The Myth of Rugged Individualism
The idea of the “rugged individual” is all over the place in science fiction–especially in the United States. Who is this loner hero, and why are there so many stories…
BBC Radio 4 – In Our Time, The Romantics
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideals, exponents and legacy of Romanticism. In the space of a few years around the start of the nineteenth century the Romantic period gave…
BBC Radio 4 – Short Cuts, Series 20, Mary Oliver
“Tell me, what is it you plan to dowith your one wild and precious life?”- Mary Oliver Josie Long heads out alone into nature to present short documentaries and adventures…
Buried Alive!
Being buried alive was one of the most common phobias of the Victorian era. Fear of premature interment in a coffin inspired the creation of the London Association for the…
Drabbleclassics 29 – Primary Pollinator (191)
This week for Drabbleclassics Bart Epstein brings your Primary Pollinator, by Nicole Kimberling. When Dr. Lopez came for me, I was plunging the geo lab toilet. She carried a red…
The sci-fi of another language
The meaning of science fiction stories are often tough to pin down. Do they depict the future or the present? Are they personal or political? Imaginative or reality-based? Also, is…
Nothing Happened in 1999
this poem makes me think about how every year in the history of the world is a pivotal year and how quickly we forget all the monumental things that happen…
The Keepers – Emily Dickinson’s Hidden Kitchen
Deep in the hidden archives of Harvard’s Houghton Library are the butter stained recipes of Emily Dickinson. Who knew? Emily Dickinson was better known by most as a baker than…
The End Of The World with Josh Clark
This episode of The End of the World podcast had me thinking a lot about a book I just finished, Knocking on Heaven’s Door by Sharman Apt Russell, the boundless…
creativity, the illusion of originality, and when is something really plagiarism
I happened to listen to these two podcast back to back and I think they are actually great companion episodes. They are about creativity, the illusion of originality, and when…