FictionScience Fiction

Ancient Geeks

Two old geeks talk about being young geeks, at a turning point in popular culture. In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the threads of modern geek culture emerged and wove together. Science fiction, fantasy, comics, movies, TV shows, tabletop games, computer games, ad all their incarnations. The great SF&F writers, Star Trek, Star Wars, monster movies, D&D, Doctor Who, the Marvel and DC superheroes, 2001, Planet of the Apes, conventions, Zork, Ultima...What was it like to experience these for the first time? Why did we love them? And how do we feel about them, decades later?

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#90
Yesterday · 51 min
Ancient Geeks episode 88: Star Trek The Next Generation, season 2 part 3
We wrap up our discussion of the pivotal second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation with our reviews of the rest of the episodes we didn't cover last week. There are some definite gems, but also some definite meh episodes, and some stinkers. But what does it mean to be a bad TNG episode? Whatever the Platonic ideal of badness is, Steven is more forgiving than Tom. Hear us put the rest of season two on the diagnostic table. Picard squared! We make things go! We reach our peak! We have people follow us around and interpret for us! We're outrageous! We have short refractory periods! Someone's embarrassing mother visits us! If the Enterprise isn't working, just unplug it, and plug it back in again! Hey look, another super-being! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack, where we post daily. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#89
October 5 · 1 hr 18 min
Ancient Geeks episode 87: Star Trek The Next Generation, season 2 part 2
We continue our discussion of Star Trek: The Next Generation season two by discussing some of the must-watch and should-avoid episodes. There are classics like "Q Who," "Measure Of A Man," and "The Emissary." Not only are they really good, but they established characters, adversaries, and plot elements that continued to be important for the series. And then there are the regrettable episodes, like "Up The Long Ladder" and "The Child" that make you shake your head with disbelief that they did not learn the hard lessons from season one. Both the good and bad episodes help triangulate on where ST:TNG had arrived in season 2. They also help identify what made this season important for the future success not just of the series, but also of the franchise. We'll continue discussing individual season 2 episodes next week. Battling Borg! Cantankerous Klingons! Ambiguous androids! Cringy Celts! Clumsy clones! Menacing Moriarity! Engaging emissaries! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack, where we post daily. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#88
September 28 · 51 min
Ancient Geeks episode 86: Star Trek The Next Generation, season 2 part 1
We return to the 24th century for the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. We start our discussion with an overview of this pivotal season. What did we expect, when we watched season two for the first time, after the few highs and frequent lows of season one? How well did it live up to our expectations? What were the critical improvements made this season? And what might have happened if this had been the last season of ST:TNG? In the next two episodes of this podcast, we'll review individual episodes of ST:TNG season two. We'll also discuss, once again, what makes a good or bad episode of Star Trek, and how season two made us ponder whether we needed to rethink our ratings scale. Iconic episodes! Pugnacious Pulaski! Relaxed acting! Improved characterization! Bottle episodes! Scientific conundrums! Fading Ferengi! Foregrounded Klingons! Major additions to canon! Higher stakes! A less annoying Wesley! Guileful Guinan! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack, where we post daily. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#87
September 21 · 1 hr 1 min
Ancient Geeks episode 85: The Farthest Shore
We finish our discussion of the first three Earthsea novels by Ursula Le Guin with The Farthest Shore. We see Ged, the magician, as an older man, risen to Archmage. There's something terrible happening in the world, extinguishing magic and driving people insane. Looks like the makings of a classic quest! Except, as with the other two Earthsea books that preceded it, The Farthest Shore is anything but your typical fantasy, and this is more than just a quest to hunt down The Big Bad. As is the case with any good literature, it also has important lessons to impart, with surprising resonance for the challenges of the real world today. The world sliding into disaster! A young companion with a complex and changing view of his mentor! Dragons! Boats! Rafts! Demented dyers! Drug-addled mages! Cranky villagers! Ruminations on life and death! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack, where we post daily. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#86
September 14 · 1 hr 9 min
Ancient Geeks episode 84: The Tombs Of Atuan by Ursula Le Guin
