Future Revisitations
@futurerevisited.bsky.social
Revisiting a love of classic SF last enjoyed several decades ago… and so now in the process of discovering many fine page-turners for the very first time. 📚
Embarked on ‘Inverted World’ over the last few days & it had me hooked from the opening chapters. I’ve still some way to go of course, but I’m already thinking that it’s likely to end up as one of my top 5 reads of the year.
My first novel by this fine author - & I’ll certainly be seeking out more…
My first novel by this fine author - & I’ll certainly be seeking out more…
November 10, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Embarked on ‘Inverted World’ over the last few days & it had me hooked from the opening chapters. I’ve still some way to go of course, but I’m already thinking that it’s likely to end up as one of my top 5 reads of the year.
My first novel by this fine author - & I’ll certainly be seeking out more…
My first novel by this fine author - & I’ll certainly be seeking out more…
Reposted by Future Revisitations
ACD Q/A: We'd love your help with our December show - a Question and Answer episode on any (ACD-related!) topic you like. If you've got a burning question about Conan Doyle's life and work, drop us a comment and we'll get through as many as we can this December. Thanks!
November 10, 2025 at 10:19 AM
ACD Q/A: We'd love your help with our December show - a Question and Answer episode on any (ACD-related!) topic you like. If you've got a burning question about Conan Doyle's life and work, drop us a comment and we'll get through as many as we can this December. Thanks!
Reposted by Future Revisitations
The hiatus is over, and the self-replicating machines are on the loose - this week's article and podcast ep cover John Sladek's anarchic, comic debut SF novel The Reproductive System, AKA Mechasm (1968).
Silicon and steel: The Reproductive System (1968) by John Sladek
Machines run amok in a comic disaster ahead of its time
www.andyjohnson.xyz
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The hiatus is over, and the self-replicating machines are on the loose - this week's article and podcast ep cover John Sladek's anarchic, comic debut SF novel The Reproductive System, AKA Mechasm (1968).
Ending a week of fine short stories with Samuel R. Delany’s ‘Driftglass’, a tale concerning humans who have been biologically modified to live & work in the ocean depths.
A fine character study & all rather beautifully written - amazing to think that this story ranks amongst his earliest work.
A fine character study & all rather beautifully written - amazing to think that this story ranks amongst his earliest work.
November 7, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Ending a week of fine short stories with Samuel R. Delany’s ‘Driftglass’, a tale concerning humans who have been biologically modified to live & work in the ocean depths.
A fine character study & all rather beautifully written - amazing to think that this story ranks amongst his earliest work.
A fine character study & all rather beautifully written - amazing to think that this story ranks amongst his earliest work.
Remembering author & curator/librarian David I. Masson, born OTD 1915.
A frequent contributor to New Worlds magazine, Masson’s stories were later assembled in the 1968 volume ‘The Caltraps of Time’. His 1965 debut ‘Travellers Rest’ was a huge influence on a young & aspiring Christopher Priest.
A frequent contributor to New Worlds magazine, Masson’s stories were later assembled in the 1968 volume ‘The Caltraps of Time’. His 1965 debut ‘Travellers Rest’ was a huge influence on a young & aspiring Christopher Priest.
November 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Remembering author & curator/librarian David I. Masson, born OTD 1915.
A frequent contributor to New Worlds magazine, Masson’s stories were later assembled in the 1968 volume ‘The Caltraps of Time’. His 1965 debut ‘Travellers Rest’ was a huge influence on a young & aspiring Christopher Priest.
A frequent contributor to New Worlds magazine, Masson’s stories were later assembled in the 1968 volume ‘The Caltraps of Time’. His 1965 debut ‘Travellers Rest’ was a huge influence on a young & aspiring Christopher Priest.
Next up in ‘The Illustrated Man‘ was the enigmatic & unsettling ‘The Last Night of the World’.
