Why are taxes the secret weapon in so many science fiction and fantasy stories? And why the heck do archaeologists measure the complexity of ancient civilizations partly by looking at their taxation policies? We talk about all this and more, as we recover from tax season. Plus, later in the episode, contributing host Alan Henry will tell us how to survive the harsh new workplace conditions of 2025, particularly if you are a marginalized person.

Shownotes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Welcome to the new dystopian era. The series Severance, which just finished its second season, is perhaps the best-known of a fresh crop of dark, absurdist stories that tackle the horrors of high-tech oligarchy. We discuss why the imaginary future is mutating before our eyes. Then we are joined by celebrated science journalist Carl Zimmer, author of the new book Airborne. He tells us about the discovery of airborne diseases and toxins, and tells us what's coming next. Don't freak out! It's not all bad.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

The holidays are here once again, and that means one thing: time to stock up on books to help you get cozy and distract yourself from the cold weather (and the state of the world.) Here's our annual roundup of some of our favorite reads — both fiction and non-fiction. Happy reading!

Science fiction and fantasy are the perfect genres for exploring what political uprisings might look like in the future, or an alternate present. We discuss Blake’s 7, a subversive 1980s TV series from the UK, and how it offers us a realistic portrait of political revolutionaries — flawed, dangerous, and full of hope. Claire Light (AKA Jadie Jang) also joins us to talk about her new novel, Monkey Around, about shapeshifters during the Occupy movement.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

One question has plagued both scientists and science fiction authors for centuries: Will humanity ever build artificial beings who are conscious the same way we are? Spoiler alert: No. But we may one day work alongside sentient robots. In this episode, we talk about the tests people have devised to see if a computer is self-aware, some of which are totally bonkers. We'll also talk to Chen Qiufan, co-author of the brand new book A.I. 2041.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Even when you're making up your own story, you still need to do tons of research. But the good news is, research is super fun. We talk about how to bring a dose of reality to your imaginary people and places. And we also discuss Charlie Jane's brand new book about how to write yourself out of the bad times!

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Have you noticed how hard it is to remember the past 18 months? You might be dealing with historical amnesia, the process by which we collectively forget traumatic events in the past. Storytelling is a major driver of historical amnesia -- in science fiction, and in political rhetoric too. We also talk to Ayanna Thompson, author of a new book called Blackface, about how people have forgotten the history of minstrelsy in the US -- and why that's a problem.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Gender essentialism is the idea that there is something eternal and innate about people's gender identities, and nothing can change that. Popularized during the 1970s, it affected how science fiction stories represented gender -- and it spawned new academic disciplines devoted to scientific misogyny. We talk about all this, and do a deep dive on the "What Women Want" franchise.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Loki has been one of the best characters in the Marvel movies for a long time — but what is his new TV show revealing about the God of Mischief? We delve into his character, and the neuroses that drive him. Plus we talk to Maria Konnikova, author of The Confidence Game and The Biggest Bluff, about what real-life con artists are like.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Why are there so many science fiction stories about hive minds, or vast networks of interconnected brains, thinking together? In this episode, we discuss the pleasure and danger of merging consciousness with another person -- or a whole planet. Plus, we talk to Benjamin Rosenbaum (The Unraveling) and Elly Bangs (Unity) about hiveminds in their new novels!

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

True crime is a giant pop culture obsession ... but what about true science crime? In this episode, we look at the long history of scientists who were called criminals, going back to Galileo. And we discuss crimes committed in the name of science, whose bloody legacies are still with us today.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Recently there's been a rise in horror stories that deal with gentrification. We talk about real-life urban displacement, and the fictional tales that turn it into cosmic incursions and body-swapping nightmares. Plus, we talk to Sam J. Miller about his new novel The Blade Between, and how he used monsters to explore what happens when a small town in upstate New York gets taken over by urban hipsters and techies.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Summer is here—and that means a glorious new flood of movies, TV shows and books. We may actually get to go inside a movie theater again! Here's everything we're looking forward to this season, plus some thoughts about how entertainment has changed after a year in lockdown.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Lately, it feels as though a lot of fantasy books come in two kinds: cozy, or extremely dark. During a scary time in the world, we seek either comforting sweetness, or violent catharsis. To find out more, we talked to Nghi Vo, whose recent books include The City in Glass and The Brides of High Hill. Plus we talk about how to include white characters in a story without centering whiteness.

We’re talking about resistance in real life and science fiction. First we do a deep dive into the history of New York City’s African Burial Ground, used by enslaved people during the 18th century. Michael Blakey, who headed the excavation, tells us how these people resisted their enslavement. How do stories of resistance shape our history -- and change the way we conceive of possible futures?

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

We're sharing the first episode of Annalee's podcast miniseries, Deep Futures, which spotlights six people who are trying to change the world for the better. Here, Annalee talks to science fiction author Malka Older about the future of democracy.

Listen to the whole season here: https://mailchimp.com/presents/podcast/deep-futures/

Ever since Star Wars introduced space wizards with laser swords, we've been in love with space fantasy. Most space opera contains a certain amount of magical hand-waving, but there's something truly wondrous about an epic that embraces the potential of magic among the stars. Plus Charlie Jane talks about her brand new young-adult novel, Victories Greater Than Death!

