Hosts In The Shell

Is this the least cyberpunk thing we've ever covered? Probably! Does it feature a loveable robot who inarguably embodies the true spirit of badass punk?? Possibly!! Is there one incredibly problematic aspect to these movies that the lads had completely forgotten about when they decided to talk about them??? Very much so!!!

The baddies are always the best characters... but which of cyberpunk's rogues' gallery deserve the title of all-time greatest? Tune in to hear the lads joined by brilliant writer Tim Standish, author of The Sterling Directive, as they attempt to answer this very question...Where to find more about Tim:Website: https://timstandish.co.uk/who-is-tim-standish/Twitter: @TimStandishUK

In today's episode, Matt and Jon are chatting about Harlan Ellison's massively influential 1967 short story, as well as its 1995 video game adaptation! In a typically rambling chat, they're also debating the most evil AI of all time, as well as the art of the perfect movie trailer...

Today's topic is another gem of a cyberpunk movie, Neill Blomkamp's Elysium, and today's guest is a gem of a cyberpunk writer, the prolific Phil Stitelmann! Tune in for a fascinating chat with a top creator, as well as Jon attempting a South African accent so bad that it may constitute a war crime.Phil's debut novella and other upcoming books and articles can be hunted down at the following co-ordinates...Website: https://digital-gods-and-fallen-angels.com/Patreon: patreon.com/c/PhilStitelmann/homeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PhilStitelmannInstagram: @phil_stitelmannBlog: https://medium.com/@Phil-Stitelmann

If the lads had been able to think of a suitable pun, this podcast probably would have been named after Alien instead of Ghost In The Shell; that's how much they love this enduring, legendary, and admittedly patchy franchise. So it was with some trepidation that they ventured into Noah Hawley's TV show... tune in to find out what they made of it, and which character/eyeball stole the show!!(Podmetheus? You Have My Sympodthies? Weyland You-hear-me?)

Our first guest of the new season is the brilliant, talented, likeable, articulate and all-round ace SD Miller; alongside his excellent Nekonikon Punk novels, we'll be discussing a cyberpunk gem of a video game: Watch Dogs: Legion!We're trying to be a bit better about including our guests' contact deets, so here's where to find out more about SD Miller's great books:Website: https://www.sdmiller.ca/Substack/Newsletter: https://www.thistoo.ca/Instagram: @nekonikonpunk

WE'RE BACK BAYBEHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Season 3 of Hosts In The Shell kicks off in style with our customary discussion of something related to Ghost In The Shell, this time the spin-off anime series Standalone Complex. Tune in for an amusing and ever-so-slightly informative chat about the subject matter, a load of random tangents, and some EXCITING updates about forthcoming guests... including the creator of our brand new theme tune and inventor of the word 'cyberpunk' in his seminal 1983 short story, the staggeringly talented Bruce Bethke!!

The boys are BACK BAYBEHHHHH!!!!! Season 3 is incoming and promises more frequent episodes, the usual scintillating chat, some guests we're frankly staggered we managed to trick into appearing, and this rubbish trailer!!! Looking forward to wagging our cyber-chins with you in the coming weeks  :-)  :-)  :-)

Season two of Hosts In The Shell lurches, careens and, erm, clatters to the end of another rollercoaster run! It's just Matt and Jon to close it out, revisiting their main inspiration and beloved anime franchise to revisit and (sort of) reappraise the 2017 live action version... listen as they figure out what went wrong with the movie, gush about our lovely guests and audience, and fantasise about a cyber-resurgence for the UK...

As we hurtle like a malfunctioning hovercab towards our season finale, we thought it would be fun to dust off this 2021 recording: the first time Jon and Matt ever met! It was a guest appearance by Matt on Jon's other podcast, Dark Natter (where dark fiction gets dissected), but unsurprisingly Matt picked a cyberpunk topic - it's almost like this show was their inescapable destiny...

Those scoundrelly Hosts are joined by the far more wholesome, lovely, and massively talented cyber-graphic-novel-creator, Gustaffo Vargas, for a brilliant deep dive into the world of Peruvian cyberpunk! Tune in to find out how to modernise an ancient culture, Jon's favourite Studio Ghibli moment, and why Matt is changing his name to Adquot...

For those who haven't yet been introduced to this (ahem) masterpiece, Nemesis is the 1992 brainchild of legendary cyber-B-movie director Albert Pyun, and after you've watched it you'll be as incredulous as Jon that it spawned four sequels!! Tune in to find out what Jon and Matt made of this inexplicably endearing cyberpunk action (ahem) extravaganza...

