Unknown Worlds of the Merril Collection

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In Unknown Worlds of the Merril Collection, host Stephen Geraghty interviews special guests about notable history and new frontiers in the worlds of science fiction, fantasy and horror as found in Toronto's Merril Collection, the Western Hemisphere's largest publicly accessible archive of genre materials. Produced by Janet Mowat. Interviews have been edited for length and content. Opinions are solely those of the speakers, representing neither the Toronto Public Library System nor the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy.

  1. JAN 26

    First Contact pt. 2

    This is part 2 of our final episode of the season! Stephen talks with Peter Watts, author of Blindsight and Echopraxia (and much more), about alien intelligence, how vampires work, and the choice to use Creative Commons licensing. This episode contains spoilers for Blindsight. Website/blog Merril Links The Merril Collection! Friends of Merril (Facebook & Twitter) Works & artists mentioned Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian (sheepshank) Behemoth by Peter Watts Cory Doctorow John Scalzi Neill Blomkamp Arthur Jafa Spike Lee Eyes Wide Shut (1999, dir. Stanley Kubrick) The Twenty-One Second God by Peter Watts Sunflower cycle by Peter Watts Host: Stephen Geraghty Producer: Janet Mowat This episode was recorded in the spring of 2024. We do not advocate running down the street naked, shooting shotguns.

    35 min

  2. JAN 19

    First Contact pt. 1

    This is part 1 of our final episode of the season! Stephen talks with Peter Watts, author of Blindsight and Echopraxia (and much more), about UFOs, his influences, and the functional utility of consciousness. This episode contains spoilers for Blindsight. Website/blog Merril Links The Merril Collection! Friends of Merril (Facebook & Twitter) Works & artists mentioned Star Trek: The Original Series The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Neuropath by Scott Bakker Larry Niven  Ray Bradbury Solaris by Stanislav Lem  Solaris (1972; dir. Andrei Tarkovsky) Solaris (2002; dir. Steven Soderberg) The Creator (2023) Charles Stross Richard Dawkins (sorry, Janet couldn't find the work mentioned) Alien movie series Host: Stephen Geraghty Producer: Janet Mowat This episode was recorded in the spring of 2024.

    35 min

  3. JAN 12

    Humour and SF

    Stephen talks with Charles Stross, author of the Laundry Files series (and much more), about humour in speculative fiction, the element of surprise, and what makes him laugh. Charlie's Diary Mastodon Bluesky Merril Links The Merril Collection! Friends of Merril (Facebook & Twitter) Works, games, & artists mentioned H.P. Lovecraft Laundry Files series by Charles Stross New Management series by Charles Stross A Colder War by Charles Stross Len Deighton John Le Carré Discworld series by Terry Pratchett James Bond series by Ian Fleming Adam Hall Anthony Price Modesty Blaise Quentin Tarentino Vampire: The Masquerade (game) Merchant Princes series by Charles Stross Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams Gil’s All-Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez J.W. Wells & Co. series by Tom Holt Monty Python's Flying Circus Call of Cthulu (game) The Laundry (game) George R.R. Martin Dungeons & Dragons (game) Host: Stephen Geraghty Producer: Janet Mowat This episode was recorded in the spring of 2024.

    33 min

  4. JAN 5

    Alternate Futures

    Stephen talks with Kenna Alexander, creator of the RPG Coyote & Crow, about alternate futures, creating an Indigenous roleplaying game, and decolonising gaming. At the time of this interview, Kenna was known by a different name and pronouns. We acknowledge and celebrate her true identity. Coyote & Crow Games Discord YouTube Bluesky Reddit Merril Links The Merril Collection! Friends of Merril (Facebook & Twitter) Works, games, & artists mentioned Dungeons & Dragons Settlers of Catan Other Coyote & Crow games and adventures Hemlock and Sage by Tali Inlow Robert Heinlein Isaac Asimov Ray Bradbury Host: Stephen Geraghty Producer: Janet Mowat This episode was recorded in the spring of 2024.

