In this episode, people gamble their sanity and their body parts in Jack Dann's "Blind Shemmy."

The dog wanted to be in on the recording, so the barks and scratching sounds aren't coming from me.

Sources:

https://jackdann.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Dann

In R.A. Lafferty's story, "Golden Gate," the main character revels each night in a bar more magical than the Moulin Rouge and Cheers put together, all the while plotting a murder.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/29/us/rafael-a-lafferty-87-science-fiction-writer.html?scp=15

https://locusmag.com/2016/03/paul-di-filippo-reviews-r-a-lafferty/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._A._Lafferty

The oppressive heat of the surface of a frozen story simmers under the surface of Connie Willis' "The Sidon in the Mirror."

Sources:

https://www.sfwa.org/2012/03/12/nebula-awards-interview-connie-willis/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Willis

http://www.sftv.org/cw/index.html

https://azsf.net/cwblog/

In this episode, Jack McDevitt's "Cryptic" takes hold of our face and forces us to look at a truth we wish we never had to see.

Computerphile episodes about cryptography:

Sources:

https://www.jackmcdevitt.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_McDevitt

In this episode, we examine Robert Silverberg's story "Multiples" an allegory for the LGBTQ movement that I'm not sure quite works.

This episode is the first one I've published that is late. It won't be the last.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Silverberg

http://www.robert-silverberg.com/

In this episode, we learn how enigmatic the ingredients label on a can of soup really can be in Avram Davidson's "Full Chicken Richness."

I had to read some transliterated Russian dialogue, so full apologies to everyone who speaks Russian.

Next time: Robert Silverberg's "Multiples."

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avram_Davidson

Every once in awhile, you might find that the whole world has shifted under your feet. In Joe Haldeman's "Manifest Destiny" everyone is dusty and hot in a story of mystical prediction set against the Mexican-American War.

This episode features Greg Bear's story "Hardfought," an unflinching examination of the risks societies take when they embark on war. Your heart will ache for everyone on all sides of the battle.

Sources:

https://gizmodo.com/obituary-greg-bear-sci-fi-author-1849806303

This episode focuses on Howard Waldrop's "Man Mountain Gentian." In the future when sumo has become a telekinetic sport - mind against mind - the competitors must defeat their opponents psychically as well as physically. Tension builds until you couldn't cut it with a katana in this masterful crossover between sport and science fiction.

You can buy a Kindle copy of The Year's Best Science Fiction: First Annual Collection on Amazon, or support local bookstores by scouring the shelves or checking out bookshop.org.

(00:00) - Introduction

(00:55) - Author Bio

(02:04) - Story Summary

(03:55) - Reading a Passage

(09:22) - Commentary

(12:03) - Outro

Sources:

https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-writers/howard-waldrop

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/w/howard-waldrop/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Waldrop

In this episode, master of science fiction and fantasy Poul Anderson provides an entry in the "mind of a loved one is preserved in a computer" genre.

I apologize for the attempt at an accent in the reading - it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(00:49) Author Bio

(01:58) Story Summary

(03:34) Reading from Text

(06:29) My Thoughts

(10:36) Outro