Octothorpe

Three Miis in the style of John, Alison and Liz on a background reminiscent of the Everybody Votes Channel from the Nintendo Wii. The words “Octothorpe 140” appear at the top and “WSFS Everybody Votes Channel” at the bottom.

This is another bumper episode, as we do a deep dive into the WSFS Business Meetings and then an almost equally deep dive into a little indie comic known as Superman. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/140-nerdie...

Letters of comment here with some more ideas about the Translated Hugo, and good news: sounds like the BSFA is going ahead with a (juried) award for SF in translation!

Thanks for being on, you were a delight!

Thanks so much for having me on! It was so much fun.

The words “Octothorpe 139” appear at the top and the words “…our tiny bottles…” appear at the bottom. Three bottles are drawn in the middle. The left-hand bottle is a Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Coca-Cola bottle. The middle bottle is a bottle that looks a bit like a moose. The right-hand bottle is Bottle #18, “The Original Canton Delicate Ginger Liqueur”.

This episode, we welcome @tammylc.bsky.social to the podcast as our Stunt Liz! We discuss @montreal2027.bsky.social and whether they can step up to the plate, before talking about the virtual Business Meeting at @seattlein2025.org. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/139-mostly...

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 138” and “Whizz-Fizz Agenda Time!”.

Octothorpe 138 is here, in which we discuss the recent changing of the @montrealworldcon27.bsky.social chair, before turning our sights to the @seattlein2025.org Business Meeting agenda. That’s right, listeners. It's Bat-Liz time.

Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/138-a-tedi...

Very pleased to hear the Translated Hugo idea getting discussed here (around 22:30); more on that...soon...

An image of the well-known fantasy hero Ahmon Kwasson, holding his trusty croissant-shaped sword and his trusty croissant-adorned shield, with his trusty croissant-coloured hair, which obscures the words “Octothorpe 137”. At the bottom is text: “Ahmon’s Quest: Your perfect cosy breakfast listen”.

It’s Thursday somewhere, as episode 137 makes its debut! We read your lovely letters and then discuss in some detail how an award for Best Translated Work might be conducted. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/137-my-bra...

I think that is pretty much the only context in which we would discuss Hinckley. Ah, what a weird hotel

Liz, depicted as the Incredible Hulk, comes across a table on which lie many items of food (sketched in black and white) including John (a sausage roll) and Alison (an almond croissant), rendered in colour. The words “Octothorpe 136” appear at the top and “You won't like Liz when she's hangry” appear at the bottom.

Octothorpe 136 is now arriving! We finally have time to discuss Eastercon 2025 (Reconnect in Belfast) in more detail, and then we also discuss @seattlein2025.org, particularly the consultative votes. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/136-when-d...

A blueprint of an almond croissant with “Octothorpe 135” written at the top and “almond croissant engineering” at the bottom.

Episode 135 is here! If you like almond croissants, boy is this the episode for you. And if you don’t, well, there might be another episode eventually, eh? Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/135-very-s...

A photograph of a yellow square on a mantlepiece. On the yellow square is black text and a red shape with yellow text. The text reads “Corflu 42. 2025 FAAn Awards. Best Immutable Object: Octothorpe”. Text overlaid on the photograph reads ‘Octothorpe 134. “Don’t believe everything you read on ChatGPT.”’

Episode 134 is here! We discuss the recent @seattlein2025.org controversy, and also read out some letters of comment from various listeners, before getting into the real meat of the podcast: roguelikes.

Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/134-in-the...

John, Alison and Liz are sat behind a table at Reconnect doing a live podcast. The words “Octothorpe 133” appear at the bottom.

Episode 133, live from Reconnect, the 2025 Eastercon in Belfast, is here! We discuss the fun we’ve had at the convention, and also discuss other forthcoming Eastercons through to 2030. It's possibly more coherent than some other live episodes?

Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/133-i-unde...

Still at Eastercon? Don't forget Octothorpe Live!, 12.30 in Lagan B.

Octothorpe fans (Octothorpers? Octothorpies? Octothropes?) don't forget if you are at Eastercon we are having a meetup at 9pm tonight in the Hilton bar!

a graphic that says "it's official!" Worldbuilding for Masochists is a 2025 Hugo Award finalist for Best Fancast with our logo on a starry background and our faces

SO THIS HAPPENED!

We are so stoked to be a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Fancast once again! That's 5x!

We couldn't do this without our amazing guests, our awesome listeners, and everyone who makes this community of worldbuilders possible!

Winners will be announced in August at WorldCon.

Best fancast announcement showing Hugo girl as a finalist!

🎉🎉🎉

Three-time finalist? I guess it's not a fluke, and it's still an amazing honor to be shortlisted with these other amazing podcasts! @hugogirlpodcast.bsky.social @worldbuildcast.bsky.social @eightdaysofdiana.bsky.social @mealofthorns.bsky.social @coodestreet.bsky.social

Still kind of reeling: A Meal of Thorns is a Hugo finalist! A huge thanks to everyone who listened & nominated, and of course to the wonderful guests who have made this project such a treat.

Also, it is lovely to be in such company; a quick thread of faves from '24 in case followers are unfamiliar:

A black background. Text in purple reads “Octothorpe 132” while text MADE OF FIRE says “Scorching hot takes on the Hugo finalists”.

Octothorpe 132 is here early, because we are discussing this year’s Hugo Awards finalists! It’s almost as if our fingers are on the pulse, or something. Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/132-almost...

The Death of Stalin I don’t normally review films. Hell, I don’t normally watch films. But sometimes, a reason important enough comes along that forces my hand, and that reason is “for the bit”…

Present for you @octothorpecast.bsky.social

I /hadn't/ reviewed The Death of Stalin, but who am I to resist a joke when it presents itself so readily to me, so here you go: readerofelse.wordpress.com/2025/03/30/t...

A birthday cake with six layers, from purple to a dark orange, and then a red 5 and five red candles on top, with fireworks overhead. The words “Octothorpe 131” are at the top.

Octothorpe 131 is here! We discuss @seattlein2025.org, Eastercon, the BSFA Awards (@bsfa.bsky.social), and then we talk about the fan funds and handwriting. Also, John actually had a pick in advance this episode. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/131-we-re-...

Happy 5th birthday to us! 🥳🥳🥳 (Technically yesterday, but you know how we feel about time.) octothorpe.podbean.com/e/1-joy-con/

We are too dispersed but Alison is a Photoshop wizard

Feel free to reply with your handwriting guesses!

The words “Octothorpe 130: Handwriting Analysis Special” appear three times in the three hosts’ handwriting.

Octothorpe 130 is here, in which we discuss consumer law much less and discuss other things much more! Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/130-i-am-s...

#ScienceFiction #Podcast #HugoAwards

ooh that's a classic! (the ipod, not the episode)

Episode 129 is here, in which we discuss the Belfast Eastercon, Alison shakes her cane at John and Liz, and we talk a little about WSFS things before getting into picks. Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/129-deep-i...

Episode 128 is here! We report on the BSFA’s policy on reviewing, tell you all what John’s doing for Reconnect (the 2025 Eastercon), discuss Iridescence (a bid for the 2026 Eastercon), and talk BSFA Awards (presented at Eastercon). Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/128-a-mini...

Episode 127 is here. We discuss the latest juicy gossip from the Belfast Eastercon, we hear from Claire Brialey of Croydon, and we pick things that aren't games! Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/127-hello-...