Octothorpe

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 Davour Bella Garcia Constanze Hoffman Farah Mendlesohn Jonathan Cowie June Young Mike Scott Neil Ottenstein Raj Tammy Coxen Zoe O’Connell We 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 Award Hugo Awards 2025 spreadsheet of doom Novels T**he Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett The Sentence by Gautam Bhatia The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley The Life Impossible by Matt Haig Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson Novellas A Mourning Coat by Alex Jeffers North Continent Ribbon by Ursula Whitcher Short Stories Grottmata by Thomas Ha Five Views of the Planet Tartarus by Rachael K Jones Related Works Track Changes: Selected Reviews **by Abigail Nussbaum Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the A**lt-Right by Jordan S. Carroll Series The Horus Heresy The Southern Reach The 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 Strangers Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga I Saw the TV Glow Late Night with the Devil My Old Ass A Quiet Place: Day One The Substance Timestalker Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl The Wild Robot Games Tabletop Arcs City of Six Moons Mothership Undaunted 2200: Callisto Video Animal Well Caves of Qud Dragon Age: The Veilguard The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdo**m Slice and Dice 3.0 Star Wars: Outlaws Tale of the Golden Idol UFO50 Other Bridge Command Poems Sandra Bond Fan categories Artists Alison Scott España Sheriff Podcasts Fanac Fan History Zooms Going Rogue Hugo, Girl! A Meal of Thorns Writers Camestros Felapton Ersatz Culture Roseanna Pendlebury Fanzines Ancillary Review of Books Banana Wings Ornithopter Unofficial 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 Rangers Alison: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Liz: Horizon Zero Dawn Sorry 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)

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)

John is horrified, Alison is spelunking, and Liz is detecting. 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: Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks Andrew Hogg 4D Golf Braid Archipelacon 2 Caroline Mullan Chris Garcia Some accusations against Ekpeki have been disproved Farah Mendlesohn Ivan Sinha Jonny Baddeley June Young Aurora Australis Alerts Aurora Now AuroraWatch UK SpaceWeatherLive MonkeyKing Roseanna Pendlebury Shia Lia Tommy Ferguson Reconnect Upcoming conventions Eastercon 2026: Iridescence at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Bid chaired by Phil Dyson Eastercon 2027: Glasgow Bid chaired by Alan Fleming and David Bamford Eastercon 2028: Gateshead? Novacon 2025 Conrunner 2026 To be chaired by Esther MacCallum-Stewart in February WisCONline 2025 Edmonton 2030 Picks John: Mothership Mothership Month Alison: Caves of Qud Liz: Rise of the Golden Idol (Sorry that they’re all games, Mark) Credits Cover art: “Ohmudillo” by Sophie van Setten Alt text: The Glasgow 2024 logo drawn in pencils and crayon, but across the middle there is a segmented creature with eight eyes and mandibles. At the top, the words “Octothorpe 124” appear in blue. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is going to Seattle, Alison is going to the Åland Islands, and Liz is going to Belfast. 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: Money, grim darkness Belfast Eastercon Seattle 2025 Archipelacon 2 Back to Our Futures The Dark Room Liz’s Adrian Tchaikovsky scoop Edmonton Worldcon bid Picks John: Wrath and Glory Alison: Timestalker Liz: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Goodie from Goodreads Credits Cover art: “Fully Caffeinated” by Alison Scott Alt text: A coffee stain on a piece of paper on which are written the words “Octothorpe 123” and “fully caffineated”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is on the periphery, Alison is carving, and Liz went to Japan. 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: con artistry, privilege, racism Letters of comment Jake Casella Brookins Sankey diagrams on the Ancillary Review of Books Ali Baker Brooks I’m a Fan of That Christopher J Garcia Emily January Kat Kourbeti SH@25 is a new, year-long interview and feature series that will delve into the archives, celebrate the work of past contributors and staff, and highlight the contributions of Strange Horizons to SFF publishing and the wider community. Caroline Mullan Zoe O’Connell Roman Orszanski Booking flights on a phone Awards World Fantasy Awards The Kitschies Ursula K LeGuin award Strange Horizons review in two parts: one, two Oghenochovwe Donald Ekpeki Erin Cairns has reported that Ekpeki stole a story and passed it off as his own On Bluesky On Google Drive File 770 report Cairns tried to sound this alarm on X in June Reactions Gautam Bhatia L D Lewis (requires Bluesky login) Ekpeki’s response Jason Sanford talks about his reaction to the news: one, two Picks John: Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Alison: Bridge Command Alison was given free tickets by the venue’s PR team Liz: Japan Neat effects like Tokyo Disneyland’s Pepper’s ghost or Shiriki Utundu Liz was not given free tickets but if anyone wants to give me free tickets to Disney parks please get in touch Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe, Octothorpe, Octothorpe” by Alison Scott Alt text: A pumpkin carved with an image of Beetlejuice, with the words “Episode 122” at the top of the image and “Octothorpe, Octothorpe, Octothorpe” at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John, Alison and Liz read Grass by Sheri S Tepper. 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: Rape, consensual interspecies sex, murder, classism, plague/disease Adam Roberts’ review of Grass Credits Cover art: “Three Little Hippae” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three hippae stand on a landscape of alien grass and plants in blue, purple, red, teal, and orange underneath a pinkish sky. The words “Octothorpe 121” appear at the top and the words “Grass Sheri S Tepper” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John does a funny voice, Alison recoils, and Liz loves big stats and she cannot lie. 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 5) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Chris Garcia Alison closing a parenthesis Emily January España Sheriff Farah Mendlesohn Ivan Sinha Nicholas Whyte Upcoming eclipses Tammy Coxen 2024 Hugo Voting Statistics 2024 Sankey diagrams 2020 Sankey diagrams Picks John: The Substance Definitely not Subterranea Alison: UFO 50 Liz: Alien Clay Credits Cover art: “Judge Coxon” by Alison Scott Alt text: Words read ‘Octothorpe 120: Introducing Judge Coxon. “I am the lore”’. They are around a picture of John as a Judge in the style of 2000AD, holding a big stack of books. The logo of the Clarke Award may or may not appear in the artwork. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

John is not assigning blame, Alison is someone, and Liz is bludgeoning. 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 or on Instagram) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Sexual assault (Neil Gaiman allegations, at 39:28 to 42:02). Letters of comment Niall Harrison On our Hugo win/recusing Andy on Mastodon Chris Garcia Meg MacDonald Perianne Lurie Renay Sandra Bond’s poem On info desk and maps Alan Fleming Doug Faunt Peter Sullivan On communications Chris Garcia Duncan MacGregor on Mastodon On WSFS Business Meeting June Young (email, 9 September) Chris Garcia (email, 29 August) Martin Freeman circa 2001 Post from Nicholas Whyte on consultative vote DC on Mastodon Duncan MacGregor on Mastodon Raj on Mastodon Our brand is now WSFS Commentators and people like it? Laurie Burchell On Worldcon attendance numbers Tero on Mastodon aoanla on Mastodon Miscellaneous Hugo finalists: Raj on Mastodon Programme: aoanla on Mastodon Back to Our Futures We also heard from: Ali Baker Brooks, Angela Rosin, Catherine Pickersgill, Curt Phillips, Damien Warman, Dave Coxon, España Sheriff, Farah Mendlesohn, Fiona Moore, Fran Dowd, Gav Reads, Iain Clark, Jonathan Baddeley, Julie Faith McMurray, Karen Schaffer, Leigh Edmonds, Lilian Edwards, Malcolm Hutchison, Mike Scott, Neil Ottenstein, Phil Dyson, Roseanna Pendlebury, Trish Neil Gaiman File 770 Genre Grapevine Elise Matthesen on Dreamwidth The Guardian Theremina on Patreon Future Worldcons Seattle 2025 Seattle is having a Poetry Hugo Seattle has announced a judged film festival LAcon V looks good Good guests “The LA in 2026 bid received 452 out of 531 votes cast.” Tel Aviv in 2027 Brisbane in 2028 The latest episode of FANAC History Zoom is “The secret history of Plokta”, with Steve Davies, Sue Mason, Alison Scott, and Mike Scott Picks John: Alien: Romulus Alison: KAOS Liz: Control Credits Cover art: “We got a lot of letters” by Alison Scott Alt text: A famous photograph of Margaret Hamilton standing beside printed outputs of the code that took the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon, overlaid with the words “Octothorpe 119” and “Our Listeners Write In”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)

The hosts dive into the chaotic yet delightful world of conventions, sharing hilarious anecdotes of camaraderie and challenges faced. They critique the issues surrounding printed materials and the importance of effective communication at events. Recent sci-fi releases like 'The Acolyte' and the animated gem 'Nimona' are explored, along with playful reimagining of James Bond with Dev Patel and Riz Ahmed. From food preferences to tech mishaps, the mix of humor and honest reflections keeps the conversation lively!

John liked the entertainment, Alison didn’t queue, and Liz wanted soup. 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 Doug Faunt Renay We are recusing for at least the 2025 Hugos Renay is known for Lady Business and the Hugo Award Spreadsheet of Doom ULTIMAFAX on YouTube: “Allison [sic] looks exactly like she sounds lol. john does not” Fancast recommendations: Stitch and Bitch by Kalanadi FANAC Fan History by Joe Siclari and Edie Stern Hugo, Girl! by Lori, Haley and Amy 🥰 The Godzilla Minus One eligibility extension was voted down Queue entertainment Cardinal Cox The Quest NPC The Long List of World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons) Glasgow 2024 Back to Our Futures Credits Cover art: “Hugo Evolution” by Iain J Clark (arranged by Alison Scott) Alt text: Three photographs dominate the centre of the image. The left-hand photograph is of a prototype Hugo made of rough wood and cardboard; the centre photograph is of a rough-ish wood base and tin foil rocket but with the actual acrylic and etching, and the right-hand photograph is of the finished Hugo Award. Text below the photos reads “protoprototype”, “prototype”, and “2024 Hugo”. Above, the words “Octothorpe 117” appear. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)