Category: Next Time on Stars End

Next Time on Stars End

Guess what? It’s Season 5 Episode 21! VERY soon!

The cover of the November 1952 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. It depicts a rocket ship on a barren moon with a planet in the background against a dark sky.

But first, it’s been a while; we’ve missed you, and we hope you feel the same. I’ve said it before: having a day job is no fun. And that’s the crux of it; we got bogged down with work, and the post-production got away from us.

That’s especially true in my case. Turns out that the parts of my brain that I podcast and/or blog with overlap with the bits of my brain that I use in teaching.

Plus Jon and I are trying our hand at a politics podcast.

The good news is that there’s lots of stuff on its way! Immediately, we’re gearing up for season 3 of the Foundation teevee series! We took a quick look at the trailer, and that will be out pretty soon after S5E21!

There’s a lot more in the can, and we’ll try to clear some of the backlog before we dive into Season Six of Stars End!

So, refresh your memory of chapters 7 through 12 of The Currents of Space, and enjoy the art from the November 1952 issue of Astounding Science Fiction by H. R. van Dongen that you can find below! Then join us for our next episode!

The opening page of "The Currents of Space" by Isaac Asimov in the November 1952 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Art by H. R. van Dongen. The page contains the title author and some opening text. There is a framing image showing a field of stars, an Earthlike planet and the faces of Rik and Valona.
A portrait of Lady Samia of Fife from "The Currents of Space" by Isaac Asimov in the November 1952 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Art by H. R. van Dongen.
The Squire of Fife from "The Currents of Space" by Isaac Asimov in the November 1952 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Art by H. R. van Dongen.
The Townman takes a respite in a family home in "The Currents of Space" by Isaac Asimov in the November 1952 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Art by H. R. van Dongen.
The Townman destroys the evidence in "The Currents of Space" by Isaac Asimov in the November 1952 issue of Astounding Science Fiction. Art by H. R. van Dongen.

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Next Time on Stars End

Coming soon! Season 5 Episode 20!

We’ve seen this before from a pulp SF fiction perspective, (or will again in the actual flow of time) with The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun. The Good Doctor serializes a novel in Galaxy Science Fiction to convince himself that he can sell material to somebody other than John W. Campbell and then returns home to Astounding for the next novel in the trilogy.

And so we land in Book #007 in the Asimov canon. After wading through the quagmire of “Second Novel Syndrome” in The Stars Like Dust it seems like Isaac is back on solid ground.

The Currents of Space is indeed a return to form and we’ll be discussing chapters 1 through 6 in our next episode. That’s almost the first installment from Astounding Science Fiction, from October 1952; Campbell squeezed in an extra chapter on us.

Both the cover and the interior illustrations for this installment in Astounding were created by H. R. van Dongen whose work we previously enjoyed with The Naked Sun. You can enjoy these while we wrap up post-production on the episode.

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Next Time on Stars End

Season 5 Episode 19 is on its way!

One of the fundamental properties of Horace Gold’s Galaxy Science Fiction, especially at the outset, was ambition. Gold was determined that Galaxy wouldn’t be just another SF magazine, but an excellent one. We’re only on Galaxy’s sixth issue as we reach the final installment of The Stars Like Dust ―, or Tyrann as it’s called in the magazine. Gold’s editorial for the issue concerns a readers’ poll about the magazine’s future and what will come as a result. The Five Star Shelf column will remain unchanged. An issue of self-contained stories will follow the conclusion of a serial. Stories with themes “too adult, too profound or revolutionary in concept” to be published elsewhere will continue. The editorial culminates with Gold’s plan for the magazine’s artwork which he describes thusly.

…we have been experimenting both in art and in technical processes, since we believe that a rebirth in science fiction should not be breeched by art of the forceps school. This month marks another experiment: halftone reproduction of photographs and wash drawings. This could not be done without trying out our technical processes. As we extend control, we will present other improvements that are now being worked on.

John Bunch once again illustrates the issue and it seems the decision to introduce wash drawings happened between his first and second illustration. These drawings give the artwork for this issue a distinctly different feel from the first two installments. Let’s take a look! Here’s the opening image.

The opening two-page spread from the third installment of "The Stars, Like Dust —" as published in Galaxy Science Fiction, March 1951,

And here are the wash drawings. All but one of these span two pages.

Artwork from the third installment of "The Stars, Like Dust —" as published in Galaxy Science Fiction.

If you’re interested in how the artwork in Galaxy developed, take a look at our coverage of The Caves of Steel which appeared in Galaxy two and a half years later.

And when you’re done reading The Stars Like Dust ― join us as we wrap up our conversation about the novel in our next episode!

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Next Time on Stars End

There’s probably an argument to be made that the “Big Three” of Golden Age Science Fiction, rather than Clarke, Asimov, and Heinlein, are Astounding, Galaxy, and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. A quick Duck-Duck-Go search confirms this and reminds me that I should really read more A. E. van Vogt.

We’re not there yet, though; we’re at a place where Galaxy Science Fiction had blasted off a mere five months before. It was largely an auspicious beginning, with the inaugural issue containing Richard Matheson’s “Third from the Sun” which was adapted into an excellent episode of The Twilight Zone ten years later. That reminds me, I should really read more Richard Matheson. That first issue also included Asimov’s “The Darwinian Pool Room” which the Good Doctor said was “among the least satisfactory stories I have ever written” so maybe the lift-off wasn’t flawless.[1]

Our focus here though is the fifth issue cover dated February 1951. It contains the second installment of Isaac Asimov’s Tyrann, and that is the subject of our next episode. Galaxy’s editor, Horace Gold was notorious for retitling stories and we, of course, know Tyrann as The Stars Like Dust ―.

So, how is Isaac’s second novel progressing? Have we defeated “Second Novel Syndrome” yet? And are we observing the protoplasmic form of Asimov’s unlikeable protagonists like Golan Trevize? Plus, what’s up with that infamous subplot? All that and more is in the episode!

By the way, I was surprised to learn that this issue of Galaxy also contained “The Fireman” by Ray Bradbury. That novella eventually grew into Fahrenheit 451, undeniably one of the classics of Science Fiction. Even if the lift-off wasn’t flawless, the launch was impressive and accelerating.

While we wait for our next episode, hopefully coming on Sunday, let’s enjoy the illustrations from this installment once again featuring some interesting use of negative space by John Bunch.

You can find the complete Issue here: Galaxy Science Fiction, February 1951.

The opening Two-page spread of Tyrann.

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Next Time on Stars End

Galaxy SF, January 1951

Right now I’m listening to Magnets, the second album by the Vapors. Their initial outing, New Clear Days, most famous for the song “Turning Japanese,” remains one of my favorite albums. When I discovered New Clear Days, Magnets was already out of print. I literally spent years trying to track it down to no avail. Eventually, it reappeared with both albums packaged on one CD. At the time, it was a bit of a letdown. Today I’m finding it a much better listen than I remembered. The song “Linena” remains my favorite cut. Still, when I think about the “Second Album Curse,” I invariably think back to Magnets.

There’s a related notion in the publishing world, namely “Second Novel Syndrome.” The Stars, Like Dust — is the Good Doctor’s second novel. Did he escape the syndrome? Let’s save that for the podcast.

The Stars, Like Dust — was written while Horace Gold was trying to get Galaxy Science Fiction off the ground and he was anxious to include something by an author as popular as Asimov. Dust was serialized in Galaxy under the title Tyrann, starting in January of 1951, with art by John Bunch. That’s only the fourth issue. Let’s take a look at the illustrations; which I’ve cleaned up a bit.

Four of the six images are spread across two pages including this title page. I’ve kept the text in place so you can see it in context.

Without the text, I’m able to better align the two pieces.

One of the things that stands out in these illustrations is the extensive and effective use of solid black. Notice that Biron is entirely inside the negative space here.

This is one of the stand-alone images.

I’ve left the text here to highlight that this is an excellent use of layout. Biron feels both constrained and isolated, things highlighted by depicting him inside a cramped image, boxed in by the text.

Another example of effective use of negative space; our attention, like Biron’s, is drawn to Artemisia.

We end with one more three-column, two-page image.

Look for Stars End, Season 5, Episode 17 this weekend! We’ll talk about chapters 1 through 8 of The Stars, Like Dust — or, if you prefer, Part 1 of Tryann as published in the January 1951 issue of Galaxy Science Fiction.

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Next Time on Stars End

I like to try things I haven’t done before and, on Thursday I decided to make a serious attempt at learning some video editing skills. It’s still a work in progress because, as one of my professors in graduate school once said, “Everything takes longer than it does.” 9999 more videos and I’ll be an expert.

Meanwhile, Season 5, Episode 13 will be out tomorrow. In the meantime please enjoy this preview.

Once you do, you’ll want to follow these links!

Image Credits:

  • Featured Image: From “The Fun They Had” in Tomorrow’s TV, from the Raintree Reading Series 2, 1982 Fair Use

Stars End S4E13

“The Second Semi Semi Septennial Hari Awards Podcast”

After recording weekly throughout Foundation on Apple TV+’s second season, we needed our own interregnum as we rebuilt the galaxy. We can’t wait to show you our spiffy new water clock!

But we’re back! In our next episode, we launch season 5 of Stars End discussing the first four chapters of Foundation’s Edge!

