Welcome to Ngā Pātaka Kōrero Auckland Libraries podcast page! Catch up on author talks, events and concerts, and hear more in-depth commentary from the curatori...
In this episode of Other Worlds, we explore some of the most iconic works of dystopian and utopian literature and the value of reading these works within the science fiction genre.
Joining Sue Berman to discuss this theme is Other Worlds exhibition curator Renee Orr. We talk about Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World', Margaret Atwood’s 'The Handmaid's Tale', the utopian vision of Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 'Herland' and the 1970s classic, Marge Piercy’s 'Woman on the Edge of Time'.
Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition
For recommended reads visit:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads
Books mentioned in the podcast:
Aldous Huxley, with illustrations by Leonard Rosoman. Brave new world. London: Folio Society, 1971.
Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood’s end. London: Pan Books, 1961.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Herland. New York: Pantheon Books, 1979.
Margaret Atwood. The handmaid’s tale. London: Jonathan Cape, 1986.
Marge Piercy. Woman on the edge of time. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1976.
Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/
Image from Aldous Huxley, with illustrations by Leonard Rosoman. Brave new world. London: Folio Society, 1971.
Produced by Sue Berman and JL.
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14:46
Other Worlds : Beyond Books
In this episode of Other Worlds, we look Beyond Books into the fascinating world of science fiction related pop culture, and the artefacts that bring these worlds to life.
We check out pop up books and bubble gum cards, 8mm film, figurines and LPs in this romp through collectables and material culture. To look at this theme I am joined by Other Worlds exhibition activation curator Brent Giblin.
Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition
For recommended reads visit:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads
Books mentioned in the podcast:
Reproduction cards of science fiction pulp magazines. 1980s. Eph-Books.
Return of the Jedi bubblegum collector card, 1983. On loan from a private collection.
Conquest of the planet of the apes Super 8 film cases, 1974. On loan from a private collection.
Blade runner, Westwood Studios, 1997. On loan from a private collection.
LP. Patea Māori Club. Aku raukura. Hawera: Maui, 1984.
LP. Louis and Bebe Barron. Forbidden planet soundtrack. Planet Records, recorded 1956, released 1976. On loan from a private collection.
Metaluna mutant figure from the film This island earth sculpted by Olav Hartvigson, 2000. On loan from a private collection.
Mini epics Xenomorph figure sculpted by Mauro Santini for Wētā Workshops, 2017. On loan from a private collection.
Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/
Image from cover 'Conquest of the planet of the apes', Super 8 film cases, 1974. On loan from a private collection.
Produced by Sue Berman and JL.
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20:33
Other Worlds : Mars
In this episode of Other Worlds, we explore how the mysterious red planet has fascinated writers and scientists for centuries. Mars has inspired many different narratives, including Martian invasions, philosophical reflections on life beyond Earth, visions of terraforming and colonisation.
Joining Sue Berman to discuss the works of H.G. Wells to modern depictions of a colonised Mars in Kim Stanley Robinson’s 'Green Mars' and many more great reads, is Other Worlds exhibition curator Renee Orr.
Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition
For recommended reads visit:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads
Books mentioned in the podcast:
H. G. Wells. The war of the worlds. London: William Heinemann, 1898.
LP booklet. Jeff Wayne’s musical version of 'The war of the worlds', 1978. Cover illustration by Mike Trim. On loan from a private collection.
Louis Pope Gratacap. The certainty of a future life in Mars: being the posthumous papers of Bradford Torrey Dodd. New York: Brentano's, 1903.
Louis Charbonneau. Corpus earthling. New York: Zenith Books, 1960.
Robert A. Heinlein; The rolling Stones. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1952.
Kim Stanley Robinson. Green Mars. New York: A Tom Doherty Associates Book, 1988.
Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/
Image from cover; Louis Charbonneau. Corpus earthling. New York: Zenith Books, 1960.
Produced by Sue Berman and JL.
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19:03
Other Worlds : Empty City
In this episode of Other Worlds, we explore the theme and concept ‘The Empty City’. This theme stretches across time, art, literature, and imagination as we examine the many ways that the empty city, or the city emptied of its people, has been represented in science fiction.
Joining Sue Berman to discuss this theme is Other Worlds exhibition curator Andrew Henry.
Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition
For recommended reads visit:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads
Books mentioned in the podcast:
Gustave Doré and Blanchard Jerrold. London: a pilgrimage. London: Grant, 1872.
Europa's fate, or, The coming struggle: a history lesson in New Zealand A.D. 2076. London: Griffith and Farran, 1875.
Nevil Shute. On the beach. Melbourne: Heinemann, 1957.
Craig Harrison. The quiet earth. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1981.
New worlds SF, vol. 49, no. 152. London: Roberts & Vinter, July 1965.
Samuel R. Delany, Dhalgren. New York: Bantam Books, 1975.
Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/
Image credit: Cover image from Samuel R. Delany, Dhalgren. New York: Bantam Books, 1975.
Produced by Sue Berman and JL.
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13:33
Other Worlds : Colonisation
In this episode of Other Worlds, we discuss colonisation, a theme explored through science fiction writing. Joining Sue Berman to discuss this theme is Other Worlds exhibition curator Renee Orr.
We talk about how writers have used science fiction to explore very real and complex aspects of human society and history, and, how the themes of invasion, colonisation, language and cultural difference come up again and again in speculative fiction.
Visit the onsite exhibition and join us in a series of events and activations:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-exhibition
For recommended reads visit:
www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/Other-Worlds-reads
Books mentioned in the podcast:
Alaisea Fa'alafi Iosefa. Malaga I le vanimonimo = A trip to space. Los Angeles: National Dissemination and Assessment Center, 1980.
Liu Cixin. 三体. II, 黑暗森林 / 刘慈欣著. San ti. II, Hei an sen lin. The three-body problem II: The dark forest. Chongqing: Chongqing chu ban she, 2008.
Ursula K. Le Guin. The left hand of darkness. London: Macdonald Science Fiction, 1969.
Octavia Butler. Dawn. London: Victor Gollancz, 1987.
Samuel R. Delany. Babel 17. London: Victor Gollancz, 1967.
Tīhema Baker. Turncoat. Wellington: Lawrence and Gibson, 2023.
Music credit: https://www.melodyloops.com/tracks/space-harmony/
Image from: Alaisea Fa'alafi Iosefa. Malaga I le vanimonimo = A trip to space. Los Angeles: National Dissemination and Assessment Center, 1980.
Produced by Sue Berman and JL.
Welcome to Ngā Pātaka Kōrero Auckland Libraries podcast page! Catch up on author talks, events and concerts, and hear more in-depth commentary from the curatorial team behind our taonga treasured collections and exhibitions.
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