The Sci Phi Show talks Rudy Rucker and panpsychism

The Sci Phi Show, has a Rudy Rucker flash fiction story which first appeared in the January 2006 issue of Nature. The tale’s called Panpsychism Proved. Jason, the show’s host, uses the story to talk about the philosophical idea of panpsychism (the idea that the entirety of the universe is “mind”). Have a listen|MP3|, then go on over to The Sci Phi Show forums and post your thoughts – they won’t post themselves …. or will they?

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The Sci Phi Show podcast talks Asimov’s Nightfall

The Sci Phi Show, has podcast that uses the recent 100th episode of Escape Pod and its podcast of Isaac Asimov’s short story Nightfall |MP3| to talk about the philosophies of science and religion. Have a listen to it, then listen to Episode #36: |MP3| (22 minutes 17 seconds) then click on over to The Sci Phi Show forums and post your own thoughts.

Subscribers to the Sci Phi Show’s podcast can use this feed:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheSciPhiShow

LibriVox: Anthem by Ayn Rand

SFFaudio Online Audio

LibriVoxFirst published in 1938, Anthem by philosopher/SF author Ayn Rand is one of the world’s most famous novellas! Anthem depicts a dystopian world that will be familiar to those who’ve read George Orwell’s similiarly-themed 1984 (published a full decade later). Both tales are set far in a future in which “equality” is strictly enforced, and individual thought are banned. In the society of Anthem, even individual names are banned with the protagonist known only as “Equality 7-2521.” His story is written as though it was his forbidden diary. You’ll find the full, fascinating, novella available through LibriVox.org

And here are Virgil Finlay’s illustrations from the June 1953 issue of Famous Fantastic Mysteries:

Anthem by Ayn Rand - Illustrated by Virgil Finlay

Anthem by Ayn Rand - Illustrated by Virgil Finlay

LibriVox - Anthem by Ayn RandAnthem
By Ayn Rand; Read by Chere Theriot
1 Zipped Folder of MP3 Files – 2 Hours 12 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: LibriVox
Completed: May 2nd 2007
“A dystopic SF story taking place at some unspecified future date. Mankind has entered another dark age as a result of what Rand saw as the weaknesses of socialistic thinking and economics. Technological advancement is now carefully planned (when it is allowed to occur, if at all) and the concept of individuality has been eliminated (for example, the word “I” has disappeared from the language). As is common in her work, Rand draws a clear distinction between the “socialist/communal” values of equality and brotherhood and the “productive/capitalist” values of achievement and individuality. The story also parallels Stalinist Russia, which was currently going on at the time as the story was published.”

Sci-Phi Show talks Philosophy of Science with Bill DeSmedt

SFFaudio Online Audio

In what appears likely to be another series of interviews that will make another podiobook someday The Sci Phi Show podcast is following up from its “Philosophy of Science” show from last week by speaking to SFFaudio Essential winning author Bill DeSmedt. Host Jason Rennie talks with Bill about The Vurdalak Conjecture and how it plays a role in his novel, Singularity. Tied into this interview, Jason tells me, you can look for what should be a fascinating interview with physicist Lee Smolin in a couple of days. The two interviews will compliment each other as Smolin is probably going to be talking about The Trouble with Physics, his non-fiction book which is critical of string theory. I love it when a confluence of Science and Science Fiction meets in one podcast. You can download the Bill DeSmedt interview show |MP3| or subscribe to the podcast and get the whole series via this link:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheSciPhiShow