Military Science Fiction and The Cold War

Military Science Fiction and The Cold War

Author: Fact & Science Fiction February 11, 2018 Duration: 21:19
This episode I discuss military science fiction as subgenre of sci-fi and how it may have influenced the discourse around the military from the Cold War to today. I talk about Cold War themes in Starship Troopers and Ender's Game, and discuss the Citizens Advisory Council, a group of science fiction authors who undermined the U.S.'s policy of mutually assured destruction. This episode was brought to you by Audible, with over 180,000 audiobooks and you can try two with a free monthly trial. Download your free audiobook today here. The podcast will have a live show at ClexaCon, a fandom convention for LGBTQ women and allies inspired by Lexa from The 100. Follow the pod on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @factandscifi. Review F&SF on Apple Podcasts and check out the transcript for this episode on the blog. Research for this episode came from Rachel Maddow’s Drift, Chad Andrew’s article “Technomilitary fantasy in the 1980s: military sf, David Drake, and the discourse of instrumentality”, Sean Kalic's 'U.S. Presidents and the Militarization of Space, between the years 1946-1967,' and Wondery’s American History Tellers, Comfortable Mystery 2 - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license

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Ever wonder how close your favorite sci-fi movie or show gets to the actual facts? Fact and Science Fiction picks apart those iconic themes-like time dilation, artificial intelligence, or cloning-to separate cinematic spectacle from scientific possibility. Each episode focuses on one or two recurring ideas from the genre, unpacking how they’re portrayed on screen before exploring what current research and real-world physics actually say. It’s for anyone who’s left a theater or finished a binge-watch with more questions than answers, curious about the genuine principles behind the fiction. You’ll hear clear explanations about topics ranging from genetics and quantum mechanics to the realities of interstellar travel, all grounded in credible science but discussed without unnecessary jargon. The aim is to enrich your viewing experience, giving you a deeper appreciation for both the creativity of storytellers and the wonders of the natural world they often draw from. Tune in to satisfy that curiosity, discovering where our most imaginative films and TV series intersect with the truths of biology, astronomy, and technology. This podcast turns every sci-fi trope into a starting point for a fascinating investigation into reality.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 35

Fact and Science Fiction
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