Episodes

  • 132: Almost Everything Is Not Mac

    132: Almost Everything Is Not Mac
    Apr 6 2025
    John, Alison and Liz discuss this year’s Hugo Awards finalists. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, 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 A note from John: I’ve done my level best to find useful URLs and link them below. Please let me know if there are better links or things I’ve missed! Best Novel Alien Clay by Adrian TchaikovskyThe Ministry of Time by Kaliane BradleyService Model by Adrian TchaikovskySomeone You Can Build a Nest In by John WiswellA Sorceress Comes to Call by T KingfisherThe Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Best Novella The Brides of High Hill by Nghi VoThe Butcher of the Forest by Premee MohamedNavigational Entanglements by Aliette de BodardThe Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia SamatarThe Tusks of Extinction by Ray NaylerWhat Feasts at Night by T Kingfisher Best Novelette “The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video” by Thomas Ha“By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars” by Premee Mohamed“The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea” by Naomi Kritzer“Lake of Souls” by Ann Leckie“Loneliness Universe” by Eugenia Triantafyllou“Signs of Life” by Sarah Pinsker Best Short Story “Five Views of the Planet Tartarus” by Rachael K Jones“Marginalia” by Mary Robinette Kowal“Stitched to Skin Like Family Is” by Nghi Vo“Three Faces of a Beheading” by Arkady Martine“We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read” by Caroline M Yoachim“Why Don’t We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole” by Isabel J Kim Best Series Between Earth and Sky by Rebecca RoanhorseThe Burning Kingdoms by Tasha SuriInCryptid by Seanan McGuireSouthern Reach by Jeff VanderMeerThe Stormlight Archive by Brandon SandersonThe Tyrant Philosophers by Adrian Tchaikovsky Best Graphic Story The Deep Dark by Molly Knox OstertagThe Hunger and the Dusk, Vol. 1 by G Willow Wilson and Chris WildgooseMonstress, Vol. 9 by Marjorie Liu and Sana TakedaMy Favorite Thing is Monsters, Vol. 2 by Emil FerrisStar Trek: Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way by Ryan North and Chris FenoglioWe Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans Best Related Work “Charting the Cliff: An Investigation into the 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics” by Camestros Felapton and Heather Rose Jonesr/Fantasy’s 2024 Bingo Reading Challenge“The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel” by Jenny NicholsonSpeculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right by Jordan S CarrollTrack Changes by Abigail Nussbaum“The 2023 Hugo Awards: A Report on Censorship and Exclusion” by Chris M Barkley and Jason Sanford Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) Dune: Part TwoFlowFuriosa: A Mad Max SagaI Saw the TV GlowWickedThe Wild Robot Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) “The Beginning” (Fallout)“Death’s Hand in Mine” (Agatha All Along)“Dot and Bubble” (Doctor Who)“Fissure Quest” (Star Trek: Lower Decks)“The New Next Generation” (Star Trek: Lower Decks)“73 Yards” (Doctor Who) Best Game or Interactive Work Caves of QudDragon Age: The VeilguardThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomLorelei and the Laser EyesTactical Breach Wizards1000xRESIST Best Editor (Short Form) Scott H. AndrewsJennifer BrozekNeil ClarkeJonathan StrahanLynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian ThomasSheila Williams Best Editor (Long Form) Carl Engle-LairdAli FisherLee HarrisDavid Thomas MooreDiana M. PhoStephanie Stein Best Professional Artist Micaela AlcainoAudrey BenjaminsenRovina CaiMaurizio ManzieriTran NguyenAlyssa Winans Best Semiprozine The DeadlandsEscape PodFIYAHkhōréōStrange HorizonsUncanny Magazine Best Fanzine The Ancillary Review of BooksBlack Nerd ProblemsThe Full LidGalactic JourneyJourney PlanetUnofficial Hugo Book Club Blog Best Fancast The Coode Street PodcastEight of Diana Wynne JonesHugo, Girl!Hugos ThereA Meal of ThornsWorldbuilding for Mascochists Best Fan Writer Camestros FelaptonAbigail NussbaumRoseanna PendleburyJason SanfordAlasdair StuartÖrjan Westin Best Fan Artist Iain ClarkSara FelixMeg FrankMichelle MorrellEspaña SheriffAlison Scott Best Poem Calypso by Oliver K Langmead“Ever Noir” by Mari Ness“there are no taxis for the dead” by Angela Liu“A War of Words” by Marie Brennan“We Drink Lava” by Ai Jiang“Your Visiting Dragon” by Devan Barlow Lodestar Award The Feast Makers by H.A. ClarkeHeavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay ZhaoThe Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan IfuekoMoonstorm by Yoon Ha LeeSheine Lende by Darcie Little BadgerSo Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole Astounding Award Moniquill BlackgooseBethany JacobsHannah KanerAngela LiuJared PechačekTia Tashiro Credits Cover art: “Scorching Hot Takes” by Alison Scott Alt text: A black background. Text in purple reads “Octothorpe 132” while text MADE OF FIRE says “Scorching hot takes on the Hugo finalists...
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    42 mins
  • 131: We’re Performance Before We’re Interest