It’s a finely crafted mood piece, as a couple consider their final actions before the world is extinguished, an event mysteriously foreshadowed in a dream that they had both experienced the night before…
It’s a finely crafted mood piece, as a couple consider their final actions before the world is extinguished, an event mysteriously foreshadowed in a dream that they had both experienced the night before…
November 5, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Next up in ‘The Illustrated Man‘ was the enigmatic & unsettling ‘The Last Night of the World’.
It’s a finely crafted mood piece, as a couple consider their final actions before the world is extinguished, an event mysteriously foreshadowed in a dream that they had both experienced the night before…
It’s a finely crafted mood piece, as a couple consider their final actions before the world is extinguished, an event mysteriously foreshadowed in a dream that they had both experienced the night before…
David Masson’s ’A Two-Timer’, one of this year’s best reading surprises.
First published in New Worlds, it’s an engaging first-person account of a man accidentally brought forward in time from 1678 to 1964. Told entirely in 17th century English dialect, it’s a fantastic conceit, brilliantly told.
First published in New Worlds, it’s an engaging first-person account of a man accidentally brought forward in time from 1678 to 1964. Told entirely in 17th century English dialect, it’s a fantastic conceit, brilliantly told.
November 2, 2025 at 9:46 AM
David Masson’s ’A Two-Timer’, one of this year’s best reading surprises.
First published in New Worlds, it’s an engaging first-person account of a man accidentally brought forward in time from 1678 to 1964. Told entirely in 17th century English dialect, it’s a fantastic conceit, brilliantly told.
First published in New Worlds, it’s an engaging first-person account of a man accidentally brought forward in time from 1678 to 1964. Told entirely in 17th century English dialect, it’s a fantastic conceit, brilliantly told.
Reposted by Future Revisitations
BBC2's remarkable adult science fiction anthology Out of the Unknown deserves to be talked about more. I'd actually want the missing episodes to be found over Doctor Who ones. I went on a deep dive with Stephen Hatcher and Dylan Rees for the Very British Futures podcast goodpods.com/podcasts/ver...
October 31, 2025 at 9:01 AM
BBC2's remarkable adult science fiction anthology Out of the Unknown deserves to be talked about more. I'd actually want the missing episodes to be found over Doctor Who ones. I went on a deep dive with Stephen Hatcher and Dylan Rees for the Very British Futures podcast goodpods.com/podcasts/ver...
Today’s selected story was archetypal PKD. ‘The Electric Ant’ concerns an android who only realises it’s non-human status when being treated after a traffic accident. It’s sense of identity lost, it then sets about establishing whether anything else is truly ‘real‘. The ending is suitably unnerving!
November 1, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Today’s selected story was archetypal PKD. ‘The Electric Ant’ concerns an android who only realises it’s non-human status when being treated after a traffic accident. It’s sense of identity lost, it then sets about establishing whether anything else is truly ‘real‘. The ending is suitably unnerving!
Reposted by Future Revisitations
There's still time, but the survey will close late tomorrow, so get your thinking cap on and get your top 10 science fiction books in, and your top 5 science fiction book series too. 📚🪐💙
#scifibooks #sciencefiction
forms.gle/8UkmKn7VQRsb...
#scifibooks #sciencefiction
forms.gle/8UkmKn7VQRsb...
2025 Sci Fi Scavenger Survey - Your Top 10 Science Fiction Books! AND Your Top 5 SF Book Series!
Just tell me your ALL TIME favourite science fiction books, recent, vintage, any era, any size, novel/collection/anthology, whatever. No whole series, pick single books (which could be from a series)...
forms.gle
November 1, 2025 at 10:48 AM
There's still time, but the survey will close late tomorrow, so get your thinking cap on and get your top 10 science fiction books in, and your top 5 science fiction book series too. 📚🪐💙
#scifibooks #sciencefiction
forms.gle/8UkmKn7VQRsb...
#scifibooks #sciencefiction
forms.gle/8UkmKn7VQRsb...
Today‘s All Hallows' Eve reading pleasure will be a choice M. R. James story.
There’s something particularly fitting about reading James from a faded & dusty Penguin Paperback from the late 50s - they now seem to mirror the antiquarian books whose discovery bodes ill in many of his best loved tales!
