OctothorpeFeb 13, 2025

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)

OctothorpeJan 30, 2025

Episode 127 is here. We discuss the latest juicy gossip from the Belfast Eastercon, we hear from Claire Brialey of Croydon, and we pick things that aren't games! Listen here: https://octothorpe.podbean.com/e/127-hello-buoys/

#ScienceFiction #Podcast #Eastercon #Eastercon2025 #Reconnect2025

127: Hello Buoys | Octothorpe

John is incoherent, Alison is excited, and Liz is romantic. 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: None Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Andy Openshaw Chris Garcia Claire Brialey David Salter Ed Morland Farah Mendlesohn Irwin Hirsh Jonny Baddeley Neil Ottenstein Roseanna Pendlebury We also heard from: Fiona Moore, Ivan Sinha Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast Picks John: Sliding Doors Alison: Three Men in Orbit by Sandra Bond Liz: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean Credits Cover art: “Availability Flowchart” by Alison Scott Alt text: A flowchart entitled “How to meet John, Alison and/or Liz at Eastercon”. The boxes culminate in “console yourself with Octothorpe 127”, and the various options are listed below, but the original file is here in case that’s more helpful to the partially sighted. How to meet John, Alison and/or Liz at Eastercon Are you going to Reconnect? Of course!/Not sure Oh go on it will be a laugh Oh all right then/No… Are they in the bar? Yes! I can’t see them Are you quite sure? Check again Oh wait… there they are No sign Is there another bar? Yes! Nope Are they on programme? Yes! No Wait till the moderator asks for questions But it’s Octothorpe Live! Is your joke very funny? Obviously! Excellent! Good to know. COME AND SAY HELLO until then… Are they asleep or on the loo? No, they look chill Er, yes? Oh, that’s a shame Console yourself with Octothorpe 127 Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)