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Science Fiction University — Arts
Science Fiction University

Each episode Driftglass and Blue Gal discuss one work of classic science fiction plus one science fiction movie. The two pieces share a theme, whether it be time travel, unreliable narrators, dystopias, etc. Join the adventure at sciencefictionuniversity.com

Copyright: ℗ & © 2020 Science Fiction University

Latest Episodes:

Ep 28 Apple TV's 'Dark Matter' and the Multiverse Jul 09, 2024

Diving into Apple TV's new series "Dark Matter," based on Blake Crouch's bestselling novel. We'll explore how the show tackles concepts of both parallel realities, and the nature of identity across multiple timelines.

But the multiverse madness doesn't stop there! We'll expand our discussion to other sci-fi shows that have expertly played with alternate realities:

"Counterpart": How J.K. Simmons' dual roles illuminate questions of nature vs. nurture across parallel Earths
"Loki": Marvel's time-hopping adventure and its implications for free will and predestination
"The Man in the High Castle": Exploring how history and culture diverge in an alternate post-WWII reality

Science fiction is much more than quantum physics on paper, it's also a good "what if" story! We hope this episode will expand your list of "must watch shows" using multiverse theory in science fiction.
More at ScienceFictionUniversity.com.

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Andy Weir's Hopeful, Hard SF May 28, 2024

On this episode of Science Fiction University, we dive into the works of Andy Weir, the author behind the hit novels The Martian and Project Hail Mary.

Project Hail Mary, Weir's latest novel takes readers on an epic journey across the cosmos. Like his earlier work, The Martian, PHM showcases Weir's talent for fusing cutting-edge science with an extremely human story of perseverance and hope. We'll analyze how Project Hail Mary embraces the conventions of "hard" science fiction while also delivering an optimistic, even spiritual message about humanity's ability to overcome challenges through cooperation and grace.

So join us as we explore the intricate worlds and big ideas contained within Andy Weir's captivating science fiction adventures.
More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.

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The Day The Earth Stood Still Apr 30, 2024

We talk about "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and the 1940 short story that inspired it, sort of.
More at https://www.sciencefictionuniversity.com.
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Episode 25 | 3 Body Problem Apr 02, 2024

We talk about the new Apple TV series "3 Body Problem," which we highly recommend. We also relate it to lots of other science fiction works.
Looking for political content? We were on The Brad Cast on Monday
https://bradblog.com/?p=14989
More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.
Our podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessionalLeft

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Ep 24 We drop everything to talk about Dune 2 Mar 05, 2024

What the title says!
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Ep 23 The Maltese Falcon (Is Not Science Fiction) Feb 27, 2024

We take a short break from Science Fiction to dive into the 1941 film noir masterpiece The Maltese Falcon, comparing and contrasting that Humphrey Bogart classic with two earlier versions, one made in 1931, and a Bette Davis comedy (?) version, "Satan Met a Lady," made in 1936. More at ScienceFictionUniversity.com

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Ep 22: How Did You Fall In Love With Science Fiction? Jan 30, 2024

Driftglass and Blue Gal share their stories of falling in love with SF. More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.

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Ep 21: Labor Relations and 'The Icicle Works' Nov 28, 2023

We discuss the very political "The Day the Icicle Works Closed" by Frederick Pohl, and also why science fiction stories often don't stand the test of time. More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.

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Ep 20 Time Travel and Netflix's 'Bodies' Oct 31, 2023

The Netflix series "Bodies" brings up all kinds of connections to time travel in science fiction. We watched the 8 part series in three days -- it's good!

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Ep 19 Too Much of a Good Thing / Whither Dune? Sep 26, 2023

We discuss tragic heroes and utopias in science fiction, then we turn to the possiblity of future Dune movies. More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.

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Ep 18: Fish Stories Aug 29, 2023

Alternate title: 'Mother Nature, USMC'. A subgenre of science fiction in which humans try to bend nature to their will, sometimes with disastrous results.
Also, an ocean creature theme. Movies discussed include

1973's 'The Day of the Dolphin'
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and
The Incredible Mr. Limpet

(Yes, The Incredible Mr. Limpet). More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.
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Our YouTube Channel

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Ep 17: Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One and Neuromancer Jul 18, 2023

Driftglass took Blue Gal to see Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 for her birthday. During the movie, Driftglass noticed many plot points that connect this blockbuster to William Gibson's 1984 novel, "Neuromancer." So we did a podcast about it. (No Fair Remembering Stuff returns next week.) More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.
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Ep 16 Multiverses Jul 10, 2023

Multiversal success and failure. Success? Star Trek TOS episode "Mirror, Mirror," and the 2017 Starz series, "Counterpart." Failure? It pains Driftglass to say it, but Robert Heinlein's "The Number of the Beast" is well-known as a massive fail in the multiverse and just plain science fiction novel genre.
And you can hear Patton Oswalt's magnificent Parks and Rec filibuster concerning "multiverses" here.

