Science Fiction Book Club: Project Hail Mary
Lore Party Media LLC
Science Fiction Book Club is a podcast for bookworms and stargazers. In every episode, hosts Abu and Obssa dive into the pages of their favorite science fiction novels to break down the big ideas and ask the nerdy questions. This isn't just a generic book review podcast – it's a show made for and with a community of passionate sci-fi fans. So join the club, and get reading! New episodes every other Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 12, 2026 • 46min
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir I Ch. 16-30
Abu and Obssa complete their read-through of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. They discuss the satisfying conclusion and break down Ryland Grace's character arc.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(03:05) Chapter Summaries
(10:24) Our Impressions
(23:33) Ryland Grace's Character Arc
(26:55) The Philosophical Question of Grace's Amnesia
(33:13) Are We All Capable of Bravery?
(39:30) Our Final Ratings
(41:40) Yes, We're Covering the Movie
(42:10) What We're Reading Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 26, 2026 • 50min
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir I Ch. 1-15
Abu and Obssa begin their read-through of Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. They discuss the tropes and science the book leans in to, and why it's not working for them.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(03:52) Chapter Summaries
(20:38) Our Impressions
(25:02) The Audiobook is Incredible
(27:52) Why Abu Dislikes This Book
(37:25) Andy Weir's Career
(42:43) Writing Project Hail Mary
(46:20) What We're Reading Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 12, 2026 • 49min
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone I Ch. 13-25
Abu and Obssa complete their read-through of This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. They explore the ways love fundamentally changes Red and Blue, and redefines what it means to win the war.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(02:59) Chapter Summaries
(16:46) Our Impressions
(23:25) Can This Story Be Adapted?
(28:06) How Red and Blue Redefine Winning
(29:36) Love is Creating Rather Than Destroying
(32:45) Love is Ignoring War
(35:00) Love is Choosing Risk and Freedom
(37:59) This is How Love Wins
(41:47) Our Ratings
(44:28) What We're Reading Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 29, 2026 • 42min
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone I Ch. 1-12
Abu and Obssa begin their read-through of This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. They explore the depths of true connection, and the paradox of being lonely in an always-connected society.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(02:57) Chapter Summaries
(08:59) Our Impressions
(18:04) The Meta
(20:03) Bigolas Dickolas Wolfwood
(23:20) The Paradox of Connection and Loneliness
(32:47) Making a True Connection With Someone
(38:13) What To Read Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 1, 2026 • 44min
Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa complete their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the ninth short story in the collection, Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom, and explore the horrifying and empowering cost of true free will.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(02:38) Summary
(07:17) Our Impressions
(17:03) Free Will is Dizzying
(21:22) Are Your Decisions Meaningless?
(24:01) The Horrible Price of Free Will
(27:08) Grappling with Infinite Possibilities
(32:52) You Have the Power to Change
(36:36) Final Ratings
(39:24) What We're Reading Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2025 • 38min
Omphalos (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the eighth short story in the collection, Ompahlos, and explore the philosophy of existentialism.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(02:56) Summary
(08:49) Our Impressions
(15:43) A Small Nitpick
(17:59) What is Existentialism?
(19:46) Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir
(21:17) Core Tenets of Existentialism
(23:05) Critiques of Existentialism
(25:40) Are We Existentialists?
(29:34) The Absurd Part of Existentialism
(33:31) What We're Reading Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4, 2025 • 36min
The Great Silence (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the seventh short story in the collection, The Great Silence, and explore how close we are to communicating with animals.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2025 • 33min
The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the sixth short story in the collection, The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling, and explore the ways technology has always helped us remember our lives.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2025 • 36min
Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the fifth short story in the collection, Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny, and explore the challenges of raising children in a technological world.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2025 • 51min
The Lifecycle of Software Objects (Exhalation) by Ted Chiang
Abu and Obssa continue their read-through of Exhalation by Ted Chiang. They dive into the fourth short story in the collection, The Lifecycle of Software Objects, and explore the realities of forming relationships with artificial intelligence.
Get bonus content and helpful reading materials: https://www.patreon.com/scifibookclubpod
Keep the conversation going in our free Discord: https://discord.gg/bVrhwWm7j4
Watch the video version of this episode: www.youtube.com/@loreparty
Keep up with this season’s reading schedule: https://tinyurl.com/sfbc-season3
(00:00) Intro
(03:01) Summary
(10:52) Our Impressions
(16:40) Abu's Favorite Moment
(18:25) Weakest Story in the Collection
(20:38) The Icky Truth About Marco
(23:15) Can We Have Relationships with AI?
(28:22) The Case for AI Relationships
(35:13) The Case Against AI Relationships
(42:41) There Are No Shortcuts to Relationships
(46:47) Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
