Stuff Ian Likes

Ian Banks
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This is a podcast about Stuff Ian Likes. Books, films, music… Ian Banks describes the things that have shaped who he is today and discusses what it is that makes them so significant. What sort of “stuff” do you like? Join the conversation @stuffianlikes

  1. 01/31/2025

    Episode 29: Empty World by John Christopher

    John Christopher’s 1977 children’s novel about the end of the world is as grim as anything on a similar theme that he wrote for adults, just toned down for language and “themes.” In this episode I take a closer look at what it’s all about and why it enjoyed a bit of a renaissance just a few years ago.

    10 min

  2. 12/29/2024

    Episode 28: C. S. Lewis by A. N. Wilson

    A wonderfully bookish biography of a bookish person by another bookish person. This book is a delight for those who are fans of Lewis or even if you re not. Wilson is a fabulously erudite reteller of Lewis’s life and inspirations.

    10 min

  3. 11/27/2024

    Episode 27: Galaxy Quest

    Galaxy Quest is a 1999 science fiction comedy starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. It’s an utter delight and a favourite of mine. Riffing more than slightly off the real-life experiences of the actors in Star Trek, it’s a hilarious trip across the galaxy with a wonderful heart.

    13 min

  4. 10/30/2024

    Episode 26: Heart Of The Comet by David Brin and Gregory Benford

    Collaborations aren’t normally something that I enjoy but when they work they are an absolute delight (see episode 1 of this series for more proof). This 1980s classic by two giants of the field is a fantastic depiction of a manned expedition to explore Halley’s Comet. Full of adventure and tragedy and wonderful science-y ideas, it’s a thumping good tale.

    9 min

  5. 09/27/2024

    Episode 25: Illusion by Paula Volsky

    Episode 25: Illusion by Paula Volsky Illusion is a brilliant novel that tells a fantasy version of the French Revolution. It’s a delight to read despite covering fairly grim material and I absolutely love it.

    10 min

  6. 08/25/2024

    Episode 24: Underfoot In Show Business by Helene Hanff

    Helene Hanff rose to international prominence with 84, Charing Cross Road, but she had been a writer all her life. This frequently hilarious memoir details how that writing life began…

    7 min

  7. 07/26/2024

    Episode 23: The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison

    James Bolivar diGriz is a career criminal in a universe that barely acknowledges his existence. He is also the hero of a series spanning 50 years of the life of Harry Harrison. Funny, smart and exciting, this is a set of adventures that I’ve enjoyed for most of my life.

    20 min

  8. 06/29/2024

    Episode 22: Beloved Exile by Parke Godwin

    Arthurian literature has fallen off my radar a little in recent years, pretty much because of real world issues influencing how I feel about it. Beloved Exile is, however, a genuinely superb novel about what happens after Arthur dies…

    9 min
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About

This is a podcast about Stuff Ian Likes. Books, films, music… Ian Banks describes the things that have shaped who he is today and discusses what it is that makes them so significant. What sort of “stuff” do you like? Join the conversation @stuffianlikes

Information

  • Creator
    Ian Banks
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ian Banks