Sci-fi thriller combines aliens, robots, and Cherokee culture
Summary
Science Friday hosts author Daniel H. Wilson to discuss his sci-fi thriller *Hole in the Sky*, which reimagines first contact through a Cherokee lens. Wilson explores how indigenous perspectives on the unknown and sustainable technology challenge typical invasion narratives. He also shares insights from his work as a threat forecaster for the Air Force, analyzing UAPs and the intersection of military strategy with speculative fiction.
Topics discussed
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Introduction to Hole in the Sky and guest Daniel H. Wilson
Wilson's background in sci-fi and robotics
Setting the story at Spiro Mounds and Cherokee origins
Subverting first contact tropes with an indigenous lens
Defining indigenous technology and sustainability
Wilson's work as a threat forecaster for the Air Force
Sci-fi tropes, robots, and the role of humanity
The importance of humanity in science and fiction
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