Ralph briefly discusses three pre-apocalyptic novels, with the conclusion that all that matters is how much time you’ve got left.
Show Notes
- Three works of fiction 01:00
- Remarks 08:55
- Summary 12:30
Links
- This episode is partially inspired by the thread Nihilism: Gaming in a Hard Sun world on the UKRoleplayers forum.
- Here’s a fun stackexchange thread) on Hard Sun’s possible extinction event.
Music Credits
“Cylinder Nine” from Cylinders by Chris Zabriskie
chriszabriskie.com // bandcamp // free music archive
Ralph talks about running Cthulhu Dark: Annihilation at Concrete Cow, the differences between Jeff Vandermeer’s book and Alex Garland’s film, and managing player expectations in one-shots and beyond.
Show Notes
Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer // Annihilation by Alex Garland
Planning Cthulhu Dark: Annihilation
Annihilation the movie 00:45 // Differences between novel and film 03:15 // What you might change going from book to RPG 07:10 // Available technology, communicating with the outside, appeals to authority 11:20 // Party cohesion 13:25 // Cthulhu Dark: Annihilation at Concrete Cow 15:30 // The Cthulhu Dark formula (and the Colour out of Space) 18:15 // Over prepping 21:15 // Setting expectations for con games 24:40
Music Credits
“Is That You Or Are You You?” from Reappear by Chris Zabriskie
“But Enough About Me, Bill Paxton” from Direct To Video by Chris Zabriskie
chriszabriskie.com // bandcamp // free music archive
Ralph briefly returns to Jeff Vandermeer’s Southern Reach trilogy.
Show Notes
The Southern Reach trilogy (Annihilation, Authority, Acceptance) by Jeff Vandermeer.
- Annihilation episode recap 01:05
- Authority 04:35
- Acceptance 08:40
- RPG bit (Call of Cthulhu, Cthulhu Dark and Lovecraftesque) 11:45
Music credits
“Cylinder Three“ from Cylinders by Chris Zabriskie
chriszabriskie.com // bandcamp // free music archive
We discuss Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale. Content warning: themes of abuse, rape and infertility.
Show Notes
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Becky Annison, Elizabeth Lovegrove, Ralph Lovegrove
- Synopsis 2:00
- Themes 13:50
- Children of Men (PD James)
- Apocalypse: scarcity
- Dystopia: control of information
- RPG bit 32:45
- Rise and Fall
- The Academics
Music Credits
“Is That You Or Are You You?” from Reappear by Chris Zabriskie
“But Enough About Me, Bill Paxton” from Direct To Video by Chris Zabriskie
chriszabriskie.com // bandcamp // free music archive
It’s one year since we released our first episode! We talk about the coming season 3, plus our son’s favourite book…
Show Notes
Liz and Ralph with some pre-Season 3 ramblings, plus Don’t Wake The Bear, Hare! by Steve Smallman and Caroline Pedler
Season 3 ideas 02:10 // Synopsis 07:50 // Themes 09:45 // Liz’s game 14:50 // Dread 18:05 // Ralph’s game 18:55 // Before the Storm 21:55
Music credits
“Cylinder Nine” from Cylinders by Chris Zabriskie
chriszabriskie.com // bandcamp // free music archive
Ralph, Liz and Josh give each other the side eye trying to work out which of the others are human… we read Philip K. Dick’s Second Variety.
Show Notes
Second Variety by Philip K. Dick
Elizabeth Lovegrove, Josh Fox and Ralph Lovegrove
Synopsis and comments start 00:30 // BSG 05:00 // The 100 13:25 // RPG bit starts with Liz 15:05 // Josh’s Game 16:50 // Ralph’s Game 19:50
Music credits
“Is That You Or Are You You?” from Reappear by Chris Zabriskie
“But Enough About Me, Bill Paxton” from Direct To Video by Chris Zabriskie
chriszabriskie.com // bandcamp // free music archive
Ralph and Josh board Le Transperceneige a.k.a. the Snowpiercer.
Show Notes
Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette, made into the film Snowpiercer by Bong Joon-Ho
Josh Fox and Ralph Lovegrove
Film Synopsis 00:45 // Graphic Novels 03:35 // Themes 08:05 // Oldboy 11:55 // The Hope by James Lovegrove 24:20 // The RPG bit (it’s Apocalpse World, innit) 26:00 // Wool by Hugh Howey 30:20 // Rise and Fall 37:00 // Last words 39:00 // Hollowpoint 39:25 // Actually these are the last words 39:30 // No, really, these are the last words 40:20 // The Bed Sitting Room and the London Underground (and Neverwhere) 40:30
Music credits
“Is That You Or Are You You?” from Reappear by Chris Zabriskie
“But Enough About Me, Bill Paxton” from Direct To Video by Chris Zabriskie
chriszabriskie.com // bandcamp // free music archive
(see our previous episode)
Keith Roberts wrote nine groups of short stories, four of which are linked novellas. Kiteworld was published nearly 20 years after Pavane and bears more than a passing resemblance to the earlier collection, despite it’s post-apocalyptic setting.
Music credits
“Cylinder Four“ from Cylinders by Chris Zabriskie
chriszabriskie.com // bandcamp // free music archive
In this very special episode we decided the best way to treat Herman Melville’s classic was to go back to our analogue roots. We discuss open seas, confined spaces, love among the sailors, Ahab the Eternal Champion, and more.
To get your copy please send a stamped self-addressed envelope together with a 50p cheque or postal order to the address given at the end of the podcast.
Ralph is joined by special guest Baz Stevens to discuss traction cities, airships and Municipal Darwinism in Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines.
Show Notes
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
Ralph Lovegrove joined by Baz Stevens, one half of the Smart Party podcast
Synopsis 02:15 // Comments 06:15 // Slipstream 23:30 // Baz’s RPG ideas 27:40 // Moorcock’s Revenge of the Rose 28:00 // FAE and Spirit of the Century 28:25 // Castle Falkenstein 34:00 // Lace and Steel 34:45 // James Lovegrove’s The Hope 39:15 // Paranoia (as Brazil) 40:25 // Lost boys and Blades in the Dark 42:15 // Closing remarks 44:45
Enough About Me, Bill Paxton
Shortly after we recorded this episode Bill Paxton died on the 25th of February. Roleplayers will fondly remember his contributions to speculative genre films such as Aliens, Near Dark and Edge of Tomorrow.
Slipstream was a commercial and critical flop despite starring Paxton alongside Mark Hamill, Kitty Aldridge, Bob Peck, Ben Kingsley and F. Murray Abraham among others and directed by Star Wars collaborator Gary Kurtz. It’s not a great film. Perhaps if it had been made today with modern CGI and post-Fury Road sensibilities (a diverse cast, maybe) then the apocalyptic scope of the film would be realized.
RIP Bill Paxton.
Music credits
“Is That You Or Are You You?” from Reappear by Chris Zabriskie
“But Enough About Me, Bill Paxton” from Direct To Video by Chris Zabriskie
chriszabriskie.com // bandcamp // free music archive
