In between books, we've decided to take a moment and talk about one of our favorite episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "The Measure of a Man." Given all the conversations we have had about Asimovian robots and the question of robotic personhood, this episode of Star Trek is a great conversation piece to further examine those questions, with our beloved Data's future and agency on the line. Enjoy this episode, which also starts off with an important announcement.

The conclusion to Foundation is a mixed bag for us. It is stronger than the previous part of the book, and yet it still feels a little removed from the flow and pacing that characterizes the book's first half. On this episode we talk about Part 5, "The Merchant Princes." We discuss the way in which the Foundation has changed since the days of Salvor Hardin, the application of the mystery genre to this reading selection, and some guesses as to where Asimov's narrative universe is heading from here.----more----

P.S. Apologies in advance for the audio issues that were encountered in this recording. At least it's an uncommon occurrence.

While the Foundation is put on the map by bigshots like Salvor Hardin, it wouldn't get far without the efforts of the everyday Joes. In this case, that means the traders, who venture out beyond Foundation territory and introduce advanced technology, as a gateway to expanding the Foundation's sphere of influence.

On this episode we discuss Part 4 of Foundation, "The Traders". We talk about money and trade as a source of power, as well as the way that seemingly everyone, at some point or another, resorts to a bending of the rules in order to get what they want.

On this episode, we discuss Part 3 of Foundation, "The Mayors". The story of Salvor Hardin reaches its climactic moment, as he manipulates the societal forces of the four kingdoms, and ensures that Anacreon will never again constitute a threat to the Foundation. We discuss religion as a source of societal power, how well that concept is handled in the book, and contemporary ways in which such power is used.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. As the Foundation faces its first major crisis, a power struggle will break out between those who are dedicated to the Encyclopedia, and a man who knows that it is time for the Foundation to grow up. But in his desire to lead the people of Terminus, how far will he go to achieve his goals? And how far is too far? Today, we talk about Part 2 of Foundation, "The Encyclopedists."

When you think Isaac Asimov, what book comes to mind most readily? For many, that would be Foundation. On this episode we begin our analysis of what has been considered one of THE quintessential science fiction novels, and has been an inspiration to countless readers and sci-fi creators. We talk about about Book 1, "The Psychohistorians," and we discuss the concept of Galactic Empire, the extent to which Psychohistory is realistic (or hopelessly doomed to fail), and how we respond to figures of authority and expertise when our interests are on the line.----more----

Also, we briefly discuss Cliodynamics and the far-out (or are they???) theories of Peter Turchin. Here is a link to an article from Nov 2020 (around when we recorded this episode) that talks about Turchin and his predictions of societal collapse:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/12/can-history-predict-future/616993/

Can a podcast about Asimov's sci-fi swing a Christmas episode? You bet it can! We talk about Asimov's early story "Christmas on Ganymede," a corny, short and sweet Christmas misadventure. Based on the themes of the story, we talk about how Christmas can turn from a joy into a source of exhaustion, as well as how we handle the idea of Santa Claus with our kids. Also, stay tuned for a special announcement during this episode. AND WARNING: Do you listen to Galaxy! with your kids? And do your kids believe in Santa Clause? If so, you may want to give this a listen before they do.

Today we finish off our discussion of Pebble in the Sky. Asimov's first published volume of the Galactic Empire Trilogy offers a fascinating story of time unexpected time travel, and deals with themes like how we make big life transitions, and how we overcome prejudices and assumptions about others. In this episode, we talk particularly about how truly making a new place ones home involves developing a sense of responsibility, ownership, and care for that place. We also investigate the romance aspect of the book between the characters of Bel and Pola, and discuss its implications for how Asimov develops and uses his characters.