Episode 594: Hope, Ice, and Non-Human Intelligence

This week's episode is a very real-life-heavy one, with winter storms, family travel chaos, sick kids, and a surprising amount of ice setting the tone. From a memorable Nashville trip and pop culture check-ins to a passionate Star Trek defense and thoughtful sci-fi discussion, we settle in for a conversational episode that leans into where everyone's headspace actually is this week.

REAL LIFE 

Devon braved a winter storm while hosting family, with Nashville serving as the central meetup point. The group stayed in a four-story Airbnb packed with fun things to do, except for the roof, which was completely covered in ice. There was ice everywhere. This led to discussions about boil notices, what they actually mean, and whether a boil notice might have contributed to a house full of sick kids. Despite the chaos, Devon highlights the Grand Ole Opry and the Gaylord Resort, noting that it would be awesome to visit the resort someday without kids.

Steven revisits Cowboy Bebop, comparing the anime to the Netflix live-action adaptation and confirming once again that the live-action version was a huge miss. On the positive side, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has been a solid and enjoyable watch.

Ben declares that Starfleet Academy episode 1x04 is peak Star Trek and insists that listeners should watch episode four and only episode four if nothing else. He recaps the episode, focusing on Federation and Klingon ethics around survival and why this episode delivers exactly what he wants from Star Trek. This Facebook post sparked part of the discussion:
https://www.facebook.com/28601265/posts/pfbid02D298Wi45gN3cZd8S4GMS7ypkdj7ja5zsHSQKwahiZ2eVQzyV7sApm6Fu46Z8X9fFl/?app=fbl

Ben also continues praising the Star Trek comic The Last Starship, describing it as noir, heartbreaking, and packed with big ideas, including Earth seceding from the Federation, a clone of Kirk, and a Borg Queen engineer.

FUTURE OR NOW

None this week. Too much real life. Too much talky talky.

BOOK CLUB 

This week's story:
The Song of a Non-Human Intelligence
By Mical Garcia (Jan 12, 2026)
https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/fiction/the-song-of-a-non-human-intelligence/

The story explores communication between cetacean intelligences and the concept of hope, defined as waiting until home feels safe again. Ben and Devon both enjoyed the story, with Devon wanting more. Steven found it a bit dry but still appreciated the world-building.

Devon also discusses Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky, connecting its themes to the episode's discussion of non-human intelligence.

Next week's story:
The Orchard Village Catalog
By Parker Peevyhouse

https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/fiction/the-orchard-village-catalog/ 

Steven recommends this video by Joe Scott:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1FMViCd6I4 

Thanks for listening, and be sure to check out the links in the show notes for this week's stories and videos—we'll be back next episode with a new book club read and, hopefully, a little less ice.