708 Science Fact and Science Fiction (with Keith Cooper) | AI Discovers a Work of Ancient Philosophy and Dreams Up a Reading List

The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson

History, Books, Arts

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 12 June 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For decades, writers and filmmakers have imagined worlds where characters can do things like watch a double sunset (on Tatooine, of course), or stand among the sand dunes of Arrakis, or gaze at the gas-giant planet Polyphemus from the moon Pandora. But even as works like Star Wars, Dune, and Avatar have enticed us with their fictional renditions of planets beyond our reach, astronomers have slowly begun to compile a set of scientific truths about the actual exoplanets. In this episode, Jacke talks to author Keith Cooper (Amazing Worlds of Science Fiction and Science Fact) about the realities beyond imaginary planets. PLUS Jacke takes a look at two AI-related pieces of news: the recovery of writing long thought to be lost on a scroll charred by Vesuvian ash, and a summer reading list that surprised everyone - including the authors who made the list for reasons they were not expecting. Additional listening: 282 Science Fiction 583 Margaret Cavendish (with Francesca Peacock) 693 Understanding the Wonders of Nature (with Alan Lightman) The music in this episode is by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal. Learn more at gabrielruizbernal.com . "Two Butterflies" performed by Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal and Allison Hughes. Help support the show at patreon.com/literature or historyofliterature.com/donate . The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The History of Literature Podcast is a member of the Podglomerate Network and Lit Hub Radio.
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1:35.6	Hello, we start with some questions. The world is amazing. Why do we even need fiction at all?
1:42.5	Why not just celebrate the strangeness and beauty and mysteries
1:45.7	of the actual universe? Where do fiction and poetry and other creative arts fit in? Is it
1:52.7	restlessness that makes us think that humans can do a better job than whoever or whatever
	...

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