    131: We’re Performance Before We’re Interest
    Mar 27 2025
    John is moderating, Alison is auctioning, and Liz is lecturing. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, 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: The situation in the USA Letters of comment Handwriting guesses! John, Alison, Liz: Ed MorlandAlison, John, Liz: Chris GarciaAlison, Liz, John: Tammy CoxenLiz, John, Alison: Tammy has another goLiz, Alison, John: Ang Rosin, Niall HarrisonJohn is the top one: Doug FauntJohn is in the middle: Roseanna PendleburyAlison is in the middle: Mike Scott (who is cheating)Liz is the top one: Bridget BradshawAll handwriting fonts: Bridget BradshawYou all have nice handwriting: Shi Lala [But mine’s nicest—John] Roseanna Pendlebury (email)Farah Mendlesohn (email)Chris Garcia (email)Ivan Sinha (Facebook)Renay (email) The 2026 Hugo spreadsheet is open Fredrik Coulter (Facebook)We also heard from Lilian Edwards Worldcon 2025: Seattle “Statement from Worldcon Chair”The SMOFcon bid in the USA has stopped bidding, and Seattle has filled its room blocks, reports File 770 Eastercon 2025: Belfast We have provisional programme schedules! John, Alison, and Liz: Monday 12:30: Octothorpe Live John and Liz: Sunday 17:00: Fandom, Politics, and Boycotts: What is the line and where do we draw it? John: Sunday 12:30: Is The Force With You?Sunday 15:30: “What does this card really mean?”: History in Board Games Alison: Sunday 20:00: Fan Fund Auction Liz: Saturday 15:30: Hay Lecture [SO EXCITED—John] Colourfields by Paul Kincaid This will be launched at the conventionAdam Roberts reviews the collection Peter Mabey has passed awayBSFA Awards File 770 reports the finalists Fan funds European Fan Fund Picks John: The Power Fantasy by Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard, Clayton Cowles, and Rian Hughes Roseanna Pendlebury’s review at NoaF Alison: The Death of Stalin [I’m off to represent the entire Red Army at the buffet—Liz]Tobes de Valois as played by Jason Isaacs Liz: The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison [I also like Roseanna’s review at NoaF—Liz] Credits Cover art: “Happy Birthday to Us” by Alison Scott Alt text: A birthday cake with six layers, from purple to a dark orange, and then a red 5 and five red candles on top, with fireworks overhead. The words “Octothorpe 131” are at the top. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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    52 mins
  • 130: I Am Scalison Ott

    130: I Am Scalison Ott
    Mar 13 2025

    John is working, Alison is plugging and Liz is ghosting.

