A radio show highlighting science fiction short stories by women, contextualized with related science and contemporaneous experimental music. I focus on stories published before 1964 due to copyright law.
BBWRG aired on KCSB-FM 91.9 from January 2018-January 2019. You can listen to online on iTunes or via an RSS reader.
Some amazing resources if you want more information on the history of women and science fiction and primary source material checkout "Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926-1965" by Eric Leif Davin and The Pulp Magazine Archive. I rely heavily on these comprehensive resources and am grateful of the research Davin has done and the availability of the pulp magazine archive.
Like the music? Playlists are available on kcsb.org
Feedback? Email me at
November 4th 2018
In this episode I read “The Jovian Jest ” by Lilith Lorraine which was first published in Science Wonder Quarterly Winter 1930 and a few of her poems. In the background is mostly dissonant music from 1930, the year the story was published.
October 29th 2018
In this episode I read two 1953 short stories by Sylvia Jacobs, The Sportsmen and Old Purply-Puss which were published in Vortex Science Fiction Volume 1 Number 1 and Number 2 respectively. In the background I chose a selection 3 three soundscapes that explore composing recorded and generated sounds in different ways.
October 10th 2018
In this episode I read “The Trap” by Betsy Curtis which was first published in Galaxy Science Fiction August 1953. In the background is mostly orchestral music from 1973, the year she published her last short story.
October 3rd 2018
In this episode I read "The Conquest of Gola" by Leslie Stone which was first published in Wonder Stories April of 1931. I also play avant-guard music from 1929, the year she published her first short story.
September 19th 2018
In this episode I read two short stories, “First Communion” by Jane Roberts and “The Last Gentleman” by Rory Gagill, a pseudonym for Dorothea Magill Faulkner. In the background I played "What??" by Folke Rabe (1968) and "Prelude au sommeil: Face A" by Jean-Jacques Perrey (1957).
September 12th 2018
In this episode I read two short stories by Amelia Reynolds Long from Astounding, "Cosmic Fever" from the February 1937 issue and "The Mind Master" from the May 1937 issue.
September 5th 2018
In this episode I read the 1928 short story, The Fifth Dimension by Clare Winger Harris and The Molecule Trapper a story that Florence Matheson wrote in 1934. I also be play some avant-garde classical music from 1934.
August 30th 2018
In this episode I read two short stories by Kate Wilhelm, "The Mile Long Space Ship" from the April 1957 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and "Android, Kill for Me!" from the May 1959 issue of Science Fiction Stories.
August 23rd 2018
In this episode I read two short stories by Rosel George Brown, "Virgin Grounds" from World of If's February 1959 issue and "There's Always a Way" from Fantastic Science Fiction Stories' July 1960 issue.
August 14th 2018
In this episode I read two short stories by Judith Merril, on Buxom Blondes with Ray Guns. I read "The Lonely" from Worlds of Tomorrow's October 1963 issue and "Woman's Work is Never Done!" from Future Science Fiction's March 1951 issue. I also play some avant-garde music from 1963.
August 1st 2018
In this episode I read two short stories published in Weird Tales by Allison V. Hardling. "The Marmot" from the March 1944 issue and "Take the Z-Train" from the March 1950 issue.
July 26th 2018
In this episode I read “Never Stop to Pat a Kitten” and "The Dreaming Eyes" by Miriam Allen de Ford and playing music from 1961.
June 12th 2018
In this episode I read "Robots of the World! Arise!" by Mari Wolf.
June 4th 2018
In this episode I read “The Remorse of Professor Panebiano” by Greye La Spina and playing music from 1951.
May 27th 2018
In this episode I read "It will grow on you" and "Holes, Incorporated" by Louise Leipiar, pen name L. Major Reynolds.
May 21st 2018
In this episode I read “Miracle in there Dimensions” by Catherine Lucille Moore and play music from 1939.
April 29th 2018
In this episode I read “The City on the Cloud" by L.Taylor Hansen with guest expert Skyler Kasko.
April 25th 2018
In this episode I read “Women only” and “Year of the Big Thaw” by Marion Zimmer Bradley.
April 14th 2018
This episode is about Leigh Brackett. I read “The Stellar Legion."
April 7th 2018
This episode is about Andre Norton and the year 1956. I read “By a Hair" and "All Cats are Grey."
April 7th 2018
This episode is about Margaret St. Clair and the year 1958. I read “To Please the Master" and "Dreadful Dreamer."
March 17th 2018
This episode is about Helen M. Urban and the year 1962. I read “The Glory of Ippling."
March 10th 2018
This episode is about Dorothy and John de Courcy and the year 1946. I read “Don't Mention it!" and “Foundling on Venus."
March 3rd 2018
This episode is about Carol Emshwiller and the year 1957. I read “Hunting Machine" and "This Thing Called Love."
February 24th 2018
This episode is about Anne McCaffrey, Helen Huber and the year 1953. I read “Freedom of Race” by Anne McCaffrey and “I'll Kill You Tomorrow” by Helen Huber.
February 17th 2018
This episode is about Katherine MacLean and the year 1954. I read “Collision Orbit” and “The Carnivore” by Katherine MacLean.
February 10th 2018
This episode is about Evelyn Smith and the year 1955. I read “The Vilbar Party” and “The Doorway” by Evelyn Smith.
February 3rd 2018
This episode is about TD Hamm and the year 1953. I read “The Corner” and “Native Son” by T.D. Hamm.
January 27th 2018
This episode is about Lyn Venable and the year 1952. I read “Time Enough at Last” and “Homesick."