Octothorpe podcast

24:42

Episode Notes [01:14] Unexpected Email from Employer [05:49] The Deferred Resignation Program [06:34] Initial Reactions and Concerns [08:01] Evaluating the Offer [08:21] Enhanced Standards of Conduct [08:55] Personal Reflections and Concerns [12:21] Seeking Advice and Making a Decision [13:01] Option One: Do Not Resign [14:56] Option Two: Resign [16:44] Insights from Conversations [21:30] Making The Decision [23:51] Final Thoughts and Gratitude Resources Mentioned Sebastian Junger The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson Donald Trump Elon Musk Steve Bannon Russell Vought Derek Sivers Sumner Crenshaw Brian Fretwell at Finding Good Chad Littlefield The Thought Leaders Practice by Matt Church Simon Cowell Beauty Pill Producer Ben Ford Questions Asked Is it legitimate, and can it be trusted? How are you feeling? What questions come to your mind? Where does your mind go? Are you seeking safety? Would this have been an adrenaline rush as you raced to send the resignation response? What an "enhanced standard" regarding loyalty and trustworthiness was? What are these new "enhanced standards?" Are they beyond what my Constitutional oath requires? If I don't resign, how bright will the target on my back glow? My leadership has supported all my work, but would termination direction come from higher up the chain of command? What would you recommend if we talked over coffee? What questions would you ask? How would you use listening? How would you use silence? How is this scenario playing out in your mind and body? What is coming to the surface for you? How might that influence what you are about to say to me? What are the chances of my name popping on a list and getting fired? How about the chances of being part of an official Reduction in Force and early retirement? Would the administration make a better offer? What do I know about the pending job market? What did I expect the workplace to be like and did I want to be there as the contractions took place? Will the administration pay me through the end of September or will they renege? Can I sufficiently build the Curated Questions business to transition by 1 October? - Do I have the faith or confidence to step into this future as a sole practitioner and grow Curated Questions into all I envisioned? Was this purpose calling? What would I expect the job market to look like at the end of summer if I hadn't developed the income streams to maintain our lifestyle? What is your recommendation? Did it change from your initial recommendation? Where in your body are you feeling the uncertainty? Are you processing this scenario in parallel with your decision as if you had received the email? What additional questions should I have considered? Who else should I have consulted with? How would you have changed my risk rating? What is the correct length of the pregnant pause before making an important announcement? What processes would you use in my circumstance, and what would be different? What questions are at the top of your list to get to a decision? Who would be the members of your pantheon you would counsel with to gain clarity? Apart from the heady analysis, what other key practices would you include in your journey through a similar situation?…

Octothorpe

Series home•Feed

A podcast about science fiction and SF fandom from John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty.

107 episodes

#Social Media

Octothorpe

updated 13 days ago

Series home•Feed

A podcast about science fiction and SF fandom from John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty.

107 episodes

#Social Media

All episodes

Octothorpe

1
130: I Am Scalison Ott 55:00

13 days ago55:00

55:00

John is working, Alison is plugging and Liz is ghosting. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Capitalism, death (Chapter 8: Picks) Please remember that we have recused from consideration for the 2025 Hugo Awards Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks ( Facebook ) Ang Rosin ( Facebook ) Christopher J Garcia Dave Langford Please do report issues in transcripts and we will fix them! DC ( skeet, requires sign-in ) Farah Mendlesohn ( Facebook ) “Know your rail rights” from the Office of Rail and Road Ivan Sinha ( Facebook ) Pat McMurray ( Facebook ) Shi Lala ( Facebook ) Simon Bubb BSFA If you attended please let us know what happened! Awards Hugo Award nominations close the day after this podcast drops (14 March 2025) Locus Award nominations are open until 15 April 2025 Oxford – Bloomsbury Fantasy Summer School Free to apply with limited in-person spaces Or, wait for the streaming link! ( FAQ ) GUFF: The Incomplete Chronicles Liz previously described a Pepper’s Ghost at Tokyo Disneyland “Disney’s Best Illusion Explained” by Zach Wally Picks John: Shroud by Gravity Well Brewing Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky “Sins of the Children” by Adrian Tchaikovsky in Asterisk Alison: Mickey 17 Liz: Hacks ( Amazon Prime ) Credits Cover art: “Handwriting Analysis Special” Alt text: The words “Octothorpe 130: Handwriting Analysis Special” appear three times in the three hosts’ handwriting. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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129: Deep in Annex A 49:21