    An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, 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: Capitalism, death (Chapter 8: Picks)

    • Please remember that we have recused from consideration for the 2025 Hugo Awards
    • Letters of comment
      • Ali Baker Brooks (Facebook)
      • Ang Rosin (Facebook)
      • Christopher J Garcia
      • Dave Langford
        • Please do report issues in transcripts and we will fix them!
      • DC (skeet, requires sign-in)
      • Farah Mendlesohn (Facebook)
        • “Know your rail rights” from the Office of Rail and Road
      • Ivan Sinha (Facebook)
      • Pat McMurray (Facebook)
      • Shi Lala (Facebook)
      • Simon Bubb
    • BSFA
      • If you attended please let us know what happened!
    • Awards
      • Hugo Award nominations close the day after this podcast drops (14 March 2025)
      • Locus Award nominations are open until 15 April 2025
    • Oxford–Bloomsbury Fantasy Summer School
      • Free to apply with limited in-person spaces
      • Or, wait for the streaming link! (FAQ)
    • GUFF: The Incomplete Chronicles
    • Liz previously described a Pepper’s Ghost at Tokyo Disneyland
      • “Disney’s Best Illusion Explained” by Zach Wally
    • Picks
      • John: Shroud by Gravity Well Brewing
        • Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
        • “Sins of the Children” by Adrian Tchaikovsky in Asterisk
      • Alison: Mickey 17
      • Liz: Hacks (Amazon Prime)
    • Credits
      • Cover art: “Handwriting Analysis Special”
        • Alt text: The words “Octothorpe 130: Handwriting Analysis Special” appear three times in the three hosts’ handwriting.
      • Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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    55 mins
  • 129: Deep in Annex A

    129: Deep in Annex A
    Feb 27 2025

    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 comment@octothorpecast.uk, 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
        • John Nielsen-Hall’s article, “Running up that Hill: or Life with the Brunners” appears in Prolapse #7
          • Prolapse
          • Motorway Dreams, a collection of Nielsen-Hall’s writing which includes the article
    • 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)
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    49 mins
  • 128: A Minidisc Player Will Do You No Good

    128: A Minidisc Player Will Do You No Good
    Feb 13 2025

    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 comment@octothorpecast.uk, 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 finance@easterconbelfast.org 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)
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    44 mins
  • 127: Hello Buoys

    127: Hello Buoys
    Jan 30 2025

    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 comment@octothorpecast.uk, 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
    • Readers’ recommendations
      • Best Novel
        • Private Rites by Julia Armfield
        • I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S Beagle
        • Metal from Heaven by August Clarke
        • In Universes by Emet North
        • The West Passage by Jared Pechaček
        • Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley
        • Someone You Can Build a Nest in By John Wiswell
      • Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form)
        • Deadpool and Wolverine
        • Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox
      • Best Game or Interactive Work:
        • Tactical Breach Wizards
      • Best Fancast
        • Eight Days of Diana Wynne Jones by Emily Tesh and Rebecca Fraimow
          • Lady Eve’s Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow
      • Astounding Award
        • The End of Nobility by Michael Green
    • Briardene Books
      • Preorders for Colourfields by Paul Kincaid are now open!
    • 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)
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    45 mins
  • 126: I’ve Read Some Novels