Continuing our coverage of Ursula K. Le Guin's first three Earthsea books, we turn to The Tombs Of Atuan. This time, the focus is on a female protagonist, Tenar, and her very dark coming-of-age story. She's the high priestess of one of the most depressing, oppressive religions in fantasy literature. Nevertheless, the adults in the temple keep telling her of how wonderful it is to be the spiritual leader of a faith centered on a lightless labyrinth and mute gods, all in the middle of a desert. Who wouldn't want that job! It's a big shift from the first book, though it continues the story of A Wizard Of Earthsea in some surprising ways. It also has many though-provoking moments. An eternally reincarnated priestess! The destructive power of labels! A God-King! People who seem helpful, but aren't! A deadly game of cat and mouse! A desperate plan of escape! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack, where we post daily. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#85
September 7 · 1 hr 3 min
Ancient Geeks episode 83: A Wizard Of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin
We begin our three-part coverage of Ursula K. Le Guin's classic fantasy series, starting with A Wizard Of Earthsea. It starts with a story arc that may sound familiar, a young magician finding his way in the world. But, as you'll hear, it's so much more than just another coming of age story with spells and dragons. Steven read the Earthsea Trilogy (it was only the three books then) when he was young. Tom just read them. Both of us have a lot of praise to heap on the first book in the series. It's the novel that wasn't supposed to be the start of a series, but it was. It's also the book that was conceived as "fantasy for teenagers," but is so much more grown up than that. (You'll hear a lot about how we feel about the YA label in this episode.) A world of islands! A world of magic! Dragons! Clashing pedagogic theories! Shady rock collectors! A dramatic chase across the world! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack, where we post daily. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#84
August 31 · 1 hr 9 min
Ancient Geeks episode 82: Planet of the Apes TV, cartoons, comics, and wrap-up
The popularity of the original series of five Planet of the Apes movies meant there would be more than just a chain of sequels. In this episode, we talk about the POTA spin-offs of the 70s, including a short-lived TV series, a cartoon series that was definitely not written for children, and a series of black and white magazines from Marvel Comics. Plus, we talk about the enduring appeal of the original series of movies. Beyond nostalgia, what has made the POTA films a lasting part of popular culture? And, if we could rewind to the late Sixties and early Seventies, what might have been a better path for the sequels, after the first movie? Apes listening to country music! Bland 70s TV! Blond and brunette action duos! More marooned astronauts! A surprisingly good comics series! Other, very wacky comics! The inevitable merchandise! Missed opportunities! The omnipresent Roddy McDowall! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack, where we post daily. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#83
August 24 · 1 hr 11 min
Ancient Geeks episode 81: Battle for the Planet of the Apes
The fifth and final movie of the original Planet of the Apes raised expectations. It's going to be the last movie...and the title says that there will be a battle for the entire planet...and there are apes and mutants fighting on the movie poster. Great Cornelius' ghost! Bring on the battle! What the movie delivered was a bit smaller. Battle of the Planet of the Apes picked up just a few years after Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. In the interim, a lot has happened. And hasn't happened. But what will happen, in the infant ape/human civilization, riven by tensions within, and facing new threats from without? Fractious apes! Subjugated humans! Bored mutants! Radioactive ruins! A not-so-magic school bus! Songwriter and TV personality Paul Williams! Epic levels of incuriosity! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack, where we post daily. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#82
August 17 · 1 hr 31 min
Ancient Geeks episode 80: Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Ever wonder how we went from the swinging Sixties and Seventies to the brutal oppression of apes over humans? Conquest of the Planet of the Apes tells that story. The child of Cornelius and Zira, whom we saw as a newborn in the last movie, is now all grown up now. He doesn't like what he sees, in a world where apes are enslaved, humans are decadent, the architecture is brutal, and turtlenecks are all the rage. As you might expect from the title, the status quo is about to endure a hammer blow! Plus, since this movie was filmed in part on the campus of our alma mater, we have a lot to say about the Southern California locations where this was filmed. Was this the first dystopia set in a suburb? If so, where are all the fast food restaurants? Heavy-handed allegory! Animal cruelty! Animals who get cruel right back at the humans! Ape disobedience statistics! Shopping malls! Hordes of apes in jumpsuits left over from a lousy TV show! Retcons of the history of the future! The third role for the producer's wife! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack, where we post daily. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#81
August 10 · 1 hr 2 min
Ancient Geeks episode 79: Escape From The Planet Of The Apes