Despite covering The Matrix Resurrections way back at the start of this podcast's existence (before the cyberpsychosis had really kicked in), the Hosts have unbelievably never covered the original Matrix trilogy! Thankfully, brilliant multi-genre writer Keith Anthony Baird was on hand to join us to remedy that shocking state of affairs, resulting in a belter of an episode that aims to once and for all answer the question: why were the Matrix sequels so much worse than the original masterpiece??

After years of podcasting, chatting and general cyber-film-buffery, it's unbelievable that the lads have only just realised they both absolutely love Kazuaki Kiriya's underrated (and bonkers) gem of a movie! Get yourselves suited up for a nice relaxing dip in a pool of body parts and Neo Cells...

It's about time we covered this modern classic novel and its TV adaptation, and we're delighted to be joined by multi-award-winning cyberpunk writer T R Napper to do it! Join us for another wide-ranging chat that veers into Aliens and Bishop's knife trick (not the Fall Out Boy song...)

Despite an all-star cast, the viewing public weren't enamoured with Kathryn Bigelow's millennium-paranoia-fuelled, disturbing-tech-exploring 1995 thriller... 30 years later, tune in to find out if the lads enjoyed the original SQUID game!

The Hosts are delighted to be joined by thriller writer extraordinaire, Don Hartshorn, to talk about Luc Besson's beloved and bonkers 1997 science fiction spectacular! Expect crazy costumes and deranged hairstyles, and that's before we even get to the movie...

Sometimes things go under your radar despite being really really really cyberpunky. That was definitely the case for Jon with today's topic, a 2019 movie co-written by James Cameron... Matt had already seen it, obvs.

It's been a LONG wait for decent Terminator output, but Netflix's 2024 anime series about a Skynet rival has been a hit with many fans of the ailing franchise - including brilliant cyberpunk writer James L Graetz, who joins us to talk about the show, his work, and the imminent apocalypse!

That's right, it's a merry cyber-Christmas once again, which can only mean one thing: time for a particularly daft episode that we wouldn't normally get away with! To celebrate Yuletide the Hosts welcome ChatGPT (aka Steve) to the show where they ask it hard-hitting questions like whether it's immoral for writers to use AI... and which reindeer would win in a fight.

Matt and Jon discuss Westworld, both the 1973 sci-fi horror western and the more recent TV series/Ed Harris cool-em-up! Find out why the Hosts loved the movie and the early seasons of the show, and why they think the later seasons ended up shambling around in the desert with memory loss...

Jon and Matt are joined by Larry Kuperman, Director of Business Development at the brilliant Nightdive Studios, to discuss how their remakes and remasters play a crucial role in video game preservation. His account of the trials and tribulations of remaking System Shock are fascinating, his sci-fi reading recommendations are eclectic, and his anecdotes are hilarious - a must-listen!

Those cybernetically augmented oddballs are back, and this time they're honoured to be joined by fantastic and award-winning science fiction writer Gareth L Powell! Gareth talks about his work, his new publishing imprint, and influences including William Gibson's Burning Chrome collection and uniquely weird short story The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith.

Jon and Matt gush about one of their all-time favourite writers, including his many novels about the utopian Culture, erm, culture, as well as his other standalone books, into each of which Iain M Banks packed more ideas than most writers manage in an entire career - a legendary literary figure to whom the lads try to do justice in their usual rambling style!

What's our boggle? We'll tell you! Today, the Hosts are joined in this episode by Matthew A Goodwin, award-winning cyberpunk and science fiction writer, to discuss one of the greatest (and most underrated?) action blockbusters of the nineties: Demolition Man!! Tune in and be well... but watch out for the occasional violation of the verbal morality statute.

In their latest game of 'is it really cyberpunk though?', the Hosts are treating themselves to a fun and nostalgic chat about beloved space-slob comedy series, Red Dwarf! Tune in for random recollections of classic episodes, and some questionable impersonations...

One of the show's running gags is how many famed works of fiction co-Host Jon hasn't actually seen... for today's episode, featuring brilliant writer and Killtopia creator Dave Cook, co-Host Matt stapled Jon's eyeballs open and forced him to watch the entire Cowboy Bebop movie! Find out what Jon made of his first ever experience of this beloved anime, and how it influenced Dave's stellar work.

The boys test the definition of cyberpunk once again, but who'd begrudge them a chance to enthuse about one of their all-time favourite gaming franchises, as well as the planet-obliteratingly successful Amazon Prime series?? Tune in to listen to the third instalment of the Hosts' new series, which is really starting with a bang... and hear Jon's disturbing confession about a certain Grandma Sparkle.

