James Gunn’s “Peacemaker” chronicles a toxic meathead character as he comes to terms with his past, his racist father, and an alien takeover of the planet. He is neither a hero nor antihero.   He’s something new, and hilarious: a…

How do clones manifest in science fiction? When are they evil, good, or a portent of science gone too far?   Scottish scifi twins Dickie and Stone rejoin to discuss.   SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/alienating

“Solaris” by Stanislaw Lem follows a crew of scientists trying to understand an utterly alien intelligence–a planet covered by an ocean of (apparently?) conscious goop. How can we communicate with something truly, truly foreign to our evolution and…

“Rick and Morty” is the funniest science fiction to grace the world sense “Futurama”–if not the best comedy in general. What is it about, and what distinguishes it from other, lesser comedies? Jeff Maurer joins to discuss.  (Note: this episode…

“The Fifth Element” starring Bruce Willis and Mila Jovovich is a cult classic. But… does it hold up? Did it ever?   To answer that question, we turn to Scottish scifi twins Dickie and Stone Lynch.

“Enterprise” is the prequel of Star Trek, exploring the foundation of the Federation of Planets, and the bump, suspicious period when Vulcans and humans get to know one another. Scottish science fiction twins Dickie & Stone Lynch return to discuss.

There’s a subgenre of science fiction we might call “femme fear,” exemplified by writers like Margaret Atwood.  Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling” is the latest example. And while it was mostly panned by critics, Heaton enjoyed it. …

In , life is discovered on an alien planet, and the first humans to arrive are… Jesuits. The book explores the terrifying consequences of missionaries on a new world, who are there for good reasons–with good intentions–but don’t know what they’ve…

The Sith are the dark lords of Star Wars. But what do they want? Are they logically consistent antagonists, with clear rationales for their goals and methods, or just mustache-twirling villains with no depth?   Stephen Kent and Mike TV join to…

John Carpenter’s “They Live” is a cult classic about seeing through societal mirage to glimpse the strings of the puppet masters. It’s also a specific and intentional “primal scream” against Reagonomics. Ron Hayden joins to discuss.

In “The Boys” super heroes superficially fight crime, but are really corporate pawns and predators, ranging from ladder-climbing reality show scumbags to full-blown Nietzschean demigods. What happens when super powers are not always entrusted in the…

Brain swaps are a beloved sci-fi trope, but how feasible are they? Dr. John-Paul Kolsun is a brain doctor, and host of “The Neurosurgery Podcast”  He joins to discuss the feasibility of brain transplants.

In Stephen King’s finest work, protagonist Jake Epping discovers a time portal which allows him to go back to the late 50s and then stick around long enough to stop Lee Harvey Oswald from killing President Kennedy. . . But should he interfere with the…

Jay Mutzafi rejoins the show to discuss the many elements of “Interstellar,” from gravity to parenting to gut feelings.   Jay’s notes on the various forms of time travel here:

Dickie and Stone Lynch rejoin the show to discuss the entire panoply of androids in Star Trek, from Ruk, to Lore, to Automated Personnel Unit 3947. With special attention paid to “Requiem for Methuselah.” Warning: slightly raunchy episode

The film “Moon,” starring Sam Rockwell, follows the lonely exploits of a solo worker on a moon base, and the unfolding mystery and terror of what his life actually entails.  Scottish scifi twins Stone and Dickie Lynch join to discuss SUPPORT THE…

What ultimately brought down the Jedi Order, and was it actually worth saving? Kevin Delano and Mike TV join to discuss SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.mightyheaton.com/ata

“The Three Body Problem”, by Chinese author Liu Cixin, explores Maoism, how mankind reacts to imminent alien invasion, and asks the big question: is humanity worth saving? Andrea Jones-Rooy jones to discuss. Support the show! Books mentioned on…

From Kirk and Spock through Deep Space Nine, the world of Star Trek has a shadowy alternate universe where mankind is alternately evil or oppressed. Andrew Young joins to discuss. SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.mightyheaton.com/ata

Spike Jonze’s “Her”, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson, follows the story of a lonely man who falls in love with a sentient operating system. The film explores AI and romance in the not-too-distant-future, isolation and alienation,…