Episode 129 is here, in which we discuss the Belfast Eastercon, Alison shakes her cane at John and Liz, and we talk a little about WSFS things before getting into picks. Listen here: https://octothorpe.podbean.com/e/129-deep-in-annex-a/
#ScienceFiction #Podcast #Eastercon #Eastercon2025 #Eastercon2026 #BSFA #Worldcon #Seattle2025 #Worldcon2025
129: Deep in Annex A | Octothorpe
John thought of something, Alison is educational, and Liz reads contracts.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to [email protected], join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: Money (chapter 3)
Please remember that we have recused from consideration for the 2025 Hugo Awards
Letters of comment
Chris Garcia
DC
On Blind Chance (skeet, requires sign-in)
On picking books (skeet, requires sign-in)
Doug Faunt
Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook)
Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast
Cancelling non-refundable hotel rooms does not net one a refund
We get ourselves into knots trying to work out what’s happened here and we’re not sure
Alison taught John and Liz about complaining about cancellations
Cancelling goods or services
Make a court claim for money
Worldcon 2025: Seattle
Virtual Business Meeting details
Lumi Global
The meetings are all at 09:00–12:30 (PDT/UTC-7) on 4, 13, 19, 25 July
Hugo nominations are open
How to nominate
Picks
John: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Marc Sumerak
Alison: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Liz: Nova by Samuel Delany
Credits
Cover art: “Thailand Positioning Service” by Alison Scott
Alt text: Words read “Octothorpe 129: Can you pin Thailand on the map?” above a black-and-white world map. The backs of John, Alison and Liz’s heads are shown. John is thinking “Yup!”, Liz is thinking “100%”, and Alison is holding Thailand and thinking “???”.
Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
Episode 128 is here! We report on the BSFA’s policy on reviewing, with a comment from BSFA Chair, Allen Stroud. Then, we tell you all what John’s doing for Reconnect (the 2025 Eastercon), discuss Iridescence (a bid for the 2026 Eastercon), talk BSFA Awards (presented at Eastercon) and Liz reads a book (which you could read at Eastercon). Listen here: https://octothorpe.podbean.com/e/128-a-minidisc-player-will-do-you-no-good/
#ScienceFiction #Podcast #Eastercon #Eastercon2025 #Eastercon2026 #Reconnect2025 #Iridescence2026 #BSFA #BSFAAwards
128: A Minidisc Player Will Do You No Good | Octothorpe
John picks too soon, Alison is fully paid-up, and Liz found the comment.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to [email protected], join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: COVID (chapter 7)
Letters of comment
Andreas Davour (toot)
Bridget Bradshaw (skeet)
Chris Garcia
David Bamford (skeet)
DC (skeet, requires sign-in)
Przypadek/Blind Chance
Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook)
Karen Schaffer
Meg MacDonald (Facebook)
Raj (toot)
Short story: “Bond, Bond, and James Bond” by Eric Molinsky
Novelette: “Lake of Souls” by Ann Leckie (from her new collection, Lake of Souls)
Novella: Last Stop by Django Wexler
Tammy Coxen (skeet)
Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast
John has been asked to head up the Discord
Bursaries
Deadline is noon on 16 February
Email [email protected] with as much or as little detail as you like
Eastercon 2026: Iridescence, a bid for Birmingham
BSFA
BSFA Award Longlist
Octothorpe 122 has been nominated, thank you very much!
Review policy rumours
Steven French’s comment on Camestros Felapton’s blog
New chair: Stewart Hotson
Picks
John: Severance S2
Alison: The Brutalist
Liz: Lady Eve’s Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow
Credits
Cover art: “Live From Minidisc” by Alison Scott
Alt text: A blue Sony MiniDisc Walkman shows, on its LCD screen, “Now playing: Octothorpe_128”.
Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
Octothorpe