There’s something particularly fitting about reading James from a faded & dusty Penguin Paperback from the late 50s - they now seem to mirror the antiquarian books whose discovery bodes ill in many of his best loved tales!
October 31, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Today‘s All Hallows' Eve reading pleasure will be a choice M. R. James story.
There’s something particularly fitting about reading James from a faded & dusty Penguin Paperback from the late 50s - they now seem to mirror the antiquarian books whose discovery bodes ill in many of his best loved tales!
There’s something particularly fitting about reading James from a faded & dusty Penguin Paperback from the late 50s - they now seem to mirror the antiquarian books whose discovery bodes ill in many of his best loved tales!
Today’s SF Hall of Fame selection, part of Blish’s ’pantropy’ series, in which humans are adapted in order to survive diverse planetary environments.
Here our microscopic protagonists, who have only known life underwater, undertake a journey that involves a life-changing conceptual breakthrough…
Here our microscopic protagonists, who have only known life underwater, undertake a journey that involves a life-changing conceptual breakthrough…
October 30, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Today’s SF Hall of Fame selection, part of Blish’s ’pantropy’ series, in which humans are adapted in order to survive diverse planetary environments.
Here our microscopic protagonists, who have only known life underwater, undertake a journey that involves a life-changing conceptual breakthrough…
Here our microscopic protagonists, who have only known life underwater, undertake a journey that involves a life-changing conceptual breakthrough…
Remembering author and scriptwriter Nigel Kneale, who we lost on this day in 2006.
Such an enduring legacy, as frequently revisited and admired as these cherished Penguin paperbacks.
Timeless works.
Such an enduring legacy, as frequently revisited and admired as these cherished Penguin paperbacks.
Timeless works.
October 29, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Remembering author and scriptwriter Nigel Kneale, who we lost on this day in 2006.
Such an enduring legacy, as frequently revisited and admired as these cherished Penguin paperbacks.
Timeless works.
Such an enduring legacy, as frequently revisited and admired as these cherished Penguin paperbacks.
Timeless works.
Today’s pick from the ’Platinum Pohl’ tome was ‘The Meeting’ from 1972, a Hugo award-winning collaboration with C.M. Kornbluth.
A decidedly bleak tale, involving a couple beset with some particularly problematic decision making regarding the future of their only child...
No satirical edges here!
A decidedly bleak tale, involving a couple beset with some particularly problematic decision making regarding the future of their only child...
No satirical edges here!
October 28, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Today’s pick from the ’Platinum Pohl’ tome was ‘The Meeting’ from 1972, a Hugo award-winning collaboration with C.M. Kornbluth.
A decidedly bleak tale, involving a couple beset with some particularly problematic decision making regarding the future of their only child...
No satirical edges here!
A decidedly bleak tale, involving a couple beset with some particularly problematic decision making regarding the future of their only child...
No satirical edges here!
Another recent acquisition, keen to sample Asimov’s later work. Having vastly enjoyed his earlier robot novels, my first pick from the collection was ’Mirror Image’ (1972), which reunites the characters of Detective Lije Baley & his robot partner R. Daneel Olivaw. A neat ‘mini-episode’ of a tale 🙂
October 26, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Another recent acquisition, keen to sample Asimov’s later work. Having vastly enjoyed his earlier robot novels, my first pick from the collection was ’Mirror Image’ (1972), which reunites the characters of Detective Lije Baley & his robot partner R. Daneel Olivaw. A neat ‘mini-episode’ of a tale 🙂
A trio of welcome acquisitions today whilst perusing the secondhand bookshops.
Shaw, Bayley & Cowper are three authors whom I’ve heard many good things about (particularly these three titles). Very nostalgic to pick up a Fontana, Pan & Corgi paperback too - all in very decent condition 👍
Shaw, Bayley & Cowper are three authors whom I’ve heard many good things about (particularly these three titles). Very nostalgic to pick up a Fontana, Pan & Corgi paperback too - all in very decent condition 👍
October 25, 2025 at 6:58 PM
A trio of welcome acquisitions today whilst perusing the secondhand bookshops.
