A Hugo Award-winning podcast about science fiction and SF fandom from John Coxon, Alison Scott, and Liz Batty.
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
John doesn’t want to pass out, Alison is a wuss, but Liz doesn’t think it’s gratuitous.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: Gore and vampirism (Liz’s pick)
- Letters of comment
- Chris Barkley got his Hugo Award!
- Smofcon 2025: Smofcon 42 in Stockholm, Sweden
- The Q&A
- Videos of the Q&A on YouTube
- Smofcon 2026: Smofcon 43 in Lisbon, Portugal
- The Worldcons that presented:
- 2026: LAcon V in Los Angeles, USA
- 2027: Montreal, Canada
- 2028:
- Brisbane, Australia
- Nuremberg, Germany
- Kigali, Rwanda
- 2029: Dublin, Ireland
- 2030: Edmonton, Canada
- 2031: Texas, USA
- 2032: Nantes, France
- 2033: No interest
- 2034: Glasgow, Scotland
- 2035: Poland
- Unknown: Czechia
- The Q&A
- Picks
- John: Your Wish is My Command by Deena Mohamed
- Alison: The Lost Nose by John Sladek
- Sort of collected in Maps: The Uncollected John Sladek by John Sladek
- Liz: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
- Credits
- Cover art: “Alison is Still Obsessed with Ukuleles” by Alison Scott
- Alt text: A Mahalo Flying V, an Uma Blue Pineapple, and a Brunswick soprano are hanging on a Christmas tree beneath the words “Octothorpe 150”.
- Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: “Alison is Still Obsessed with Ukuleles” by Alison Scott
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
John is going to Smofcon, Alison has FOMO, and Liz is a horrible person.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: None
- Letters of comment
- Andreas Davour (email)
- Chris Garcia (email)
- Ed Morland (BlueSky on 147, 148)
- Emily January (email)
- Karen Schaffer (email)
- Paul Weimer (email)
- We also heard from Alan Fleming, Ali Baker Brooks, Andrew Thompson, Brian Nisbet, Bridget Bradshaw, DC, Duncan MacGregor, Ivan Sinha, Jan Harley, Kev McVeigh, Malcolm Hutchison, Mike Scott, Neil Ottenstein, Shi Lala, and Tommy Ferguson
- Famous Belgians: Simon Stevin
- Smofcon 2025: Smofcon 42 in Stockholm, Sweden
- Novacon 2026: Novacon 55 in Buxton
- Picks
- John: The Truman Show
- Alison: Pluribus
- Liz: The Summer War by Naomi Novik
- Credits
- Cover art: ”Archaeologists“ by Alison Scott
- Alt text: John and Alison, dressed in clothes reminiscent of The Mummy, look down some stairs upon Liz’s tomb, in which her skeleton still holds her Hugo Award, framed by stonework. The words “Octothorpe 149” appear at the top of the image.
- Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: ”Archaeologists“ by Alison Scott
Thursday Nov 20, 2025
Thursday Nov 20, 2025
John, Alison, and stunt Liz Emily Tesh are live from Novacon 54!
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: It’s a live recording!
- Thanks to Emily Tesh for being our stunt Liz!
- Visit Stow Shirts for all your Octothorpe merchandise needs
- Picks
- Credits
- Cover art: “Live from Novacon” by Steven Cain and Alison Scott
- Alt text: Emily Tesh, John, and Alison stand in front of a suspiciously purple background which may indicate that the real background has been subtracted by nefarious photo editing. The words “Octothorpe 148 Live from Novacon” are overlaid.
- Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: “Live from Novacon” by Steven Cain and Alison Scott
Thursday Nov 06, 2025
Thursday Nov 06, 2025
John is ready, Alison had forgotten, and Liz is surprised.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: Animal torture (letters of comment)
- Letters of comment
- 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction
- LAcon V opens Hugo Awards Base Contest
- 36th Galaxy Awards
- Tianwen Awards
- BKK Comics Art Festival #4
- Asian Board Games Festival (ABGF)
- Picks
- Star Wars is being properly remastered?
- Credits
- Cover art: “Nepal Spotter’s Guide” by Paul Weimer (text by Alison Scott)
- Alt text: A photograph of the mountains of Nepal with text overlaid, reading “Octothorpe 147 Official Octothorpe Nepal Identification Guide* (*apparently never gets old)** (** Liz might like to go to a comics con there)”.
- Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: “Nepal Spotter’s Guide” by Paul Weimer (text by Alison Scott)
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
Thursday Oct 23, 2025
John is on holiday, Alison said she’d have T-shirts ready, and Liz is back!
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: None
- Letters of comment
- Eastercon 2026: Iridescence in Birmingham
- Hotels are open: Check your emails for the link
- Merch should be available by the time you read this
- Bursaries are open for applications, deadline of 31 October
- The volunteer form is open
- Haruhicon 2026: Birmingham
- Carrots, vitamin A, radar, and British propaganda
- BristolCon 2025
- World Fantasy Con 2025: Brighton
- Armadacon 2025: Plymouth
- Novacon 2025: Novacon 54 in Buxton
- Pictcon 2025: Pictcon1 in Perth
- Satellite 2026: Satellite 9 in Glasgow
- Worldcon finances
- Picks
- Credits
- Cover art: “Treasures of the V&A Storehouse” by Alison Scott
- Alt text: The Torrijos Ceiling at the Victoria & Albert East Storehouse. An elaborate, gilded and octagonal ceiling. Why yes, Alison has a new phone, how could you tell?
- Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: “Treasures of the V&A Storehouse” by Alison Scott
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
Thursday Oct 09, 2025
John might, Alison won’t, and Tommy would (in a heartbeat).
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: Animal torture (aftershow)
- Letters of comment
- Octocon 2025 in Dublin
- Tommy’s fanzines:
- Prolapse’s issue for Irish Fandom Day
- James Bacon’s article on the fan history starts on page 5!
- Corflu 2023 in Belfast: Corflu Craic
- Corflu Craic’s programme book
- Including the con report of the Leeds Corflu that Tommy mentions
- Marcin Kłak’s con report
- Corflu Craic’s programme book
- Eastercon 2025 in Belfast: Reconnect
- Eastercon 1986 in Glasgow: Albacon III
- Previous Belfast conventions:
- Replay is not quiiiiite ready yet, sorry listeners, it’ll be there soon!
- Pictcon 1 in Perth (8 November 2025)
- Novacon 54 in Buxton (7–9 November 2025)
- Norncon 2026 in Belfast (8–9 May)
- GoHs: Anna Smith Spark and Adrian Tchaikovsky
- The Norn Scene from Wagner’s Götterdämmerung
- Eastercon 2027 in Glasgow: Unconfined
- Tommy is working on Communications
- Worldcon bid for 2029 in Dublin
- Picks
- John: Spirit Island
- Alison: Strong Message Here
- Tommy: Sleeper Beach by Nick Harkaway
- The sequel to Titanium Noir
- Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
- Credits
- Cover art: “Norns Weaving the Rope of Fate” by Alison Scott
- Alt text: John, Alison and Tommy are weaving ropes of fate as norns. The ropes lead to little spools, above their heads, reminiscent of a sculpture called Umbilical by Conrad Shawcross which Alison will explain in more detail in Octothorpe 146. The words “Octothorpe 145” appear at the top, and “Looking forward to Norncon” at the bottom.
- Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: “Norns Weaving the Rope of Fate” by Alison Scott
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
John, Alison and Liz watch Dredd (2012).
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: Justice.
- Things that happened since we recorded:
- Credits
- Cover art: “Judge Coxon Pain Scale” by Alison Scott
- Alt text: Six cartoons of John as a Judge from MegaCity One with the Clarke Award logo on his helmet, all of which are identical. Beneath them follows text. 0: NO HURT. 1: HURTS A LITTLE. 2: JUST A FLESH WOUND. 3: MINOR GUNSHOT. 4: BULLET THROUGH GUT. 5: FALL OFF SKYSCRAPER. The JUDGE COXON Pain Scale™. The words “Octothorpe 144” appear at the top of the cover.
- Theme music: “Fanfare for Space” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: “Judge Coxon Pain Scale” by Alison Scott
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
John skips leg day, Alison skips art day, and Liz skips opinions.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: None
- Letters of comment
- Next episode, we are going to watch Dredd!