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Just for our amazing subscribers, here's an exclusive sneak peek at the audiobook of Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders, read by Hynden Walch. Coming on April 13, 2021, available wherever audiobooks are sold!

What makes a good fight scene work? Is it the pacing, the characters, or where it happens in the story? We talk about our favorite fight scenes, and why they are oddly similar to dance numbers. Plus, we're joined by battle mastermind Fonda Lee, author of the Green Bone Saga, who explains why a fight scene has to change everything.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

We've been waging a desperate battle against deadly viruses, in both reality and fiction. In this episode, we talk to Sarah Zhang, a staff writer with the Atlantic, about what we've learned from the fight against COVID-19. And we talk about the scariest and weirdest viruses in science fiction.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

It's time to talk about the politics of kaiju. With the new Godzilla vs. Kong movie stomping our way soon, we're discussing the long history of giant monsters in pop culture, and the truly strange cinematic backstory of the original King Kong vs. Godzilla flick. What do kaiju represent, and why are they connected to nationalism? And when does a kaiju get to be a protagonist rather than a monster?

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

We're all super-traumatized by everything we've been through lately—so what kind of storytelling can we use to cope with our shared PTSD? And how will our collective trauma be reflected in pop culture? To get some answers, we talk to Sarah Gailey, author of The Echo Wife.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

We keep telling stories about lost cities. Pop culture is full of tales about great metropolises that disappeared, only to be rediscovered by adventurers. But the reality of ancient abandoned cities is way more complicated and weird. To celebrate the release of Annalee's book Four Lost Cities, we delve into the fantasies and correct the misconceptions about urban places that were lost to time.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

JK Rowling has become an anti-trans activist on social media. This news has sent Harry Potter fandom -- always full of queers and trans people -- into mourning. We talk to author/publisher (and longtime Slytherin) Cecilia Tan about how to ignore Rowling and take back Harry Potter.

Shownotes here: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

We're taking a cozy, autumnal trip back in time to "peak television," when animation was truly feral and we had shows like "Over the Garden Wall." We'll talk about this otherworldly tale of singing frogs, sibling rivalry, and nice witches, as well as the ways that animation has changed since the mid-teens. Plus we talk to Michele Tracy Berger, author of the new horror story collection Doll Seed, about why being experimented on is so damn scary. 

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Science fiction and fantasy are full of bodies that just won't behave. Either they're overpowered, or they're trying to consume everything in the world. We talk about why some bodies are so problematic in science fiction. Plus we talk to Meg Elison, author of the new novel Find Layla, about fatphobia and fat-fetishism.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Suddenly, everything is cute again. Animation, pop music, and the internet are packed with adorable sparklefest feelings. What is behind the new wave of cute aesthetics? We talk about why hard times drive us to comfort content -- and whether the cuteocracy is a protest against dystopia. Plus, can things get TOO cute?

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

How will people make babies and prevent unwanted pregnancies in the future? We look at everything from artificial wombs to birth control for people with sperm. And we imagine how new technologies and changes in social attitudes could radically transform the way we think about human reproduction.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

It's been a long year, and it's going to be a rough winter. But the good news is, there are so many amazing books to lose yourself in! In this episode, we talk about our favorite books that were published in 2020, and we recommend some perennial favorites. And we talk about what makes something a great winter read.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

What happens when you bring real history into fantastical stories about monsters and magic? We talk about movies, books, and TV where the result is a more compelling, emotional -- and even truthful -- representation than literal history can provide. Plus, we talk to author and historian P. Djèlí Clark about his teaching and writing, especially his latest historical horror novella, Ring Shout.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Dune, Frank Herbert's sprawling masterpiece, remains one of the most influential works of science fiction. And with a new movie on the way, we are once again debating the meaning of this story. White savior narrative? Subversive eco-parable? To help us untangle the mystery, we turn to Haris Durrani, the author of an influential new Dune essay.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Fires. Floods. Heat waves. Zoonotic disease. The climate is changing. But are we going to change with it and survive? And how can storytelling help us understand our impact on the planet? We're talking about the disaster movie that is our lives with environmental journalist Maddie Stone. 

Shownotes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Arthurian legends are everywhere lately, from Netflix's Cursed to a host of new books. We talk to Tracy Deonn, author of the brand new young-adult novel Legendborn, about why we're all still obsessed with Camelot—and how Arthurian lore is really just the original fanfic.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

In a portal fantasy, your protagonist goes through a magical door, down a rabbit hole, or into a wardrobe ... and comes out in an enchanted world. We talk to Na'amen Tilahun, author of The Wrath & Athenaeum trilogy, about portal fantasy tropes and what makes these stories such powerful allegories for the queer experience. This episode was recorded live (online) at the OutWrite 2020 LBGT lit festival. 

