Explore every episode of the podcast Starship Alexandria
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 3 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:04:23 | |
For the third day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma recommends an Australian TV show called Mr Inbetween. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Day 2 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:04:04 | |
For the second day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian champions the television series Spaced. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Episode 1 - The Kraken Wakes | 02 Apr 2025 | 00:48:55 | |
For this very first episode of Starship Alexandria, Emma puts forward John Wyndham's classic SF novel The Kraken Wakes (1953) for Adrian to read and consider (published in the US as Out of the Deeps.)
Other media mentions: The War of the Worlds, HG Wells Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Aliens franchise, dir. Ridley Scott, James Cameron et al The Quatermass franchise, dir. Various, written by Nigel Kneale A Mission of Gravity, Hal Clements Blackgate Adventures in Fantasy blog https://www.blackgate.com/2020/07/16/these-two-books-are-not-the-same-john-wyndhams-the-kraken-wakes-and-out-of-the-deeps/ That Book Your Mad Ancestor Wrote, KJ Bishop
Our next episode will look at: The Etched City, KJ Bishop (2004)
Emma's music recommendation: Jennifer, by Everything Everything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEIhJM-atiI&ab_channel=EverythingEverything
Emma's upcoming book: The Vengeance https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-vengeance-emma-newman/7713374 Adrian's most recent book: Shroud https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/shroud-adrian-tchaikovsky/7656869
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 1 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 01 Dec 2025 | 00:07:06 | |
For our first day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma sings the praises of Star Trek: The Next Generation and explains why it's so special to her. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Episode 8 - Mythago Wood | 09 Nov 2025 | 01:00:06 | |
For our eighth episode of Starship Alexandria, Adrian puts forward the novel Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock, for Emma to consider. Our caveat from the episode: "If you have not read this book yet, go and read the book and then listen to this episode, because it really does benefit from not knowing what's going to happen." Other talking points: Pronunciation blues God bless Wikipedia Adrian shoehorns insects into absolutely everything Readability as an overlooked virtue Exploring the challenging female hero/love interest archetype Was it an homage? Sense of the numinous Cornwall is a State of Mind The internal document as narrative device
Media Mentions: Diana Wynne Jones, author Split Worlds series of novels, Emma Newman Oppenheimer, movie dir. Christopher Nolan
Our next regular episode will look at the movie Godzilla Minus One directed by Takashi Yamazaki. However, we are taking a different turn for December and, instead of a single large episode, we will have an Advent Calendar, with one short episode every day where Emma and Adrian will discuss their favourite TV series. Meanwhile, the patron's episode will be our Q&A session. Adrian's music recommendation: Duran Duran's Ordinary World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqIACCH20JU&list=RDFqIACCH20JU&start_radio=1 Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025?srsltid=AfmBOor2S_A__evSPhVQRyFurB0Lf7CIMsVMoqxmB28ig0JRS8itagr0
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Episode 7 - The Ministry for the Future | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:52:08 | |
For our seventh episode of Starship Alexandria, Emma puts forward the novel The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson, for Adrian to consider.
Other talking points: Wet Bulb Events Nonconformist plot structures The Doyenne of Climate Fiction The balance of hope and despair Asshole billionaires again National stereotypes in spec fic Adrian thinking he's being clever SFF as stealth literature for change
Media Mentions: Saturation Point, novella by Adrian Tchaikovsky, narrated by Emma Newman The Windup Girl, novel by Paulo Bacigalupi The Remains of the Day, film dir. James Ivory Star Trek: The Next Generation, TV series Piranesi, novel by Susanna Clarke
Our next episode will look at the novel Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock.
Emma's music recommendation: Borodin's String Quartet No.2 in D Major https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKsCxvT8e8Y&list=RDRKsCxvT8e8Y&start_radio=1
Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: The Hungry Gods https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-hungry-gods-adrian-tchaikovsky/7756963
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Episode 6- Battle Beyond The Stars | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:54:13 | |
For our sixth episode of Starship Alexandria, Adrian puts forward our first film, Battle Beyond the Stars directed by Roger Corman, for Emma to watch and consider. Other talking points: Idiolectic time units Suggestive spaceship design Doing the robot Caiman, of the Lambda Zone Doing a lot of spaceship on a small budget James Horner soundtracks The longevity of practical model work Writing to music
Media Mentions: The Seven Samurai, film directed by Akira Kurosawa The Magnificent Seven, film directed by John Sturges Logan's Run, film directed by Michael Anderson The Waltons, TV series Pulp Fiction, film directed by Quentin Tarantino The A-Team, TV series
Our next episode will look at The Ministry for the Future, the novel by Kim Stanley Robinson.
