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

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

genre, which focuses on futuristic and imaginative advances in

science Science is a systematic discipline that builds and organises knowledge in the form of testable hypotheses and predictions about the universe. Modern science is typically divided into twoor threemajor branches: the natural sciences, which stu ...

and

technology Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...

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

space exploration Space exploration is the process of utilizing astronomy and space technology to investigate outer space. While the exploration of space is currently carried out mainly by astronomers with telescopes, its physical exploration is conducted bo ...

extraterrestrials Extraterrestrial life, or alien life (colloquially, aliens), is life that originates from another world rather than on Earth. No extraterrestrial life has yet been scientifically conclusively detected. Such life might range from simple forms ...

time travel Time travel is the hypothetical activity of traveling into the past or future. Time travel is a concept in philosophy and fiction, particularly science fiction. In fiction, time travel is typically achieved through the use of a device known a ...

, parallel universes,

artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence (AI) is the capability of computer, computational systems to perform tasks typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and decision-making. It is a field of re ...

robot A robot is a machine—especially one Computer program, programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions Automation, automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the robot control, co ...

s, and

human cloning Human cloning is the creation of a genetically Cloning, identical copy of a human. The term is generally used to refer to artificial human cloning, which is the reproduction of human Cell (biology), cells and Tissue (biology), tissue. It does ...

. 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, dramatised, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the liste ...

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

horror podcast A horror podcast is a podcast that covers fiction, non-fiction, or 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 '' ...

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, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via Terrestrial television, over-the-air, Satellite television, satellite, and cable te ...

graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...

s, and

comics a Media (communication), medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of Panel (comics), panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, Glo ...

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 from Earth, it has an apparent magnitude of 13.54 and can only be seen with a large telescope. Wolf 359 is one of the nearest stars to ...

'', ''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 po ...

''. ''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 an absurdist supernatural fiction podcast created by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. It is presented as a community radio show in the fictional American desert town of Night Vale, with the eccentric local radio ho ...

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

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'' is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine edited by Neil Clarke. It released its first issue October 1, 2006, and has maintained a regular monthly schedule since, publishing fiction by authors such as ...

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

Audio dramas

Science fiction podcasts that are delivered in an audio drama format include ''Marsfall'', '' The Call of the Void'' '' The Left Right Game'', ''

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

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) was an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, incorporated in the New York (state), state of New York and headquartered in Boston. Over the year ...

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, breast ...

produced a science fiction podcast entitled ''The Message'', and then later produced a sequel entitled ''LifeAfter.''

BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, trading as BMW Group (commonly abbreviated to BMW (), sometimes anglicised as Bavarian Motor Works), is a German multinational manufacturer of vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Th ...

has also created a science fiction podcast called ''Hypnopolis''. VMware 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 (; ) 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 allows it to use the Louvre's name until 2047, and has ...

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 Enterprises. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive programming. The festival ...

, 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 and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

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 *