Shaun’s Rambles 009: On the #HugoAwards and #SadPuppies
The Hugos are over, but the controversy isn’t over. In this episode, I talk about the results of the 2015 Hugo Awards and how the Sad Puppies have irreparably harmed whatever good message they had. It’s not an exhaustive discussion, but it’s one I wanted to start while I had time. If you want to learn more about what is going on, here are few useful links: http://media.blubrry.com/shaunsrambles/archive.org/download/ShaunsRambles009OnTheHugoAwardsAndSadPuppies/ShaunsRambles009–OnTheHugoAwardsAndSadPuppies.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
On Brad Torgersen’s Straw Man Left
If I could have a nickel for every time a Sad/Rabid Puppy used a straw man version of the left to defend unethical behavior, I’d probably be a lot less broke than I already am. Alas, straw man arguments don’t come with free nickels. Instead, they come with a headache.
Shaun’s Rambles 008: On Lou Antonelli and Sasquan
In this episode, I talk about Lou Antonelli, his efforts to report David Gerrold to the police, and Sasquan’s response. If you want to learn more about what is going on, here are few useful links: http://media.blubrry.com/shaunsrambles/archive.org/download/ShaunsRambles008OnLouAntonelliAndSasquan/ShaunsRambles008–OnLouAntonelliAndSasquan.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Shaun’s Rambles 007: On Teaching Science Fiction — The Reading List
How do I select what I teach in my science fiction courses? http://media.blubrry.com/shaunsrambles/archive.org/download/ShaunsRambles007OnTeachingScienceFictionTheReadingList/ShaunsRambles007–OnTeachingScienceFiction–TheReadingList.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Shaun’s Rambles 006: Interviewing the Fans — Jukka Halme
What do Moomintrolls, Tolkien, 1978, and reindeer steaks have to do with Jukka Halme? In my third Interviewing the Fans feature, I talk to Jukka Halme about becoming an sf/f fan, the works that influenced him, the changing technological landscape, and Finland. http://media.blubrry.com/shaunsrambles/ia601508.us.archive.org/31/items/ShaunsRambles006InterviewingTheFansJukkeHalme/ShaunsRambles006–InterviewingTheFans–JukkeHalme.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Adventures in Teaching: The Space Opera Syllabus Reading List
As most of you are aware by now, I’m teaching an upper division literature course in fall. The theme: American space opera. A few weeks ago, the department approved my syllabus, so come the end of next month, I will be teaching a whole lot of really interesting works. Here’s what my students will be reading: