A Science fiction podcast (sometimes shortened to sci-fi podcast or SF podcast) is a podcast belonging to the

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imagination, imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, Paral ...

genre, which focuses on

futuristic The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ...

and imaginative advances in

science Science is a systematic endeavor that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earli ...

and

technology Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in medicine, scie ...

while exploring the impact of these imagined innovations. Characters in these stories often encounter scenarios that involve

space exploration Space exploration is the use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space. While the exploration of space is carried out mainly by astronomers with telescopes, its physical exploration though is conducted both by uncrewed rob ...

extraterrestrials Extraterrestrial life, colloquially referred to as alien life, is life that may occur outside Earth and which did not originate on Earth. No extraterrestrial life has yet been conclusively detected, although efforts are underway. Such life might ...

time travel Time travel is the concept of movement between certain points in time, analogous to movement between different points in space by an object or a person, typically with the use of a hypothetical device known as a time machine. Time travel is a ...

, parallel universes,

artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence—perceiving, synthesizing, and inferring information—demonstrated by machines, as opposed to intelligence displayed by animals and humans. Example tasks in which this is done include speech r ...

robot A robot is a machine—especially one programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the control may be embedded within. Robots may be ...

s, and

human cloning Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy (or clone) of a human. The term is generally used to refer to artificial human cloning, which is the reproduction of human cells and tissue. It does not refer to the natural concepti ...

. Despite the focus on fictional settings and time periods, science fiction podcasts regularly contain or reference locations, events, or people from the real world. The intended audience of a science fiction podcast can vary from young children to adults. Science fiction podcasts developed out of

radio drama Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...

s. Science fiction podcasts are a subgenre of fiction podcasts and are distinguished from fantasy podcasts and

horror podcast Horror is a genre of podcasts covering fiction, non-fiction, and reviews of the horror genre generally. History Horror podcasts are typically created and run by volunteers in their free time. As some podcasts such as '' Archive 81'' and ''T ...

s by the absence of magical or macabre themes, respectively, though these subgenres regularly overlap. Science fiction podcasts have often been adapted into

television programs A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...

graphic novel A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...

s, and comics.

Genre and subgenres

Science fiction podcasts often focus on themes such as time travel, space exploration, robots, and artificial intelligence. For instance, science fiction podcasts focused on time travel include '' Snap Judgement,'' ''A Winkle in Time,'' and ''Black Box.'' Examples of science fiction podcast centered on space travel are ''The Hyacinth Disaster,'' ''

Wolf 359 Wolf 359 is a red dwarf star located in the constellation Leo, near the ecliptic. At a distance of approximately 7.9 light years from Earth, it has an apparent magnitude of 13.54 and can only be seen with a large telescope. Wolf 359 is ...

'', ''Arca-45672,'' and ''Voyage to the Stars.'' An example of a science fiction podcast focused on robots is ''

Electric Easy Electric Easy is a science fiction podcast and musical produced by QCode starring Kesha, Chloe Bailey, and Mason Gooding. Background The podcast was produced by QCode and created by Vanya Asher. The show was produced using Dolby Atmos. The p ...

''. ''SAYER'' and ''Chrysalis'' are two science fiction podcast that focus on Artificial Intelligence.' Prominent science fiction podcasts that focus on fictional politics, conspiracy theories, journalism, and crime are ''

Welcome to Night Vale ''Welcome to Night Vale'' is a podcast presented as a radio show for the fictional town of Night Vale, reporting on the strange events that occur within it. The series was created in 2012 by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. Published by Night Vale ...

'', ''Andromeda'', and ''Wellspring''. ''The Apocrypha Chronicles'' and ''Girl in Space'' are two science fiction podcasts that explore

indigenous futurisms Indigenous Futurisms is a movement consisting of art, literature, comics, games, and other forms of media which express Indigenous perspectives of the future, past, and present in the context of science fiction and related sub-genres. Such perspect ...

Science fiction and fantasy podcasts

The content of fantasy podcasts often overlaps with science fiction podcasts. These two genres are often grouped together under the label science fiction and fantasy podcasts, which is sometimes shortened to sci-fi/fantasy podcasts or simply SFF. Some examples of podcasts that cover both science fiction and fantasy topics include ''Imaginary Worlds'', ''Sword & Laser'', ''SFF Yeah!'', and ''The SFF Audio Podcast''. Two of the longest running science fiction and fantasy podcasts, as of 2021, are ''Sword and Laser'' and the ''

Clarkesworld Magazine ''Clarkesworld Magazine'' (ISSN 1937-7843) is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine. It released its first issue October 1, 2006 and has maintained a regular monthly schedule since, publishing fiction by authors such as Elizabet ...

'' podcast, which have both been regularly releasing episodes since 2008.

Sci-fi thriller podcasts

Science fiction podcasts are typically distinguished from horror podcasts by the absence of macabre or thriller themes, however, the genres often overlap. For instance, sci-fi thrillers like ''Immunities'', Cipher, ''Forest 404'' have very similar themes to horror podcasts.

News and reviews

Science fiction podcasts that focus on news and reviews of science fiction media include ''SFF Yeah!'', ''Hugos There'', '' 372 Pages We’ll never Get Back'', ''Flash Forward'', ''Spectology: The Sci-Fi Book Club Podcast'', ''The SFF Audio Podcast'', ''Sword & Laser'', ''Imaginary Worlds'', and ''Newcomers''. Other science fiction podcasts focused on discussing, reviewing, and critiquing other works of science fiction are ''Imaginary Worlds,'' ''Eye on Sci-Fi'', and ''Our Opinions Are Correct''.