A little bonus episode for you in the form of co-Host Jon reading an excerpt from his latest novel, Scarred. As a fantasy epic, it isn't strictly cyberpunk... or is it??If this floats your boat (or hovercar, or rickety grafted-together spacecraft), find out more about the book by searching for Scarred online (it's available from all good online retailers), or learn about Jon's other books and projects by exploring his sinister website at www.jon-richter.com.

The Hosts are back, and this time they're... hosting! Specifically Tim Standish, a returning guest from season one and a brilliant writer of (Edwardian) cyberpunk. Tim last featured in our episode discussing the works of William Gibson, so who better to lead a deep dive into his novel The Peripheral, as well as the short-lived but gripping Amazon Prime adaptation?? Set your eardrum augments to 'gorge' mode!!

The boys are back!!! Season 2 kicks off with your favourite high-tech lowlifes discussing Netflix's brilliant anime adaptation of Naoki Urasawa and Takahashi Nagasaki's manga series, Pluto. Find out why Jon was reduced to tears (and no, it wasn't just because of Matt rinsing him out for never having seen Cowboy Bebop)...

We're still recharging our graphene cobalt lithium mecha-batteries between seasons, but wanted to bring you a fun little episode recorded live and in person for the first time! Matt and Jon meet to drink beers and shoot the cyber-shit about ChatGPT and other (dark) matters, and also to plug the Cyberpunk Dystopia Bundle from Fanatical in which Matt's ace novel Complete Darkness is featured (as well as great books by some other Hosts In The Shell alumni!)Link to Cyberpunk Dystopia Bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/cyberpunk-dystopia-novels-collective-bundleLink to Jon's new book, Dark Fiction: https://www.jon-richter.com/dark-fiction

Okay, so it isn't strictly cyberpunk (although a couple of the tales definitely count!) but co-Host Jon hopes you don't mind him sharing the audio trailer for his new short horror fiction collection, DARK FICTION.This huge anthology features a batch of fresh and harrowing tales alongside some of Jon's best ever work, brought to life by illustrations by the brilliant David T Wilby. Perfect for anyone who likes short, creepy, haunting stories with unpredictable and unsettling twist endings, DARK FICTION explores subjects as wide-ranging as time travel, abominable snowmen, and what happens when Alexa becomes sentient...DARK FICTION is released on 9th June 2023 in paperback, hardback or ebook, and is available now for pre-order:UK: https://amzn.to/3LUVsYMUS: https://amzn.to/42VG7xNCover design by the awesome RoseWolf Design.Trailer features the track 'Anxiety' by the phenomenal Kevin MacLeod.

Wait, what?? I thought the Hosts were on hiatus... we are, but we've been thawed out and dragged from our stasis tanks for a special bit of promo for the recently-released third volume of the Neo Cyberpunk collection!We're both extremely proud to be featured in this ace cyberpunk anthology and hope you don't mind us hijacking the feed to promote it, and are delighted to be joined by Hosts In The Shell alumni (and featured writers) Nik Whittaker and Anna Mocikat to discuss their contributions as well as the collection more generally... including the foreword written by Bruce Bethke, the man who first coined the term 'cyberpunk' and  inventor of the genre!Get your retractable metal claws on copies here:UK: https://amzn.to/3JXNoajUS: https://amzn.to/3KeOcb9

Well there you have it! After a fantastic year, the Hosts are off on holiday (Matt's heading to Neo Tokyo while Jon fancied a trip to Delta City), leaving you with a long-awaited episode about CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077... find out which of the Hosts loved it and which didn't, and hear about our encounters with Adam Smasher and a certain talkative gun...Thanks once again to everyone that has listened or contributed to the show over the past 27 episodes, and wishing you the very best for 2023!!

It's the penultimate episode of the Hosts' first series, so we thought we'd try something a bit different; for the first time we're welcoming TWO guests (a returning - and still ace - Jim Keen, alongside the equally brilliant cyberpunk writer Luke Hancock) to talk about Judge Dredd, each representing one of the two movie versions! Listen as the two very different cinematic incarnations are JUDGED and SENTENCED... but will Carl Urban's chin reign supreme, or will the honours go to Stallone's golden Versace codpiece??

You've all been very good children this year, so cyber-Santa has a special treat for you: the Hosts are having a crack at a shambolic award ceremony!! A crew of returning guests share their well wishes and their votes for best cyberpunk release of 2022 - tune in to find out who will win the coveted (ahem) award, and whether Jon has actually seen any of them...Featuring ace augmented humans:Mark Everglade (who also created the brilliant theme music!!)Patrick TillettTim StandishBrent MillisNik WhittakerAnna MocikatCraig Lea GordonDumptruck_DSRachel BeckCoinOps, Scum and ShadowLink from the L0wL1f3 podcastJim KeenFrasier Armitage(And Matt and Jon obvs)

After months of pathetic excuses for not playing Cyberpunk 2077 yet, Jon has been forced at mantis-blade-point by Matt to whet his appetite with Studio Trigger's 2022 spinoff anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Spoiler alert: it's good!!

