Heaven’s River is book four of Dennis E. Taylor’s Bobiverse series, and it finally answers the question fans have carried since book one. What happened to Bender?

The trail leads Bob and the crew to a topopolis, a massive corkscrew cylinder in space with an entire world inside. That world belongs to the Quinlans, a beaver-badger species with short tempers and a history of blowing up their own home planet. An AI has kept them alive ever since, which also means it has kept them away from most sharp objects and nearly all technology.

In this mini episode, Space Admiral Kandas and Space Cadet Shane 2nd Class pack the whole book into 15 minutes. We talk about Bridget, Howard’s wife and a biologist who joins the mission, and about Hugh, who signs on with an agenda he doesn’t share. We also cover the Bobs wandering around in Quinlan bodies and what Starfleet and the Skippies are up to while all of that plays out.

Shane calls this one of Dennis E. Taylor’s more philosophical stories, since it asks what happens to a people when an AI handles everything for them. Kandas sees it as the bridge between the war with Brazil in books one through three and everything that comes next. We both wonder if it would have worked better as two books, especially in the last few hours of the audiobook. Shane’s rating puts it at a four out of six among the Bobiverse books we’ve read.

Wondering if it’s your next read? Shane says it’s perfect for anyone with a big project and a lot of listening time.

Heaven’s River is part of our Bobiverse mini episode series. Books four, five, and six all dropped together, so keep scrolling in the feed for the rest. You can catch our full-length discussions of books one through three on our Substack at https://scifibookpod.substack.com/archive.

Disclaimer: This episode contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!

About Sci-Fi Book Pod
Sci-Fi Book Pod is the podcast for nerds and geeks who like to read. Married co-hosts Kandas and Shane Rodarte dive into science fiction and speculative fiction books, swapping opinions on the stories, characters, and big ideas inside. Expect thoughtful conversation, nerdy detours, and spoilers.

Connect with us

• Subscribe to Sci-Fi Book Pod — https://scifibookpod.com/
• Kandas — https://kandasrodarte.com/
• Shane — https://shanerodarteart.com/
• Gratitude Geek: Business Education Podcast — https://gratitudegeek.com/

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"I'm scared to go 5, I'll tell you right now!" 🌶️

What happens when a 58-year-old sci-fi fan reads his first open-door alien romance novel? This week on Sci-Fi Book Pod, Space Admiral Kandas and Shane (Space Cadet Second Class) welcome Alesia Galati, host of the We Read Smut podcast and founder of Galati Media, for an in-depth dive into Elizabeth Stevens' indie romance Taken to Voraxia.

Together, the trio explores:

• The 5 Levels of Smut Scale: How Alesia classifies romance heat levels from closed-door kissing all the way to heavy kink—and why Shane needed a cold shower afterward.
• Female vs. Male Writing Lenses: How female-authored romance prioritizes emotional connection, consent, and female pleasure compared to traditional male-driven narratives.
• Alien Tropes & "Forehead Mood Rings": Why color-changing forehead flaps serve as a brilliant writing shortcut for alien communication.
• Socio-Political Intrigue: The underlying themes of manufactured scarcity, moon colony corruption, and galactic infertility driving the plot.
• Healing from Purity Culture: Alesia's personal journey using open-door romance discussions to foster inclusive community.

🔗 Guest Links & Resources Mentioned:

• We Read Smut Podcast & Substack: WeReadSmut.com
• Galati Media: GalatiMedia.com
• Alesia Galati on Gratitude Geek: Podcasting for Women Entrepreneurs (Ep. 289)
• Kandas Rodarte on Podcasting Unlocked: How a Narrow Focus is the Key to Podcasting Longevity
• Purchase the Book: Taken to Voraxia by Elizabeth Stevens
  • Bookshop.org
  • Amazon

Disclaimer: This episode contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show!

About Sci-Fi Book Pod
Sci-Fi Book Pod is the podcast for nerds and geeks who like to read. Married co-hosts Kandas and Shane Rodarte dive into science fiction and speculative fiction books, swapping opinions on the stories, characters, and big ideas inside. Expect thoughtful conversation, nerdy detours, and spoilers.

Connect with us
Sci-Fi Book Pod — https://scifibookpod.com/
Kandas — https://kandasrodarte.com/

Shane — https://shanerodarteart.com/
Gratitude Geek, Kandas’s podcast about building a sustainable solo business — https://gratitudegeek.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a disabled Nigerian-American writer creates the story that changes everything?

In this episode of Sci-Fi Book Pod, Kandas Rodarte and Shane Rodarte welcome content marketing strategist Alison Ver Halen to discuss Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor—one of the most powerful science-fiction books we have ever covered.

The novel follows Zelu, a writer in a future Chicago who is navigating family expectations, creative rejection, experimental robotic legs, and sudden literary fame. Interwoven with Zelu’s life is her breakthrough novel, Rusted Robots, a far-future science-fiction story about androids, bodiless AI, survival, and the enduring human need for stories.

We discuss:

• Why Death of the Author feels like two exceptional novels in one

• Disability, independence, family pressure, and the difference between protection and control

• Zelu’s struggle to retain ownership of her work when Hollywood adapts it

• The robots and AI of Rusted Robots—and what they reveal about the people who created them

• Africanfuturism, Nigerian-American identity, storytelling, and artistic freedom

• Why the most meaningful science fiction is never just about technology

• How great stories shape culture, relationships, businesses, and brands

This conversation is spoiler-aware, but we avoid revealing the novel’s biggest twist.

Have you read Death of the Author? Tell us: Were you more invested in Zelu’s story or the world of Rusted Robots?

Alison Ver Halen is a content marketing strategist and founder of AV Writing Services. She helps businesses reach the right people through authentic storytelling, high-quality content, and SEO-informed strategy.

Learn more about Alison: https://avwritingservices.com/
Connect with Alison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-ver-halen/

Connect with us:

Sci-Fi Book Pod: https://scifibookpod.com/
Kandas: https://kandasrodarte.com/
Shane Rodarte: https://shanerodarteart.com/

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