TFTB with Peter Watts

In this episode we discuss the 1985 film The Quiet Earth  starring Bruno Lawrence Alison Routledge and Pete Smith and directed by Geoff Murphy.  Based on the book of the same name by Craig Harrison. This New Zealand sci-fi classic was a bit polarizing for our group. A saga of loneliness, guilt, and personal responsibility at the end of the world. We examine the themes, narrative direction, and overall design in contrast with a more modern esthetic to see if it holds up. Give the trailer a watch and see if it’s for you. Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

Welcome, to Jurassi... uh,... to the Bridge, where we've spared no expense to splice together our thoughts on Michael Crichton's 1990 franchise-spawning classic Jurassic Park.Before being swallowed by that chaos, we have an amazing Science-Fiction/Science Fact: brain-computer interface tech, and the potential for helping people cope with the effects of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. We're not quite at Neuromancer or The Matrix, but it's a start. How do we come up with all these great Sci-Fi/Fact stories, you ask? Well, like life, Kevin finds a way. Clever guy.We also chew on what else we're Reading and Watching, wherein Lanterns are dimmed, then brightened; Sam gets cozy with Ode to the Half-Broken, Kevin finally embraces his inner romantasy fan with The Everlasting, and Tristan continues his Peter Watts bromance with Fold Catastrophes. Then, we set phasers to fun and pop a Retinax 5 for a quick look back to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Star Trek, one of the most influential, hotly debated, bridge-tastic sci-fi properties this side of the Neutral Zone. No matter if you prefer tea, coffee or Romulan Ale, we all dig going where no one has gone before. And if Trek is a little too cheesy for your liking, what better way to celebrate 60 years than with your very own official Communi-grater? Thank you Gene!Stick around to hear trstn's pick for next month's book club... I already forgot what it is...I think I need some ice cream. LINK PARK:Michael Crichton: https://michaelcrichton.com/Simultaneous speech and gesture decoding for multimodal communication in paralysis: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-026-02446-2 Le Creuset Star Trek Collection: https://www.lecreuset.ca/en_CA/star-trek-collection Let us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast!Check out our new and improved website: https://talesfromthebridge.com - and let us know what you think!Reach us on social media or email us at [email protected] Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

This week we're delighted to welcome Jennifer DeLeskie to the Bridge to discuss her debut YA speculative novel Everclear, from Flame Arrow Publishing. Everclear is "about a missing father, a changing body, and the buried truths of language, memory, and identity." It's a world of collapse, government overreach and corporate malfeasance, ecocide and malignant garbage. (Related: the word we were looking for is "kipple." Thanks, PKD.) But there's also hope and resistance and a rediscovery of Indigenous knowledge and values as they relate to the dominant systems of the time.Though Everclear is her first novel, Jennifer is no stranger to deftly stringing words together, especially in service to sci-fi and other genres. Check out her origin story/short essay "Realists of a Larger Reality (Or Why I Read and Write Science Fiction)" and keep listening for her recommendations of some old-timey sexy sci-fi with plenty of "interspecies smashing."Jennifer is also the Editor-in-Chief and Prose Editor of Quist, an online literary magazine featuring the prose and poetry of young Quebecers; she has a True Grit/Salem Witch Trials mash-up in Suffering the Other; and a short accelerationist horror story in Unréal, a bilingual anthology of Montréal speculative fiction. Plus, In a valiant effort to broaden the fanbase ofThe Epic of Gilgamesh, Jen's novelette "But Mayflies on the Water, Gazing at the Sun" appears in Beneath Ceaseless Skies. In her words: "It's a Sumerian Flood myth retelling that's supposed to be funny." Cinematic universe, anyone? For more:Jennifer DeLeskie: https://quietdomino.ca/biography/Everclear: https://www.flamearrowpublishing.com/products/everclear?srsltid=AU7gw4VcnUmgxiszvxDPzQKPKXT1XtzMHU7mel65y0Xh6Mg4ej_yhFgxLet us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast!Check out our new and improved website: https://talesfromthebridge.com - and let us know what you think!Reach us on social media or email us at [email protected] Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

