Reading Foundation in 2026: What Holds Up and What Feels Dated
Galaxies and Goddesses: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy BookcastShow Notes
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into Foundation by Isaac Asimov, one of the most influential works in classic science fiction. Together they explore the concept of psychohistory, and how the novel’s ideas about power, technology, religion, and knowledge preservation still resonate today. They also discuss what feels dated in a mid-century sci-fi classic, from communication technology to the near absence of women in positions of power, and reflect on how modern readers engage with older speculative fiction. Along the way, the conversation branches into AI, technological dependence, and why some books remain classics even when they challenge or frustrate us as readers.
01:01 Expectations for a Classic 03:04 Serialized Structure and Star Wars Vibes 05:48 Psychohistory and Power Politics 09:41 What Aged Poorly and Who Gets Included 14:13 Who Decides What is a Classic 17:43 Why is it a Classic 18:54 Tech Dependence And AI 29:30 Ratings And Wrap Up
Freakonomics Radio episode “New Technologies Always Scare Us. Is AI Any Different?” https://freakonomics.com/podcast/new-technologies-always-scare-us-is-a-i-any-different
The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist. 2026. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39150120/
More from Galaxies and Goddesses: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Bookcast
Andrea and Elizabeth return to Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy to discuss Assassin’s Quest, the epic conclusion to Fitz’s journey. They explore Fitz’s search for purpose, the role of prophecy, and how his growing circle of companions helps him along the way. They also debate whether the ending feels rushed or satisfying, consider the mysteries left unanswered, and share their ratings for the final book.
What actually makes a book horror? In this spooky season episode, Andrea and Elizabeth explore where horror, fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction start to blur together. They discuss unsettling books without traditional monsters, monsters that aren't necessarily scary, and the horror of human behavior and systemic injustice. Along the way, they discover that horror can take many forms, and perhaps the genre is harder to define than they thought.
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, the second book in the Farseer Trilogy. They talk about Fitz's growth from a young assassin into someone with deeper relationships, stronger alliances, and a much bigger role in the politics of Buckkeep. As the enemies seem to be at every turn, who is the biggest threat and are we really seeing the whole picture?
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth wrap up Summer Book Bingo by sharing some of their favorite reads from the challenge. They talk about books that they couldn’t put down, the strange ways a Bingo category can change how you look at a book, and some thought provoking weird little books. A few are sci-fi, a few are fantasy, and some are just really great stories about community and character.
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into books on their TBRs for years, or even decades. This week, they're talking about the books and authors they've read a book or two and want to keep reading, from Margaret Atwood and Brandon Sanderson to Stephen King and George R.R. Martin. They discuss intimidating series, unfinished stories, forgotten books on their shelves, and the many ways book logistics influence what they actually read next.