Mary Robinette Kowal on Hard Sci-Fi, AI & Talking to Her Cat | Space Business Podcast #176

Something a little different this week: a science fiction special! My guest is Mary Robinette Kowal, the Hugo Award-winning author of the Lady Astronaut series and The Spare Man. We talk about getting the space science right in hard sci-fi, how AI, politics and spirituality show up (or don't) in science fiction, and how talking with her cat Elsie through word buttons has changed the way she thinks about first contact with aliens. Enjoy! 0:00 — Cold Open 0:24 — Intro 1:52 — Elevator Pitch 2:27 — The Spare Man: A Murder Mystery in Space 5:06 — Borrowing Story Structures from Other Genres 8:48 — World-Building in Sci-Fi and Fantasy 11:19 — Hard Science Fiction and Working with Experts 16:18 — Hardest Technical Topic: Rocket Crashes 18:26 — Real-World Space Tech vs. Fiction 20:29 — Why Are There Still Hotshot Pilots? 21:55 — AI in Science Fiction 26:49 — Politics and Writing the Future 31:25 — Utopias vs. Dystopias 34:13 — Spirituality in Space 36:21 — Advice for Aspiring Writers 38:04 — First Contact and Talking to Aliens 38:54 — Talking with Elsie the Cat 47:33 — Favorite Science Fiction 49:06 — Mary Robinette's Next Book 50:40 — Outro 🔗 Mary Robinette Kowal https://maryrobinettekowal.com/ 🔗 Follow us: 🏠Website : https://www.e2mc.space/ 🤝🏻LinkedIn :   / space-business-podcast   🌐Socials: https://linktr.ee/spacebusinesspodcast 🔗 Follow Raphael: ◇ Twitter/X - https://x.com/RaphaelE2MC 🔷LinkedIn -   / raphaelroettgen   🌐Instagram -   / raphael_space   🔗 Follow E2MC (Raphael's space VC): 🤝🏻LinkedIn -   / e2mc-space   To Learn more about Space & the Space Economy: 1. "To Infinity" – Raphael’s Revised Introduction to the Space Economy This book provides an insightful look into the space economy, its current trends, and future opportunities. 📚 https://a.co/d/6jIQ2LO 2. edX/EPFL's Space Economy MOOC This course offers a detailed understanding of the New Space Economy, covering key concepts and market developments. 🎓 https://www.edx.org/learn/economics/e... 3. Space Founder Newsletter A new newsletter with opportunities for space startup founders. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/JCUq92vERtxsuYnF8 4. Space Business Newsletter 📬 https://spacebusiness.substack.com/