Shaw, Bayley & Cowper are three authors whom I’ve heard many good things about (particularly these three titles). Very nostalgic to pick up a Fontana, Pan & Corgi paperback too - all in very decent condition 👍
Shaw, Bayley & Cowper are three authors whom I’ve heard many good things about (particularly these three titles). Very nostalgic to pick up a Fontana, Pan & Corgi paperback too - all in very decent condition 👍
Continuing with J.G. Ballard this week & currently halfway through this gem of a book.
Enthralling evocation of a submerged London, the rise of landscapes that echo the primordial jungles of the Triassic era, & global temperatures threatening to expand beyond human tolerance.
A captivating novel.
Enthralling evocation of a submerged London, the rise of landscapes that echo the primordial jungles of the Triassic era, & global temperatures threatening to expand beyond human tolerance.
A captivating novel.
October 22, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Continuing with J.G. Ballard this week & currently halfway through this gem of a book.
Enthralling evocation of a submerged London, the rise of landscapes that echo the primordial jungles of the Triassic era, & global temperatures threatening to expand beyond human tolerance.
A captivating novel.
Enthralling evocation of a submerged London, the rise of landscapes that echo the primordial jungles of the Triassic era, & global temperatures threatening to expand beyond human tolerance.
A captivating novel.
Working my way through Ballard’s ‘collected stories’ tome has brought me to this little 1962 masterpiece.
Elegiac without sliding into bleakness (the imagery is beautifully realised), it’s another standout from his early years.
Notably, Ballard’s name is absent from the initial MF&SF cover feature 👇
Elegiac without sliding into bleakness (the imagery is beautifully realised), it’s another standout from his early years.
Notably, Ballard’s name is absent from the initial MF&SF cover feature 👇
October 19, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Working my way through Ballard’s ‘collected stories’ tome has brought me to this little 1962 masterpiece.
Elegiac without sliding into bleakness (the imagery is beautifully realised), it’s another standout from his early years.
Notably, Ballard’s name is absent from the initial MF&SF cover feature 👇
Elegiac without sliding into bleakness (the imagery is beautifully realised), it’s another standout from his early years.
Notably, Ballard’s name is absent from the initial MF&SF cover feature 👇
It‘s always a pleasure to dip into a broad ‘collected stories’ volume & come across a hidden gem.
A case in point is Aldiss’s ’The Small Betraying Detail’, a story which cleverly plays with the ambiguity of human perception & the concept of parallel worlds, & all in prose that never wastes a word.
A case in point is Aldiss’s ’The Small Betraying Detail’, a story which cleverly plays with the ambiguity of human perception & the concept of parallel worlds, & all in prose that never wastes a word.
October 16, 2025 at 11:18 AM
It‘s always a pleasure to dip into a broad ‘collected stories’ volume & come across a hidden gem.
A case in point is Aldiss’s ’The Small Betraying Detail’, a story which cleverly plays with the ambiguity of human perception & the concept of parallel worlds, & all in prose that never wastes a word.
A case in point is Aldiss’s ’The Small Betraying Detail’, a story which cleverly plays with the ambiguity of human perception & the concept of parallel worlds, & all in prose that never wastes a word.
Back to ‘The Illustrated Man‘ & the next in line was Bradbury’s entertaining homage to the tales of Edgar Allan Poe.
A breezy read with plenty of well crafted twists, but what struck me most was the references to book burning policies, predating ‘The Fireman’ (’Fahrenheit 451‘) by a good year or so.
A breezy read with plenty of well crafted twists, but what struck me most was the references to book burning policies, predating ‘The Fireman’ (’Fahrenheit 451‘) by a good year or so.
October 15, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Back to ‘The Illustrated Man‘ & the next in line was Bradbury’s entertaining homage to the tales of Edgar Allan Poe.
A breezy read with plenty of well crafted twists, but what struck me most was the references to book burning policies, predating ‘The Fireman’ (’Fahrenheit 451‘) by a good year or so.