Of course there would be more sequels after Beneath The Planet Of The Apes, even though it was designed to be the last. In fact, the chief purpose of Escape From The Planet Of The Apes was to make more sequels possible. World ended? Just go back in time before it was ended! Come back with us to that time when Cornelius and Zira (plus unnamed baby) crash land on 1970s, and then get mistreated. And then turned into beloved celebrities. And then mistreated again. The calmest evil scientist you'll ever meet! Boring scientists! The lowest of low budgets! Fashion shows! Cocktail parties! Chimp makeup! Presidential commissions! An implausible gorilla suit! The most convenient space-time warp ever conceived! Plying a pregnant ape with alcohol! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. Check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#80
August 3 · 1 hr 10 min
Ancient Geeks episode 78: John Carpenter's Dark Star
We wrap up our series in which we look at the first movies of directors who later made the classics of geek cinema. In this episode, we discuss John Carpenter's student film, later expanded for theatrical release, Dark Star. It's a low budget science fiction dark comedy in which a burned-out crew flies from planet to planet, destroying any that they deem "unstable." Of course, nothing's more unstable than these space cadets. Carpenter made Dark Star as the anti-2001, anti-Star Trek. It's also the first effort of a director who wanted to make great B-movies. But it's more than John Carpenter this episode! Dark Star was a collaboration between him and Dan O'Bannon, who later wrote the script for Alien, as well as other familiar geek films. How much of John Carpenter's directorial style can you see in this movie that also guided the production of The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, They Live, and other films? What did we think of the movie, then and now? Finally, we wrap up this mini-series comparing the three first films of Lucas, Spielberg, and Carpenter. Talking bombs! Beach balls! Phenomenology! Muffin trays! Slapstick humor! Mental decay! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#79
July 27 · 55 min
Ancient Geeks episode 77: Steven Spielberg's Duel
We continue our series about the first movies made by directors who later made the classics of geek cinema. In this episode, we discuss Duel, a TV movie made by a very young Steven Spielberg. Starring Dennis Weaver, it's a deadly cat-and-mouse conflict between an average Joe in a Plymouth Valiant and the driver of the most monstrous of trucks. In this early effort, what elements of Spielberg's style can you see that would later appear in Close Encounters, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, and other films? What did we think of this movie, then and now? (The short version: we thought it was terrific.) Terrifying commutes! Impressive camerawork! The lovable snake lady! A demon semi from Hell (maybe)! Chekhov's radiator hose! "McCloud!" It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#78
July 20 · 1 hr 3 min
Ancient Geeks episode 76: George Lucas' THX-1138
We begin a series of episodes about the first movies from directors who later made the classics of geek cinema. In this first episode, we take a look at George Lucas' first feature film, THX-1138. A dystopian drama starring Robert Duvall and Donald Pleasance, this movie was based on Lucas' student film, Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB. (Frankly, we're stumped why Lucas didn't stick with this title.) The backstory is fascinating, including a significant role that Francis Ford Coppola played behind the scenes. But what did we think of THX-1138, then and now? And more importantly, can you see in this movie what kind of director Lucas would become? Are there any hints of Star Wars in THX-1138? All will be revealed in this episode. A computer-managed society that's rapidly breaking down! Casual tyranny! Drug-induced docility! Car chases! Nuclear accidents! Robo-Jesus! Holograms! Wannabe revolutionaries! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#77
July 13 · 1 hr 6 min
Ancient Geeks episode 75: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Harrison Ford and Sean Connery? More Nazi villains? A Grail quest In spite of the disappointment of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, we said, "Sign us up!" And it was glorious! A return to what made Raiders of the Lost Ark great! Exciting action scenes! Organic humor! Two different types of academics! Disturbing questions during Indy's faculty review! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#76
July 6 · 1 hr 7 min
Ancient Geeks episode 74: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Of course there was going to be a sequel... We had high hopes for the second Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Spielberg, Lucas, Ford...How could it go wrong? As it turns out, it could go very badly. We debate how badly, and what were the reasons why this sequel failed to come close to the original. Was this Tom's first case of sequelitis? Leaving all the criticisms aside, what did we enjoy about the movie? How much better or worse did this movie seem, on rewatching it decades later? And what kind of archaeologist is Indiana Jones anyway? Bugs! Child endangerment! Colonialism! Screaming! More screaming! How about some more screaming! Unbelievable action scenes! Drab villains! Faceless goons! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#75
June 29 · 1 hr 23 min
Ancient Geeks episode 73: Raiders Of The Lost Ark
