Galactic Suburbia

In which we discuss gender at the Olympics and sexual harassment policies at conventions, fight about whether we should read the comments, and Alisa reads more novels than Alex Tansy PUT TOGETHER. NEWS: Readercon harassment discussion: Masterlist timeline of links Cheryl looks at the practical side of developing harassment policies for conventions Translation awards winners Travel Fund Mark II sends two Swedish authors to WFC. What Culture Have we Consumed? Alisa: Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood, Naked in Death by J D Robb Alex: Stargate Universe season 1; Ashes to Ashes season 3; Silently and Very Fast, Catherynne M Valente; Birds of Prey: Death of Oracle Tansy: X-Men S.W.O.R.D No Time To Breathe; Uncanny X-Men: Dark Phoenix (The Ultimate Graphic Novels Collection, not Marvel Masterworks as I said in the podcast, worth also noting that the US are more than 20 issues ahead of Australia); Besieged, Rowena Cory Daniells For next episode: send us your favourite examples of sport in SFF. Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us!

In which we talk Smurfette, gender bias on Wikipedia, Redshirts, Regency magic and Captain Marvel. Also, Tansy turns the microphone off a lot so you can't hear her sneezing. You have much to thank her for. News Shirley Jacksons! Winners announced. A new Sleeps With Monsters column by Liz Burke: The Smurfette Principle - We Can Do Better How Kate Middleton's wedding gown reveals the gender bias in the Wikipedia system. Journey Planet Issue 13 - specifically special section on gender parity for con panels including our own Alisa The ComicCon Batgirl returned to SDCC this year, asking DC Comics about why Stephanie Brown has been removed from the Smallville comics. What Culture Have we Consumed? Alisa: Redshirts by John Scalzi (read by Wil Wheaton) Tansy: The Truth by Terry Pratchett (read by Stephen Briggs), Sherlock Holmes The Final Problem/The Empty House (Big Finish Productions), Captain Marvel The Avenging Spider-Man #9 by Kelly Sue DeConnick Alex: The Secret History of Moscow, Ekaterina Sedia; Salvage, Jason Nahrung; Glamour in Glass, Mary Robinette Kowal Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us! PS: the actual Twitter hashtag for Nick Amanda's wedding is #raivanswed. But we are proud that our suggestions of #amandaheartsnick and #nick3amanda inspired them to choose something better! Also, did you know you can't use 3 in a hashtag?

In which we look at the politics of female author portraits, why you shouldn't tweet celebrities about their alleged irrelevance, and start thinking about what we're going to vote for in the Hugo's News Women in SF Fantasy in Australian media - the article is a month old, but still relevant! WA Premier’s Book Awards Shortlist announced and Penni Russon is on it! Top 10 list of the greatest female SF/fantasy authors ‘of all time’ - do you agree? Tansy's Pinterest board of portraits of "Lady Novelists" It’s Not Wise to Be A Jerk to Felicia Day What Culture Have we Consumed? Alex: Schismatrix Plus, Bruce Sterling; Embassytown, China Mieville; Snow White and the Huntsman; Bitter Greens, Kate Forsyth; Diamond Eyes, AA Bell Tansy: Salvage, by Jason Nahrung; Medea, Kerry Greenwood; Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold; Ame-Comi Wonder Woman Batgirl; Silk Spectre #1 by Darwyn Cook Amanda Conner; The Invincible Iron Man, Matt Fraction Alisa: Blackout, Mira Grant Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us! [photo: Stella Miles Franklin, older and more characterful than we usually see her in images]

In which Alisa and Alex bravely confront the realities of podcasting without Tansy, and come up rather short... (ha!) Convention Highlights Alex’s blog con report roundup Embiggen Podcast (hang around after we stop talking to hear it!) Chronos, Ditmar, etc: the Aussie winners Other news Locus Awards: more winners Women in SF Fantasy in Australian media - check out the article quoting several Australian spec fic writers editors What Culture Have we Consumed? Alex: Prometheus; Ishtar (Kaaron Warren, Deb Biancotti, Cat Sparks). Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us! [Photo Credit: Cat Sparx - Kirstyn and Mondy enjoying the convention!] ========= In collaboration with Writer and the Critic, we are delighted to present a special podcast dedicated to the critically acclaimed Twelve Planets series of short story collections and recorded live at the beautiful Embiggen Books in Melbourne.

In which we report live and punchy (not enough sleep to be sassy) from Day 2 of Continuum 8: Craftonomicon, Natcon 2012 in Melbourne Australia. NEWS The Con so far: panels, parties, yarn and cupcakes... What Culture Have we Consumed? Alisa: Deadline by Mira Grant Alex: Game of Thrones s1; Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency; The Courier’s New Bicycle, Kim Westwood (YES ALRIGHT AT LAST) Tansy: Timeless by Gail Carriger, Cracklescape by Margo Lanagan Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us! [Photo credit: Cat Sparks]

In which we celebrate our 60th episode and Peter MacNamara Award for Excellence win with cake, yarn and superheroes. For best results, consume this podcast with fabulous cake and/or sock yarn. News Nebula Awards Aurealis Awards: Sturgeon shortlist 2012 Mythopoeic Awards Women, Men and Social Media 50% female speakers at a tech conference and how it was done The Hugo Packet is released Kirstyn examines her 23 year old self through the lens of her current feminist self. Marvel Comics follows Archie’s lead with a gay marriage between Northstar and Kyle: the news was launched by Whoopi Goldberg on The View. Chicks Unravel Time announced from Mad Norwegian Press and Tansy is in it What Culture Have we Consumed? Alex: The Monster, Garth Nix and Sean Williams (Troubletwisters #2); Agatha H and the Clockwork Princess, Phil and Kaia Foglio; Birds of Prey: Dead of Winter; Wonder Woman: Rise of the Olympian Tansy: Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire, Made in Dagenham Alisa: Black Heart by Holly Black; The Avengers movie Please send feedback to us (especially about any cake you may have eaten or yarn you may have knitted with this podcast) at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us!

In which the boob window is explained. Don't say we're not educational! News Drink Tank loves us! Download their Hugo shortlist commentary here. Mondy loves us too! He makes us go awww. James Tiptree Jr finally in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and about time too. Talking to Alistair Reynolds: he refutes the idea that science fiction has a limited number of plots Locus Award Finalists Clarke Award Women in (Japanese) Comics: Cheryl Morgan reports; Anime News Network Some kickstarter stuff: Feminist Historical Anthology from Ann Jeff VanderMeer Scalzi on Amanda Palmer and how she worked hard for 10 years to get her "overnight success" What Culture Have we Consumed? Alisa: We Wuz Pushed by Brit Mandelo Alex: Castles Made of Sand, Gwyneth Jones; Captain America; The Avengers; Confusion of Princes, Garth Nix Tansy: A Confusion of Princes, Garth Nix; The Avengers; Earth 2 World’s Finest; Ishtar Tansy's Note: "I do not mourn the boob window" is a classic line that should be long remembered and oft repeated - but Cheryl Morgan said it first! I only steal from the best... Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us!

In which we pore over the Ditmar ballot, Alex makes Tansy squirm about her nominations, Alisa makes Alex say 'sexytimes' more than once, and we take on the hard-hitting issues of the day: plagiarism, pirates and mommy porn. News Ditmar shortlist Shirley Jackson shortlist featuring Deborah B Stephenie Meyer moves into film production and who can blame her? Story Siren Plagiarism: Smart Bitches presents the story. Kristi's apology. MindMeld looks at great SF reads for teenage girls. But what KIND of teenage girls? What Culture Have we Consumed? Alisa: Feed by Mira Grant Alex: By Light Alone, Adam Roberts; Lathe of Heaven, Ursula le Guin; In the Mouth of the Whale, Paul McAuley; Among Others, Jo Walton; Tansy: Womanthology, The Pirates! Band of Misfits Feedback: Fifty Shades of Grey Interview with the author Mommy porn COMPETITION - SHOWTIME - What’s your favourite vampire? Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us!

