Episodes

  • Be Vewwy Quiet, We're Hunting Hugos
    Jun 4 2026

    It's awards season again, so Colin and Phil hunt out this years short story Hugo nominees: the six best stories from the science fiction and fantasy field in the running for the prestigious award from the World Science Fiction Convention.

    We also have a Hugo quiz, courtesy of friend of the show, Emmanuel, and our usual run through of recommendations of past, present and future SF.

    For more information on the things in today's episode, check out the show notes at 101sf.blogspot.com - and while you're there, consider buying us a coffee!

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Scientifiction One Hundred and One (episode 65)
    Apr 29 2026

    We're back. Waaaaaayyyy back, at the birth of science fiction. Or should that be "scientifiction"?

    We're celebrating 100 years of Amazing Stories, which was the world's first ever science fiction magazine. Join us as we romp through the magazine's debut issue from April 1926!

    That historic first issue is online, so please follow along and give it a skim. Find it here: https://archive.org/details/amazing_stories_april_1926/page/n1/mode/1up

    And check out the show notes on our website 101sf.blogspot.com


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    56 mins
  • History Mystery (episode 64)
    Apr 2 2026

    This time we react to a fascinating article from Strange Horizons, which claims that all SF writers are... historians!

    You can read the article here: https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/why-all-science-fiction-and-fantasy-writers-are-historians/

    Related to this topic, we also read a delightful historical SF short story by David Brin, "A Professor at Harvard". Find it here: https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2026/02/a-little-sci-fi-tale-to-boost-your.html

    We also have a fiendish quiz sent in by a listener, and our usual round-up of SF past, present and future.

    For the full shownotes with links to all the items mentioned, visit our blog at 101sf.blogspot.com

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Back to the Futures (episode 63)
    Mar 5 2026

    This time on Science Fiction 101, we take some trips down memory lane to revisit classic time travel movies. We mostly focus on the Back to the Future series, but also a couple of wildcards: Primer (2004, Colin's pick) and Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, Phil's pick).

    We also have a listener quiz, and our usual round-up of recommended SF past, present and future.

    For the full show notes, visit our blog: https://101sf.blogspot.com/2026/03/back-to-futures-episode-63.html

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Asimov's Lore (episode 62)
    Feb 4 2026

    Traditionally on Science Fiction 101, we follow up our "old magazine" review with a review of its modern counterpart - and this year is no exception, as in this episode we cast our eyes over a very recent issue of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, dated Nov/Dec 2025.

    No time for a quiz this time (shock horror!), but it will return in our next episode.

    But we do make time for our usual round-up of what's notable in past, present and future SF.

    For the full shownotes or to leave a comment, visit our blog at 101sf.blogspot.com


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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Gimme That Old-Time Magazine (episode 61)
    Dec 18 2025

    We're back! With our annual trek into the archives to read an old science fiction magazine, to see if and how our field has changed over the decades.

    This time we time-travel to 1982, where we pick up the February 15th 1982 issue of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.

    If you'd like to read along with us, you'll find the entire issue online courtesy of Luminist, here: https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/luminist/SF/ASI/ASI_1982_02.pdf

    For more information on today's show, check out the show notes at https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/12/gimme-that-old-time-magazine-episode-61.html


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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Toynbee Convecting for Beginners (episode 60)
    Oct 24 2025

    Back in episode 57, Colin and Phil recommended books and movies to each other. Now they act on those suggestions, reporting back with their findings. Will Phil appreciate Alan Dean Foster's Prism? Will Colin believe that you can journey to the Far side of the Sun? Join us as we travel by Toynbee Convector*


    *batteries not included


    For more detail on the items covered in today's show, check out the show notes at https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/10/toynbee-convecting-for-beginners.html

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Trivia Travails. Or, It's a Con! (episode 59)
    Sep 24 2025

    Join us for a trivia quiz bonanza! Joining the show today is Colin's co-host-from-another-podcast, Seth Heasley. Seth administers a deadly science fictional quiz! Phil is quaking in his sci-fi Moon boots.

    At the time of recording, Colin and Seth had just returned from this year's World Science Fiction Convention, held in Seattle. So in this episode, they give their behind-the-scenes perspectives of what went on at the con: Colin as a volunteer camera operator and video director, and Seth as a Hugo Award nominee and panel moderator.

    For more information on the items discussed in today's show, check out the shownotes at: https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/09/trivia-travails-or-its-con-episode-59.html

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    1 hr and 12 mins