27 days ago49:21

49:21

John thought of something, Alison is educational, and Liz reads contracts. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Money (chapter 3) Please remember that we have recused from consideration for the 2025 Hugo Awards Letters of comment Chris Garcia DC On Blind Chance ( skeet, requires sign-in ) On picking books ( skeet, requires sign-in ) Doug Faunt Farah Mendlesohn ( Facebook ) Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast Cancelling non-refundable hotel rooms does not net one a refund We get ourselves into knots trying to work out what’s happened here and we’re not sure Alison taught John and Liz about complaining about cancellations Cancelling goods or services Make a court claim for money Worldcon 2025: Seattle Virtual Business Meeting details Lumi Global The meetings are all at 09:00–12:30 (PDT/UTC-7) on 4, 13, 19, 25 July Hugo nominations are open How to nominate Picks John: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Marc Sumerak Alison: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Liz: Nova by Samuel Delany John Nielsen-Hall’s article, “Running up that Hill: or Life with the Brunners” appears in Prolapse #7 Prolapse Motorway Dreams , a collection of Nielsen-Hall’s writing which includes the article Credits Cover art: “Thailand Positioning Service” by Alison Scott Alt text: Words read “Octothorpe 129: Can you pin Thailand on the map?” above a black-and-white world map. The backs of John, Alison and Liz’s heads are shown. John is thinking “Yup!”, Liz is thinking “100%”, and Alison is holding Thailand and thinking “???”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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128: A Minidisc Player Will Do You No Good 43:52

6 weeks ago43:52

43:52

John picks too soon, Alison is fully paid-up, and Liz found the comment. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: COVID (chapter 7) Letters of comment Andreas Davour ( toot ) Bridget Bradshaw ( skeet ) Chris Garcia David Bamford ( skeet ) DC ( skeet, requires sign-in ) Przypadek / Blind Chance Farah Mendlesohn ( Facebook ) Karen Schaffer Meg MacDonald ( Facebook ) Raj ( toot ) Short story: “Bond, Bond, and James Bond” by Eric Molinsky Novelette: “Lake of Souls” by Ann Leckie (from her new collection, Lake of Souls ) Novella: Last Stop by Django Wexler Tammy Coxen ( skeet ) Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast John has been asked to head up the Discord Bursaries Deadline is noon on 16 February Email finance@easterconbelfast.org with as much or as little detail as you like Eastercon 2026: Iridescence, a bid for Birmingham BSFA BSFA Award Longlist Octothorpe 122 has been nominated, thank you very much! Review policy rumours Steven French’s comment on Camestros Felapton’s blog New chair: Stewart Hotson Picks John: Severance S2 Alison: The Brutalist Liz: Lady Eve’s Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow Credits Cover art: “Live From Minidisc” by Alison Scott Alt text: A blue Sony MiniDisc Walkman shows, on its LCD screen, “Now playing: Octothorpe_128”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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127: Hello Buoys 45:14

8 weeks ago45:14

45:14

John is incoherent, Alison is excited, and Liz is romantic. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Andy Openshaw Chris Garcia Claire Brialey David Salter Ed Morland Farah Mendlesohn Irwin Hirsh Jonny Baddeley Neil Ottenstein Roseanna Pendlebury We also heard from: Fiona Moore, Ivan Sinha Readers’ recommendations Best Novel Private Rites by Julia Armfield I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S Beagle Metal from Heaven by August Clarke In Universes by Emet North The West Passage by Jared Pechaček Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley Someone You Can Build a Nest in By John Wiswell Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form) Deadpool and Wolverine Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox Best Game or Interactive Work: Tactical Breach Wizards Best Fancast Eight Days of Diana Wynne Jones by Emily Tesh and Rebecca Fraimow Lady Eve’s Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow Astounding Award The End of Nobility by Michael Green Briardene Books Preorders for Colourfields by Paul Kincaid are now open! Eastercon 2025: Reconnect in Belfast Picks John: Sliding Doors Alison: Three Men in Orbit by Sandra Bond Liz: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean Credits Cover art: “Availability Flowchart” by Alison Scott Alt text: A flowchart entitled “How to meet John, Alison and/or Liz at Eastercon”. The boxes culminate in “console yourself with Octothorpe 127”, and the various options are listed below, but the original file is here in case that’s more helpful to the partially sighted. How to meet John, Alison and/or Liz at Eastercon Are you going to Reconnect? Of course!/Not sure Oh go on it will be a laugh Oh all right then/No… Are they in the bar? Yes! I can’t see them Are you quite sure? Check again Oh wait… there they are No sign Is there another bar? Yes! Nope Are they on programme? Yes! No Wait till the moderator asks for questions But it’s Octothorpe Live! Is your joke very funny? Obviously! Excellent! Good to know. COME AND SAY HELLO until then… Are they asleep or on the loo? No, they look chill Er, yes? Oh, that’s a shame Console yourself with Octothorpe 127 Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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126: I’ve Read Some Novels 1:00:20

