Sisters of Sci-Fi

Episode 2 of Earth Crew 2042, an episodic radio play by the Sisters of Sci-Fi podcast that is a light-hearted love letter to 1970s sci-fi.  The members of Earth Crew 2042 encounter a ship run by supercomputer 01000101 and it's impudent humanoid inhabitants. Are they friendly, or is there something else, something... nefarious afoot? Written, Directed, Produced, and Edited by L. Stephanie Tait Starring the voice talents of: 01000101- Julia Manis A13x1s- Dawn Alden Bob/Jane the Narrator- Kimberly Rockwell Brian- Brian Carroll Chandra- Lili Fox-Lim Saliani- Renée Torchio MacDonald Stephanie- L. Stephanie Tait Treya- Michelle Grey Music Credits: Music licensed from Gavin Keese’s original score to the film “Captain Valedor” Additional music “Smooth Love 1976 (Piano) by Yagull Music and "The Space Between Us" by Boris Skalsky   Sound Credits: Sound Effects from Storyblocks and by L. Stephanie Tait Sound Design by L. Stephanie Tait Sound mixing by L. Stephanie Tait   Image credits (everything was made by a human): Poster image, Earth Crew 2042 logo, and animation by Brian Carroll   All copyrights for images, recordings, texts, animations, promotional material, and scripts associated with Earth Crew and Sisters of Sci-Fi belong to L. Stephanie Tait and the Sisters of Sci-Fi podcast.

Trigger and content warning for discussions of genocide, massacres, warfare, murder (including murder of family members) and use of chemical weapons. These are mentioned without graphic details. A short speculative fiction audio story by L. Stephanie Tait. Read by Kimberly Rockwell. King Vusaad sits on his throne, in his empty kingdom, and muses on his feats, glories, and the importance of being king. I started writing this story in 2011 when I heard about the imprisonment and torture of two young men who used graffiti to criticize the Syrian regime. It was this event that started the full scale rebellion against Al-Assad, and his eventual (and ongoing, though forgotten by the Western media) massacre of his own people. With the deepening, vicious attempts to squash criticism of the West's rabid, unrelenting imperialism and involvement in genocides, it seemed like now was the time to release this story in an audio format.  People who will do anything to get into places of power will do whatever they can to maintain it once there. We see that unfolding in real time today with US, UK, German, French, and other Western countries' tax dollars being funneled into multiple genocides, all for profit. Special mention to the UAE's involvement in Sudan and DR Congo. All this is happening while ignoring the cries of their own people. While people are buried under extreme weather and storms and loss due to climate change. Climate change being sped up by the amount of bombs being dropped on refugees in tents and hospitals. This story is about them. All of them. From the beginning to now. Because they would not stop, even if they were the last person alive. They are all King Vusaad.

DISCLAIMER- all parts of this production are fiction, including the advertisements.  Untitled in Saturn's Rings is a narrative "radio-documentary" by L. Stephanie Tait A week before the opening of the MoMA lifetime retrospect of alien artist Barbara Ksstrpr, she and her husband, Doran Ksstrpr agree to a rare interview about their lives and her artistic process. But during the interview, an event changes the course of their lives. Written, Directed, Produced, and Edited by L. Stephanie Tait Starring the voice talents of: Alaister Trundle- Time Winters Alien- Neha Bawa Barbara Ksstrpr- L. Stephanie Tait Doran Ksstrpr- Brian Carroll Interviewer- Cameron Kaufman Ilana Crest- Lili Fox-Lim Sponsor ad announcer- Kimberly Rockwell Music Credits: Calm Echoes Still Heard by Sinsai Jasila Velvet Waves by Humans Win Find Chill LoFi by OKO Cool Dad by Humans Win Lets get to know each other Instrumental by Gushito Ambient Fields by Boris Skalsky Bathing in Light by Maps of Animals Elevation of Mind by Eli Foster Digital LoFi by Loops Lab Sound Credits: Sound Effects from Storyblocks and L. Stephanie Tait Sound Design by L. Stephanie Tait Sound mixing by L. Stephanie Tait and Brian Carroll Image credits (everything was made by a human): "Untitled in Saturn's Rings" acrylic paint, DMC floss by L. Stephanie Tait (yes, she really made it) Poster, Untitled in Saturn's Rings logo, and animation by Brian Carroll   All copyrights for images, recordings, texts, animations, promotional material, story, and scripts associated with Untitled in Saturn's Rings and Sisters of Sci-Fi belong to L. Stephanie Tait and the Sisters of Sci-Fi podcast.  