Adrian's music recommendation: the soundtrack to the Skylanders computer game, by Lorne Balfe and Han Zimmer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Z9PCie0mo&list=PL046FFA1862CCE21C&ab_channel=SethisZurlo
Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: The Hungry Gods https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-hungry-gods-adrian-tchaikovsky/7756963
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Episode 5 - The Golden Apples of the Sun | 09 Aug 2025 | 00:57:01 | |
For our fifth episode of Starship Alexandra, Emma puts forward the short story collection The Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury to read and consider.
Other talking points: Stories specifically talked about: A Sound of Thunder, The Foghorn, The Golden Apples of the Sun (short story), The Garbage Collector, The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl, I See You Never, Sun and Shadow, The Wilderness, The Black and White Game, The butterfly effect (not the film) Poetic and commercial prose Lawsuits! History, repeating itself The prevalence of the nuclear apocalypse in fiction. Amazing Obstructive Asshole Stories! The Time Machine Factory Problem The prevalence of psychic powers in fiction
Media Mentions: Star Trek: the Next Generation, TV series (specifically the episode 'The Survivors') The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms film directed by Eugéne Lourié Pavane, novel by Keith Roberts Oppenheimer, film directed by Christopher Nolan Dune, novel by Frank Herbert Zen in the Art of Writing, book by Ray Bradbury Peter Pan, novel/play by JM Barrie The Police, band
Our next episode will look at the film Battle Beyond the Stars directed by Roger Corman.
Emma's music recommendation: the album Anticlines by Lucrecia Dalt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOL78nXzgCc&list=OLAK5uy_kirX77Moqz0sO1a2GqQ1D88fgsUvAzrS4&ab_channel=LucreciaDalt-Topic
Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance and also a short story in the 'Lesbians in Space' anthology published by Space Wizard press https://www.spacewizardsciencefantasy.com/book/lesbians-in-space-where-no-man-has-gone-before
Adrian's most recent book: Bee Speaker https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/bee-speaker-adrian-tchaikovsky/7741036?ean=9781035901456
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Episode 4 - Top Ten | 09 Jul 2025 | 01:02:26 | |
For our fourth episode of Starship Alexandra, Adrian puts forward the graphic novels Top Ten volumes 1 and 2 by Moore, Ha and Cannon, for Emma to read and consider.
Other talking points:
Media Mentions: Watchmen, graphic novel, Moore & Gibbons V for Vendetta, graphiv novel, Moore, Lloyd & Weare Hill Street Blues, TV series I Robot and related stories, Asimov ER, TV series The Boys, graphic novels, Ennis & Robertson (also TV series) Jess Nevins' annotations to Top Ten: https://enjolrasworld.com/Jess%20Nevins/Top%20Ten/Top%20Ten%20index.htm The Ballad of Halo Jones, graphic novels, Moore & Gibson Captain Britain, comics run by Moore & Davis Invincible, TV series and comic by Kirkman, Walker and Ottley
Our next episode will look at the short story collection The Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury.
Adrian's music recommendation: "Lass Sie Gehen" by Seeed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAiMoUJwp7w&list=RDGAiMoUJwp7w&start_radio=1&ab_channel=Seeed
Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance and also a short story in the 'Lesbians in Space' anthology published by Space Wizard press https://www.spacewizardsciencefantasy.com/book/lesbians-in-space-where-no-man-has-gone-before
Adrian's most recent book: Bee Speaker https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/bee-speaker-adrian-tchaikovsky/7741036?ean=9781035901456
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Episode 3 - The Lathe of Heaven | 09 Jun 2025 | 00:48:59 | |
For our third episode of Starship Alexandra, Emma puts forward Ursula K le Guin's fascinating SF novel The Lathe of Heaven for Adrian to read and consider. Other talking points:
Media Mentions: The Fifth Element, film, dir. Luc Besson Eye in the Sky, novel, Phillip K Dick It's a Good Life, short story, Jerome Bixby Young Americans, film, dir. Danny Cannon Dancer in the Dark, film, dir. Lars von Trier
Our next episode will look at: Top Ten volumes 1 and 2, graphic novels by Alan Moore, Gene Ha and Zander Cannon.
