel to the hit book The Line Between. We get to talk about the wonderful characters, the not quite fictional ecological disaster all intertwined with the bleak scenarios of a far too believable all too near future. As impressive as her tensely disturbing plot line, ithe reader  is almost overwhelmed by her characters depth and diversity. The roles of Wynter Roth and Chase Miller are amazingly deep and well developed and we got the chance to talk with her about how they came to be and why they decided how the story evolved. We did

A Single Light

not get to talk to Tosca about baby Yoda or the finer points of bacon, so she has to come back …..  and soon.

At the end of the show. we took a moment in remembrance of a cultural icon to acknowledge the passing of famed voice actor and puppeteer Caroll Spinney. In 2013 we had the rare opportunity to spend a few moments with him to talk about what it meant to him to be an integral part of such an amazing body of work and what it meant to the world to have Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch in our lives as well. Listen and enjoy the humble musings of Caroll, he will be missed.

Enjoy

Caroll Spiney

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