Hugo, Girl!
92 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 65 ratingsThree space feminists read, dissect, and rant at Hugo Award-winning pieces of fiction.
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Episodes
Episode 70 - The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas: The Pilot
July 03, 2024 00:06 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MBOver five years ago, we test drove this thing. It's rough, but we hope you'll enjoy it! For various reasons, we had to push back our planned schedule. This is How You Lose the Time War will drop in August, followed by A Fire Upon the Deep in September.
Episode 69 - Mirror Dance: Res-erection
June 05, 2024 01:41 - 1 hour - 83.5 MBAnother attack of the clones. We liked it! DM: Haley CW/TW: rape, sexual abuse, transphobia, intersexphobia, fatphobia Music by Pets of Belonging Links: The Extractivism of Setting and the Traitor's Text - Vajra Chandrasekera Jo Walton's Review
Episode 68 - The Fountains of Paradise: Battery Dingleberry
May 01, 2024 04:01 - 57 minutes - 49.8 MBThis month we read Arthur C. Clarke's perfectly fine novel, The Fountains of Paradise. It is fine! And it has an admittedly banger ending, if you can stand the first 200 pages. Recommended, maybe? Amy is DM. Music by Pets of Belonging Links: Wikipedia - Sigiriya Sculpture and Poetry of Sigiriya
Episode 67: Hugo Girls Gone Wild: Twilight: OnlyFangs
April 01, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 52.3 MBWe discuss the hottest film romance in genre fiction: Twilight! We love it. DM: Lori CW/TW: It's Twilight. Music by Pets of Belonging
Episode 66 - The Wind Whales of Ishmael: #NotMyIshmael
March 06, 2024 01:56 - 58 minutes - 46.5 MBThis month we read Philip José Farmer's extended fart joke The Wind Whales of Ishmael. This episode is kinda ridiculous, which is fitting for a book which is also kinda ridiculous. We chatted for 15 minutes before we got into the book, as follows: 0:00-7:00ish - general chat and update on Haley's fava beans, as requested by listener Amber 7:00ish-14:30 - tasting and discussion of Coca-Cola Spiced, which is not very good 14:30-15:30 - an anecdote from Haley's college radio days 15:30-end...
Episode 65 - The Sparrow: Trigger Warning
February 07, 2024 12:14 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBThis month we read Mary Doria Russell's divisive novel The Sparrow. It's got a bit of everything - Jesuits, space travel, food, friendship, sexual assault, victim-blaming, and child murder. Amy is DM. Did we mention trigger warning? Yikes! CW/TW: see description above, and it's really serious so skip this one if you need to! We like you! By the way, we did a LOT of chatting at the top of this one, so skip to about the 12 minute mark if you want to get straight into the book discussion.
First Anne-ual Hugo Quiz Show
January 15, 2024 17:53 - 52 minutes - 41.5 MBFriend of the pod Anne joined us and quizzed us on past episodes! We also discussed our favorite reads of 2023 and what we're looking forward to reading in 2024. Happy New Year, and thanks for listening!
Episode 64 - Spin: Eating Disorder Lawton
January 03, 2024 13:57 - 1 hour - 52.5 MBJason is a genius, Diane is a diamond, ED is a Lawton, and Carol is drunk. Our narrator - He's just Tyler. This month we read Spin by Robert Charles Wilson. We liked it! Lori is DM. Note: There is no actual discussion of eating disorders in this episode or in the book. One character is named ED, and his name is repeated one million times. Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging Links: Speculition's Review of Spin
Episode 63 - Lord of Light: We Get Slizzard
December 06, 2023 13:21 - 1 hour - 52.2 MBThis month we read Roger Zelazny's classic Lord of Light. We did not like it, and we are sorry. DM: Haley References: The Nerantel Gem Episode Read the Nerantel Gem Jo Walton's Review Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging
Episode 62 - Blood of the Dragon: Dugs Talk
November 01, 2023 05:00 - 54 minutes - 43.8 MBThis month we discussed Blood of the Dragon, which won George RR Martin the Hugo Award for best novella in 1997. Blood of the Dragon consists of the Daenerys chapters from Game of Thrones. You can read it here or here. DM: Amy CW/TW: It's Game of Thrones, so you know the deal: SA, SA, and more SA. Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging
Episode 61 - Carrie: Dirtypillows Talk
October 04, 2023 01:14 - 57 minutes - 46.6 MBHold on to your dirtypillows and don't forget to plug it up - spooky season is here! We read Carrie, Stephen King's 1974 debut novel. Lori is DM. Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging Links: Tor.com review Carrie on stephenking.com
Episode 60 - The Snow Queen: Kind of a Janet