- 2025 Worldcon: Seattle
- 2026 Worldcon: LAcon V in Los Angeles
- Weyodi OldBear: first post, second post
- Apology from the chair
- 2027 Worldcon: Montréal
- Old bid site
- Jeph Jacques’s Questionable Content
- Picks
- John: FlickFleet
- Alison: Slay the Spire again
- Liz: Luminous by Sylvia Park
- Credits
- Cover art: “Inside Coverage” by Arthur Thomson
- Alt text: An abstract, geometric figure stands, their torso through a panel which has various trailing wires. There is a radio or walkie talkie on the floor and a textured background which is also geometric. The words “Octothorpe 143” appear at the top, “Walt Willis” appear at the right, and “Inside Coverage” appear at the bottom.
- Explanation: This is a previously unused piece of art by Atom (Arthur Thomson), originally intended for a Walt Willis column in Hyphen that never happened. Alison wants to use it as an Octothorpe cover to make Atom eligible for Best Fanzine Cover in the FAAn awards. Except, you know, not.
- Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: “Inside Coverage” by Arthur Thomson
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
John is going to have lunch, Lori is going to brunch, and Liz is not hungry?
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: Mispronounced names (chapter 4), class structures (chapter 7)
- Worldcon 2025: Seattle
- Hugo Awards
- The ceremony
- Pronunciations
- Grigory Lukin
- Nisi Shawl on Bluesky: first, second
- K Tempest Bradford on X in 2020: first, second
- K Tempest Bradford on Bluesky
- The winners
- Billy on the Street
- Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
- The ceremony
- Hugo Awards
- Worldcon 2030: Edmonton bid
- Picks
- Credits
- Cover art: “Ceremony Script Revealed” by Alison Scott
- Alt text: A picture of a book entitled “Hugo Award Pronunciation Guide” written by George R R Martin. The cover design is in the style of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, with an Iron Throne made of Hugo Awards. The words “Octothorpe 142” are at the top in a Game of Thrones-y typeface.
- Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: “Ceremony Script Revealed” by Alison Scott
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
John is worried, Alison volunteers, and Liz is warm.
An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk, join our Facebook group, and tag @OctothorpeCast (on Bluesky or on Mastodon) when you post about the show on social media.
Content warnings this episode: None
- Letters of comment
- Chris Hurley (email)
- Dave O’Neill (Bluesky, DM)
- Ivan Sinha (Facebook)
- Jesi Lipp (email, Facebook)
- John Hertz (typewritten letter with pasted image from File 770 scanned by Fedex and sent by email)
- Mike Glyer (email)
- Neil Ottenstein (Facebook)
- Nicholas Whyte (email)
- Nuala (Bluesky)
- Paul Weimer (Bluesky)
- Rory Hennell James (Bluesky)
- Tammy Coxen and Jesi Lipp (Bluesky)
- We also heard from Doug Faunt and Farah Mendlesohn
- Worldcon 2025: Seattle
- Business Meeting
- Jesi Lipp posted some excellent infographics on JOF
- Jesi also posted a small table on our Facebook of attendances back to 2014 and John made them into a graph
- NASFiC is gone
- The USA has a national con now and it’s Dragon Con, so why compete? We will return to this question…
- The end of fan-run conventions in the USA
- NASFiC is gone, leaving Dragon Con as the de facto national convention
- The Westercon by-laws have been repealed
- Wiscon has not got enough volunteers to run an in-person convention
- Gallifrey One is coming to an end, Showmasters Events are running a commercial replacement
- GeekGirlCon and Penguicon are struggling
- Arisia, Baycon, Boskone, Loscon have all shrunk (anecdotally)
- The end of fan-run conventions more widely?
- New Zealand: Fan-run conventions have been struggling since CoNZealand
- Finland: SMOF News recently reported that Finncon is not running due to lack of volunteers
- More widely to do with volunteering?
- Business Meeting
- Picks
- Credits
- Cover art: “Mildly Wes” by Alison Scott
- Alt text: A photograph of a cocktail bar at Battersea Power Station. The words “Control Room B” are above the cocktail bar, and the words “Octothorpe 141” overlaid in similar style.
- Theme music: “Surf Shimmy” by Kevin MacLeod (CC BY 4.0)
- Cover art: “Mildly Wes” by Alison Scott