Constellary Tales is a speculative fiction (SF -- science fiction and fantasy) magazine and podcast. The podcast examines SF storytelling on the page and screen and addresses (not too seriously) how SF intersects culture and society. Selected episodes feature interviews with writers and others in the SF world as well as narrated stories from Constellary Tales magazine.
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Brian Hirt Podcasts
Constellary Tales presents an audio production of "Ambassador," cover story of Issue #2. Contents (00:00) Audio production of Michael Adam Robson's "Ambassador" from Constellary Tales Issue #2, narrated by Laura Lippman (21:40) Adam talks with us about fungus-like creatures (some fictional, some that should be) and other behind-the-scenes details o…
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Contents (0:00) SFWA Grand Master Joe Haldeman takes Brian and Ken behind the scenes of his storied career in an exclusive interview. Among other conversation topics… How "I of Newton" went from the page to The Twilight Zone The unusual origins of Hugo Award-winning short story "Tricentennial" Getting The Forever War published (and bootlegging the …
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Contents (00:00) Guest Mark Linsenmayer from the Partially Examined Life podcast helps Brian and Ken push through the philosophical thicket of causality and precrime (and prepunishement) in Philip K. Dick's short story "The Minority Report." (33:12) Mark and Ken square off in a game of trivia about Philip K. Dick movie adaptations Blade Runner and …
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Contents (00:00) Robert Heinlein pushes the trope of recursive progeny to its absurd extremes in the 1959 short story "All You Zombies" (note: not about zombies). Brian and Ken discuss the story and the subsequent 2014 film adaptation Predestination and even kick around a few real world (!) examples. (29:45) Spoiler-free recommendations: Charles Bu…
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Constellary Tales presents an audio production of "Kill Switch," cover story of Issue #1. Then we go behind the scenes in an interview with the story's author Henry Szabranski. Contents (00:00) Audio production of Henry Szabranski's "Kill Switch" from Constellary Tales Issue #1, narrated by Mark Linsenmayer (20:05) Henry answers our pressing questi…
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A smart house outlasts humanity in Ray Bradbury's 1950 short story "There Will Come Soft Rains." Tex describes the annual "experience camp" for authors, Writers in the Field. Contents Author, teacher and Lone Star State original Arianne "Tex" Thompson joins our discussion. (00:00) A smart house outlasts humanity in Ray Bradbury's 1950 short story "…
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Octavia Butler's "Bloodchild" is (among other things) a successful example of a certain kind of pregnancy story. Brian puts Ken to test about films nominated both for the Hugo and the Oscar. Contents (00:00) Octavia Butler's "Bloodchild" is (among other things) a successful example of a certain kind of pregnancy story. Other examples are hit-or-mis…
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Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" turns up in unusual places, plus two film adaptations. Brian quizzes Ken on writing advice from famous authors. Contents (00:00) Submit your stories to Constellary Tales SF Magazine (02:30) Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" turns up in unusual places, plus two film adaptations (34:40) Brian quizzes Ken on writi…
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