But that’s not the main event right now! You voted! We listened! Join us as we bring you the Second Semi Semi Septennial Hari Awards to cap off an excellent season, not just for Foundation, but for us as well! You helped us decide the winners, You’ll want to join us in the accolades! Let’s GO!

But just between you and me, I hope that the next gap is again exactly 21 months. Otherwise, we’ll need a new temporal adjective.

Oh. And there isn’t really a water clock.

Stars End S4E11

What a wild ride that was! This time we’re talking about the season finale of AppleTV+’s Foundation, “Creation Myths!” Haven’t seen it? Go! Watch it! Now! We’ll be here when you’re done!

Then you can join us for the excitement! Not everybody gets out of this one alive! There are beginnings and endings, twists and turns, conclusions and preludes! Everything a great finale needs!

And don’t go away after this episode! Foundation season two might have concluded but we still have two more episodes to go in our season 4!

In one week we’ll have an overview of what might be called the best season of Foundation so far! And we’ll open up the Stars End Mail Bag as Dave Letterman might have said.

Then, two weeks after that it’s the Second Not Actually Annual Hari Awards for Foundational Excellence! Be on the lookout for the polls, these are your awards as well as ours.

Hmmm… “not actually annual” needs a bit of work. “Sesquiennial” is once every year and a half. Too frequent. “Biennial” means once every two years. Not frequent enough. What’s once every twenty-one months? 21 months x 4 = 84 months which is Seven Years, So, how about Semi-Semi-Septennial? That will have to do.

But never mind that right now! You want to hear about the Season Finale! I know you do! Let’s go!

Stars End S3E35

“Who Really Cares What a Podcast Looks Like Or Is Built Of Or How It Was Formed”

We finally know that season 2 of Apple TV+’s Foundation will begin on 14 July. Rather than tackling another novel, we’re wrapping up season 3 of Stars End with short stories and guests.

In our next episode, we’re both pleased and proud to announce that we’ll be interviewing Melinda Snodgrass, author of the first truly great episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the source of many of our Star-Trek-related digressions, “The Measure of a Man.”

But in the meantime, for this episode, we’re reading The Great and Glorious Az’s “The Bicentennial Man,” (TBM) which is based in part on a suggestion from famed science fiction editor Judy-Lynn del Rey. To quote the good doctor, “Of all the robot stories I ever wrote, ‘The Bicentennial Man’ is my favorite and, I think, the best.” In The Complete Robot, he pairs it with our last episode’s subject, “…That Thou Art Mindful of Him” (TTAMoH) in a section entitled “Two Climaxes” where he envisions the ultimate fate of the three laws and the science of robotics.

Of the two, TBM has the less auspicious genesis. You’ll recall that TTAMoH was commissioned for an anthology entitled Final Stage which charged the authors with taking their themes to their ultimate conclusion. TBM was commissioned for an anthology entitled “The Bicentennial Man” where the stories could be anything at all so long as it was suggested by the phrase, “The Bicentennial Man.” That, to a large degree, was the way things worked in the US in 1976.

But there was an earlier suggestion from del Rey about “…a robot who has to choose between buying its own liberty and improving its own body.” After reading TBM, Judy-Lynn wanted the story, and when the original anthology fell through, Judy-Lynn got the story. It appeared in a different anthology, one that she edited, Stellar Science Fiction #2 published in February 1976.

So, don’t miss our discussion of “The Bicentennial Man, ” the Good Doctor’s favorite Robot Story, and his third favorite story overall, surpassed only by “The Last Question” and “The Ugly Little Boy.”

Let’s go!

Robots and Empire

A funny thing happened on the way to the podcast.

When I went to the Apple Books store, Robots and Empire had disappeared.

I own it, but I can’t download it to my iPad because it’s not in the store. The Kindle edition seems to be missing too. I’m hoping that means Doubleday is preparing a new edition.

But what about in the meantime? Well, there are used bookstores and hard copies.

But if you want to read along with an e-book, what are your options?

Multiple versions can be checked out at archive.org.

And this one: Robots and Empire appears to be downloadable.

Should it be there? I don’t know. But it’s an option until Doubleday has a new edition out.

On a similar note, there isn’t an official audiobook available. I don’t think there’s ever been one. But there was a version with limited distribution for the print-disabled.

At least, I think that’s where this version comes from. It floats around the interwebs and most copies have terrible audio quality. It’s like it was recorded from a thirty-year-old audio cassette and the other side of the tape is bleeding through. This is by far the better copy on YouTube.

And here is the second part.

This should hold us until there’s a new edition and an audiobook from Doubleday. I’m looking forward to getting those when they come out.

Best of luck! When you’re caught up with the reading or even if you haven’t, our discussion starts here:

Stars End S3E28

Our second episode on Robots and Empire, on chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be out tomorrow! Enjoy the read! And the episode!