Earth Crew 2042 is a new episodic radio play by the Sisters of Sci-Fi podcast that is a light-hearted love letter to 1970s sci-fi.  In the year 2042, Earthlings have conquered their solar system. The United Earth government has selected two astronauts to travel deep into the unknowns of our galaxy to expand the realms of humanity. But after slingshotting around Jupiter, a strange vortex appeared, driving them at immeasurable speeds out of the Milky Way and towards our nearest neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy. Now awakened by their super computer A13X1s, they must navigate a new galaxy, while trying to find their way back home. Written, Directed, Produced, and Edited by L. Stephanie Tait Starring the voice talents of: A13x1s- Dawn Alden Brian- Brian Carroll Chandra- Lili Fox-Lim Commander Blerg- Nadia Vazquez Empress- Hiromi Dames Groffney- Gavin Keese Grrthnk- Michelle Grey Hhhhhth- Neha Bawa Queen Ghalitraya- Tiffany Cole Narrator- Kimberly Rockwell Stephanie- L. Stephanie Tait Music Credits: “Music licensed from Gavin Keese’s original score to the film Captain Valedor” Additional music “Fight for the Crystals” and “Friends with Snakes” by Dallas Holloway Sound Credits: Sound Effects from Storyblocks Sound Design by L. Stephanie Tait Sound mixing by L. Stephanie Tait and Brian Carroll Image credits (everything was made by a human): Poster image, Earth Crew 2042 logo, and animation by Brian Carroll All copyrights for images, recordings, texts, animations, promotional material, and scripts associated with Earth Crew and Sisters of Sci-Fi belong to L. Stephanie Tait and the Sisters of Sci-Fi podcast.

L.A. Young generously does a guest-takeover-episode of the podcast to talk about race and oppression in Science Fiction. With her extensive knowledge, she gives suggestions and examples of works by Black Sci-Fi/Speculative Fiction authors that have used the genre to address the issues of racism and social justice within society. The biggest thank you to L.A. for doing this episode and sharing her insights into such an impressive reading list! The complete list of books and stories she mentions in the show notes on the Sisters of Sci-Fi website: www.sistersofscifi.com/ The books and stories on race and oppression she mentions are: Kindred by Octavia Butler Beloved by Toni Morrison The Broken Earth Trilogy (The Fifth Season [Book One], The Obelisk Gate [Book Two], The Stone Sky [Book Three]) by N.K. Jemisin Black Friday by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Specifically her short story "Zimmer Land") Riot Baby by Tochi Onybuchi The Deep by River Soloman The Devil in America by Kai Ashante Wilson (a short story available here: https://www.tor.com/2014/04/02/the-devil-in-america-kai-ashante-wilson/ Binti by Nnedi Okorafor You can follow L.A. here: Website: https://mistyaquavenatus.com/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AquaVenatus Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aquavenatus Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLOH5jwux5Wk3r5K2_z-ezQ?view_as=subscriber Fantasy Faction reviews: Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

Jeanne Cavelos and I talk about her journey from Astrophysicist to Sci-Fi editor, to writer, to creator of the Odyssey Writing Workshop. Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust site (lots of free resources for writers):  https://odysseyworkshop.org/ Jeanne’s site:  http://jeannecavelos.com/ Odyssey Blog:  https://odysseyworkshop.wordpress.com/ Odyssey Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/OdysseyWorkshop Odyssey Twitter Page:  https://twitter.com/OdysseyWorkshop Odyssey Instagram Page:  https://www.instagram.com/odysseyworkshop/ Odyssey Pinterest Page:  https://www.pinterest.com/odysseyworkshop/ Odyssey YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/OdysseyWorkshop The next book we cover will be Love and Gravity, by Samantha Sotto, in a crossover episode with Melissa Haskins of the Paperback Romance Book Club Podcast. It is more than likely available at your local library, and can also be purchased here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/546466/love-and-gravity-by-samantha-sotto/ Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

This episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. NOTE: I did a terrible job pronouncing the lead characters' names- Lifang and Meng. And I hugely apologize for it. Theo Motzenbacker and I cannot say enough good things about Joyce Chng's book Rider, which is the first book in the Rider trilogy. You can purchase copies of the series here: https://awolfstale.wordpress.com/the-rider-trilogy-ya-sf/ The next book we cover will be Love and Gravity, by Samantha Sotto, in a crossover episode with Melissa Haskins of the Paperback Romance Book Club Podcast. It is more than likely available at your local library, and can also be purchased here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/546466/love-and-gravity-by-samantha-sotto/ Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

Dalal Hanna and Andrea Reid, of the organization Riparia, and I talk about their work to educate young women on the importance of freshwater ecology and fisheries, as well as the importance of educating young women through Riparia on how they can make a difference. Instagram: @Dalal_el_Hanna and @AndreaJaneReid and @RipariaExpeditions Twitter: @Dalal_el_Hanna and @andreajanereid Websites: http://bennettlab.weebly.com/dalal.html and http://andreajanereid.com/ Riparia: www.riparia.ca The next book review will be on Joyce Chng’s Rider (Book 1 of the Rider trilogy), which can be purchased here: The Rider Trilogy – YA SF Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

This episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Melissa Selzer and I cover a LOT in this episode- not only do we talk about two of Mary Shelley's works (Frankenstein and Lodore), we also talk about the history of Gothic Literature, our personal experiences with reading Frankenstein when we were younger, who Mary Shelley was, and how different Frankenstein the novel is from the film versions of the story. The next book review will be on Joyce Chng's Rider (Book 1 of the Rider trilogy), which can be purchased here:  https://awolfstale.wordpress.com/the-rider-trilogy-ya-sf/ Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

Dr. Monifa Phillips and I talk about her recent PhD research, and her current career as an electronics and engineering trainee patent attorney. You can find her on twitter at @monifa_monifa And her linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monifa-physicist/ Here is the article about the Anywayup Cup: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jun/08/a-working-life-the-inventor Our next book will actually be two: a comparative study between Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus and her penultimate book, Lodore. Frankenstein can be found online through the Project Gutenberg website: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/84/84-h/84-h.htm Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.  

This episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Melissa Selzer and I both thoroughly enjoyed Devorah Major's short story, Trade Winds. The idea of home and being able to translate that idea to someone with a different context to the word really struck a chord with us. Here is a link to videos of her performing her work: https://www.devorahmajor.com/?page_id=12 Our next book will actually be two: a comparative study between Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus and her penultimate book, Lodore (which I pronounce Lo-door-eh, but may just be Lo-Door). Frankenstein can be found online through the Project Gutenberg website: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/84/84-h/84-h.htm Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

I had the great honor and pleasure of talking with Dawn Sam Alden and Jen Albert about their experiences as both fight coordinators and acting in classic theatre, including their current production of a Klingon adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine through the theatrical company, the School of Night. See the show-notes on our website for photos from the production. You can find Jen Albert on the following social media: Twitter:@thejenalbert Instagram:@thejenalbert Twitter: @SchoolofNightLA Instagram: @SchoolofNight FB: @schoolofnighttheatre Dawn Sam Alden can be followed here: Vicarious Films: http://vicariousfilms.dawnalden.com/  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwo155Z5pECdJYWuLOe3Jfw/videos Our next book review will be a comparative study of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus and her penultimate book, Lodore.  Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.  

This episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Kate Motzenbacker and I cover Claudia Gray's Star Wars: Bloodline. It most likely can be found at your local library, as well as on Amazon and through Penguin Random House's website. We both absolutely adored this book. I personally cannot recommend this book enough.   Our next book will actually be two: a comparative study between Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus and her penultimate book, Lodore (which I pronounce Lo-door-eh, but may just be Lo-Door). Frankenstein can be found online through the Project Gutenberg website: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/84/84-h/84-h.htm

Dr. Linh Anh Cat talks about her work on fungi, using her work in STEM to help inform public policy, her organization, Reclaiming STEM, and writing book reviews for the Book Riot Blog. Twitter: @LinhAnhCat  https://linhanhcat.weebly.com/ Our next book will be Bloodline by Claudia Gray. It may be available at your local library, or it can be purchased on Amazon. Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