September 06, 2023 00:54 - 54 minutes - 43.3 MBThis month we read The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge. We liked it. No further analysis! DM: Haley NOTE: Sound quality is bad. Amy was sick so we recorded remotely, and your friend Lori did a bad job adjusting the gain. For best results, use your crummiest headphones. Also, it's come to our attention that Joan's last name might be pronounced Ving-ee, or maybe Vinjee. If we said it wrong, we're sorry! Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging
Episode 59 - The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: Funny-Once
August 02, 2023 10:00 - 1 hour - 61.4 MBThis month we read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein, and boy howdy is it ever a Mojo Dojo Casa House up there on Luna. We'll stay here on Earth, thanks. DM: Amy CW/TW: every expression of misogyny! Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging LINKS: 7 Fictional Characters that Changed the World Cronkite Interview with Heinlein and Clarke Jo Walton's Review
Episode 58 - To Say Nothing of the Dog: Technical Difficulties
July 05, 2023 01:54 - 58 minutes - 47.3 MBWhile we were discussing Connie Willis's 1999 Hugo winning novel To Say Nothing of the Dog, our memory card went kaput. We hope that you enjoy this somewhat disjointed discussion with an awkward break in the middle, because when we thought we'd lost the whole discussion, we almost abandoned ship! It must've been the net causing slippage. Lori is DM. Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging
Scream warning! Also, the cake was shaped like a rocket!
July 03, 2023 00:13 - 8 minutes - 6.72 MBTurn down the volume because we're Hugo finalists again so it's about to get loud!! Hear us drink champagne and talk for 5 minutes about the special rocket-shaped cakes Lori made without ever actually describing them! Yay!! Congratulations to all the finalists! Check out the full list here.
Episode 57 - The Sword in the Stone: Cheeky Fantasy
June 07, 2023 12:32 - 1 hour - 49.3 MBThis month we read T.H. White's retro Hugo winner for best novel, The Sword in the Stone. Digressions abound! Haley is DM. Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging
Halfway to Life Day: Star Wars Cookbook Special
May 16, 2023 23:06 - 39 minutes - 31 MBIn this special episode, we celebrate the midpoint between Life Day 2022 and Life Day 2023 (it's Halfway to Life Day!) with a review of the Star Wars Life Day Cookbook by Chef Strono Tuggs. We were joined by friend and writer Ann Harris for an eclectic feast from a galaxy far, far away. This is a cookbook episode, so we're eating, and it sounds like we're eating. We even talk with our mouths full (especially Lori), so if that's gonna gross you out, skip this one. LINKS: Follow author A...
Episode 56 - The Yiddish Policemen's Union: Too Much Pizza
May 03, 2023 08:30 - 1 hour - 54.1 MBThis month we discussed The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon. We swam in a sea of metaphors and similes so you don't have to. But you might want to, because in spite of itself, this storm of words is good! DM: Amy Big thanks to Lori's cousin Sarah, who did a sensitivity edit for us, and wrote us such a banger of an email that we asked her to turn it into a review! Heck, maybe we do written reviews now! Who knows! Check out our new shop! Transcript Library Music by Pets ...
Episode 55 - Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang: OH NO MAT PLAY
April 05, 2023 05:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBThis month we discussed Kate Wilhelm's 1977 Hugo winner, Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang. This is the second book in our accidental 2023 Clone Duology (after Cyteen), and it's pretty weird! This episode covers some important topics, such as whether sex between clones is more like incest or more like masturbation. DM: Lori CW/TW: Lots of weird sex stuff. DON'T LISTEN WITH YOUR KID(S) IN THE CAR. Thanks to Cody from the Hugonauts podcast for joining us! Each episode of Hugonauts dives i...
The Sounds of Sci Fi
April 01, 2023 08:00 - 1 minute - 1.69 MBBIG NEWS: We're dropping our very first ALBUM!! We've curated all your favorite Sci Fi hits in one exclusive mix: The Hugo, Girl! Sounds of Sci Fi! Supplies are limited, so order yours now!
Episode 54 - Cyteen: Tape Worm
March 01, 2023 04:09 - 1 hour - 59 MBThis month we discussed CJ Cherryh's hot em dash mess, Cyteen. Weighing in at 1 lb 10.7 ounces (or 757 grams), Cyteen is a whole lotta book, and we definitely read every page of it. SPOILER WARNING: There's a pretty uninteresting spoiler for Cyteen's sequel Regenesis, around the 45-46 minute mark. If you don't want to know who killed Ari, skip that part. DM: Haley CW/TW: sexual assault Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging Links: Dragonflight and the Extinction of th...
Episode 53: Doomsday Book: Apocalyptic!
February 01, 2023 06:00 - 56 minutes - 45.4 MBThis month we read Doomsday Book, Connie Willis's 1993 Hugo Award for Best Novel. We had no idea it was going to be an eerily prescient pandemic story, with parallels to today, right down to the oft-mentioned toilet paper shortage. Necrotic! Amy is DM. Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging Links: Doomsday Book, the 1992 time-travel novel that sheds light on today’s pandemic. (slate.com) New York Review of Science Fiction
Episode 52 - The Big Time: Maintainer Majora
January 03, 2023 20:28 - 1 hour - 51.7 MBThis month we read Fritz Leiber's 1958 Hugo winner, The Big Time, which despite the cover art is not actually about a very tall lady. It was weird! DM: Lori Transcript Library Music by Pets of Belonging LINKS: 1958 Hugo Nominees by Jo Walton Fritz Leiber's 1982 Introduction Neil Gaiman's Review
Episode 51 - Neuromancer: Peppered with Breasts
December 07, 2022 13:19 - 1 hour - 53.1 MBThis month we jacked into cyberpunk classic Neuromancer, by noted orange cat owner William Gibson. Neuromancer won the Philip K. Dick Award and the Nebula Award in 1984, and the Hugo for Best Novel in 1985. There's some fun stuff in there! We don't hate it! Your console cowboy for this episode is Haley. TW/CW: SA Links: Hard-Wired Traumas Scene from Johnny Mnemonic
Episode 50 - The Emperor's Soul: Kuzco's Poison
November 23, 2022 13:47 - 28 minutes - 23.6 MBIt's the fourth and final installment of Novella-vember! That was a lot! Phew! For our last episode, we read The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson, which won the Hugo for best novella in 2013. Amy is DM.
Episode 49 - The Last of the Winnebagos: Spaceballs
November 16, 2022 13:45 - 29 minutes - 24.2 MBIt's week 3 of Novella-vember! This is the third installment in our series. We'll be releasing four weekly episodes in November, covering a Hugo Award-winning novella. For this week's episode, we read The Last of the Winnebagos by Connie Willis, which won the Hugo for best novella in 1989. Lori is DM.
Episode 48 - Houston, Houston, Do You Read?: Clone Wars
November 09, 2022 02:01 - 32 minutes - 26.2 MBIt's week 2 of Novella-vember! This is the second installment in our series. We'll be releasing four weekly episodes in November, covering a Hugo Award-winning novella. For this week's episode, we read Houston, Houston, Do You Read? by James Tiptree Jr., which won the Hugo for best novella in 1977. Haley is DM. CW/TW: sexual violence, brief discussion of suicide Transcripts Music by Kevin
Episode 47 - The Word for World is Forest: Little Green Men
November 02, 2022 11:35 - 28 minutes - 23 MBIt's Novella-vember! This is the first installment in our series. We'll be releasing four weekly episodes in November, covering a Hugo Award-winning novella. For this week's episode, we read The Word for World is Forest, which won the Hugo for best novella in 1973. Amy is DM. CW/TW: sexual violence, murder, colonial violence, slavery, racism Transcripts Music by Kevin
Episode 46 - Event Horizon: No Actual Boding
October 24, 2022 20:47 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBIt's time for our Halloween Spooktacular Special! We watched and discussed the 1997 sci-fi/horror film Event Horizon, which has some incredible practical effects and solid performances, and is also very nearly scary. DM: Kevin!! CW/TW: violence, body horror, discussion of gross/graphic injuries Episode transcripts available via: https://www.hugogirlpodcast.com/transcripts Spooky special music by Kevin
Episode 45- Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand: Taints & Feints
October 05, 2022 12:33 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBThis month we read and discussed Samuel R. Delany's 1984 queer sci-fi masterpiece, Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand, chosen by our fundraiser winner and friend, Steven! It was wild and it was weird and you should probably give it a shot if you haven't read it. DM: Lori CW/TW: none really, but lots of sex talk so FYI if you're listening with your kids or your parents in the car We've picked our books for Novella-vember: The Word for World is Forest Houston, Houston, Do You Rea...
Chicon 8 Report
October 03, 2022 13:31 - 19 minutes - 15.7 MBWe debrief after attending Chicon 8! Nearly 4 weeks after the fact, so the focus is largely on pizza. Tl;dr - we didn't win the Hugo, had fun anyway! 5 stars, would do again. Transcripts Music by Eon
Episode 44 - Jupiter Ascending: I Love Dogs!
September 07, 2022 12:17 - 55 minutes - 44.6 MBThis month we watched and discussed the beloved camp classic, Jupiter Ascending. What makes a good movie, anyway? If it has great costumes, sweeping spacescapes, and Eddie Redmayne alternately whispering and screaming, isn’t that enough to be good? Plot, dialogue, and acting are overrated, honestly. DM: Haley Episode transcripts available via: https://www.hugogirlpodcast.com/transcripts Music by Eon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVbvE0PJyss Links Movie Yelling from The Toast ...
Episode 43 - Among Others: Doing is Doing!
August 03, 2022 11:46 - 1 hour - 52.4 MBThis month we discussed Jo Walton's debatably fantastical novel Among Others, winner of the Hugo for best novel in 2012. Your DM for this episode is Amy! CW/TW: CSA, child death Episode transcripts are available within a few days after the audio. Music by Eon Links: Jo Walton's Gizmodo Interview
Hugo Woman: A Whole Absence of Ladies
July 24, 2022 21:12 - 8 minutes - 6.61 MBLast month, we had the pleasure of appearing on City Lights, our local NPR station's arts and culture show, for an interview with senior producer Kim Drobes. We discussed the Hugo Awards, common issues in science fiction, and our favorite podcast segments. AND THEN...the text version of our interview got scraped, run through a not-very-good thesaurus, and posted on a goofy "news" site. The result was hilarious, and we are pleased to present you with a dramatic live reading! Check out th...
Episode 42 - 2001: A Space Odyssey: Friends of Hal
July 06, 2022 13:31 - 1 hour - 48.2 MBThis month we read and watched 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film won the Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation in 1969. The poor book won no awards. This sprawling classic prompted many College Thoughts. Will we find the meaning of life? Probably not. Also, please enjoy a cameo from Haley's mom! DM: Lori Episode transcripts available via: https://www.hugogirlpodcast.com/transcripts Music by Eon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVbvE0PJyss Links: Interview with Clarke
Episode 41 - The Terror: Our Problematic Fave
June 01, 2022 02:12 - 1 hour - 72.7 MBAt long last, we discussed our oft-referenced favorite tale of Terror (and Erebus), Dan Simmons' 2007 novel The Terror, a fictionalized and dubiously supernatural account of the Franklin Expedition. Is it Peak Dan Simmons? Yes, it is! Is it as good the second time? No, it isn't! Did we still LOVE discussing it so much that we talked for nearly two hours, which Kevin has painstakingly pared down to 90 minutes? You betcha! Haley is both the captain and ship's cook for this episode. She made ...
Episode 40 - Kallocain: Fun with Fascism
May 04, 2022 02:22 - 1 hour - 52.3 MBThis month we read and discussed Karin Boye’s novel Kallocain, which was nominated for a Retro Hugo for 1941. This is an excellent, if bleak, book, which we think should be taught in US classrooms alongside 1984 and Brave New World. We scream a few times during minute 29, so mind your volume! The full text of the novel is available to read free online, courtesy of the University of Wisconsin. Digressions include a live tasting of the new space-flavored Coke. Our DM for this episode is...
Big announcement! With screaming, so turn your volume down!
April 07, 2022 16:49 - 4 minutes - 3.51 MBHey guess what!! We are nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Fancast!! We're excited and screaming and don't want to hurt your ears, so turn down that volume! Thank you so much to everyone who nominated us, and who listens, likes, comments, shares, leaves reviews - we are over the moon!
Episode 39 - Dreamsnake: An Endorsement Nonetheless
April 06, 2022 02:05 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBThis month we read and discussed Vonda McIntyre's 1979 Hugo Award winning novel, Dreamsnake, which is beloved by everyone except a very vocal handful of men on the internet. Even Orson Scott Card said it was readable! DM: Lori CW/TW: CSA, addiction Episode transcript available via: https://www.hugogirlpodcast.com/transcripts Music by Eon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVbvE0PJyss Links: https://gizmodo.com/feminism-astronauts-and-riding-sidesaddle-talking-to-30859488 Dreams...
Hugo Hotline
April 01, 2022 01:36 - 6 minutes - 4.75 MBIn this special episode, we're going live to the phones to answer urgent questions across space and time! Big thanks to special guest stars Kevin and Emmanuel! Episode transcript available via: https://www.hugogirlpodcast.com/transcripts
Station Eleven TV Series Special
March 21, 2022 15:36 - 57 minutes - 45.7 MBWe watched and discussed the new HBO Max limited series adaptation of Station Eleven. We had a VARIETY of opinions, so if you loved it or you hated it, you'll find something to agree with/be mad about in this episode. And we are joined by special guest, Kevin! DM: Chaos CW/TW: murder/death, violence, death in childbirth, intimate partner violence Music by Eon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVbvE0PJyss Links: Vulture recaps: Station Eleven — TV Episode Recaps & News (vulture.com) ...
Episode 38 - Ringworld: Tasp That Ass
March 02, 2022 14:20 - 1 hour - 49.7 MBThis month we discussed Larry Niven's Ringworld, which is verifiably a book that won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1971. Even a truly fantastic talking warrior cat couldn't save this litany of Misogynist Moments, but there were still a few things to like. DM: Haley CW/TW: rape, addiction Music by Eon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVbvE0PJyss Links: Credit to Simon Bisson for the amazing Moby-Dick crossover: http://file770.com/this-will-ring-your-chimes/ https://www.thegua...
Episode 37 - Barrayar: Vorld of Vorkraft
February 02, 2022 02:04 - 1 hour - 51.4 MBThis month's read is Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold. Despite what Haley described as “an oppressive fantasy feeling,” we all really enjoyed this classic novel in which all the women are strong, all the men are weird-looking, and all the children are the subject of murder plots. DM: Amy CW/TW: rape, weird pregnancy & birth stuff, disability discrimination Transcript: https://www.hugogirlpodcast.com/barrayar Music by Eon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVbvE0PJyss Links https://...
Website Launch and Hugo Nominations Reminder
January 30, 2022 16:16 - 1 minute - 499 KBHello! A couple of things - 1) We launched a website! It's a work in progress, but please check it out at https://www.hugogirlpodcast.com/ 2) The deadline to purchase a membership so that you can nominate for the 2022 Hugo Awards is TOMORROW (January 31, 2022). We were just a few nominations short of making it onto last year's ballot, so we would love your support. All levels of memberships are available for purchase on the Chicon website. A $50 supporting membership will allow you to no...
Hyperspace Special: Moby-Dick
January 17, 2022 01:04 - 1 hour - 49.4 MBIn honor of the recent Moby-Dick Marathon, it's time for a special episode on one of our favorite books of all time. Have you ever wondered if Moby-Dick was Star Wars or Lord of the Rings? It's time to find out! Your ship's captain for this special episode is Haley! More about the Moby-Dick Marathon: https://www.whalingmuseum.org/program/moby-dick-marathon-2022/ Theme music courtesy of Alexander Nakarada - The Wellerman - Royalty Free Cinematic Version DOWNLOAD ► http://bit.l...
Episode 36 - Leviathan Wakes: Not Leviathan's Wake
January 05, 2022 17:17 - 1 hour - 48.7 MBThis month we read 2012 Hugo nominee for best novel, Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey. Spoiler alert for how many times you can deride sex workers in one novel! Despite that, we all basically liked this book, we promise. Your DM for this episode is Haley! Music by Eon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVbvE0PJyss
Worldcon 2021 Special
January 04, 2022 15:07 - 32 minutes - 25.8 MBKevin and Lori went to Worldcon in Washington, DC! It was fun! We'll tell you a little bit about the con itself, plus lots about dogs and food and meeting new friends. We were very excited to find out after the Hugo Awards that we were on the long list for best fancast! We were only a few nominations away from the ballot. If you'd like to nominate us this year, be sure to grab your Worldcon 2022 membership by the deadline, January 31. You can purchase a membership online at https://chicon....
Physics Special with Emily Duden
December 07, 2021 17:46 - 54 minutes - 42.7 MBIn this special episode, we learn all of physics, courtesy of amazing physicist Emily Duden! Hear the answers to burning questions like "would a flashlight be useless for a person traveling at the speed of light" and "will I stay young forever if I just never leave an airplane" and "is Interstellar a bunch of foolishness?" Also, relativity! And gravity! And did you know that anything can be a clock?! Yay, science! Check out our Instagram to see a couple of helpful diagrams that Emily used ...
Episode 35 - The Forever War: The Turd Dimension
December 01, 2021 00:47 - 1 hour - 53.1 MBWhat’s not to love about 800 years of a straight man’s discomfited rumination on “homolife?” This month we read Joe Haldeman's military sci-fi classic, The Forever War. Your DM for this episode is Lori! Music by Eon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVbvE0PJyss TW/CW: homophobia, compulsory sex Links: https://www.reddit.com/r/sciencefiction/comments/31n046/im_joe_haldeman_author_of_the_forever_war_ama/ https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2011/apr/14/back-to-the-hugos-joe...