More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.
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Ep 15 When Genres Collide! May 29, 2023

Science Fiction "versus" Fantasy – When Genres Collide

Robert Heinlein’s “Glory Road”

Babylon 5: The Technomages.

Star Wars

John Varley’s Wizard/Demon Trilogy

The Dragonriders of Pern

Arthur Clarke’s Third Law
More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.

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Ep 14 Gene Roddenberry and the Good Robot Apr 24, 2023

We look at a 1970's pilot, "The Questor Tapes," which was a scratchpad for the invention of the TNG character known as Data. More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.

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Ep 13 The Forbin Project and A.I. Mar 28, 2023

The 1970 film, "Colossus: The Forbin Project" and the "uh oh, we shouldn't have done that" genre of science fiction. More at sciencefictionuniversity.com .

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Ep 12: The Prisoner Feb 28, 2023

We discuss our re-watching of Patrick McGoohan in "The Prisoner," perhaps the most influential science fiction single-season show ever.
More at sciencefictionuniversity.com

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Ep 11 Adapting Stories to the Screen: What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Jan 31, 2023

We discuss what can go wrong, and right, when adapting a much-loved science fiction story to the big or big-ish screen. Examples include Foundation, Dune, and the more recent Kindred. More at ScienceFictionUniversity.com.
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Ep 10: When Aliens Are Truly Alien Aug 16, 2022

We discuss Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, "2001: A Space Odyssey," Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1972 film, “Solaris,” and Denis Villeneuve’s 2016 film, “Arrival.” More at ScienceFictionUniversity.com. Support our ad-free show at our Patreon! Patreon.com/scifiu

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Ep 9: Attack of the '60's Feb 16, 2022

We discuss three modern productions with roots in the 1960's: Apple TV's Foundation, Denis Villeneuve's Dune, and For All Mankind (also Apple TV). More at Sciencefictionuniversity.com. And you can support the show at https://www.patreon.com/scifiu

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Ep 8 Save The Timeline, Destroy the Timeline Sep 25, 2021

We discuss timelines using examples from Loki, Travelers, Star Trek TOS "The City on the Edge of Forever," and 11.22.63 (Honorable mention to “All You Zombies”/”By His Bootstraps”, The End of Eternity)

Support the show at sciencefictionuniversity.com or go straight to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/scifiu.

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Ep 7: While You Were Sleeping: Planet of the Apes, Idiocracy, Groundhog Day Mar 04, 2021

Looking at time travel stories generated by a main character waking from sleep. More at sciencefictionuniversity.com. (Episode contains spoilers and occasional swear words.)

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Ep 6 System Failure -- The Outsider, The Night Stalker and The Blob Jan 21, 2021

HBO's 2020 series "The Outsider" meets the cult classics the 1972 made-for-TV movie/pilot for "The Night Stalker" and the 1958 Steve McQueen debut "The Blob." These science fiction stories are connected by a truth-knower untrusted by the authorities. Those authorities are the "system" designed to protect society from danger and crime. And there is a danger in these tales beyond the ability of the system to protect us. More at ScienceFictionUniversity.com

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Ep 5 How Westworld Went South Mar 25, 2020

(Spoiler Alert, and we swear a little in this episode.) We've watched the first two episodes of Season 3 of HBO's Westworld and are ready to call it a #fail as narrative science fiction. But it provides a perfect example of WHY stories need a hero, a villain, a writer, and a story. More at sciencefictionuniversity.com.

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Ep 4 Neuromancer and 2001: A Space Odyssey Mar 21, 2020

Artificial Intelligences: Driftglass and Blue Gal talk about William Gibson's 1984 novel "Neuromancer," and Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey." SPOILERS as always. Support the show at our Patreon and thanks!

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Ep 3 Special Stranger in a Strange Land and HBO's The Watchmen Dec 31, 2019

Gods Among Us! Driftglass and Blue Gal talk about Valentine Michael Smith in Robert Heinlein's 1961 novel "Stranger in a Strange Land" and Doctor Manhattan in HBO's 2019 series "The Watchmen." Support the show on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/scifiu

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Ep 2 The End of Eternity and Looper Dec 06, 2019

Driftglass and Blue Gal compare and contrast Isaac Asimov's 1955 book "The End of Eternity" with Rian Johnson's 2012 film, "Looper."

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Episode 1: UBIK and Inception Nov 29, 2019

Welcome to Science Fiction University! Our premiere episode concerns Philip K. Dick's 1969 novel UBIK, and Christopher Nolan's 2010 film "Inception." We'd love your feedback at sciencefictionuniversity.com or email the show at sciencefictionuniversity@gmail.com.

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