Distributed Disinterested Dystopia
Our annual shortlist book club is back! We read two novels that were nominated for Best Novel in the Nebula Awards! SB Divya’s “Machinehood” is a near-future story of gig workers, weak AI servants, and rebellious space stations. Jason Sanford’s “Plague Birds” is a post-apocalyptic story about strong AIs and gene-altered people that’s so far in the future that it feels almost like fantasy. Plus: We recommend other books we’ve enjoyed recently!
Listen to this episode (1 hour, 6 minutes)
Show Notes
What have we been reading?
Scott
- Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford
- Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson
Erika
- The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein
- City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett
- Short fiction from Uncanny Magazine: Ina’s Spark by Mary Robinette Kowal and Ribbons by Natalia Theodoridou and The Clockwork Penguin Dreamed of Stars by Caroline Yoachim and Lily, the Immortal by Kylie Lee Baker
Jason
- Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
- Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
- One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
