History of Brit SF on Radio 4

[Quirkafleeg]

Was on this morning (repeated Monday)... not heard it but as ever it's on the web site

--
Imagining Albion: The Great British Future

Francis Spufford charts the history of Britain - through its Science Fiction. Francis won't quite be arguing that every starship in British SF is a milkfloat in disguise but the diversity of ideas in British SF means that these novels do give startling alternative snapshots of Britain down the years. Science Fiction has always been a genre of ideas, and so, contrary to its escapist image, can provide a hugely evocative record of the time in which it was written.

In the work of HG Wells, therefore, we find Fabian dreams of a future without poverty; nightmares about overpopulation and dark eugenic designs. In Huxley, a fascination with intelligence, and how it can be achieved. In Iain M Banks, curious echoes of the benign Wilson-era Britain in which the author grew up. This series features some of the biggest names in British Science Fiction, past and present, including Arthur C Clarke and Iain M Banks.

Francis explores the sometimes sinister history of utopian dreams, from Thomas More to HG Wells to Iain M Banks.

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/imaginingalbion/pip/j41k7/" target="_blank">imagining albion

[Art]

Sigh... time to re-install all ythe ridiculous Real Audio bollocks necessary for listening to BBC radio stuff.

[Wils]

Have a hunt around online, Art. I'm sure I saw somewhere somthing that'll let you play Real audio streams without having to install Real Player at all.

[Gothmog]

Try K-lite.

Uses media player classic to play just about everything.

Link: http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Mega_Codec_Pack.htm" target="_blank">K-lite and others