Emma's music recommendation: Play Dead by Björk https://youtu.be/cw09VTTDRRo?si=WAaY0qeb7cC4OH12
Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Bee Speaker https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/bee-speaker-adrian-tchaikovsky/7741036
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Episode 2 - The Etched City | 09 May 2025 | 00:51:16 | |
For our second episode of Starship Alexandria, Adrian puts forward KJ Bishop's weird fantasy novel The Etched City (2004) for Emma to read and consider. Other talking points:
Media Mentions: Dungeons and Dragons, tabletop role-playing game, Gygax et al Perdido Street Station, book, China Mieville Ambergris series, books, Jeff Vandermeer Viriconium series, books, M John Harrison A Man of Shadows, book, Jeff Noon Tyrant Philosophers series, books, Adrian Tchaikovsky
Our next episode will look at: The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K Le Guin (1971)
Adrian's music recommendation: Minus Sixty-One by Woodkid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHcJepz3QW0
Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Shroud https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/shroud-adrian-tchaikovsky/7656869
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 4 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 04 Dec 2025 | 00:07:12 | |
For the fourth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, it's Adrian's turn to talk about a favourite space based SF show from the nineties! If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 5 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 05 Dec 2025 | 00:05:42 | |
For the fifth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma tries to put into words how much she loves season five of an unusual television show. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 6 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 06 Dec 2025 | 00:06:22 | |
For the sixth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian evokes the drama of a classic SF show from the 1970's. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 7 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 07 Dec 2025 | 00:09:16 | |
For the seventh day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma's choice is another show from the 1970's, but a lot less fantastical that the one from yesterday! If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 9 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:08:49 | |
For the ninth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma talks about a show that is both cosy and horrific. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Day 8 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 08 Dec 2025 | 00:04:45 | |
For the eighth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian enthuses about an animated series that people recommended to him because of his novel Alien Clay. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 10 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:05:51 | |
For the tenth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian talks about What We Do in the Shadows (the TV show that is) and sneaks in a bonus extra TV show recommendation. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 11 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 11 Dec 2025 | 00:08:02 | |
For the eleventh day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma sings the praises of The Royle Family and explains why it's so special to her. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 12 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 12 Dec 2025 | 00:04:59 | |
For the twelfth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian talks about why he loves the show Green Wing so much (and what the medical professionals in our lives have thought of it). If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Day 13 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 13 Dec 2025 | 00:06:58 | |
For the thirteenth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, it's Emma's turn to talk about an animated series that she loves: Invincible. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Day 14 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 14 Dec 2025 | 00:10:12 | |
For the fourteenth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian's love for Black Sails leads into a conversation involving eels, face blindness and the movie Heat. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 15 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 15 Dec 2025 | 00:06:45 | |
For the fifteenth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma explains why she loves The Thick of It. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Day 16 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:05:33 | |
For the sixteenth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian recommends another animated show, Arcane. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 17 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:06:18 | |
For the seventeenth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma recommends a TV show that is not for those who want a happy, easy story; The Leftovers. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 18 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 18 Dec 2025 | 00:06:38 | |
For the eighteenth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian talks about a show he loves which is impossible to enthuse about without spoilers: The Good Place. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 19 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 19 Dec 2025 | 00:08:03 | |
For the nineteenth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma talks about why Avatar: The Last Airbender (the original animated series!) is such a joy to watch. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 20 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 20 Dec 2025 | 00:07:40 | |
For the twentieth day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian shares his love of the ultimate low budget british science-fiction show Blake's 7. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 21 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 21 Dec 2025 | 00:08:44 | |
For the twenty-first day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma talks about another cosy murder mystery show, this one set in 1920's Melbourne: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025
Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Day 22 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 22 Dec 2025 | 00:09:12 | |
For the twenty-second day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian makes a bold declaration about the show Farscape. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Day 23 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:08:17 | |
For the twenty-third day of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Emma shares her deep love for the show Detectorists. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 24 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:09:30 | |
For the Christmas Eve episode of the 2025 Starship Alexandria advent calendar, Adrian shares why Andor is so special for him. If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Day 25 - 2025 Advent Calendar | 25 Dec 2025 | 00:13:50 | |
Merry Christmas! This is the twenty-fifth, and final, episode of the 2025 advent calendar. We share some news, a gift and something that will hopefully make you laugh! If you'd like to support the show, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/shop/hb-starseers-ruin-eng-2025 Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Episode 9 - Godzilla Minus One | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:49:04 | |
For our January 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria, Emma puts forward the movie Godzilla Minus One directed by Takashi Yamazaki for Adrian to consider.