10 weeks ago1:00:20

1:00:20

John is a thief, Alison plays games, and Liz is bullied. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Andreas Davour Bella Garcia Constanze Hoffman Farah Mendlesohn Jonathan Cowie June Young Mike Scott Neil Ottenstein Raj Tammy Coxen Zoe O’Connell We also heard from Bridget Bradshaw, Colin Harris, Meg MacDonald, and Shi Lala Fan funds The 2025 TAFF race has begun Zi Graves, Mikołaj Kowalewski, Jan Vaněk jr. CUFF comes to an end Fowler Award Hugo Awards 2025 spreadsheet of doom Novels T**he Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett The Sentence by Gautam Bhatia The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley The Life Impossible by Matt Haig Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky Absolution by Jeff Vandermeer We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson Novellas A Mourning Coat by Alex Jeffers North Continent Ribbon by Ursula Whitcher Short Stories Grottmata by Thomas Ha Five Views of the Planet Tartarus by Rachael K Jones Related Works Track Changes: Selected Reviews **by Abigail Nussbaum Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the A**lt-Right by Jordan S. Carroll Series The Horus Heresy The Southern Reach The Tyrant Philosophers Graphic Stories Warp Your Own Way by Ryan North and Chris Fenoglio Abigail Nussbaum’s review at Strange Horizons Dramatic Presentations All of Us Strangers Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga I Saw the TV Glow Late Night with the Devil My Old Ass A Quiet Place: Day One The Substance Timestalker Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl The Wild Robot Games Tabletop Arcs City of Six Moons Mothership Undaunted 2200: Callisto Video Animal Well Caves of Qud Dragon Age: The Veilguard The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdo**m Slice and Dice 3.0 Star Wars: Outlaws Tale of the Golden Idol UFO50 Other Bridge Command Poems Sandra Bond Fan categories Artists Alison Scott España Sheriff Podcasts Fanac Fan History Zooms Going Rogue Hugo, Girl! A Meal of Thorns Writers Camestros Felapton Ersatz Culture Roseanna Pendlebury Fanzines Ancillary Review of Books Banana Wings Ornithopter Unofficial Hugo Book Club Debut authors Moniquill Blackgoose [Alison did not write any of her selections into the show notes and I was sorely tempted not to go through and write them all down for her but I did it for you, listener. I did it for you—John] Picks [isn’t this a whole episode of picks?—Liz] John: Earthborne Rangers Alison: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Liz: Horizon Zero Dawn Sorry Mark Credits Cover art: “Waffle of comment” by Bella Garcia Alt text: A picture of a Belgian waffle that looks like an octothorpe, on a white background, with the words “Octothorpe 126” above and “now with added waffle” below. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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125: I’m Physically Present in This Hotel Room 53:36

14 weeks ago53:36

53:36

John is travelling, Alison is coding, and Liz is faithful. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Death (chapter 6) Letters of comment Chris Garcia The Beef and Dairy Network Podcast Jt Raj Rotsler Award España Sheriff is this year’s winner Seattle 2025 Virtual Business Meeting announcement Reportage on File 770 Unofficial WSFS Business Meeting Discord Upcoming Worldcons Vince Docherty reports from Smofcon 41 There are many links to convention bid websites contained within Montréal are continuing for 2027, but Tel Aviv have suspended Conventions on cruise ships BGG@SEA JoCo Cruise Vanessa May Vanessa was an integral part of the very beginning of Glasgow 2024 Picks John: EXIT: The Game: Advent Calendar: The Missing Hollywood Star Alison: Advent of Code Liz: The Muppet Christmas Carol Credits Cover art: “Christmas Hats” by Alison Scott Alt text: John wears an Octothorpe Christmas jumper and a green and red hat with elf ears, Alison wears a red Christmas jumper and a moose/reindeer hat, and Liz wears a blue jumper and a Christmas tree hat. The words “Octothorpe 125” appear at the top in a Christmassy font that looks like it has snow on the letters. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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124: The Third D Isn’t What You Think 47:48

