Arts & Culture

Episode 236 of Fast Forward: Contemporary Science Fiction (originally shown in July of 2010) features an interview with author Dom Testa. Mr. Testa is a long time radio host and "closet writer" who has written and published a highly successful young adult science fiction series of books, the Galahad series.
In the interview, host Tom Schaad and Mr. Testa talk about writing, characters, the publishing business, and getting young people to think that being smart is cool.

Episode #235 is a Special Edition of Fast Forward: Contemporary Science Fiction. The program features highlights from the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) Nebula Awards ceremony. The ceremony was held on May 15, 2010, in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
The Nebula Awards are among the most prestigious in science fiction literature. For a list of winners, you can visit www.nebulaawards.com.

This episode of Fast Forward:CSF features an interview with author David J. Williams. Mr. Williams talks about The Machinery of Light, the soon-to-be-released final book in his Autumn Rain trilogy. He also discusses aspects of his approach to building his future world and a large "ensemble" cast of characters.

This episode of Fast Forward: Contemporary SF is a little different - the entire show consists of author Jasper Fforde talking about his latest novel, Shades of Grey. Mr. Fforde was in the US for the release of the new book, and gave a very entertaining speech and signed books at Politics and Prose, a bookstore in Washington, DC.

The speech was recorded at Politics and Prose on January 16, 2010, and this episode of Fast Forward was first shown in February 2010.

In this episode of Fast Forward: Contemporary Science Fiction, host Mike Zipser has a wide ranging discussion with author and editor Scott Edelman about Mr. Edelman's eclectic career - years working in the Marvel Comics bullpen, editing both print and online magazines, writing science fiction and horror - and zombies. Lots and lots of zombies.

Episode 230 of Fast Forward features an interview with author Harry Turtledove, the "Master of Alternate History". Mr Turtledove talks about how he started writing alternate history novels, and how writing alternate history compares to other forms of speculative fiction. This interview was recorded on October 17th, 2009, at the Capclave 2009 science fiction convention.

Most of this episode of Fast Forward was taped on location at Capclave 2009, a regional literary science fiction convention in the Washington, DC area. Our interview is with Capclave's editor guest of honor Sheila Williams. Ms. Williams is the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction, one of the most respected genre periodicals. She talks about how she got into the field of short fiction editing, and what she currently does at the magazine.

Episode 228 of Fast Forward features an interview with author Keith Donohue. He talks about the themes of faith and redemption in his second novel, Angels of Destruction. Mr. Donohue also compares the experience of writing the second book with writing his first novel.
This episode was originally shown in October of 2009.

Also in this episode:
Marianne Petrino reviews Garakuta: Mr. Stain on Junk Alley, a 14 episode anime series.
Colleen Cahill reviews The Lightning Thief, a children's/young adult novel by Rick Riordan.

This episode of Fast Forward originally ran in September of 2009. It features an interview with author Tom Doyle, who talks about his award winning short fiction, as well as his experience at the acclaimed Clarion Writers' Workshop.
Also in this episode:
Marianne Petrino reviews the Anime series The Galaxy Railways.
Reporting from this year's World Science Fiction Convention, John Pomeranz interviews editor and publisher David Hartwell - revealing Mr. Hartwell's "brighter" side...

This episode, originally shown in July, 2009, features an interview with award winning (and highly entertaining) author Michael Swanwick. He discusses his new non-fiction work, a biography of the fascinating but under-appreciated author Hope Mirrlees. He also talks about recently receiving the Alex Award for his novel, The Dragons of Babel, and his Hugo nominated short story, "From Babel's Fall'n Glory We Fled".
Also in this episode:
Colleen Cahill reviews the novel Ending an Ending, by Danny Birt.
Marianne Petrino reviews the anime series Kurau: Phantom Memory.