Episode 49: Greg Dragon - Studying Martial Arts, Piers Anthony, and a Spacefaring Future for Humanity

The one where we talk politics! Michael Fedor and I discuss teaching reform, the political landscape, and artificial intelligence. We also delve into learning the craft and business of commercial fiction writing, and the collapse of empires. As usual, there are also the Big Questions. Books of his we discuss: What it takes to Kill a Bull Moose, The Tree of Liberty, The Senate Deception Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠

Whisky, superheroes, and *very* ancient history are a few of the topics I chat about with Mark P Smith as we delve into his debut novel. We also chat about the challenges of book promotion, the younger dryas impact hypothesis, and genetically engineering humans. As usual, there are also the Big Questions. Books of his we discuss: Theo Newton: Destiny Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com⁠

Mechs vs Kaiju, Bioengineering, and eating tarantuala are a few of the topics I chat about with Anthony J Melchiorri as we delve into his military science fiction. We also chat about the book marketing, the promise vs reality of artificial intelligence, and improving healthcare. As usual, there are also the Big Questions. Books of his we discuss: Deadman's War, Sunken Spaceship, Black Market DNA, Extinction Cycle, The Tide Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at alternatefutures.substack.com

The Space Blues, YA romance nightmares, and the nature of human reality are a few of the topics I discuss with Joe Canzano as we explore his novels. We also chat about the importance of music, the nature of being an indepenent author, and the some of the more effective book marketing avenues. As usual, there are also the Big Questions. Books of his we discuss: Suzi Spitfire Kills Everybody, Suzi Spitfire and the Snake Eyes of Venus, Magna Girl, Rune and Flash. Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com

YA SF Adventure in space (the Orion's Spur series), AI in the classroom, and panspermia are a few of the topics Alan 'Doc' Hansen and I chat about, in addition to whether a business degree helps with book marketing, whether extra-terrestrials would like us, and where has the optimism gone in science fiction. As usual, there are also the Big Questions. Books of his we discuss: Orion's Spur series Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠alternatefutures.substack.com

The superhero genre is alive and well in Becoming Glitch. Daniel Sayre and I chat about his take on this diverse genre in relation to his debut novel Becoming Glitch. We also discuss running obstacle courses, the challenges of marketing, and moral boundaries as explored by stories about superhumans. As usual, there are also the Big Questions. Books of his we discuss: Becoming Glitch Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at alternatefutures.substack.com

Matt and I discuss the relaunch of his Gunn Files series and how he's using Kickstarter to fund the project: ⁠⁠The Gunn Files Kickstarter For authors, we delve into many of the nuances of running a Kickstarter campaign including how to decide on tiers and choosing your target. If you're a fan of Men In Black-type stories, or the Dresden Files, why not check out his kickstarter? As usual, there are also the Big Questions. Books of his we discuss: The Gunn Files Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠alternatefutures.substack.com

Chris and I discuss his latest book, "Shattered Time", which explores the consequences of time travel and trying to do good without understanding the complexity of the system you're working in. We also delve into the potential of artificial intelligence in writing and publishing processes, and its impact on the scientific and historical fields. As usual, there are also the Big Questions. Books of his we discuss: Shattered Time Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at alternatefutures.substack.com

In this episode, I chat with Jessie Kwak about imaginary worlds, cybernetic implants, and heist stories in space. We also discuss the inspiration of Scottish castles, hosting your own authors' summit, and the experience of being shot. As usual, there's also The Big Questions. Books of hers we discuss are: The Bulari Saga, The Nanshe Chronicles, Crooked Anthology. Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠⁠alternatefutures.substack.com

In this episode, I chat with Greg Dragon about studying martial arts, being inspired by Piers Anthony, and a spacefaring future for humanity. We also discuss transitional periods in history, the beauty and wonder of the original Star Wars Galaxies MMORG, brain implants, and the increasing need for personal responsibility in an ever more complex world. As usual, there's also The Big Questions. Books of his we discuss are: Lady Hellgate series, Wired for Love series, The Synth Crisis series, Neon Eclipse series, The Factory, Crooked Anthology. Further info on this and other episodes, as well as author info and content, can be found at ⁠AlternateFutures.co.uk⁠ If you're on Wordpress.com, you can follow the podcast at ⁠alternatefuturespodcast.wordpress.com⁠ Finally, you can follow my articles on science fiction, socio-technological issues, and futurism at ⁠alternatefutures.substack.com