The Incomparable Mothership

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817: A Found Family of Monsters May 15, 2026

Show notes

Awards Book Club reconvenes for 2026, as we discuss Nebula-nominated novels “Katabasis” by R.F. Kuang, “Wearing the Lion” by John Wiswell, and “Death of the Author” by Nnedi Okorafor. The mood of the panel is… cautious. Also: What else are we reading?

2026 Awards Book Club, Part 1

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

Referenced Works

Katabasis

[Amazon] [Apple]

Death of the Author

[Amazon] [Apple]

Wearing the Lion

[Amazon] [Apple]

Show Notes & Links

Next Awards Book Club: “When We Were Real” by Daryl Gregory, “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones, and “Sour Cherry” by Natalia Theodoridou.

What are we reading?

Paul: The Fall of Egypt and the Rise of Rome by Guy de la Bedoyere
Aleen: The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez
Heather: Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Erika: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Scott: Outlaw Planet by M.R. Carey
Jason: Children of Strife by Adrian Tchaikovsky, In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan, and Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent.

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816: Fascism for Algernon May 08, 2026

Show notes

Put on your eye phones and jack in to the cyberscape! Rocket Surgery comes for 1996’s cyberpunk epic “Lawnmower Man 2.” (Don’t worry if you haven’t seen the original “Lawnmower Man,” half of us didn’t either.) Matt Frewer is Max Headrooming it up! A bunch of urchins populate a rainy L.A. that’s straight out of “Blade Runner,” but, you know—cheaper. There’s a brilliant doctor in charge of virtual-reality research, and also there’s Jennifer! And everything in the future is hackable!

Rocket Surgery: "Lawnmower Man 2"

Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Tony Sindelar, and Annette Wierstra.

Referenced Works

Lawnmower Man 2

Show Notes & Links

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815: I Guess I Gotta Kill All These Klan Guys May 01, 2026

Show notes

Not now, Klansmen, I’m killing vampires! “Sinners” got nominated for all the awards, and it’s also a vampire (with a hint of zombie?) movie. We love it when genre movies get attention, and Ryan Coogler keeps putting out bangers, so we’re all in on the story of magical music opening the door to eldrich horror—oh, and also it’s the deep south in the 1930s so there’s some horrendous racism too!

"Sinners"

Host Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, Brian Hamilton, Monty Ashley, Tony Sindelar, and Steve Lutz.

Referenced Works

Sinners

Show Notes & Links

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814: Demons are People Too Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

A special Book Club panel provides an overview of Lois McMaster Bujold’s excellent Penric & Desdemona series of fantasy novellas (plus one novel). This series gives its characters time to learn, grow, and age. It’s got some perspectives you don’t see very often in fantasy fiction. We love it and think you will, too.

Penric & Desdemona

Host Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Erika Ensign, Kat Benesh, and Dan Moren.

Referenced Works

Penric and Desdemona series

Show Notes & Links

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813: Spiritual Sequel Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

We complete our run through blades with “Blade Runner 2049,” a late sequel in which Ryan Gosling plays a replicant detective searching for an explosive secret that could change everything… and is unsurprisingly tied to characters from “Blade Runner.” We discuss why a replicant might need a holographic girlfriend, Jared Leto’s eyes, and once again, if Deckard is a replicant or not and why that really doesn’t matter.

"Blade Runner 2049"

Host Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Erika Ensign, Dan Moren, and Monty Ashley.

Referenced Works

Blade Runner 2049

Show Notes & Links

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812: Ridley Scott Just Can't Stop Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

No voiceovers! More unicorns! Our journey deep into the futuristic world of 2019 Los Angeles continues with another look at “Blade Runner” — this time, it’s “The Final Cut” edition. Deckard’s identity revealed, sort of? Voiceovers removed! Superfans and sort-of-fans compare, contrast, and discuss.

"Blade Runner" (The Final Cut)

Host Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Antony Johnston, Erika Ensign, and Moisés Chiullán.

Referenced Works

Blade Runner

[Amazon] [Apple]

Show Notes & Links

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811: Have You Considered More Voiceovers? Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

These movie producers really did a job on “Blade Runner.” They don’t advertise for narrations in the newspaper, every good writer knows that. But when you’re trying to sell a narratively dense piece of visual art to 1982 audiences who just want to see a Harrison Ford movie, that’s the sort of compromise you make. All we could do is sit there and watch it play.

Blade Runner (Theatrical Edition)

Host Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Steve Lutz, Kelly Guimont, and Dan Moren.

Referenced Works

Blade Runner

[Amazon] [Apple]

Show Notes & Links

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810: Cheated Out of Glitter Vomit Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

Hit the books and polish up your comm badges, because it’s time to go to school—“Starfleet Academy,” that is. We check in on the first season of Star Trek’s latest (and last, for now?) TV series, and find that despite the YA focus, it’s still just really good “Star Trek” that’s worth your attention.

"Star Trek: Starfleet Academy"

Host Jason Snell with Dan Moren, Erika Ensign, Moisés Chiullán, and Tony Sindelar.

Referenced Works

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Star Trek (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.

809: Triple J on 'Jeopardy!' with Jennings Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

Jason was on “Jeopardy!” Now he breaks the experience down with the help of two former “Jeopardy!” champions, Glenn Fleishman and Dan Moren.

Jason on Jeopardy!

Host Jason Snell with Dan Moren and Glenn Fleishman.

Show Notes & Links

Dan Moren on J-Archive

Glenn Fleishman on J-Archive

Jason Snell on J-Archive

"Jamie Ding Game 5"

The Incomparable #112 (Glenn's Jeopardy journey)

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808: Growing Up Targaryen Mar 14, 2026

Show notes

Have your squire put on your best (and only) set of armor and be sure to re-paint your shield! We’re here to discuss the surprisingly delightful “Game of Thrones” spin-off “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” which features characters to root for, humor, and other things in short supply in other installments of the franchise.

"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"

Host Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Erika Ensign, and John Moltz.

Referenced Works

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

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.