Sci-fi improv podcasts

Science fiction podcasts that are delivered in an improvised fashion include ''

Mission to Zyxx ''Mission to Zyxx'' is a space opera comedy podcast series, created by and starring Alden Ford, Allie Kokesh, Jeremy Bent, Seth Lind, Winston Noel and Moujan Zolfaghari. The series premiered on September 6, 2017, and concluded its run on Septe ...

,'' ''Illusionoid'', and ''Stellar Firma''.

Audio dramas

Science fiction podcasts that are delivered in an audio drama format include ''A World Where'', ''Marsfall'', ''

The Call of the Void ''The Call of the Void Podcast'' is an audio drama podcast created and written by Josie Eli Herman and Michael Alan Herman. The story takes place in modern day New Orleans and incorporates elements of cosmic horror and weird fiction Weird f ...

'' '' The Left Right Game'', ''Wolf 359'', ''

Within the Wires ''Within the Wires'' is a dramatic anthology podcast in the style of epistolary fiction. In the first season, the listener, a medical inmate at a place called the institute, receives guidance from the mysterious narrator of instructional relax ...

,'' and ''Red Valley''. Others include ''NULL/VOID'', ''Murmurs'', ''Black Friday'', ''A World Where'', ''Gay Future'', ''The Great Chameleon War'', ''Fun City'', ''Dreambound'', ''Paired'', and ''The Rest Is Electric''.

History

Two of the longest running science fiction podcasts, as of 2021, are ''Sword and Laser'' and The Clarkesworld Magazine podcast, which have been regularly releasing episodes since 2007 and 2008 respectively. Two of the most notable science fiction podcasts are ''The Bright Sessions'' and ''Welcome to Night Vale.'' The podcast revolution led to the production of some science fiction podcasts. The intended audience of a science fiction podcast can be a young child like the podcasts ''Six Minutes,'' ''Historynauts'', and ''The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel''. Science fiction podcast producers can be children as well. For instance, ''The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian'' is written by Jonathan Messinger but edited and voiced by his seven year old son Griffin Messinger. Young adults have also produced science fiction podcasts such as Lauren Shippen, who was only twenty-four at the time that she started ''

The Bright Sessions ''The Bright Sessions'' is a science fiction podcast audio drama created by Lauren Shippen and starring Julia Morizawa as the titular Dr. Bright. The podcast takes place in a fictional universe where super-powered individuals, called "atypical ...

''. Businesses have utilized science fiction podcasts as a method of increasing brand visibility and advertising. For instance,

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energ ...

in partnership with

Panoply A panoply is a complete suit of armor. The word represents the Ancient Greek ('), where the word (') means "all", and (') means "arms". Thus, ''panoply'' refers to the full armor of a hoplite or heavily-armed soldier, i.e. the shield, brea ...

produced a science fiction podcast entitled ''The Message'', and then later produced a sequel entitled ''LifeAfter.'' BMW has also created a science fiction podcast called ''Hypnopolis''.

VMware VMware, Inc. is an American cloud computing and virtualization technology company with headquarters in Palo Alto, California. VMware was the first commercially successful company to virtualize the x86 architecture. VMware's desktop software ru ...

produced a science fiction podcast called ''I.T. > Sci-Fi''. Science fiction podcasts have even been used by museums. For instance, the science fiction podcast called ''We Are Not Alone'' was used as an audio tour of the

Louvre Abu Dhabi The Louvre Abu Dhabi ( ar, اللوفر أبوظبي; french: Louvre Abou Dabi) is an art museum located on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It runs under an agreement between the UAE and France, signed in March 2007, that ...

art museum. Audiobook companies that produce fantasy and science fiction audiobooks have often expanded into fantasy and science fiction podcasts. The audiobook publishing company Argon released a science fiction podcast with the title ''Fantastic stories and where to find them''. The audiobook company Tor Labs also produced a science fiction podcast called ''Steal the Stars''. Theatre companies have also used podcasts as an alternative form of employment. Science fiction podcasts have also been included in podcast awards, music awards, and film festivals. For instance the science fiction podcast, ''Earth Break,'' premiered at the 2019

Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive programming. Tribeca was ...

, and a podcast award category was established for the 2021 festival. The

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...

created an increase in audio productions because film and TV production was difficult to continue under the restrictions put in place as a response to the pandemic. Nonfiction podcasts have been very popular, but fiction podcasts have gained popularity since 2012 after ''Welcome to Night Vale'' and ''Limetown'' started. For instance, ''There Be Monsters,'' ''From Now'', ''The Oyster'', and ''In Astra'' were all started during the pandemic. Madeline Wells of SFGate recommended listening to science fiction podcasts during the pandemic.

Adaptions

The science fiction entertainment industry has used podcasts as a medium to test out new ideas for TV and film because it's cheap and easy to produce a podcast. Science fiction podcasts that have been adapted into film and TV series include ''Limetown'', ''The Left Right Game'', ''Carrier'', ''The Second Oil Age,'' and ''The Bright Sessions.'' There have also been science fiction podcasts entirely based on films such as Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone. While other science fiction podcast such as ''The'' ''Cryptids'' has been adapted into a video podcasts. Science fiction magazines have been adapted into podcasts and vice versa. For instance, the Escape Pod magazine podcast and the ''

'' podcast. Science fiction podcasts have been adapted into books, comics, and films. For instance, ''Sword and Laser'' has been adapted into a book. Voyage to the stars was adapted into a comic series. ''The Bright Sessions'' was adapted into young adult novels, the first of which is entitled ''The Infinite Noise''.

References

External links

* at FictionPodcasts.com {{Science fiction *