In which this Hugo nominated podcast is Hugo nominated and discusses the Hugo nominations while being Hugo nominated. Also, the internet is full of things. Some of those things discuss gender, feminism and equality, some have wide ranging implications for the future of SF awards, and some of them are nominated for Hugos. HUUUUUUUUUGO SHORTLIST Charles A Tan reviews the Fancast category Hunger Games Hunger Games Hunger Games Build up to make a hit The reviews are in: Topless Robot Forbes Our Alisa But in the real world, the character Katniss Everdeen faces an even greater challenge: Proving that pop culture will embrace a heroine capable of holding her own with the big boys. It’s a battle fought on two fronts. First, The Hunger Games must bring in the kind of box office numbers that prove to Hollywood that a film led by a young female heroine who’s not cast as a sex symbol can bring in audiences. And second, for Katniss to truly triumph, she must embody the type of female heroine — smart, tough, compassionate — that has been sorely lacking in the popular culture landscape for so very long. The Clarke Award Shortlist: Christopher Priest's original post Cat Valente responds: “Because let’s be honest, I couldn’t get away with it. If I posted that shit? I’d never hear the end of what a bitch I am.” And further she responds Outer Alliance discussion on Gay YA Dystopia Paolo Bacigalupi Qld Premier cancels Premiers Literary Award “Before the election, the LNP pledged to cut government "waste" as part of its efforts to offer cost-of-living relief to Queenslanders.” Response of Queensland Writers Centre The Fake Geek Girl at the Mary Sue Eisner Award shortlist Kate Elliott on the portrayal of women in pain fear Ashley Judd on the media’s attitude to women and their bodies Valente on the war against women in the real world Philip K Dick Award Chronos Award Ballot Tehani on Aurealis Awards stats, gender BSFA stuff - Actual winners The first post that raised the problems with the ceremony. A response (there for historical sake, though I think since at least partly recanted) how the Tweets saw it Cheryl’s take EDIT: Since recording, the BSFA have issued a full and unreserved apology, along with an explanation of why it took them so long to respond.  That's how to do it, folks! Jim Hines works through his privileged dumbassery Kirstyn McDermott works through whether her feminism is good enough Vote for Sean the Blogonaut for NAFF What Culture Have we Consumed? Alex: Monstrous Regiment, Terry Pratchett; Showtime, Narrelle M Harris, Woman on the Edge of Time, Marge Piercy; 2312, Kim Stanley Robinson; The State of the Art, Iain M Banks Tansy: So Silver Bright, Lisa Mantchev; Kat, Incorrigible, by Stephanie Burgis; Cold Magic, Kate Elliott Alisa: The Hunger Games (movie and books), The Readers (podcast) Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs,, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us.

In which Alex falls by the wayside and Alisa Tansy soldier on to talk about awards, Connie Willis, Tina Fey and Chicks Digging Comics. And more comics. News The Galactic Suburbia Award has landed. Manfire: the latest exploration of genderbending comics protest through artwork Ditmar nominations open (wiki with things eligible; how to nominate) Cool comment about understanding Aussie fiction awards from outside our country. Aurealis Awards nominees: press release Brit Mandelo new Strange Horizons fiction editor Pinterest for Galactic Suburbia! Thanks, Celia Swancon Program is out - Perth SF convention this Easter. Tansy's Creature Court books (Power and Majesty, The Shattered City and Reign of Beasts) are now available on the Kindle internationally! Should be available on other platforms too - iBookstore etc. If you see them for sale somewhere in your country please let us know. Fly, my pretties, fly! What Culture Have we Consumed? Alisa: All About Emily, Connie Willis; Bossypants, Tina Fey; Hunger Games Movie Tansy: Astonishing X-Men, Joss Whedon John Cassaday; Saucer Country by Paul Cornell, Chicks Dig Comics, edited by Lynne M Thomas Sigrid Ellis. We'll be giving away a copy of Beyond Binary, edited by Brit Mandelo (and featuring a Tansy story). Tweet us with the name of your favourite queer/genderqueer/QLTBG character in SF or fantasy to be in the draw! Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us!

In which we honour the memory of Paul Haines by giving ourselves nightmares, and catch up (mostly) on several months of feedback about how Galactic Suburbia is singlehandedly keeping the bookselling business alive. News Paul Haines in memoriam. Death notice and information about memorial service We discuss posts by Dirk Flinthart and Ben Peek. If anyone does a round up of memorial posts about Paul, please let us know we'll add the link. In the mean time, check out this post about his complete bibliography and how to get hold of his work. Ladybusiness on coverage of women on SF/F blogs New Galactic Chat: Claire Corbett What Culture Have we Consumed? Alisa: Wives, Paul Haines; The Warrior's Apprentice, Lois Mcmaster Bujold; Power and Majesty, Tansy Rayner Roberts), Locus Round Table featuring Nalo Hopkinson and Karen Lord Alex: Solaris Rising (ed Ian Whates); Reign of Beasts (Tansy Rayner Roberts); Pure (Julianna Bagott) Tansy: Madigan Mine, Kirstyn McDermott, The Opposite of Life by Narrelle M Harris Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us!