    35 min

  5. 12/29/2025

    Optimistic SF

    Stephen talks with author Alyx Dellamonica about optimistic SF, balancing optimism with realism, and their Bounceback book series.   Merril Links The Merril Collection! Friends of Merril (Facebook & Twitter) Works & artists mentioned Ray Bradbury Spider Robinson War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells Foundation novels by Isaac Asimov Star Trek: The Original Series Horse Woman by LX Beckett Gamechanger & Dealbreaker by LX Beckett Annalee Newitz Nnedi Okorafor Host: Stephen Geraghty Producer: Janet Mowat This episode was recorded in the autumn of 2023.

    34 min

  6. 12/22/2025

    Music and SF

    Stephen discusses filk, storytelling, community, and the intersections of music and speculative fiction with two legends: 'Decadent' Dave Clement and Steven Brust. Note: For copyright reasons, we didn't include any songs in this episode. The songs we would have used are 'This Island Earth' (Dandelion Wine) and 'Stars Overhead' (Cats Laughing) from the albums linked below. Circles in the Grain - Dandelion Wine Another Way to Travel - Cats Laughing Cats Laughing website Merril Links The Merril Collection! Friends of Merril (Facebook & Twitter) Events mentioned Keycon Filk Ontario  Festival of the Living Rooms Ohio Valley Filk Festival  Pegasus awards Select works & artists mentioned Beth Friedman Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust Khaavren Romances series by Steven Brust DC Star Trek comic “Debt of Honor” written by Christopher S. Claremont, illustrated by Adam T. Hughes and Karl C. Story The Callahan Touch by Spider Robinson Borderland series by Terri Windling Adam Stemple Emma Bull The Gypsy by Megan Lindholme and Steven Brust Songs from The Gypsy by Boiled in Lead (album) Joe Haldeman Lyorn by Steven Brust (released April 2024) How Much for Just the Planet? by John M. Ford Once More, With Feeling - Buffy the Vampire Slayer s6e7 Host: Stephen Geraghty Producer: Janet Mowat This episode was recorded in the autumn of 2023.

    30 min

  7. 12/15/2025

    Cosy Fantasy

    Stephen talks with Yilin Wang and André Geleynse of Tales & Feathers magazine about cosy fiction. Tales & Feathers magazine Augur magazine Facebook Twitter Instagram Merril Links The Merril Collection! Friends of Merril (Facebook & Twitter) Works & artists mentioned Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, Monk & Robot series by Becky Chambers John Wiswell Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Diana Wynne Jones I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki My Neighbour Totoro (1988) Shadow Life by Hiromi Goto Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) Hakumei and Mikochi by Takuto Kashiki Host: Stephen Geraghty Producer: Janet Mowat This episode was recorded in the autumn of 2023.

    35 min

  8. 12/06/2025

    Apocalypse

    New host Stephen talks with Waubgeshig Rice about apocalyptic stories, Indigenous SF, and his books Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves. Waub's website Facebook Twitter Instagram Goodreads Merril Links The Merril Collection! Friends of Merril (Facebook & Twitter) Works & artists mentioned Moon of the Crusted Snow, Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel The Chrysalids by John Wyndham Mad Max (1979) The Last of Us (video game - 2013; TV series - 2023) The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline Trickster series by Eden Robinson The Road by Cormack McCarthy Host: Stephen Geraghty Producer: Janet Mowat This episode was recorded in the autumn of 2023.

    46 min
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In Unknown Worlds of the Merril Collection, host Stephen Geraghty interviews special guests about notable history and new frontiers in the worlds of science fiction, fantasy and horror as found in Toronto's Merril Collection, the Western Hemisphere's largest publicly accessible archive of genre materials. Produced by Janet Mowat. Interviews have been edited for length and content. Opinions are solely those of the speakers, representing neither the Toronto Public Library System nor the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy.

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