This time we react to a fascinating article from Strange Horizons, which claims that all SF writers are... historians!

You can read the article here: https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/why-all-science-fiction-and-fantasy-writers-are-historians/

Related to this topic, we also read a delightful historical SF short story by David Brin, "A Professor at Harvard". Find it here: https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2026/02/a-little-sci-fi-tale-to-boost-your.html

We also have a fiendish quiz sent in by a listener, and our usual round-up of SF past, present and future.

For the full shownotes with links to all the items mentioned, visit our blog at 101sf.blogspot.com

This time on Science Fiction 101, we take some trips down memory lane to revisit classic time travel movies. We mostly focus on the Back to the Future series, but also a couple of wildcards: Primer (2004, Colin's pick) and Peggy Sue Got Married (1986, Phil's pick).

We also have a listener quiz, and our usual round-up of recommended SF past, present and future.

For the full show notes, visit our blog: https://101sf.blogspot.com/2026/03/back-to-futures-episode-63.html

Traditionally on Science Fiction 101, we follow up our "old magazine" review with a review of its modern counterpart - and this year is no exception, as in this episode we cast our eyes over a very recent issue of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, dated Nov/Dec 2025.

No time for a quiz this time (shock horror!), but it will return in our next episode.

But we do make time for our usual round-up of what's notable in past, present and future SF.

For the full shownotes or to leave a comment, visit our blog at 101sf.blogspot.com

We're back! With our annual trek into the archives to read an old science fiction magazine, to see if and how our field has changed over the decades.

This time we time-travel to 1982, where we pick up the February 15th 1982 issue of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.

If you'd like to read along with us, you'll find the entire issue online courtesy of Luminist, here: https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/luminist/SF/ASI/ASI_1982_02.pdf

For more information on today's show, check out the show notes at https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/12/gimme-that-old-time-magazine-episode-61.html

Back in episode 57, Colin and Phil recommended books and movies to each other. Now they act on those suggestions, reporting back with their findings. Will Phil appreciate Alan Dean Foster's Prism? Will Colin believe that you can journey to the Far side of the Sun? Join us as we travel by Toynbee Convector*

*batteries not included

For more detail on the items covered in today's show, check out the show notes at https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/10/toynbee-convecting-for-beginners.html

Join us for a trivia quiz bonanza! Joining the show today is Colin's co-host-from-another-podcast, Seth Heasley. Seth administers a deadly science fictional quiz! Phil is quaking in his sci-fi Moon boots.

At the time of recording, Colin and Seth had just returned from this year's World Science Fiction Convention, held in Seattle. So in this episode, they give their behind-the-scenes perspectives of what went on at the con: Colin as a volunteer camera operator and video director, and Seth as a Hugo Award nominee and panel moderator.

For more information on the items discussed in today's show, check out the shownotes at: https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/09/trivia-travails-or-its-con-episode-59.html

Fifty years ago, schoolboy Phil was knocked out by a British science fiction TV show, the post-apocalyptic SURVIVORS. Created by Terry Nation - who also created DOCTOR WHO's recurring enemy the Daleks and BLAKES SEVEN - SURVIVORS ran for three seasons.

Today, Phil has persuaded Colin to take a first look at this sometimes harrowing (but ultimately life-affirming) cult classic, and together they discuss some selected episodes from the series. If you check out the show notes, you'll find direct links to the episodes we've been watching, so you can watch them, too.

Find the show notes at https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/08/surviving-survivors-episode-58-of.html

Colin and Phil decided to challenge each other with books, stories and films that they thought the other hadn't read or seen. The result is some suggestions for reading and watching that we'd like you all to consider.

These aren't necessarily the best science fiction around, but they are all items we greatly enjoy and heartily recommend. We hope you enjoy our suggestions every bit as much as our robo-butler enjoys serving them up to you.

For more information, including links to many of the items we discuss, check out the shownotes at https://101sf.blogspot.com/2025/07/serving-suggestions-episode-57.html