award winners

Binti

Posted on June 15, 2016 Updated on June 15, 2016

Novel Ideas returns with Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, the winner of the Nebula award in the novella category this year. In this episode, we discuss empathy, outsider perspectives, colonialism, and forgiveness. We also talk about the lack of snark, kindergarten level thinking, adult hair touching, and not being a hater.

The music bump is “All is Forgiven” by the Jellyfish, which is thematically appropriate in at least two ways.

106 – Binti – Angry Young Jellyfish at Space Harvard

Our review: Good to very good, a very simply told story. Gabs would like for the story to be more fleshed out, but nothing that is necessary is omitted. No ratings this time because I forgot to get one from Gabs before she disappeared into the wilderness for the month.

Since this is a recent publication, be mindful of our spoiler policy. Short version: we spoil everything.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged adult hair grabbing, alternate history, angry young jellyfish man, averted romance, award nominees, award winners, Binti, climactic courtroom scene, colonialism, communication, cultural context, cycle of violence, discrimination, don't be a hater, empathy, forgiveness as a space saver, Himba people, IN SPACE, Khoush, kindergarten, MATH, middle grade, Nnedi Okorafor, no snark gene, novella, organic tech, otjize, outsider perspective, plucky YA protagonist, prejudice, Queen of Podcasts, sacrifice, simple style, small cast, space professors at space Harvard, technical difficulties, treeing.

Hyperion

Posted on May 21, 2013

This week Novel Ideas discusses Hyperion by Dan Simmons, a far future version of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. This is probably the most “pure” science fiction we’ve read so far, with various story elements not only taking place in a science fiction setting, but requiring a science fiction setting to exist at all. In this episode we’ll discuss imperialism, mystery, pain, and feminism (of course.) We’ll also discuss whether this book has a protagonist (probably not), violence induced boners, surprisingly accurate visions of the internet, and ridiculous applications of Godwin’s Law. This episode also features our less than soundproof studio and the various comings and goings of roommates, angry post-surgical cats, and Ben’s extremely creaky chair that he can’t sit still in. We hope you enjoy!

The music bump is “Mysteries and Mayhem” by Kansas because those are both common subjects in this book, plus I couldn’t quite bring myself to use “We’re Off To See the Wizard,” but Kansas feels like it’s at least close. Should I even try to justify these decisions? It comes off as feeble even to me…

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged abrupt endings, angry cat, award winners, background noise, Chaucer, Dan Simmons, feminism, gender cliches, Godwin's Law, Hyperion, imperialism, JK Rowling is rich y'all, lit nerd, mystery, pain and suffering, pure science fiction, references to mysterious sequel events, religious parallels, shrike, steel trap vaginas, time, universe building, violence induced boners, visions of the internet, where are the women?, zero agent.