Melissa Selzer and I talked about We and Our Own by one of histories most incredible women, Magdalena Mouján Otaño. The poem, of the same name, written by her grandfather, that inspired this short story is here: Zer da Euskera, nor da euskaldunak, Zeiñ, will Nongotarrak say? Galdezka daude atzerritarrak Ontara Begira, mundu gustyan bere berdiñik Ez Duben Euskal will miss. Eziñ ikusi gaituste ondo, irten gautezen argira, iñork mantxarik sortu ez dezan Gure Jatorri Garbira. - Pedro Mari Otaño   Our next book will be Bloodline by Claudia Gray. It may be available at your local library, or it can be purchased on Amazon.   Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

Part two of a crossover with the Amphibian Press Podcast, V.S. Holmes talks about her experiences as a writer, publisher, and archaeologist in the private sector. Part one can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CRdtAH5oxw&feature=youtu.be Website: www.vsholmes.com Publishing site: www.amphibianpressbooks.com Box set pre-order/order: books2read.com/darkhorizons Start reading the archaeological sci-fi series (Starsedge: Nel Bently) for free: https://www.vsholmes.com/explorers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorvsholmes Twitter: https://twitter.com/VS_Holmes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vs_holmes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCthRhMtY9NSLpbCIMNd20tw Our next story will be We and Our Own by Magdalena Moujan Otano. You can find it in the anthology Cosmos Latinos: An Anthology of Science Fiction from Latin America and Spain. It may be available at your local library, or it can be purchased on Amazon. Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

Neha Bawa joins me to talk about "Panopte's Eye" by Tamai Kobayashi. A copy of the story is in So Long Been Dreaming: Post-Colonial Science Fiction and Fantasy. It is more than likely available at your local library, as well as on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/So-Long-Been-Dreaming-Postcolonial/dp/155152158X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=So+Long+Been+Dreaming&qid=1557281170&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Our next story will be We and Our Own by Magdalena Moujan Otano. You can find it in the anthology Cosmos Latinos: An Anthology of Science Fiction from Latin America and Spain. It may be available at your local library, or it can be purchased on Amazon. Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

Dr. Steffi Diem joins us to discuss her fascinating work in Nuclear Fusion. She talks about how she got into the subject area during college, what she's working on now, and the important, positive impact Nuclear Fusion can have on the future of clean/green energy.   A link to the image of the reaction in process: https://www.iter.org/fr/newsline/229/1229 Image of the Pegasus Toroidal Experiment at Princeton can be found in the show notes for this episode on the Sisters of Sci-Fi website.   Our next story will be Panopte's Eye by Tamai Kobayashi. You can find it in the collection So Long Been Dreaming: Post-Colonial Science Fiction and Fantasy. It is more than likely available at your local library, as well as on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/So-Long-Been-Dreaming-Postcolonial/dp/155152158X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=So+Long+Been+Dreaming&qid=1557281170&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

This episode is filled with SPOILERS, since we give specifics throughout our discussion. Dr. Steffi Diem and I both adored the short story Love and Sex Among the Invertebrates by Pat Murphy. It is available on iBooks, Kindle, and in the fantastic collection, Sisters of the Revolution: a Feminist Speculative Fiction Anthology, edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer. It is also available here: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Sex-Among-Invertebrates-Murphy-ebook/dp/B009KZ0ZV0   Our next story will be Panopte's Eye by Tamai Kobayashi. CORRECTION: I say the anthology is called Post-colonial Dreaming, which is incorrect. The actual title is So Long Been Dreaming: Post-Colonial Science Fiction and Fantasy. It is more than likely available at your local library, as well as on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/So-Long-Been-Dreaming-Postcolonial/dp/155152158X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=So+Long+Been+Dreaming&qid=1557281170&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.

Dr. Nyssa Silbiger talks about her work in Marine Biology and how climate change affects marine ecosystems. She also brings up the important, and often overlooked, element of how climate change is a social justice issue, and that changes happening in one part of the globe wind up affecting ecosystems in entirely different areas. Website: https://nyssasilbiger.com/ Twitter: @NSilbiger Our next story will be Love and Sex Among the Invertebrates by Pat Murphy. It is available on iBooks, Kindle, and in the fantastic collection, Sisters of the Revolution: a Feminist Speculative Fiction Anthology, edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer. It is also available here: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Sex-Among-Invertebrates-Murphy-ebook/dp/B009KZ0ZV0 Sisters of Sci-Fi is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and through the RSS Feed.