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The Coode Street Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Jonathan Strahan & Gary K. Wolfe
Discussion and digression on science fiction and fantasy with Gary Wolfe and Jonathan Strahan.
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- Yesterday54 min
Episode 734: In which not a lot of sense is made
This week we touch upon some old questions about science fiction, including the notion of the publishing “ghetto” and whether it still exists in the form that SF writers used to complain about, with mainstream bestsellers drawing freely on SF tropes. Then we ask whether writers like Emily St. John Mandel fully buy into their SF premises—which leads to the question of whether a good novel can be bad SF, or a good SF novel can be pretty weak as a novel. In the second segment, we begin looking at some of our favorite books of the year, starting with story collections. This in turn leads to a chat about the value of such collections, and what some of the classic story collections of the past have been.
- 2 weeks ago52 min
Episode 733: Wole Talabi, The Fist of Memory and the Importance of Connectedness
This week, with Gary in Oakland for the 2026 World Fantasy Convention, we’re delighted to welcome Wole Talabi back to Coode Street to discuss his new novel, The Fist of Memory, a fascinating blend of science fiction, African cosmology, political intrigue, and first contact. We talk about bringing African spiritual traditions into conversation with science, and the ways Africanfuturism opens up new possibilities for imagining humanity’s future. We also explore what an encounter with an alien intelligence might reveal about ourselves and our place in the universe, and more. As always, our conversation wanders where it will, but Wole has plenty to say about science fiction, culture, and the possibilities of the form. We hope you enjoy the discussion!
- 4 weeks ago1h 6m
Episode 732: Reading, genre and more
As we move into October and the end of the year begins to come into view, we sit down to talk about whether the SF ghetto still exists, especially after M. John Harrison’s The End of Everything has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and whether SF itself has become thoroughly integrated into the mainstream. We also discuss whether terms like space opera and epic fantasy have meaning beyond their utility in selling books, and just when it's OK to give up on reading a book. We also mention a few novels that we’ve been reading and recommending.
- 4 weeks ago1h 6m
Episode 732: Reading, genre and more (reissue)
As we move into October and the end of the year begins to come into view, we sit down to talk about whether the SF ghetto still exists, especially after M. John Harrison’s The End of Everything has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and whether SF itself has become thoroughly integrated into the mainstream. We also discuss whether terms like space opera and epic fantasy have meaning beyond their utility in selling books, and just when it's OK to give up on reading a book. We also mention a few novels that we’ve been reading and recommending.
- Sep 27, 20261h 9m
Episode 731: Cadwell Turnbull and a change of perspective
Coode Street picks up our recent conversation about short fiction with James Patrick Kelly and Michael Swanwick with Cadwell Turnbull, whose excellent short fiction collection All the Hidden Places is one of the highlights of the year and is out this month. As always, our conversation wanders a little, but we touch upon how he assembled the collection, his experiences in both Clarion and an MFA program, SF and fantasy writing from the Caribbean, formative influences such as Orwell and Le Guin, writing about AI, his own earlier Convergence Trilogy, and writing as part of a group with the Darkly Lem group. Our thanks to Cadwell for making time to take to us. We hope you enjoy the conversation!
- Sep 13, 202658 min
Episode 730: James Patrick Kelly, Michael Swanwick and The Book of Bots
This week’s episode is a wide-ranging discussion of robots and AI in fiction, and particularly in the work of our two distinguished guests: James Patrick Kelly, whose The Book of Bots is just out from Fairwood Press, and Michael Swanwick, whose The Universe Box appeared from Tachyon earlier this year. We talk not only about how each author’s treatment of AI themes has evolved over the years, but how SF in general has dealt with them for more than a century, and what it might have to tell us about our own anxieties and the Awful Warnings that now seem to show up in our inboxes almost daily. As always, Michael and Jim are thoughtful, witty, and engaging. We hope you enjoy the conversation and will join us next time!
- Aug 30, 202659 min
Episode 729: Garth Nix and Massif
It's been far too long since one of our favorite guests, Garth Nix, has visited us on Coode Street, but with the forthcoming publication of his adult science fiction novel, Massif, it’s a great opportunity to catch up with one of the world’s leading fantasists. We talk about the different challenges of writing SF or fantasy, how his own military experience informs some key parts of the novel, and how he came up with an entire mountain range flying off into space, nine foot tall hamster-like aliens whose drumming can be dangerous, and a far-future space crew limited to technologies like typewriters and shotguns. We also touch upon Garth's ongoing work, such as The Left-Handed Booksellers of London series, and, as always, what books and authors he’s been reading.
- Aug 16, 20261h 1m
Episode 728: Alix E. Harrow and The Slantwise Histories
Time certainly flies. Although it has been nearly four years since we last chatted with Alix E. Harrow, she has quickly become one of our very favourite guests. This week we are delighted to welcome her back. Her novel The Everlasting is currently nominated for both the Hugo and World Fantasy awards, and her excellent first collection of short stories, The Slantwise Histories, will be published in October. In a lively discussion, we touch upon reading and writing short fiction as opposed to novels, the myriad ways fairy tales have been used from the Brothers Grimm on, the challenges and rewards of writing novels that differ so dramatically from one another (in Alix’s case, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, The Once and Future Witches, Starling House, and The Everlasting), and navigating the expectations of both readers and publishers. As ever, Alix’s insights are both sharp and delightful.
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About The Coode Street Podcast
Discussion and digression on science fiction and fantasy with Gary Wolfe and Jonathan Strahan.
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