Science Fiction

Science Fiction

Author: Damien Walter Language: English Episodes: 91
Damien Walter has spent years thinking about how the future shapes our present, and in his Science Fiction podcast, he shares those conversations. Rather than just reviewing books or films, this series digs into the ideas that make the genre so vital, using it as a unique lens to examine everything from current technology and social change to ancient myths and human psychology. Each episode feels like a thoughtful discussion with a well-read friend, one who can draw a line from classic novels to the latest TV series with ease. You’ll hear analysis of stories that predicted our world, explorations of how fictional futures reflect our deepest anxieties and hopes, and considerations of why certain narratives endure. Walter’s background as a writer and storyteller informs a approach that is both accessible and deeply insightful, making connections across the arts, science, and popular culture. This isn't about escapism; it's about using the imaginative tools of science fiction to better understand the reality we're all living in. For anyone who finds themselves wondering about the world that's coming next, this podcast offers a compelling and regular dose of perspective.
Episodes
What is Solarpunk? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:32
Solarpunk is the newest genre of science fiction, a joyous and optimistic vision of a future where humans and our technology live in balance with nature. Solarpunk is an artistic, cultural and political movement that enc…
The prophetic visions of Philip K Dick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:03
We are living in strange times. Politics. Society. Culture wars. Things have gone weird. We're looking for knowledge and wisdom to guide us in strange times. I can think of no better guide to the year 2022 than Philip K…
The best Scifi & Fantasy of the 21st century (Part 1 of 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:16
We are 21 years into the 21st century. What better time to look at the century we are living in...the century of science fiction. A special double episode of the Science Fiction podcast. Part 1 of 2. 00:00 The science fi…
The Matrix and the archetypes of Carl Jung [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:25
There's a question about The Matrix I've been asking myself since the franchise established itself in the collective unconscious of humanity back in the early 00s. What is Sigmund Freud doing in these movies? 00:00 What'…
Kim Stanley Robinson | Interstellar travel is a religious fantasy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:19
Science fiction is fighting a doctrinal war. Between those who believe that humankind's future is still the stars, and those - like Kim Stanley Robinson - who believe interstellar travel is a fantasy of religious belief.…
The most powerful scene in scifi cinema Blade Runner’s Tears in Rain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:11
Rick Deckard is a Replicant. And Rick Deckard is also not the hero of Blade Runner...but is the villain. But the obvious questions about Blade Runner are also the least interesting. Empathy is the core of the Blade Runne…
The failure of Foundation is a lost opportunity for Apple [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:15
Stories that last through the ages aren't just great storytelling, they also serve the power structures of their time. Powerful people have always patronised great stories. The epic poem Beowulf, The Divine Comedy of Dan…
Thoughts after watching Denis Villeneuve’s DUNE (2021) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:42
If science fiction is a gateway to the psychedelic, then DUNE is a portal to...awakening. Frank Herbert's seminal novel and David Lynch's baroquely weird movie are both powerful works of art on the theme of human awakeni…
The true meaning of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:46
It's more than a little ironic that the motion picture widely called the greatest science fiction story ever told was made by an artist who hated science fiction. Stanley Kubrick thought science fiction was a failure at…
There Is No Antimemetics Division – an interview with Qntm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:45
It's logical that the best science fiction being written today has its origins online and in collaborative forums. There Is No Antimemetics Division began life as part of the SCP Foundation wiki, a collaborative writing…