Rocket Talk Podcast - Reactor

In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present an audio edition of “Six Months, Three Days,” an original story by Charlie Jane Anders—and winner of the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Novelette—as read by Emmet Asher-Perrin. Doug and Judy have both had a secret power all their life. Judy can see […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 30: “Six Months, Three Days” by Charlie Jane Anders appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin invites literary agents Lisa Rogers and Sam Morgan to the show to talk about Fox’s new series Gotham. It’s a cop show, but with Batman! The conversation covers the pilot episode, what’s working, what isn’t working, on why super hero shows are becoming more prominent. Sam even explains […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 29: Gotham and the Prominence of Superhero Shows appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin welcomes Nick Mamatas, author and editor, to discuss the newest anthology from Haikasoru: Phantasm Japan. Mamatas holds court on the subject of Japanese publishing, the nature of exported fiction, and how he functions as an editor of Japanese fiction without being able to read Japanese. Mamatas is the […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 28: Nick Mamatas appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin brings on Karen Lord and Tobias Buckell to discuss their most recent works, what they mean when they talk about Caribbean Science Fiction, and the challenge of reading western literature from a different point of view. Justin also manages to squeeze in some talk about how the two […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 27: Karen Lord and Tobias Buckell appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present “The Hanging Game,” an original audio story by Helen Marshall, as read by Emmet Asher-Perrin. Sometimes a game, even a sacred game, can have far-reaching consequences. In bear country young Skye learns just how far she is willing to go to play the […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 26: “The Hanging Game” by Helen Marshall appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin invites author Robert Jackson Bennett on to discuss his article titled “The Genre Fountain,” which posits that an increasing fracturing of genre definitions is a danger to the future of genre fiction. The conversation covers a lot of ground, including weird metaphors comparing genre to mating rituals. They […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 25: Robert Jackson Bennett appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin invites Hugo-nominated blogger Foz Meadows and Hugo-winning blogger Aidan Moher on the show to talk about their experience at Loncon3 and the Hugo Awards ceremony. Their conversation covers the convention itself, the winners and losers of the Hugo Award, the nature of fandom, how fandom is evolving, and […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 24: Foz Meadows and Aidan Moher Recap WorldCon appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin invites authors Kate Elliott and N.K. Jemisin on to the show to talk about reader, writer, and publisher bias. How do our own blind spots influence the choices we make? How does that impact society? How can we do better? Kate Elliott is the author of over twenty […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 23: Kate Elliott and N.K. Jemisin appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present an original audio story by Kij Johnson! The winner of the 2010 Nebula Award for Short Story, “Ponies” is read by Emmet Asher-Perrin. If you want to be friends with The Other Girls, you’re going to have to give something up; this is […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 22: “Ponies” by Kij Johnson appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin invites Lev Grossman to the show to talk about his magical Magicians Trilogy. The trilogy concludes with The Magician’s Land, released earlier this week. Justin peppers Lev with questions about finding himself at the intersection of literary and fantasy readers, and the critical and authorial communities. Lev Grossman […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 21: Lev Grossman appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin brings Kameron Hurley and Liz Bourke on to talk about an enormous range of topics. Ostensibly inspired by Hurley’s soon to be released The Mirror Empire, the discussion also covers the Hugo Awards, blog post writing, bad marketing jargon, and why The Mirror Empire kicks ass. A lot […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 20: Kameron Hurley and Liz Bourke appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin talks New Weird with guest Michael R. Underwood. Underwood is the author of three novels, including the recently released Shield and Crocus, which mashes the New Weird with superhero fiction. The chat covers topics ranging from Planescape, to the origins of New Weird, to a RARE bonus discussion […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 19: Michael R Underwood appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present an original audio story by A.M. Dellamonica! “The Cage” tells the story of a lesbian couple and their adopted baby werewolf, as read by Emmet Asher-Perrin. The short story can be read online for free here. Tor.com is giving away one copy of […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 18: “The Cage” by A.M. Dellamonica appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin is joined by bloggers Natalie Luhrs and Jenny Thurman to hash out the Hugo Award ballot for short stories. For reference purposes, those stories include: If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love by Rachel Swirsky The Ink Readers of Doi Saket by Thomas Olde Heuvelt Selkie Stories Are […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 17: Hugo-Nominated Short Stories appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin is joined by Max Gladstone and Tabitha Jensen. They chat about old school online gaming, the nature of the blogosphere, maps, and representational fiction. Gladstone is the author of three books, including the soon to be released Full Fathom Five. He’s been nominated for the John W. Campbell […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 16: Max Gladstone and Tabitha Jensen appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin Landon invites Joe Abercrombie on at 6 AM to discuss his new book, Half a King. The conversation goes far afield touching the World Cup, onomatopoeia, the First Law Trilogy, and whether or not Justin is creeping out the author with his reread. Abercrombie also tells Justin he […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 15: Joe Abercrombie appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Renay from Lady Business comes on the show to talk about their blogger survey of gender parity in review coverage. Justin and Renay discuss why the survey came to be, how it works, and what kinds of conclusions or questions can be drawn from it. From Lady Business: Project […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 14: Gender Parity in the SFF Community appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present an original audio story by Ruthanna Emrys! “The Litany of Earth” is a post-Lovecraftian story of lost history and found community from an Innsmouth Deep One’s perspective, as read by Emmet Asher-Perrin. The short story, acquired and edited by Carl Engle-Laird, can be […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 13: “The Litany of Earth” by Ruthanna Emrys appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin Landon talks with illustrators Victo Ngai and Jeffrey Alan Love about what it’s like to make a living bleeding art. The discussion ranges from how they got into the business, to how they survive, and why there are more men than women working the field. Rocket Talk, Episode […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 12: Victo Ngai and Jeffrey Alan Love appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin Landon talks with Tor.com Associate Publisher Irene Gallo and Editorial Assistant Carl Engle-Laird on the newly announced Tor.com Imprint! Rocket Talk, Episode 11 (32:00): Listen through your browser here: On a mobile device or want to save the podcast for later? Episode 11: Irene Gallo and Carl Engle-Laird […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 11: Irene Gallo, Carl Engle-Laird, and the Tor.com Imprint appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin Landon interviews Delilah S. Dawson and Brian T. McClellan about a host of things including the type of short Brian is wearing. Other topics include what makes a writing career a success, the impetus behind self publishing short fiction, and attempting to get a handle on some weird […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 10: Delilah S. Dawson and Brian T. McClellan appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present an original audio story by Aaron Corwin! “Brimstone and Marmalade” is a funny, sweet, and slightly skewed short story about getting a demon instead of the pony that you wanted, as read by Emmet Asher-Perrin. The short story, acquired and edited by Liz […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 9: “Brimstone and Marmalade” by Aaron Corwin appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin Landon is joined by Aeons’ Gate trilogy author Sam Sykes for some funny business. Serious funny business.   Rocket Talk, Episode 8 (52:26): Listen through your browser here: On a mobile device or want to save the podcast for later? Episode #8 – Sam Sykes Get Rocket Talk […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 8: Sam Sykes appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin Landon is joined by South African author Sarah Lotz. Her first solo novel published outside South Africa, The Three has already sold in 22 countries nation wide, including television rights. The discussion ranges from the general horror of airplane travel, to the dangers of belief, to America’s Next […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 7: A Conversation with Author Sarah Lotz appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin Landon is joined by Joe Monti, Executive Editor for Simon & Schuster’s new SFF imprint, Saga Press. Justin and Joe talk about what direction the press will go, adjusting to life as an editor vs. an agent, why grimdark isn’t a movement, and the impact of blogs on […] The post Rocket Talk Episode 6: A Discussion with Saga Press Executive Editor Joe Monti appeared first on Reactor.