A breezy read with plenty of well crafted twists, but what struck me most was the references to book burning policies, predating ‘The Fireman’ (’Fahrenheit 451‘) by a good year or so.
The latest ‘SF Hall of Fame’ pick was A.E. van Vogt’s ‘The Weapon Shop’. Setting aside some curious social philosophy, I can see why he was such an influence on Philip K. Dick - rapid dreamlike shifts of setting & a generous share of ‘cognitive dissonance’.
First printed in Astounding SF in 1942 👇
First printed in Astounding SF in 1942 👇
October 13, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The latest ‘SF Hall of Fame’ pick was A.E. van Vogt’s ‘The Weapon Shop’. Setting aside some curious social philosophy, I can see why he was such an influence on Philip K. Dick - rapid dreamlike shifts of setting & a generous share of ‘cognitive dissonance’.
First printed in Astounding SF in 1942 👇
First printed in Astounding SF in 1942 👇
Just finished ‘Psychosmosis’, another tale from David Masson’s ‘The Caltraps of Time’ collection.
In this curious story, uttering
the name of a deceased person subjects the speaker to ‘vanishment’ - an otherworldly ‘crossing over’ to another plane of existence. Beautifully written & very enigmatic.
In this curious story, uttering
the name of a deceased person subjects the speaker to ‘vanishment’ - an otherworldly ‘crossing over’ to another plane of existence. Beautifully written & very enigmatic.
October 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Just finished ‘Psychosmosis’, another tale from David Masson’s ‘The Caltraps of Time’ collection.
In this curious story, uttering
the name of a deceased person subjects the speaker to ‘vanishment’ - an otherworldly ‘crossing over’ to another plane of existence. Beautifully written & very enigmatic.
In this curious story, uttering
the name of a deceased person subjects the speaker to ‘vanishment’ - an otherworldly ‘crossing over’ to another plane of existence. Beautifully written & very enigmatic.
I‘m sure many here will be familiar with the ‘Outlaw Bookseller’ channel, but if not here‘s a wonderful place to start - a heartfelt and very erudite reflection on 25 books which have brought many hours of reading joy…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=b9nT...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=b9nT...
October 9, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I‘m sure many here will be familiar with the ‘Outlaw Bookseller’ channel, but if not here‘s a wonderful place to start - a heartfelt and very erudite reflection on 25 books which have brought many hours of reading joy…
m.youtube.com/watch?v=b9nT...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=b9nT...
OTD 1966. The start of second season of the BBC SF anthology series ‘Out of the Unknown’.
1. Image shown is the cover of the BBC Enterprises document used to promote copies of the episodes for overseas sales - thankfully, some of these copies survived & were subsequently returned to the archives.
1. Image shown is the cover of the BBC Enterprises document used to promote copies of the episodes for overseas sales - thankfully, some of these copies survived & were subsequently returned to the archives.
October 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
OTD 1966. The start of second season of the BBC SF anthology series ‘Out of the Unknown’.
1. Image shown is the cover of the BBC Enterprises document used to promote copies of the episodes for overseas sales - thankfully, some of these copies survived & were subsequently returned to the archives.
1. Image shown is the cover of the BBC Enterprises document used to promote copies of the episodes for overseas sales - thankfully, some of these copies survived & were subsequently returned to the archives.
Currently halfway through this gem of a book, marvelling at how PKD manages so many disparate plot elements whilst keeping the main narrative anchored.
At this point, a key character has found himself in a virtual landscape with a talking suitcase for company…
This reader is having a great time 🙂
At this point, a key character has found himself in a virtual landscape with a talking suitcase for company…
This reader is having a great time 🙂
October 5, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Currently halfway through this gem of a book, marvelling at how PKD manages so many disparate plot elements whilst keeping the main narrative anchored.
At this point, a key character has found himself in a virtual landscape with a talking suitcase for company…
This reader is having a great time 🙂
At this point, a key character has found himself in a virtual landscape with a talking suitcase for company…
This reader is having a great time 🙂