In which we keep it short (truly) through restraint and perseverance, despite setting Tansy off on a tangent about Lego and lots of crunchy gender bias stuff to chew through. News Nebula shortlist Stoker shortlist Paul Cornell on Panel Parity Elizabeth L Huede on National Year of (Gender Biased) Reading Tansy's thing: new feminist Doctor Who blog Doctor Her Can princesses play with Lego? (Lego friends petition at Change.org) What Culture Have we Consumed? Alisa: Vorkosigan - Shards of Honor, Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold Alex: The Islanders, Christopher Priest Tansy: After the Apocalypse, by Maureen McHugh (collection) Feedback episode coming too! Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us!

In which we pop the cork on the champagne bottle to welcome in the beginning of the 9 month science fiction awards season - hooray! News Responses to the Galactic Suburbia Award. Crawford nominees and winner: Genevieve Valentine's Mechanique. BSFA nominees SF Translation Awards Fundraiser - donate and win awesome books The Kitschies: yes really, rum and tentacles. LOCUS Recommended Reading List! [and Poll] Young Australian of the Year who founded Robogals: Marita Cheng Women of SF in their own words, reviewed by Brit Mandelo Diana Peterfreund: following up on Brave New Love [and how the internet often fails to pick up the pieces after a controversy has died down] Women Writing Horror (it’s new, who knew?) [and the other Guardian article patronising genre readers, taken apart by Smart Bitches Trashy Books] 10 Great SF books for "girls" Creature Court trilogy giveaway - we'll be drawing it next episode, email us to tell us about one book you read because of us you'll enter the draw to win all three books by Tansy Creature Court Spoilerific Blog Post - only for those who have read Creature Court Book Three, Reign of Beasts, by Tansy Rayner Roberts What Culture Have we Consumed? Alisa: Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby; The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson Alex: Clockwork Rocket, Greg Egan; A Fisherman of the Inland Sea, Ursula le Guin; The Business of Death, Trent Jamieson; Skyrim Tansy: Bad Power by Deborah Biancotti; Batgirl: the Lesson; Redwood Wildfire by Andrea Hairston; Blake’s 7: The Turing Test [Big Finish], Doctor Who: Foe From the Future [Big Finish] Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us

Welcome to a very special edition of Galactic Suburbia, in which we will be taking a leaf out of the Tiptree Awards’ book and announcing both the Honours list for the inaugural Galactic Suburbia Award, and the winner as well. The Galactic Suburbia Award... for activism and/or communication that advances the feminist conversation in the field of speculative fiction in 2011

In which women aren't funny, don't write important books, but come in handy as assassins and thieves. News Connie Willis named SFWA Grand Master Liz Bourke on Strange Horizons the art of the mean review Survey shows that men (as well as women) often play characters of the other gender while gaming - in many cases, men are bored with or alienated by the big musclebound male characters, which game designers think they want. Sound familiar? Hoyden about Town are asking for guest bloggers to crosspost their Australian Women Writers Challenge reviews on Hoyden (ASIF also keen to do so) More on feminine tosh: a good solid article in the Australian media (shock!) about the women in literature issues of recent months (and, you know, decades). Have we been following the “Women aren’t funny” stoush that played out in NYT? This interesting development. DC Comics - cancellations new titles - Tansy is especially excited by World's Finest (featuring the Earth 2 Huntress Power Girl) Stranger with My Face - Women in Horror film festival in Hobart, Tasmania - 17-19 February Tansy’s book launch for Reign of Beasts (Creature Court Book Three) on 2 February at Hobart Bookshop, 5:30pm. What Culture Have we Consumed? Alex: Ashes to Ashes season 2; Dr Who season 1; Rocannon’s World, Ursula le Guin; The Declaration, Gemma Malley; Grey, Jon Armstrong; The Collected Works of TS Spivet, Reif Larsen. BBC 4 “Cat Women of the Moon” podcast Tansy: Destination: Nerva (Big Finish, audio), Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon, The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, DVD Extras Include Murder, by Nev Fountain Alisa: absorbed in novel submissions; The Big Bang Theory; Swordspoint Audiobook, written and performed by Ellen Kushner GS Award will be proclaimed... in a short while! Winner of Alex’s Yarn giveaway: Jo Tansy: Creature Court trilogy give away! Email to tell us about one book you read after we talked about it on GS to be eligible Please send feedback to us at galacticsuburbia@gmail.com, follow us on Twitter at @galacticsuburbs, check out Galactic Suburbia Podcast on Facebook and don't forget to leave a review on iTunes if you love us