16 weeks ago47:48

47:48

John is horrified, Alison is spelunking, and Liz is detecting. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks Andrew Hogg 4D Golf Braid Archipelacon 2 Caroline Mullan Chris Garcia Some accusations against Ekpeki have been disproved Farah Mendlesohn Ivan Sinha Jonny Baddeley June Young Aurora Australis Alerts Aurora Now AuroraWatch UK SpaceWeatherLive MonkeyKing Roseanna Pendlebury Shia Lia Tommy Ferguson Reconnect Upcoming conventions Eastercon 2026: Iridescence at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Bid chaired by Phil Dyson Eastercon 2027: Glasgow Bid chaired by Alan Fleming and David Bamford Eastercon 2028: Gateshead? Novacon 2025 Conrunner 2026 To be chaired by Esther MacCallum-Stewart in February WisCONline 2025 Edmonton 2030 Picks John: Mothership Mothership Month Alison: Caves of Qud Liz: Rise of the Golden Idol (Sorry that they’re all games, Mark) Credits Cover art: “Ohmudillo” by Sophie van Setten Alt text: The Glasgow 2024 logo drawn in pencils and crayon, but across the middle there is a segmented creature with eight eyes and mandibles. At the top, the words “Octothorpe 124” appear in blue. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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123: Infinite Amount of Annual Leave 48:09

18 weeks ago48:09

48:09

John is going to Seattle, Alison is going to the Åland Islands, and Liz is going to Belfast. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Money, grim darkness Belfast Eastercon Seattle 2025 Archipelacon 2 Back to Our Futures The Dark Room Liz’s Adrian Tchaikovsky scoop Edmonton Worldcon bid Picks John: Wrath and Glory Alison: Timestalker Liz: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett Goodie from Goodreads Credits Cover art: “Fully Caffeinated” by Alison Scott Alt text: A coffee stain on a piece of paper on which are written the words “Octothorpe 123” and “fully caffineated”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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122: Topical Pumpkin 59:53

20 weeks ago59:53

59:53

John is on the periphery, Alison is carving, and Liz went to Japan. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: con artistry, privilege, racism Letters of comment Jake Casella Brookins Sankey diagrams on the Ancillary Review of Books Ali Baker Brooks I’m a Fan of That Christopher J Garcia Emily January Kat Kourbeti SH@25 is a new, year-long interview and feature series that will delve into the archives, celebrate the work of past contributors and staff, and highlight the contributions of Strange Horizons to SFF publishing and the wider community. Caroline Mullan Zoe O’Connell Roman Orszanski Booking flights on a phone Awards World Fantasy Awards The Kitschies Ursula K LeGuin award Strange Horizons review in two parts: one , two Oghenochovwe Donald Ekpeki Erin Cairns has reported that Ekpeki stole a story and passed it off as his own On Bluesky On Google Drive File 770 report Cairns tried to sound this alarm on X in June Reactions Gautam Bhatia L D Lewis (requires Bluesky login) Ekpeki’s response Jason Sanford talks about his reaction to the news: one , two Picks John: Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Alison: Bridge Command Alison was given free tickets by the venue’s PR team Liz: Japan Neat effects like Tokyo Disneyland ’s Pepper’s ghost or Shiriki Utundu Liz was not given free tickets but if anyone wants to give me free tickets to Disney parks please get in touch Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe, Octothorpe, Octothorpe” by Alison Scott Alt text: A pumpkin carved with an image of Beetlejuice, with the words “Episode 122” at the top of the image and “Octothorpe, Octothorpe, Octothorpe” at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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121: All About the Vibes 42:27

22 weeks ago42:27

42:27

John, Alison and Liz read Grass by Sheri S Tepper. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Rape, consensual interspecies sex, murder, classism, plague/disease Adam Roberts’ review of Grass Credits Cover art: “Three Little Hippae” by Alison Scott Alt text: Three hippae stand on a landscape of alien grass and plants in blue, purple, red, teal, and orange underneath a pinkish sky. The words “Octothorpe 121” appear at the top and the words “Grass Sheri S Tepper” appear at the bottom. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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120: Activate Liz 45:47

24 weeks ago45:47

45:47

John does a funny voice, Alison recoils, and Liz loves big stats and she cannot lie. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Death (chapter 5) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Chris Garcia Alison closing a parenthesis Emily January España Sheriff Farah Mendlesohn Ivan Sinha Nicholas Whyte Upcoming eclipses Tammy Coxen 2024 Hugo Voting Statistics 2024 Sankey diagrams 2020 S ankey diagrams Picks John: The Substance Definitely not Subterranea Alison: UFO 50 Liz: Alien Clay Credits Cover art: “Judge Coxon” by Alison Scott Alt text: Words read ‘Octothorpe 120: Introducing Judge Coxon. “I am the lore”’. They are around a picture of John as a Judge in the style of 2000AD , holding a big stack of books. The logo of the Clarke Award may or may not appear in the artwork. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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119: Only One of Them Is My Bludgeoning Hand, John 1:02:33