This month's film of choice is Possessor, the 2020 film by Brandon Cronenberg. It's bloody. It's gory. It's psychologically compelling. Join us as we discuss the film making style, and twisted nature of this science fiction Canadian gem. And be sure to stay for the end to find out our next movie of choice.Let us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast!Check out our new and improved website: https://talesfromthebridge.com - and let us know what you think!Reach us on social media or email us at [email protected] Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

Welcome, Bridgertons (that's weird, let's workshop it) to this episode of the TFTB Book Club, wherein we discuss Kevin's latest pick: Exhalationby Ted Chiang. This collection of smart, high-concept short stories had something that appealed to each member of the Bridge Crew, with tales that The Guardian described as an "...expert balance of the emotional and the cerebral."But before that, you've likely noticed TFTB's glow-up, and we're happier than a Vulcan calculus class to welcome a special guest to the Bridge, artist/designer Eduardo Valdes!  We nerd-out with Ed about sci-fi art, his process and inspirations including comics legend Bill Sienkiewicz (see one of James' favourite pieces), Ken Kelly's amazing Micronauts package art, and the late movie poster maestro Drew Struzan. We also take a look back at this cruel summer for a little "In Memoriam" segment as we bid adieu to the genre and entertainment greats that have left us recently: Sam Neill, Peter Cullen, Tim Curry, and Dolly Parton. (Yes, really.) Stick around to the end of the episode for our next book review pick. Hold on to your butts, it's a good one. Eduardo Valdes links: https://evaldes.weebly.com/ https://www.instagram.com/edvcreative/Let us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast!Check out our new and improved website: https://talesfromthebridge.com - and let us know what you think!Reach us on social media or email us at [email protected] Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

OK Bridge gang... step into your stone circle, heat up your hot tub or rev your big British phone box to 88 mph and take a quantum leap with us as we slingshot around the sun back to season 3, episode 88 (!) for a TFTB Timewarp, originally published Dec. 23, 2023.In this episode we sat down with author Dennis E. Taylor to discuss his hit Bobiverse series, which has spawned sequels almost as fast as his von Neumann Probe of a character(s). Dennis shared his path to writing and publishing, his thoughts on how uploaded human consciousness and self-replication could be used to explore interstellar space - and the risks of cryogenically freezing (and editing) your brain! It's a fun chat, so stick around until the end to hear Dennis and the Bridge Crew shamelessly try to ingratiate themselves to our imminent A.I. overlords...The Infinite Extent, the sixth installment in the Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor releases on September 10, 2026 — the tenth anniversary of the Bobiverse franchise! Let us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast!Reach us on social media or email us at [email protected] Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

On this episode of TFTB Filmclub, our adventurous and possibly misguided film watchers climb into a very small box and take a look at **Oxygen**, the claustrophobic sci-fi thriller starring Mélanie Laurent.Trapped in a cryogenic unit with her oxygen supply rapidly running out, Liz has to figure out who she is, why she's there, and whether the mysterious voice on the other end of the line can actually help her. It's a film about survival, memory, identity, and the increasingly alarming consequences of waking up in the wrong place.Expect spoilers, existential panic, and a surprisingly good time.**Let us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast!**Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

Ray Nayler is back on the Bridge to talk about his latest novel, Palaces Of The Crow.  A Hugo and Locus Award winning author, Nayler can be reliably counted on to deliver something you haven’t read before. We dive into the novel and in typical fashion, our conversation goes where you least expect it. Kick back and enjoy the listen, you’re in for a treat. Be sure to check out Ray’s website to preorder Palaces of the Crow, and to see what else he has going on: https://www.raynayler.net/Let us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast!You can always reach us on our social media or email us at [email protected] tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

Peter Watts is back on The Bridge, and he has a new short story collection coming in September. Check out Tachyon Publications for details on the pre-order. Visit Peter's website Rifters.comLet us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast!You can always reach us on our social media or email us at [email protected] Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge

On this episode of TFTB Filmclub, our intrepid film watchers go back to the original Star Wars, A New Hope and see where it all began. Before the prequels, Rogue One, and Andor, and Disney. If you're Gen X, this is where your childhood began, and you have friends everywhere. Enjoy!Let us know if there's a book or film that you want us to review on the podcast!You can always reach us on our social media or email us at [email protected] Link tree https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebridge