Content Warning for discussions of child abuse from 18:00-22:30Hades game spoilers at 3:10Scientific studies and organized religion have both benefited from each other and butted heads over the centuries, and science fiction is no different. Many writers have their takes on how greater understanding of our universe can shape our faiths. Arthur C. Clark opens the universe to one devout astrophysicist who finds a sign that doesn't disprove God, but makes him wonder about the kind of mercy the Almighty provides.Recommendations:The Book of Job translated by Robert AlterEnders Game & Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott CardThe Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask developed by NintendoNext Episode: 1965's "Soldier, Ask Not" by Gordon R. DicksonSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on Bluesky!This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's always a devil, a man, a deal to be made. For how sacred a soul is supposed to be, many don't seem to have issues with signing away their eternal fate for a bit of mortal pleasure. Martin is one such person, trying like many have before to get one over on the Adversary and avoid that Hell-Bound train. He can stop the ride at any time, but does he really want that? Sam and Jack discuss the iterations of the Faustian bargain, Halloween traditions, and one nominee that everyone seems to think really should have won.Recommendations:“Beat the Devil” by Kris Kristofferson“Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band“A Soldier’s Tale” by Igor Stravinsky"Friends on the Other Side" from The Princess and the Frog"The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings" from FuturamaPuella Magi Madoka Magic animated by ShaftNext Episode: 1956's "The Star" by Arthur C. ClarkSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 22nd century, the scars of time and colonization still linger. The Kikuyu people have remade their god-given land in out in the vastness of space, and returned to the old ways of conducting their communities. At least, that's what Koriba seems to be doing, to the displeasure of those looking down from above. What is tradition and what is control? Did the good ol' days ever really exist? And why does that message of a glorious return to the past always seem to be coming from the man on top?Recommendations:Shogun by James ClavellThings Fall Apart by Chinua AchebeNext Episode: 1959's "That Hell-Bound Train" by Robert BlochSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Every Hugo Ever! Sam and Jack are excited to return to seven decades of science fiction stories, and Will McIntosh delivers a doozy. Deep underground in a cryogenic facility, women are trapped between life and death as decades pass by. One named Mira dreams of her mother, her lover, and how she can convince her visitors to release her from this frozen purgatory.Recommendations:"My Funny Valentine" from Cowboy BebopSOMA by Frictional GamesNext Episode: 1989's "Kirinyaga" by Mike ResnickSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 stories have been read and reviewed. Now is the Day of Judgement. This episode marks the creation of the list that all future Hugo Award winning shirt stories shall be ranked upon! Listen if you dare!Oh, and if listening before August 11, you can still register and vote for in the 2024 Hugos! Give yourself one of those classic "I voted!" stickers if you do so. Rare to spot them in the summer.Next time: 2010's "Bridesicle"Support Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded November 18, 2023In the final story of the season, we return to the 21st century. Two women from old fables find comradery (and more) in each other as they share their pasts and pain on a summit made of glass. Jack and Sam enjoy Amal El-Mohtar's take on classic fairy tale tropes and get ready to fulfill what the show is all about: ranking the dang Hugos.Recommendations:Uprooted by Naomi NovikCirce by Madeline MillerDracula, Motherf**ker by Alex de CampiFables by Bill Willingham'sNext Episode: Jack and Sam rank the first 10 stories!Support Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded October 17, 2023A suspicious man lingers around a playground, watching. A worrisome start to a story of a man called Ian. Jack and Sam try to figure out his goals and his "interesting" rationale behind them in a tale where time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future. Recommendations:Gravity Rush developed by Japan StudioHardspace: Shipbreaker developed by Blackbird Interactive"The Long Morrow" episode from The Twilight ZoneTo Your Eternity by Yoshitoki OimaNext Episode: 2017's "Seasons of Glass and Iron" by Amal El-MohtarSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded September 4, 2023Puberty is a difficult time for everyone, but some have it worse than others. One of those is a girl named Kelsey who's early blooming causes endless bullying from her classmates. Fortunately, another discovery she's made about her body is that it can turn into a wolf. The bullies (and neighborhoods dogs) will not be so lucky.Closed Systems Kill: An Interview with Suzy McKee Charnas by Joan GordonRecommendations:Eight Grade directed by Bo BurnhamJennifer's Body directed by Karyn KusamaThe art and comics of E.M CarrollNext Episode: 1982’s “The Pusher” by John VarleySupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded July 25, 2023We REALLY recommend you read the story first.When we first looked over the list of stories we had to read, Jack was thrilled at the chance to eventually talk about honorary friend of the pod Ursala K. Le Guin and her utopia of Omelas. Since then Sam has also gotten aboard the Le Guin train and the two gush over one of the best stories we've read so far. This is EHE at its finest: politics, philosophy, morality, tangents from the past and present, and Sam annoying Jack by agreeing with him. All wrapped up in some beautifully written words. Oh, and the boys get to talk about wrestling! This is a good one, folks.Spoilers for The Last of Us at 1:02:00The essay Jack mention by Micheal Moorcock criticizing Tolkien and praising Le Guin among other authorsRecommendations:The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le GuinBrave New World by Aldous HuxleyNext Episode: 1990’s “Boobs” by Suzy McKee CharnasSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded June 27, 2023Content Warning for descriptions and discussions regarding sexual assault after the break.Apologies for the rough audio. These files have been through the virtual wringer over the months. From Romulus and Remus to Washington epically crossing the Delaware River, empires and nations throughout history have used stories of their founding to be the bedrock of their society, Many are fabrications, others leave out critical details, and more have an uglier side. Geoffrey Landis takes us to the Martian penal colony, and how the few survivors murdered and pillaged their way into building a home on the red planet. Recommendations:Akira by Katsuhiro OtomoMad Max: Fury Road directed by George MillerNext Episode: 1974’s “Those Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le GuinSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com and Pixabay.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded June 20, 2023Back in my day you had to go to a store, in person, to pick up a DVD or VHS tape if you wanted to watch a specific movie at home. Ok, Sam and Jack aren't that old but they do remember when Netflix delivered discs in the mail. Tim Pratt writes about the old magic of browsing the shelves at the local video rental store in the 2007 Hugo Short Story winner "Impossible Dreams", and how stories on screen enrapture us just as much as those in text. Romance ensues.Mentioned in this episode:Superman Lives script (written by Kevin Smith!) and some more behind the scenes infoQuick read on how indie bookstores have survived corporation and digitizationAn Oral History of Kingdom of the Sun (not Empire) and Yzma's song "Snuff Out The Light"Short Film adaption by Shir ComayRecommendations:Ready Player One directed by Steven SpielbergYour Name directed by Makoto ShinkaiI Met a Traveler in an Antique Land by Connie WillisF for Fake directed by Orson WellesNext Episode: 2003’s “Falling Onto Mars” by Geoffrey A. LandisSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com and Pixabay.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded June 6, 2023Harlan Ellison is a legendary name in the sci-fi world with numerous award winning novels and stories attributed to him. He is was also an author with a lot of baggage as a quick glance at his Wikipedia page can tell you. Sam and Jack read a very 1960s story about fighting against the Man and freeing society while musing on art done by not very nice people. You'll not waste any time listening to this one.Recommendations: Abbie Hoffman on Yippie Tactics - 1968A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra RowlandNext Episode: 2007’s “Impossible Dreams” by Tim PrattSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded May 11, 20231973 had two winners. Listen to 3a - "The Meeting" if you haven't yet!With over 70 stories to discuss, it was inevitable that one would disappoint. That story is Eurema's Dam. Albert the brilliant but dumb machinist rants and raves and invents, and in the end his words are lost to his audience and readers alike. Sam and Jack try and figure out what the Worldcon crowd in Toronto saw in this while arguing over whether the narrator also dislikes this story. With two stories about intelligence and Lafferty a... tad bitter about tying with "The Meeting", it is only natural to see which of the two stories has the edge. Ready Player One is mentioned for the first (and unfortunately not the last) time on the show.Recommendations: The Social Network directed by David Fincher"Why No Roman Industrial Revolution?" by Bret Devereaux @ A Collection of Unmitigated PedantryNext Episode: 1966’s “'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman” by Harlan EllisonSupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterWatch the show on YoutubeThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded May 10, 20231973 had two winners. The other episode will be uploaded one day after this one!The Worldcon attendance in 1973 ended in tie for the top spot. The first is "The Meeting", where a father attends a PTO meeting at his son's school before receiving a dreaded phone call. Jack and Sam ponder the definition(s) of intelligence, an individual's act of evil versus society's, and making all the wrong decisions.Recommendations: Head Transplants and the Non-Existence of the Soul by Jacob Geller"Symbols and Signs" by Vladimir NabokovDisabled People Destroy Science Fiction! Uncanny Magazine Issue 24Next Episode (Tomorrow!): 1973’s “Eurema’s Dam” by R.A. LaffertySupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterWatch the show on YoutubeThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally recorded May 3, 2023Discussions of Sexual Coercion at 19:21-19:45 and 46:42:-49:57The first Hugo’s of the new millennium have us going back in time with a classic science fiction scenario and a twist that will leave the reader wondering what their decision would be. Jack and Sam discuss the morality and capital capture of time travel while indulging in the ways the rich deal with boredom.Recommendations: Piano Quintet in G minor by Dmitri ShostakovitchLooper directed by Rian JohnsonBioshock Infinite developed by Irrational Games“After His Burial and Before His Death” by Arnold KempNext Episode: 1973’s “The Meeting” by Frederick Pohl & Cyril M. Kornbluth, and “Eurema’s Dam” by R.A. LaffertySupport Us on Ko-fiFollow us on TwitterWatch the show on YoutubeThis podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.