Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov: The Power of a Single Word or Character

Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov: The Power of a Single Word or Character

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth discuss Foundation and Empire, the second book in Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy. They explore the novel's central question: can one person change the course of history? Along the way, they examine psychohistory, Bayta's role as a standout female character, Asimov's concise writing style, and why Foundation and Empire felt like a stronger, more cohesive read than the first book. 05:39 The Group versus the Individual 08:27 Bayta as a Standout Character 12:25 Concise Words for Big Concepts 17:25 Unprintable Words 21:34 Needing a Break 25:14 Does History Repeat Itself? 30:18 Ratings & Final Thoughts Additional References: Bechdel Test https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test] Why is Genre Fiction Obsessed with Belisarius? https://reactormag.com/why-is-genre-fiction-obsessed-with-belisarius/ [https://reactormag.com/why-is-genre-fiction-obsessed-with-belisarius/]

Put a Bird on It: Judging Books by Their Covers & Summer Book Bingo

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth discuss the complicated world of book covers and how first impressions shape our reading expectations. From romantasy trends and movie tie-in editions to mass market paperbacks, special editions, and social media influence, they explore whether anyone can truly avoid judging a book by its cover. Along the way, they share stories about their current reads, misleading covers, and the books they almost didn’t want to be seen reading in public. Plus, they officially kick off the Galaxies and Goddesses Summer Book Bingo. 00:48 Currently Reading 04:01 Book Covers as Marketing 05:19 Blind Date with a Book 07:50 Special Editions and Movie Poster Covers 13:57 Social Media Influence 18:39 Misleading Covers 22:10 Embarrassing Covers 24:27 E-readers vs Physical Books 26:30 Summer Book Bingo Kickoff Books mentioned in the episode: Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov The Antidote by Karen Russell Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie The Crazies: The Cattleman, the Wind Prospector, and the War Out West by Amy Gamerman Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan The Moonday Letters by Emmi Itäranta The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris Chocolat by Joanne Harris The Memory of Forgotten Things by Kat Zhang Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon Portlandia – “Put a Bird on It” sketch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNpIOlDhigw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNpIOlDhigw]

Reading Foundation in 2026: What Holds Up and What Feels Dated

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 [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/ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39150120/]

Independent Bookstore Day Adventures in Montana

On this week’s episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, join Andrea and Elizabeth as they share their Independent Bookstore Day adventures on a bookish road trip through cozy indie bookshops in Bozeman and Livingston to an unexpected stop in West Yellowstone. They talk about the bookstores they visited, books they picked up, and the unique experiences that made each shop special, from discounts and staff picks to author events and community art. Along the way, they reflect on the role independent bookstores play in supporting local communities and connecting readers. If you love bookstore crawls and hauls this episode is for you.  00:59 What is Independent Bookstore Day 02:17 Bozeman Bookstores & Bargains 15:32 Livingston Bookstores & Community Vibes 23:17 West Yellowstone 27:57 Take a Book Leave a Book Finds 28:17 Overall Vibes 29:46 Thoughts for Next Year Books mentioned in this episode: Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones Exhalation by Ted Chiang A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro Shōgun by James Clavell The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Tolkien’s Legacy: The Hero’s Journey and Literary Nods to Middle-earth

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, we explore the lasting influence of J. R. R. Tolkien on modern fantasy and beyond. From shaping iconic tropes in The Lord of the Rings to inspiring authors like R. F. Kuang and Christopher Paolini, Tolkien’s impact spans generations. We also discuss the Hero's Journey as a timeless storytelling framework and how it plays into the Lord of the Rings. At the end of the episode we announce our next trilogy pick, swinging back into the realm of science fiction with Isaac Asimov’s Foundation trilogy. 03:43 Spotting Tolkien References 05:56 Influence vs Infringement 08:57 What Is The Hero’s Journey 12:16 Why Tropes Still Work 13:56 Travel Inspired by Books 14:40 Back to The Hero's Journey 16:50 The Circle as a Symbol 20:48 Tolkien-esque Names 25:51 Tolkien Language Intent 28:52 Eragon And Dragon Nostalgia 32:05 Next Read Foundation Trilogy 33:56 Episode Wrap And Teaser Books Mentioned The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien Katabasis by R. F. Kuang The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman  Outlander by Diana Gabaldon The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown Brimstone by Callie Hart When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker Eragon by Christopher Paolini Foundation by Isaac Asimov Love chatting about books? Follow Galaxies and Goddesses and leave a review to support the show.