You can hear the soundtrack start to play in your head already... No history of early geekery would be complete without Raiders Of The Lost Ark. In this episode, we talk about the roots of this movie in serials like Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon, in the pulp magazines like Weird Tales and Argosy, and in radio dramas like The Shadow and Suspense. And of course, we talk about the movie. What did we expect, when we heard that a high adventure movie was coming soon, from both George Lucas and Steven Spielberg? What was it like to see it for the first time, in the theaters, along with everyone else? What lasting impact did it have, not only on young geeks like ourselves, but in that intersection between geek culture and popular culture? And why were the imitators so reliably inferior to the original? Snakes! Nazis! Questionable academic practices! Fantastic filmmaking! And is this more of a Spielberg or a Lucas movie? Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#74
June 22 · 49 min
Ancient Geeks episode 72: Fantasy Star Trek crew draft
We take a detour from our normal reminiscences of geekery past to recruit our favorite Star Trek crews. Across all of Star Trek, from the original series to the modern era, whom do we pick for captain, first officer, chief engineer, and all the other leadership positions in a Star Trek crew? Who are the worst picks for these positions? Which ship do each of us want to staff? And whom would we hire from outside the Star Trek universe? Hear two lifelong Star Trek fans wrestle over whom to recruit, and expect to hear some strong opinions as we draft our fantasy crews! Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#73
June 15 · 1 hr 33 min
Ancient Geeks episode 71: Dangerous Visions, Harlan Ellison's ground-breaking anthology
Aha! You thought we were done talking about Harlan Ellison! You fools! Actually, this episode is less about Ellison, and more about the contents of the anthology, Dangerous Visions, which Ellison organized and edited. The book is full of stories from well-known writers, such as Philip K. Dick, Damon Knight, Larry Niven, Poul Anderson, and others, as well as lesser-known authors whose work Ellison decided to promote. Dangerous Visions pursued a new model for anthologies, and is one of the important landmarks in the history of science fiction, speculative fiction, whatever label you want to apply. But was it dangerous? And what did we think of the stories, Ellison's introductions to each one, the authors' own afterwards, and the revolutionary manifesto in Ellison's introduction? Tune in to find out. Because Ellison wanted people to submit stories that made readers uncomfortable and stretched the limits of the genre, we discuss of a handful of stories that include mentions of incest and fetishism. The true face of reality! Organ banks! Transhuman groupies! God! Jack the Ripper! Bigotry against aliens! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#72
June 8 · 1 hr 8 min
Ancient Geeks episode 70: Beneath The Planet Of The Apes
Planet Of The Apes was a classic. Beneath The Planet Of The Apes was supposed to be the sequel to end all ape sequels, just as World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars. How did both of those efforts work out? Beneath The Planet Of The Apes carried the deep distrust of human nature into another film. But now, with another astronaut (who looked a lot like the first astronaut), a first act that looked a lot like the first film, and then, it added psionic mutants and a sacred doomsday weapon. Were they enough to make a good sequel? Return to Ape City! Voyages into the Forbidden Zone! An underground city that was once above ground! Near-identical men with beards fight to the death! Giant gorilla headpieces! The final confrontation between Taylor and Dr. Zaius! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor
#71
June 1 · 1 hr 1 min
Ancient Geeks episode 69: 2010 The Year We Make Contact
In an earlier episode, we said that 2001: A Space Odyssey was one of the greatest SF movies ever made. Arguably, the greatest. Also one of the greatest films, period. And then in 1984 came the sequel, 2010: The Year We Make Contact. Was it as good as the original? Definitely not. But was it a good movie? A decent sequel? Good science fiction? An effective adaptation of the book sequel that Arthur C. Clarke wrote? We'll answer all these questions, and more, in this episode. Strange happenings near Jupiter! My old buddy HAL! My old gal SAL! Roy Scheider as Heywood U. Lookatthat! Helen Mirren as the serious Soviet superior officer! Spacewalks! Aerobraking! Something wonderful that's going to happen! Say Bob Balaban three times fast! It's all here. Ancient Geeks is a podcast about two geeks of a certain age re-visiting their youth. We were there when things like science fiction, fantasy, Tolkien, Star Trek, Star Wars, D&D, Marvel and DC comics, Doctor Who, and many, many other threads of modern geek culture were still on the fringes of popular culture. We were geeks before it was chic! For feedback, contact someancientgeeks@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. Also, check out the Ancient Geeks blog on Substack! And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. Also, we always appreciate a review on the podcast platform of your choice. © 2026 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor

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