26 weeks ago1:02:33

1:02:33

John is not assigning blame, Alison is someone, and Liz is bludgeoning. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky or on Instagram ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Sexual assault (Neil Gaiman allegations, at 39:28 to 42:02). Letters of comment Niall Harrison On our Hugo win/recusing Andy on Mastodon Chris Garcia Meg MacDonald Perianne Lurie Renay Sandra Bond’s poem On info desk and maps Alan Fleming Doug Faunt Peter Sullivan On communications Chris Garcia Duncan MacGregor on Mastodon On WSFS Business Meeting June Young (email, 9 September) Chris Garcia (email, 29 August) Martin Freeman circa 2001 Post from Nicholas Whyte on consultative vote DC on Mastodon Duncan MacGregor on Mastodon Raj on Mastodon Our brand is now WSFS Commentators and people like it? Laurie Burchell On Worldcon attendance numbers Tero on Mastodon aoanla on Mastodon Miscellaneous Hugo finalists: Raj on Mastodon Programme: aoanla on Mastodon Back to Our Futures We also heard from: Ali Baker Brooks, Angela Rosin, Catherine Pickersgill, Curt Phillips, Damien Warman, Dave Coxon, España Sheriff, Farah Mendlesohn, Fiona Moore, Fran Dowd, Gav Reads, Iain Clark, Jonathan Baddeley, Julie Faith McMurray, Karen Schaffer, Leigh Edmonds, Lilian Edwards, Malcolm Hutchison, Mike Scott, Neil Ottenstein, Phil Dyson, Roseanna Pendlebury, Trish Neil Gaiman File 770 Genre Grapevine Elise Matthesen on Dreamwidth The Guardian Theremina on Patreon Future Worldcons Seattle 2025 Seattle is having a Poetry Hugo Seattle has announced a judged film festival LAcon V looks good Good guests “The LA in 2026 bid received 452 out of 531 votes cast.” Tel Aviv in 2027 Brisbane in 2028 The latest episode of FANAC History Zoom is “The secret history of Plokta”, with Steve Davies, Sue Mason, Alison Scott, and Mike Scott Picks John: Alien: Romulus Alison: KAOS Liz: Control Credits Cover art: “We got a lot of letters” by Alison Scott Alt text: A famous photograph of Margaret Hamilton standing beside printed outputs of the code that took the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon, overlaid with the words “Octothorpe 119” and “Our Listeners Write In”. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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118: Och Aye, Sci-Fi 1:06:02

28 weeks ago1:06:02

1:06:02

John is savage, Alison hates paper, and Liz likes stationery. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: harsh criticism (Publications), racism (Picks) Glasgow wants your feedback on Facebook Worldcon photography Glasgow 2024 photographs on Flickr Andrew Hogg: Noted Fan Artist Andy Openshaw’s photo on BlueSky Halls 4 and 5 Staples WOOF In Memoriam Boris the Spider John’s Swag Communications Join fancon.dev on Discord Picks John: The Acolyte Alison: Nimona Liz: The Case of the Golden Idol Credits Cover art: “Armadillo Pins” by Sara Felix (lettering by Alison Scott) Alt text: Three pins of armadillos flying colourful spaceships are on top of a piece of paper with blobs of glue that look like planets. The lettering “Octothorpe 118” appears above in a similar style to the pins. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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117: You Made That Joke Last Time, John 57:22

30 weeks ago57:22

57:22

John liked the entertainment, Alison didn’t queue, and Liz wanted soup. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Doug Faunt Renay We are recusing for at least the 2025 Hugos Renay is known for Lady Business and the Hugo Award Spreadsheet of Doom ULTIMAFAX on YouTube: “Allison [sic] looks exactly like she sounds lol. john does not” Fancast recommendations: Stitch and Bitch by Kalanadi FANAC Fan History by Joe Siclari and Edie Stern Hugo, Girl! by Lori, Haley and Amy 🥰 The Godzilla Minus One eligibility extension was voted down Queue entertainment Cardinal Cox The Quest NPC The Long List of World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons) Glasgow 2024 Back to Our Futures Credits Cover art: “Hugo Evolution” by Iain J Clark (arranged by Alison Scott) Alt text: Three photographs dominate the centre of the image. The left-hand photograph is of a prototype Hugo made of rough wood and cardboard; the centre photograph is of a rough-ish wood base and tin foil rocket but with the actual acrylic and etching, and the right-hand photograph is of the finished Hugo Award. Text below the photos reads “protoprototype”, “prototype”, and “2024 Hugo”. Above, the words “Octothorpe 117” appear. Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)…

Octothorpe

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116: I’m Not Absolutely Sure I Voted 49:49

32 weeks ago49:49