What if superheroes aren't simply escapist entertainment, but modern mythology that reveals how we think about power, morality, and the society around us?

In this episode of Alternate Futures, I talk with author Antoine Monks about his debut superhero novel Heroless and a lifelong fascination with superheroes that began with comic books before he could even read. We explore what happens to villains when the heroes they define themselves against disappear, whether a superhero's strength inevitably creates greater challenges, and why heroes and villains approach power so differently. From Batman and Superman to Captain America: Civil War, The Boys and the wider DC and Marvel universes, we examine how superheroes have evolved alongside society—and how characters created decades ago continue to reflect changing ideas about morality, politics, identity and responsibility.

We also discuss the relationship between superheroes and the real world. Should someone with extraordinary power follow society's rules or act according to their own moral judgement? Why can attempts to write stories around an ideology produce less convincing characters? Can supposedly anti-war entertainment inadvertently make conflict look heroic? And how much influence can popular culture have on the way we understand politics, war and social change?

Along the way, Antoine discusses the challenges of bringing a traditionally visual genre into prose, why superhero fiction struggles to find a place in publishing, adapting stories across novels, comics and video games, and how living and travelling in Europe has influenced his approach to worldbuilding.

As usual, there are the Big Questions.

Books of his we discuss: Heroless

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What if becoming more human is the real challenge of the technological age?

In this episode of Alternate Futures, Kestral Gaian and I explore the intersection of science fiction, software, ethics and imagination. Drawing on decades in the technology industry, Kestral discusses the human side of software development, the ethics of programming, the culture of Silicon Valley, the power of marketing to shape society, and why today's AI tools may be far less intelligent—and far more influential—than many people believe. Together we explore creativity in an increasingly automated world, the value of making imperfect art, and why science fiction remains one of humanity's best ways of exploring uncertain futures.

We delve into Kestral's new science fiction series, The Reality Quake Saga, beginning with The Boy From Elsewhere, leading to discussions about alternate realities, hidden histories, worldbuilding, and the enduring influence of classics TV science fiction such as Sliders and Crime Traveller.

We also discuss how science fiction helps us grapple with the unknown; gender, reproduction, long-term space settlement; and what the future of human society might look like.

As always, there are the Big Questions

Books of Kestral's we discuss: The Boy from Elsewhere (Reality Quake Saga)

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