Tune in for this Very Special Episode of Rocket Talk, in which Tor.com’s Associate Publisher Irene Gallo, Editorial Assistant Carl Engle-Laird, and Hugo-nominated Tor.com columnist Liz Bourke talk with Justin Landon about this weekend’s announcement of the Hugo Awards finalists. Newsiness and reactions abound! Rocket Talk, Episode 5: The Hugo Awards (1:26:03) Listen through your […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 5: The Hugo Awards appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, we take a break to present an original audio story by Mari Ness! “In the Greenwood” is a beautifully told tale of complicated and conflicted love, a look at the folklore of Robin Hood from Marian’s point of view, as read by Emmet Asher-Perrin. The short story, acquired and […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 4: “In the Greenwood” by Mari Ness appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin Landon is joined by Tor.com’s own Stormlight Archive maven Carl Engle-Laird to talk about Brandon Sanderon’s latest release in that series and the larger plan Sanderson has for linking all of his separate worlds. Carl Engle-Laird is an editorial assistant at Tor.com, where he luxuriates in beautiful short […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 3: Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Justin Landon is joined by Anne Perry and Jared Shurin to talk about the science fiction and fantasy literary award scene. The discussion ranges from why awards exist in the first place, to how effective they are at driving readership, to how they impact the discussions that make up […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 2: SFF Awards appeared first on Reactor.

In this episode of Rocket Talk, Brad Beaulieu and Emmet Asher-Perrin join host Justin Landon to talk about The LEGO Movie! Is everything truly awesome in the film, as its theme would suggest? There was no lack of fun had all around, and a lot to talk about. The trio delve into a several aspects […] The post Rocket Talk, Episode 1: The LEGO Movie appeared first on Reactor.