Other talking points: A monstrous regiment of Godzillas Survivor's Guilt Redemption arcs Found boat family The Unbearable Weightiness of Kaiju Convenient mattress factories Godzilla amplification
Media Mentions: Godzilla (Gojira), movie dir Ishiro Honda Subsequent Godzilla movies, dir. various Pacific Rim, movie dir. Guillermo del Toro Jurassic Park, movie dir. Steven Spielberg Back to the Future, movie dir. Robert Zemeckis Oppenheimer, movie dir. Christopher Nolan
Our next regular episode will look at the novel Sword of Bronze and Ashes by Anna Smith Spark. Emma's music recommendation: The Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWz0JC7afNQ&list=RDLWz0JC7afNQ&start_radio=1
Emma's latest book: The Vengeance https://geni.us/thevengeance
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/ebook-starseers-ruin-eng-2025.html
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Episode 10 - A Sword of Bronze and Ashes | 09 Feb 2026 | 00:52:57 | |
For our February 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria, Adrian puts forward the novel A Sword of Bronze and Ashes by Anna Smith Spark for Emma to consider.
Other talking points: Potato Guys Getting old as a female fantasy hero Marriage and long term relationships in fantasy fiction Amazing prose styles Being brought up by buccas in a tin mine Levelling up as a reader
Media Mentions: The work of Haruki Murakami The work of KJ Parker (particularly the Scavenger trilogy) Legend, novel by David Gemmell The Conan stories by Robert E Howard The Discworld books by Sir Terry Pratchett Planetfall, novel by Emma Newman Excalibur, movie dir. John Boorman
This marks the end of season 1 of Starship Alexandria! Season 2 will commence in March with a look at Alfred Bester's The Demolished Man. (For the curious, the seasons are mostly to do with our bulk recording of the regular episodes in advance.)
Adrian's music recommendation: '39 by Queen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE8kGMfXaFU&list=RDkE8kGMfXaFU&start_radio=1
Emma's latest writing is a short story included in the Creative Futures (Beyond and Within) anthology: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/creative-futures-allen-stroud/7847161
Adrian's most recent book: Starseer's Ruin https://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/ebook-starseers-ruin-eng-2025.html
Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Episode 11 - The Demolished Man | 09 Mar 2026 | 01:35:06 | |
For our March 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria – and the first our our new season – Emma puts forward the novel The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester. Other talking points: The perils of returning to past reads Difficult books to summarise Cunning schemes for the perfect murder Psychic earworms Psychotherapy in science fiction Particularly big warts (not) the Time Machine Factory Heroes and anti-heroes The Poochy effect Skeezy gender dynamics Eugenics Contradictory attitudes towards murder Typographical games Inadvisable titles Media Mentions: The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, novel by Douglas Adams The Lathe of Heaven, novel by Ursula le Guin The Simpsons TV series (twice!) Gormenghast, series by Mervyn Peake Babylon 5, TV series Illuminati, card/board game Star Trek: The Next Generation, TV series, particularly "Remember Me" The Life of Chuck, movie dir. Mike Flanagan (based on the work of Stephen King) Next month we look at the movie Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Emma's music recommendation: Punk Tactics by Joey Valance & Brae https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OklSZmIx9-o&list=RDOklSZmIx9-o&start_radio=1 Emma's latest writing is included in Creative Futures (Beyond and Within) https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/creative-futures-allen-stroud/7847161 which was recently shortlisted for a BSFA Award Adrian's most recent book: Pretenders to the Throne of God https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/pretenders-to-the-throne-of-god-adrian-tchaikovsky/7953437 If you'd like to support the show, and get an additional monthly patrons-only episode, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home You can buy our official t-shirts and mugs at https://starshipalexandria.teemill.com/ Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com
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| Episode 12 - Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves | 09 Apr 2026 | 01:08:13 | |
For our April 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria – and the second in our new season – Adrian puts forward the film: Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. Other talking points: Wonderful Hugh Grant Rubbish sorcerers A certain ambivalence Dungeons we have Dragonned Save the cat! Everything wrong with Hollywood Remembering the Forgotten Realms The "It's him!" moment of failed fan service
