Episode 174 with Allegra Hyde, Stellar and Versatile Worldbuilder and Purveyor of ”Retrofuturism,” Keen Chronicler of ”Global Weirding,” and Author of the Resonant Collection The Last Catastrophe
Episode 174 Notes and Links to Allegra Hyde’s Work
On Episode 174 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Allegra Hyde, and the two discuss, among other things, her lifelong love of reading and love for librarians (like her mom!) and libraries, her varied reading and writing genres, inspirations for her dazzling and inventive worldbuilding, dark humor, the main throughline of her story collection, ideas of climate change, “global weirding,” action and inaction, encroaching technology, misogyny and patriarch with regard to climate issues, and why she has hope for our world.
Allegra Hyde is the author of ELEUTHERIA, which was named a "Best Book of 2022" by The New Yorker. She is also the author of the story collection, OF THIS NEW WORLD, which won the John Simmons Short Fiction Award. Her second story collection, THE LAST CATASTROPHE, is out in the world as of today, March 28, published by Vintage.
A recipient of three Pushcart Prizes, Hyde's writing has also been anthologized in Best American Travel Writing, Best of the Net, and Best Small Fictions. Her stories, essays, and humor pieces have appeared in The New Yorker, American Short Fiction, BOMB, and many other venues.
Hyde has received fellowships and grants from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, the Sewanee Writers' Conference, The Elizabeth George Foundation, the Lucas Artist Residency Program, the Jentel Foundation, the U.S. Fulbright Commission, and elsewhere.
She currently teaches at Oberlin College.
Our Culture Mag Profile of Allegra Hyde and The Last Catastrophe
At about 7:10, Pete compliments The Last Catastrophe, referring to Allegra’s work as “prophet[ic],” and Allegra talks about her mindset with her book now entering the world
At about 9:15, Allegra talks about her childhood relationships with the library, reading, and writing; she shouts out her love for The Chronicles of Narnia and audiobooks in general
At about 10:45, Pete wonders about any childhood experiences that may have steered Allegra to particular types of reading
At about 12:10, Pete highlights a particular story from the collection that is indicative of Allegra’s skill with worldbuilding; she explains her approach to worldbuilding
At about 14:10, Allegra describes the “privilege” in doing authorial research and she and Pete shout out librarians and decry the recent spate of book banning
At about 15:40, Pete asks Allegra about who/what she is reading these days; she highlights Sleepwalk by Dan Chaon and Thornton Wilder
At about 17:15, Pete references the book’s blurb as “dazzling and inventive” (Alexandra Kleeman) and Allegra describes her approach in writing one of those “dazzling” stories
At about 18:55, Allegra defines “retrofuturism,” and she describes how it was guiding her in these stories; she points out her story “Democracy in América” as an example
At about 20:15, Allegra characterizes the throughline of her short story connection, defining and expounding upon the term “Global Weirding”
At about 23:05, Pete cites an important and evocative opening line of the collection and asks Allegra about the line’s larger meaning and if it served as a catalyst
At about 24:45, Pete and Allegra discuss the plot and significance of the story “Mobilization”
At about 27:55, Pete references a joke from Marc Maron and inaction on climate change/global weirdness; Allegra highlights the need to approach the crisis from a communal lens
At about 29:20, Pete refers to grass and drought issues and its connection to wealth and
At about 30:05, Pete quotes from the book and he and Allegra discuss ideas of optimism and pessimism regarding the future, particularly with regard to climate change/global weirdness
At about 32:35, Pete references the story “Zoo Suicides” and Allegra speaks to the story’s intent and how it was “after” Donald Barthelme and Dana Diehl
At about 35:00, The two discuss the power of the dark humor in the book, and Allegra discusses the story “Afterglow” and its connections to global weirding and a more individual story of grief
At about 38:45, Allegra discusses the gender identity of the narrator of “Democracy in América” and talk about issues particular to America, especially as seen from outside the US
At about 40:55, Allegra describes the process of “Consignment,” which speaks to ideas of consumerism and an American obsession with youth and beauty, from the above story
At about 42:25, Commodification and issues of wealth inequality are discussed with regards to her story collection, especially with regards to how wealth and global weirding are so closely linked
At about 44:40, Pete highlights “The Future is a Click Away” as a standout story and he and Allegra discuss “The Algorithm” in the story as almost “mythical” and “god-like”
At about 47:30, “Cougar” is discussed as another story that deals with encroaching technology, and Allegra talks about “merg[ing] real pieces from her life with research and imagination
At about 49:40, “Endangered” and its statements on the state of art and artists, as well as captivity and endangerment in today’s world, is discussed
At about 52:30, Misogyny and what Allegra calls “the mysterious nature of ‘Chevalier’ ” are discussed, as well as ideas of invisibilia, both by the world at large and by the narrator of the story, who may be more directed by love than she would let on
At about 56:00, Allegra connects her stories to patriarchy and global weirding
At about 58:00, Pete and Allegra discuss legislative action and other ways in which women and other oppressed groups are being ignored and degraded
At about 58:55, Allegra explains why she “chafe[s]” against her writing being described as “satirical”
At about 59:30, Pete laugh over the absurd and awesome story involving a woman
At about 1:00:25, Allegra explains how she finds cause for optimism despite some often dark topics that populate the world and her work
At about 1:03:15, Allegra shouts out her upcoming tour dates, and shouts out Ben Franklin/Mindfair Books as one of many places to buy her book
At about 1:04:35, Allegra highlights her exciting upcoming project-there are caves involved!
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