Cosmos In The Cosmos

Within this episode, host Catherine and her guest Simon continue their discussion of the Dune books. They talk about the empire that Paul has built in Dune Messiah, if he and Alia successfully built the world they wanted, and what it means to have the power to see the future so completely.

Join Catherine and Simon on a captivating journey through the sands of Arrakis as they unravel the layers of Frank Herbert's masterpiece, "Dune." In this episode, the dynamic duo delves deep into the novel's analogy for the Middle East, dissecting its political and environmental themes. Prepare for an intriguing discussion on the enigmatic character of Paul's sister, Alia, an...

Join host Catherine in this captivating episode as shes dives into the timeless world of Clifford Simak's "Way Station" with her special guest, Natalie. This full pastoral science fiction masterpiece takes you on a journey through rural America, offering a unique lens into the heart of small-town life during the early 1960s.

Join host Catherine and special guest Natalie on a whimsical Valentine's Day podcast episode as they enter the enchanting world of Twilight. Unravel the mysteries behind Stephenie Meyer's dream-inspired masterpiece, giggle at the absurdness of it all, and ponder the intriguing question: are all vampires naturally attractive? From the misty town of Forks to the allure of immortal love, this...

Join your host, Catherine, alongside special guest Cara, as they delve into the conclusion of their exploration of "The Man in the High Castle" series. In this episode, the dynamic duo wraps up their insightful conversation, offering intriguing perspectives on characters like Tagomi, Juliana, and Childan. Together, they dissect the show's conclusion, delving into the fate of the new...

In this gripping episode, join host Catherine and special guest, my older sister Cara, for the first part of the deep dive into 'The Man in the High Castle' series. From dissecting all four seasons to exploring the deviations from the book, they unravel the show's skill in crafting morally ambiguous characters and a harrowing world shaped by a victorious Axis in World War II. Step into...

This episode discusses the Big Time, one of the first sci-fi books to discuss time travel. Catherine and her guest Sarah talk about how time travel literature has changed over time, and how one makes a good mystery in a book.

Within this episode Catherine and her guest Sarah discuss They'd Rather Be Right, one of the most controversial Hugo wins of all time and the inherent sexism within early sci-fi. We also discuss how computers were viewed in the past and how sci-fi has advanced along with actual technology.

Within this episode, Catherine and her guest Sarah discuss the Demolished Man (the first ever book to win a Hugo), what are the origins of the sci-fi award, and how the genre has changed over the decades.

In the latest episode, join host Catherine and the wonderful guest Sammy as they journey into Philip K. Dick's alternate reality Hugo winner, The Man in the High Castle, which takes readers to a Japanese-ruled San Francisco, a world where the Allies lost World War II. Tune in as they unravel the intricacies of a narrative with surprisingly few fleshed-out characters, ponder the lack of a clear...

In our latest episode, Catherine and special guest Aleksei embark on an exploration of Robert Heinlein's sci-fi classic, "Stranger in a Strange Land." Join us as we dissect Heinlein's narrative quirks, discussing his often-criticized portrayal of female characters and the unexpected twists that characterize "Stranger in a Strange Land." From literary analysis to cocktai...

In this bonus episode, Catherine is joined by her friend Charlie for an extended exploration of "A Canticle for Leibowitz." Return to the pages of this classic 1959 novel, as Charlie shares his thoughts on the book's right-to-life arguments and its exploration of apocalyptic Catholicism. If you loved the episode with Paul so much you wanna hear more about the world of Walter M. Mille...

In this episode, join host Catherine and special guest Paul as we delve into the Hugo Award-winning novel of 1962, "A Canticle for Leibowitz." Sipping on two distinctive cocktails - an Irish ale and a Death in the Afternoon - we explore Walter M. Miller Jr.'s darkly witty writing, the profound Catholic themes woven throughout the narrative, and the philosophical depth of the book. Tu...

In this episode, join us as we dive into the sci-fi classic that won the Hugo Award in 1961, Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers." Hosted by Catherine, and joined by special guest Sam, we embark on a thrilling journey comparing the experience of reading the novel with watching the iconic movie adaptation. To set the mood, we sip on two distinctive cocktails with military backgrounds...

Continuing our in-between episodes, we will be discussing Dianetics, L. Ron Hubbard's first book that would lead him to founding scientology. Catherine and her guest Sarah discuss L. Ron Hubbard's history and the start of scientology. We also consider the danger of cults, the language that leads people into such organizations, and how many groups in the modern world use cult-ish words.

Welcome to the Inbetween episodes! In this episode Catherine and her guest Sarah discuss Player Piano, a sci-fi book that we felt deserving of praise even though it sadly never won a Hugo. We talk about Vonnegut's classic dark humor writing, and his problems with our modern society that he articulated within Player Piano.

In this episode Catherine and her guest Sarah discuss A Case of Conscience, an early sci-fi book that explores how a catholic priest would react to extraterrestrial life. We also talk about the role of religion in sci-fi, why sci-fi authors so often focus on the Catholic church, and the nature of open-ended sci fi.

In this episode Catherine and her guest Sarah discuss Double Star, which is the first Hugo win of Robert Heinlein, who has won more Hugos than any other author to date. We talk about what makes a book enjoyable, and why early sci fi books often simply don't match up to modern standards.

Cosmos In the Cosmos is a podcast about cocktails and Hugo award winning sci-fi books. Every other week, host Catherine mixes a new book themed cocktail and reviews a sci-fi book, with a special guest. This first episode features Sarah. Tune in to learn about sci-fi from the 50's to the modern day, with a drink on the side. This is our introductory episode where we discuss what we like to read...