It's a bit late for Halloween, but that didn't stop the boys getting dark and disturbing in this episode about CYBERPUNK BODY HORROR!! Brilliant writer, Japanophile, livewire and cyberpunk encyclopedia Brent Millis joins the show to discuss classics like Tetsuo: The Iron Man and various other media where people get unwanted bits grafted on... 

Break out the cyber-champagne and the, errr, nanotech party poppers, because it's time for the CYBERPUNK DAY festivities to commence!!! In honour of 2022's celebration of all things cyberpunk, the Hosts thought they'd take the opportunity to self-indulgently interview each other about their favourite works that haven't made it onto the podcast so far - comedy, controversy and creativity awaits!!

It's yet another adaptation of a Philip K Dick masterwork, this time (The) Minority Report, which was blockbusterized in 2002 and is beloved by many, including brilliant and extremely likeable cyberpunk writer Frasier Armitage! Tune in to hear us to chat to him about this Spielberg/Cruise heavy-hitter, and help us prove the system is infallible...

Jon's stretching the definition of cyberpunk to breaking point, but it's all for a good reason, because in this episode the Hosts get to talk about one of the greatest and most influential first-person shooters of all time with one of the greatest and most influential YouTubers and modders in the Quake community! The brilliant Dumptruck_DS talks about how Id Software's masterpiece is still going strong over 25 years after its release, despite arguably being a shambolic tech demo... and what could be more cyberpunk than that??

It had to happen... the Hosts finally tackle arguably the biggest cyberpunk work of all time, Neuromancer, along with its genre-defining creator whose shadow looms terrifyingly large across a Matrix of his making!! Thankfully their prayers to the cyber-gods were answered and a brilliant writer, William Gibson expert and all-round top bloke was beamed in to join them, in the shape of Tim Standish.

After a chance encounter at a recent comic book event, the Hosts are delighted to welcome multi-talented musical genius Kavus Torabi to the show, who was kind enough to take time out of his massively busy schedule (where he fronts or performs in at least 87 different bands including Gong, Knifeworld and recent Glastonbury debutants The Utopia Strong) to discuss his influences, favourite comics, psychedelic synthwave soundtracks, making music with a snooker legend, and more!

This week the boys are joined by disturbingly brilliant horror writer and Schwarzenegger super-fan Zoe-Lee O'Farrell to discuss the terrifying sci-fi/horror mash-up that is the original Terminator... and to attempt to rank it alongside the rest of the franchise's movie instalments! Tune in to find out which of the more recent sequels was banished to the hydraulic crusher... 

Imagine if Doctor Frankenstein had had access to cyberpunk technology... the sinister monstrosity he created would have been about 10% as shambolic and disturbing as this very special mash-up episode!! We had a brilliant time chatting to the fantastic crew of the L0wl1f3 podcast about Avalon, Mamoru Oshii's underappreciated 2001 live-action cyberpunk movie.

The Hosts are joined this time by phenomenally talented writer, oracle of cyberpunk knowledge and utterly lovely fella, Nik Whittaker, to discuss one of Kurt Russell's most memorable performances as the grizzled, eye-patch wearing anti-hero, Snake Plissken! Listen as all hell breaks loose when Jon suggests that John Carpenter's masterpiece Escape From New York might not count as cyberpunk, and relax as calm is restored when the panel unanimously agree that the sequel is rubbish.

What kind of self-respecting cyberpunk podcast waits until its 14th episode to cover Blade Runner!?? Erm, this one, it would seem... the Hosts finally tackle this genre stalwart (as well as its sequel and spinoffs) with special guest and brilliant writer Craig Lea Gordon - see if you can guess which of us failed the Voight-Kampff test!

Matt and Jon are joined by the razor-sharp mind of Rachel E Beck to discuss her brilliant books, the Glitch Logs, as well as the crossover of the cyberpunk and superhero genres as embodied in the animated series Batman Beyond! Encompassing systems theory, the horrors of the class divide in education, and the Joker shooting a bloke dead with a comedy gun, this is possibly our most wide-ranging episode yet!!

In this episode, the Hosts' excitement is at fever pitch as they welcome legendary comic book and graphic novel artist and writer, Bryan Talbot!! Creator of Luther Arkwright, Bryan is discussing the brand new volume of the hero's adventures, as well as his other award-winning works including Alice in Sunderland and Grandville, and exploring the multiverse decades before Marvel did...