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- In this episode, Rob and Don interview Scottish science fiction writer Gary Gibson about his career, writing Space Opera, and why Science Fiction has become boring. All this, and why Zardoz is a classic film, in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.
- Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt
Things Discussed:
Gary Gibson’s Homepage
Gary’s Amazon Author Page
Robert Heinlein
Marvel UK
Stealing Light
Starship Troopers
New Wave Science Fiction
Angel Stations
Scrivener
Neal Stephenson
Corey Doctorow
Nick Mamatas
Chuck Tingle
Ed Wood’s Orgy of the Dead
Zardoz
Andromeda
Still in the midst of listening but I wanted to point out the differences between American and British (even Canadian) fiction. Emerson and Whitman and others highlighted these differences in their Transcendentalist movement back in the 19th century with the “New Adam” American archetype. It bundles up the rugged individualism and suggests a kind of explorer, pioneer spirit of “can do”. Solar Punk is built out of this movement as it suggests that you leave behind everything you were in the Old World and chart new places with your gumption and your idealism. Star Trek was born of this place as well. In some ways, Biff Straker embraces this with a Canadian flavour. Canadians tend to believe we can only do this together, not on our own.
>Canadians tend to believe we can only do this together, not on our own.
We definitely do; plus, we have a concept of “enough.” That is; the Canadian ideal isn’t to always be searching for the newest, biggest, bestest whatever…. and a lot of our fiction shows this. Characters will quest to a point, but often find a place where they’re content.
I think that’s one reason we’re often portrayed as being a bit rustic and behind the times. In Canada the rat race is a means to an end, as opposed to a lot of industrialized nations where the rat race is presented as an end unto itself.
Don C.