    126: I’ve Read Some Novels
    Jan 16 2025
    John is a thief, Alison plays games, and Liz is bullied. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, 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 Andreas DavourBella GarciaConstanze HoffmanFarah MendlesohnJonathan CowieJune YoungMike ScottNeil OttensteinRajTammy CoxenZoe O’ConnellWe also heard from Bridget Bradshaw, Colin Harris, Meg MacDonald, and Shi Lala Fan funds The 2025 TAFF race has begun Zi Graves, Mikołaj Kowalewski, Jan Vaněk jr. CUFF comes to an end Fowler AwardHugo Awards 2025 spreadsheet of doomNovels T**he Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson BennettThe Sentence by Gautam BhatiaThe Ministry of Time by Kaliane BradleyThe Life Impossible by Matt HaigJumpnauts by Hao JingfangThe Siege of Burning Grass by Premee MohamedAlien Clay by Adrian TchaikovskyHouse of Open Wounds by Adrian TchaikovskyAbsolution by Jeff VandermeerWe Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson Novellas A Mourning Coat by Alex JeffersNorth Continent Ribbon by Ursula Whitcher Short Stories Grottmata by Thomas HaFive Views of the Planet Tartarus by Rachael K Jones Related Works Track Changes: Selected Reviews **by Abigail NussbaumSpeculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the A**lt-Right by Jordan S. Carroll Series The Horus HeresyThe Southern ReachThe Tyrant Philosophers Graphic Stories Warp Your Own Way by Ryan North and Chris Fenoglio Abigail Nussbaum’s review at Strange Horizons Dramatic Presentations All of Us StrangersFuriosa: A Mad Max SagaI Saw the TV GlowLate Night with the DevilMy Old AssA Quiet Place: Day OneThe SubstanceTimestalkerWallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most FowlThe Wild Robot Games Tabletop ArcsCity of Six MoonsMothershipUndaunted 2200: Callisto Video Animal WellCaves of QudDragon Age: The VeilguardThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdo**mSlice and Dice 3.0Star Wars: OutlawsTale of the Golden IdolUFO50 Other Bridge Command Poems Sandra Bond Fan categories Artists Alison ScottEspaña Sheriff Podcasts Fanac Fan History ZoomsGoing RogueHugo, Girl!A Meal of Thorns Writers Camestros FelaptonErsatz CultureRoseanna Pendlebury Fanzines Ancillary Review of BooksBanana WingsOrnithopterUnofficial Hugo Book Club Debut authors Moniquill Blackgoose [Alison did not write any of her selections into the show notes and I was sorely tempted not to go through and write them all down for her but I did it for you, listener. I did it for you—John] Picks [isn’t this a whole episode of picks?—Liz] John: Earthborne RangersAlison: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomLiz: Horizon Zero DawnSorry Mark Credits Cover art: “Waffle of comment” by Bella Garcia Alt text: A picture of a Belgian waffle that looks like an octothorpe, on a white background, with the words “Octothorpe 126” above and “now with added waffle” below. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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    1 hr
  • 125: I’m Physically Present in This Hotel Room

    125: I’m Physically Present in This Hotel Room
    Dec 20 2024

    John is travelling, Alison is coding, and Liz is faithful.

    An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, 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: Death (chapter 6)

    • Letters of comment
      • Chris Garcia
        • The Beef and Dairy Network Podcast
      • Jt
      • Raj
    • Rotsler Award
      • España Sheriff is this year’s winner
    • Seattle 2025
      • Virtual Business Meeting announcement
      • Reportage on File 770
      • Unofficial WSFS Business Meeting Discord
    • Upcoming Worldcons
      • Vince Docherty reports from Smofcon 41
        • There are many links to convention bid websites contained within
      • Montréal are continuing for 2027, but Tel Aviv have suspended
      • Conventions on cruise ships
        • BGG@SEA
        • JoCo Cruise
    • Vanessa May
      • Vanessa was an integral part of the very beginning of Glasgow 2024
    • Picks
      • John: EXIT: The Game: Advent Calendar: The Missing Hollywood Star
      • Alison: Advent of Code
      • Liz: The Muppet Christmas Carol
    • Credits
      • Cover art: “Christmas Hats” by Alison Scott
        • Alt text: John wears an Octothorpe Christmas jumper and a green and red hat with elf ears, Alison wears a red Christmas jumper and a moose/reindeer hat, and Liz wears a blue jumper and a Christmas tree hat. The words “Octothorpe 125” appear at the top in a Christmassy font that looks like it has snow on the letters.
      • Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
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    54 mins