Lex Out Loud: Writing Science Fiction

Today’s a smorgasbord of topics. I share something very important I learned from Martha Wells at a Q&A recently. I talk about how awesome Silo and The Vampire Lestat (aka Interview with the Vampire Season 3) are. I also share why I think Interview with the Vampire did the whole adapting a book to the screen right and The Wheel of Time did it wrong. Finally, Strange New World...

In this episode I compare and contrast the Culture’s Contact organization with the Federation from Star Trek. Specifically, I look at how Contact approaches other, less advanced civilizations and compare that to the Prime Directive. Spoiler: It’s almost completely the opposite approach. I’ll tell you why, as we explore this topic together.

It’s been a while since the last episode, so I bring you up to speed on what’s going in my life. I’m moving, and it sucks. I’m living in an Airbnb, which also sucks. But good news, I finished my novel, Citizen Zero. I talk a bit about how some genres, like sci-fi and fantasy, are more about the story’s setting, while other genres, like thrillers, mysteries, and horror, are more ...

Today we explore the technology of the Culture, especially its sentient AIs. We examine the reasons true AI might not be possible and decide whether those ideas seem likely to be true. We also look at how humanity will become a more complex and diverse species and civilization not only through our own genetic manipulation of our biology, but also by the inclusion of the AI lifef...

I return to my discussion of The Culture setting and explore the Culture’s economic systems. This leads to a discussion of our current day economics systems and government corruption. How do we move our current corrupt systems to one like The Culture’s where there is true democracy and equality?