Media Mentions: Dungeons and Dragons movie dir. Courtney Solomon Middle Earth Role-Playing (MERP) TTRPG Dungeons and Dragons TTRPG Conan the Barbarian, movie dir. John Milius Lord of the Rings series of movies dir. Peter Jackson Heretic, movie dir. Scott Beck and Bryan Woods Bridget Jones's Diary movie dir. Sharon Maguire Dungeons and Dragons, TV series 28 Years Later, movie dir. Danny Boyle Galaxy Quest movie dir. Dean Parisot
Next month we look at the illustrated book Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan Adrian's music recommendation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tEfYvY3bAg&list=RD5tEfYvY3bAg&start_radio=1 Emma's latest writing is included in Creative Futures (Beyond and Within) https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/creative-futures-allen-stroud/7847161 which was recently shortlisted for a BSFA Award Adrian's most recent book: Children of Strife https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/children-of-strife-adrian-tchaikovsky/7864905 If you'd like to support the show, and get an additional monthly patrons-only episode, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home You can buy our official t-shirts and mugs at https://starshipalexandria.teemill.com/ Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Episode 13 - Tales From Outer Suburbia | 09 May 2026 | 00:51:25 | |
For our May 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria Emma puts forward the book Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan for Adrian's consideration. Other talking points: The difficulty of summarising Somehow avoiding the word "surreal" An emotional model railway trip. Reading around the story Balancing story collections Styles of art Media Mentions: The art of Edward Gorey including The Gashlycrumb Tinies and The Insect God The art of Dr Seuss including I Had Trouble In Getting To Solla Sollew The art of Adrian Sykes https://www.adriansykes.co.uk/ Next month we look at Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Emma's music recommendation: Future Boy by Turin Brakes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AekubF2xYlg&list=RDAekubF2xYlg&start_radio=1 Emma's latest writing is included in Creative Futures (Beyond and Within) https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/creative-futures-allen-stroud/7847161 which was recently shortlisted for a BSFA Award Adrian's most recent book: Children of Strife https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/children-of-strife-adrian-tchaikovsky/7864905 If you'd like to support the show, and get an additional monthly patrons-only episode, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home You can buy our official t-shirts and mugs at https://starshipalexandria.teemill.com/ Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||
| Episode 14 - Piranesi | 09 Jun 2026 | 01:17:56 | |
For our June 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria Adrian puts forward the book Piranesi by Susanna Clarke for Emma's consideration. Other talking points: The State of What the F Is Going On The joy of found document sources The Triangle of Information ™ Two views of the nicest character in fiction Analogues with dementia Shadows on a cave wall Psychic ideating communion(!) One author enters, two classics leave The ignorant unreliable narrator
Media Mentions: Mythago Wood, novel by Robert Holdstock (and our coverage of it here: https://starshipalexandria.com/episode-8-mythago-wood The Magician's Nephew, novel by CS Lewis Red Dwarf TV series (very tangentially!) Wayne's World sketch series and movies dir. Penelope Spheeris Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, novel by Susanna Clarke The Life of Brian, movie dir. Terry Jones (also very tangentially!) Planetfall series of novels by Emma Newman Next month we look at Do You Dream of Terra Two? by Temi Oh Adrian's music recommendation: Damnd Anthem's cover of Muse's Uprising https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w48-1IQxnM&list=RD_w48-1IQxnM&start_radio=1
Emma's latest writing is included in Creative Futures (Beyond and Within) https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/creative-futures-allen-stroud/7847161 which was recently shortlisted for a BSFA Award Adrian's most recent book is the graphic novel Salvation's Child https://www.amazon.co.uk/Final-Architecture-Salvations-Comixology-Originals-ebook/dp/B0FH2KR8LH If you'd like to support the show, and get an additional monthly patrons-only episode, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/c/starshipalexandria/home You can buy our official t-shirts and mugs at https://starshipalexandria.teemill.com/ Follow us at: Emma: @emmanewman@bsky.social and www.enewman.co.uk Adrian: @aptshadow.bsky.social and www.adriantchaikovsky.com | |||