The Incomparable Mothership

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737: The Bolthole of My Own Self-Referentiality Oct 11, 2024

Show notes

It was the late ’80s and comic writer Grant Morrison was fast becoming Grant Morrison. Come back with us to look at his run on Animal Man, issues 1-26, in which a has-been/never-was superhero becomes an outspoken animal rights activist, witnesses the near-undoing of the Crisis on Infinite Earths, and meets his own maker—who looks strangely like Grant Morrison. Before Deadpool and She-Hulk broke the fourth wall, this was Peak Meta.

Grant Morrison's "Animal Man"

Host Chip Sudderth with Lisa Schmeiser and Tony Sindelar.

Referenced Works

Animal Man

Show Notes & Links

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736: I Have Planets for That Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

Dan Moren’s “The Armageddon Protocol” is now on sale. He joins Jason to discuss how to wrap up a long-running series (while leaving doors open for future adventures), juggling an increasingly complex home life with a two-book contract, the broader publishing options available to fiction writers, and (of course) sandwiches.

Dan Moren's "The Armageddon Protocol"

Host Jason Snell with Dan Moren.

Referenced Works

Galactic Cold War

Show Notes & Links

The Armageddon Protocol

Javan War - John Birmingham and Jason Lambright

Rosemary Kirstein "Steerswoman" series

Penric and Desdemona series

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735: Who Took My Lady? Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

Miyazaki Club returns to discuss 2010’s “The Secret World of Arrietty,” a Studio Ghibli production with a screenplay by Hayao Miyazaki based on a series of children’s books. Why are we so unnerved by the linear storyline and lack of weirdness? Why does Jason have Bay Leaf head canon? And why is surface tension the true star of the show?

"The Secret World of Arrietty"

Host Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, Moisés Chiullán, John Siracusa, and Aleen Simms.

Referenced Works

Hayao Miyazaki

The Secret World of Arrietty

Studio Ghibli

Show Notes & Links

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734: Hang a Lantern on a Lantern Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

“Warner Brothers called and they’re demanding that we do The Matrix IV, with or without you?” So motivated, Lilly Wachowski made a movie that revisits “The Matrix” that’s about revisiting “The Matrix.” Could it be that this 19-years-later sequel… is better than the other sequels?

"The Matrix Resurrections"

Host Jason Snell with Chip Sudderth, Erika Ensign, and Kelly Guimont.

Referenced Works

The Matrix Resurrections

Show Notes & Links

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733: This Could Have Been an Email Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

The Matrix Trilogy ends with “The Matrix Revolutions.” There’s a big fight in Zion, a lot of stuff in the Matrix we didn’t actually remember, everyone becomes Agent Smith, Chip is devoured by thousands of mosquitos, and Kelly resists the bleakness.

"The Matrix Revolutions"

Host Jason Snell with Chip Sudderth, Erika Ensign, Kelly Guimont, and Joe Rosensteel.

Referenced Works

The Matrix Revolutions

Show Notes & Links

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732: Terrible Clothes, Great Parties Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

Whoa. Years later, we’re back in the Matrix as we cover the sequels to the mind-blowing 1999 original. First up is “The Matrix Reloaded,” which features thrills, spills, underground orgies, and long philosophical monologues. How well does it hold up? What surprised us? Were we excited, or terrified, to see Zion and all those mech suits? Take the appropriately colored pill and join us.

"The Matrix Reloaded"

Host Jason Snell with Joe Rosensteel, Erika Ensign, and Chip Sudderth.

Referenced Works

The Matrix Reloaded

[Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

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731: Hate is Good Manure Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

We’ve reconvened Mad Max Club to come up with some word burgers about “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” the 2024 prequel to the iconic 2015 film “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Does the prequel match up to the original (aka the fourth) film in the franchise?

"Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga"

Host Steven Schapansky with Erika Ensign, Kelly Guimont, and Brian Warren.

Referenced Works

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Show Notes & Links

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730: Tight Five on Gibbons Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Our Ape Club returns to cover 2024’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” Yes, it’s apes and humans again, but this is a new era with a lot to consider about how history is distorted to serve present-day politics, the value of saving or destroying past knowledge, and the best way to protect an eagle egg.

"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes"

Host Jason Snell with Annette Wierstra, Brian Warren, David J. Loehr, and John Moltz.

Referenced Works

Planet of the Apes (franchise)

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Show Notes & Links

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729: A Mean Man Made Me Rank Things Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

Our Book Club wraps up its 2024 walk through nine shortlisted SF/F novels with our overall rankings, some short fiction recommendations, and a quick dip into what we’ve read recently and really enjoyed.

2024 Shortlist Book Club: Rankings and Short Fiction

Host Jason Snell with Scott McNulty, Erika Ensign, Aleen Simms, and Heather Berberet.

Show Notes & Links

The Incomparable Book Club Consensus

Translation State by Ann Leckie - 2.0 average rank (2 first-place votes)
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty - 2.6 (2)
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh - 2.8 (1)
The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz - 4.4
Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi - 5.0
Witch King by Martha Wells - 5.6
The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera - 6.8
Starter Villain by John Scalzi - 7.8
The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang - 8.0

Novellas

Seeds of Mercury by Wang Jinkang
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo

Novelettes

The Year Without Sunshine by Naomi Kritzer
On the Fox Roads by Nghi Vo
One Man’s Treasure by Sarah Pinsker
Ivy, Angelica, Bay by C.L. Polk

Short Stories

The Sound of Chldren Screaming by Rachael K. Jones
Better Living Through Algorithms by Naomi Kritzer
How to Raise a Kraken in your Bathtub by P. Djèlí Clark
The Mausoleum’s Children by Aliette De Bodard

What Are We Reading?

Scott:

Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry

Heather:

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

Erika:

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

Aleen:

City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Jason:

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey
The Penric and Desdemona novellas by Lois McMaster Bujold

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728: Golden Age of Quantity Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

We discuss the recently concluded (first?) season of the Star Wars series “The Acolyte.” The show offers a mix of stuff we like about “Star Wars”, but the panel’s split on whether it managed to do a good job executing its ambitious agenda.

"The Acolyte"

Host Jason Snell with Tony Sindelar, Dan Moren, Moisés Chiullán, and Chip Sudderth.

Referenced Works

The Acolyte

Star Wars (franchise)

Show Notes & Links

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.