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

H.P. Lovecraft and John W. Campbell were writers and editors who ruled science fiction in the mid-twentieth century. Their names graced some of the genre's biggest awards. They ran influential magazines. And they were also racist, authoritarian jerkwads who alienated generations of writers and fans. We talk about the rise and fall of these two men, and how to deal with their legacies. Joining us is Alec Nevala-Lee, author of a new book about Campbell and his circle called Astounding.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Science fiction and fantasy are full of wondrous libraries containing everything from powerful artifacts to some dang good reads. How does the idealized view of libraries in speculative fiction compare with the real-life libraries, which are under attack by would-be censors and culture warriors? Also, we talk to award-winning author Ken Liu about his brand new translation of the classic Daoist text, the Dao De Jing.

Shownotes and more info at https://www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

The penis isn't what you think it is.  We talk to Emily Willingham, author of Phallacy: Life Lessons From the Animal Penis, about what the incredible diversity of reproductive organs among non-human animals can teach us about our own junk. It turns out the human penis was made for love, not war.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Stories about indigenous people in the Americas often focus on the past, as if there aren't hundreds of indigenous communities alive today. We talk to author Rebecca Roanhorse and journalist Julian Brave NoiseCat about the movement to explore the indigenous future, in science fiction and activism.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

You can't really be a starship captain without falling in deep romantic, and possibly sexual romances with your ship. From Star Trek to A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, starship computers take on personalities and even humanoid bodies. Why do we fantasize so much about love affairs with our vessels?

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Virtual reality has been a mainstay of science fiction for a hundred years, but now it's finally a real technology. How does real VR change the stories we tell? Plus we talk to Fivestar, a porn director who's been working on virtual reality porn, to learn the truth about real-life VR sex. Warning: the second half of this episode contains discussions of explicit sexual content.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

When two characters have an intense conversation, it deepens a story the way nothing else can. Dialogue is key to worldbuilding, and in this episode we talk to illustrious TV writer and showrunner Javier Grillo-Marxuach (The Middleman, Lost, The Dark Crystal) about how to do it right. We explore quippy barbs, fake accents, and what happens when every character in a story talks like they are the same person. That’s right: We’re having a dialogue…about dialogue. And yeah, it’s going to get meta.

Shownotes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

We love escapism, and being able to escape into imaginary worlds is a super important survival strategy in the midst of oppression, pandemics, state-sponsored violence. But what if a story is escapist for some people, but not for others? And how dark can a story get and still be escapist? Let's talk about escaping AND fighting for justice.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

We're sick of the nerds vs. jocks trope in pop culture. In this episode we unpack how that trope came to be, and how to get beyond high school PE trauma. We talk about science fiction that fetishizes workout routines (Arrow's salmon ladder!?), and portrays nerds as physically weak. Plus, we're joined by trainer Robyn Warren, creator of Geek Girl Strong, who explains how to build exercise into your nerdy life -- and why PE classes need to change.

Show notes here: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes 

Romance and speculative fiction have always been closely connected, ever since the days of the pulps. But nowadays, some of the best science fiction and fantasy writing is happening in the romance genre. We talk Alyssa Cole, author of the Off the Grid series, the Loyal League series and the A.I. Who Loved Me, about the love affair between SF and romance.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

In these tough times, we need great TV shows more than ever. We have lots of opinions about nine new series that are making us happy because they're smart, fun, and -- best of all -- colorful! Plus, we've got recommendations for over a dozen more not-so-new shows that are worth digging up from last year, or last century. Stay safe at home and plunge your mind into dazzling new worlds. 

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Plots are one of the most important parts of storytelling. They carry our characters forward, and they force our heroes to make choices and to change along the way. Every story has a plot, whether it's about saving the world of making a cup of tea. So why is it so hard to come up with a decent plot? We talk about good and bad plots, and offer advice about how to write the best ones.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

It's time for some writing advice! We talk about how to raise the stakes in a story without wrecking it. What exactly do we mean by "stakes," anyway, and does raising them always involve some kind of plot twist? Later in the episode we talk to the creators and musicians behind the blog Women of Noise to learn more about the women who rule electronic music, and why there is an overlap between noise music and science fiction.

Shownotes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com

Pandemics are a recurring trope in science fiction, but this turns out to be surprisingly unhelpful when we're facing a contagion in reality. We talk to Mike Chen, author of the new pandemic novel A Beginning at the End, about how science fiction uses disease as an allegory for almost everything except, well, disease. Mike wrote his novel over a year before the COVID-19 outbreak, and tells us what it's like to make a prediction that comes true--sort of.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

Everything is bloody terrifying right now, what with the pandemic and the would-be strongmen and the natural disasters. So it's easy to retreat into nihilistic storytelling, which revels in the destruction of civilization. But screw that --- when you root for the destroyer, you're rooting for unimaginable suffering and death. Here's why we don't want your f--ed-up nihilism.

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes

We would need an eternity to discuss everything that was great and groundbreaking about "The Good Place," which just aired its series finale. We talk about how this weird afterlife comedy combined the workplace sitcom with weighty questions about ethics, psychology, and capitalism. Then we get metaphysical and ask why the afterlife is so funny. Also, why is it easier to imagine the bad place than it is to imagine the good one?

Show notes: www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/shownotes