The High Tech Low Life Podcast: A Cyberpunk Media Retrospective

This week we return to the High Tech Low Life book club covering Halting State by Charles Stross. In the near future a video game bank robbery opens an investigation into high financial crimes and international espionage. Bit of a split decision on this one as one of us enjoyed the book and the other not so much. We hash it out live to tape. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

This week we continue recapping Blade Runner with our special Guest, Chris Mccoy. Time for Deckard to start shooting some replicants, and time for Roy to start delivering some legendary monologues (and maybe break a few fingies). The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://www.astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

What better way to celebrate 50 episodes than by finally covering one of cyberpunk's most revered properties? If you are listening to this podcast you don't need me to summarize Blade Runner here, needless to say that Ridley Scott sure can make a movie. I think that guy has a future in this town. We are joined this week by actual professional movie critic, writer, musician and fellow podcaster Chris Mccoy to whom we are immeasurably thankful for donating so much of his time. Thanks for 50 episodes! The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://www.astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

How can a movie be cyberpunk, horror, buddy cop, comedy, and action movie all at once? I don't know, but Split Second manages to pull it off. Rutger Hauer gives an incredible performance as Harley Stone, the hard boiled cop living on chocolates, coffee, and anxiety, hunting his partner's killer: an Alien/Venom/Satan monster. It's an insane movie, and it immediately captured the hearts of everyone at the High Tech Low Life podcast. Please enjoy. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

This week, Ben from the Pink Fohawk podcast sits down with us to discuss a movie that may have slipped under your radar but perhaps shouldn't: Cherry 2000. Basically Cherry 2000 is a sex bot, Sam Treadwell's sex bot. When a heated moment of passion in laundry water renders her body inoperable, Sam takes her memory chip, and sets out into the wastelands of the American Southwest to find a Cherry 2000 body and bring his beloved back to life. Once he's in the desert stuff really starts to get wild. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Pink Fohawk: https://pinkfohawk.podbean.com/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

Vibes. Sometimes something just has cyberpunk vibes, even if it's really more of a whodunnit mystery in a Scandinavian winter. We're gonna cover it anyway, what are you a cop? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is both a good movie, and an incredibly uncomfortable movie. It's simultaneously cozy and utterly revolting. It's both fun to talk about on a podcast, and a minefield that two such as us probably would have been better off not crossing. Nevertheless, here we stand amidst the unexploded ordinance, asking you the audience to simply listen, and attempt not to judge too harshly. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

This week we are once again joined by Geoff from the Astronomica podcast to finish our deep dive into Virtual Light, William Gibson's first book in the acclaimed Bridge Trilogy. If you need a recap of part 1, I really don't know what to tell you, you should probably go listen to that first. If you are insistent in pushing on just know that there are some dudes, a lady, a bridge, and a pair of sunglasses. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

Virtual Light is the first book of William Gibson's Bridge Trilogy. A naive ex cop and a spikey-haired courier get into hijinks on the Golden Gate Bridge turned squatter's haven. Your hosts have read it, and plan to talk about it, with the help of Geoff from the Astronomica Podcast. This first part will give our initial impressions and introduce the main characters, the full recap will happen in Part 2. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

Willem Dafoe and Christopher Walken in a movie written by William Gibson? It has to be amazing, right? There's no way that trio wouldn't come up with a banger. Well, unfortunately all that glitters is not necessarily gold as New Rose Hotel doesn't really deliver on anything. A good short story and a few good performances do not, a movie, make. We watched it, however, and we are going to give our many complaints, and maybe a little faint praise. We also pad time with a whole mess of recommendos. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

This week Sean Faust is back to help us dissect Tron: Legacy, and for possibly the first time ever on this podcast we have a house divided. Some of the hosts loved the movie, and some didn't care for it at all. You won't know who is who unless you listen! How do you like that clickbait, internet rubes?! The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Sean Faust: https://linktr.ee/seanfaustmusic Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

Charlize Theron is many wonderful things, but Aeon Flux, she is not. The 2005 film adaption of the 90's animated series attempts to capture the magic, but falls short due to a number of things, including studio interferance. This week we talk about what went so drastically wrong and what could have been done to at least make this thing watchable. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

In 1991 Peter Chung created an animated series for a late night MTV anthology series called Liquid Television. It was artistic, weird, and most of all... super horny. As young teens, your hosts of course were instantly enthralled. Thirty some years later we have returned to watch it with adult eyes and as it turns out, we are still pretty enthralled. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

This week we are recapping the iconic 60's sci-fi novel by Philip K. Dick. Yeah, the one that Bladerunner is based on. In an incredibly bleak dystopian future, Rick Deckard has to kill a bunch of androids so he can get himself a new farm animal. First he just had to deal with this damn "empathy" thing that makes him feel bad about murder-copping his way through San Francisco. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

In the dystopian future the kids are so out of control that the only way to keep them from killing each other is with military grade robotic teachers. When the teachers' AI goes berserk and starts killing students, it will be up to the kids to take back their school, if only they can put their own differences aside first. Big thanks to Stardaddy Stan from the Astronomica podcast for riding shotgun and manning the mortar tubes as we drive this puppy to school. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

Imagine a hotel for professional criminals. Now imagine that hotel is actually a hospital. Now imagine that hotel/hospital is staffed only by Jodie Foster and Dave Bautista. That's basically Hotel Artemis. A little cyberpunkish film from 2018 that really slipped through the cracks of all the huge summer blockbusters it was up against that year. Turns out, it's kind of a good time. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

Sometimes movies surprise you. Sometimes you're sitting down expecting to watch a pile of garbage get set on fire on the screen, and instead you watch a pile of garbage animated into a beautiful dance that you can't take your eyes off of. Nemesis is riddled with flaws, but despite them all, it's an incredibly enjoyable and fun film. I won't bore you with a synopsis, just know that Thomas Jane is in this movie, and never once wears a stitch of clothing. That should sell it. Big thanks to Sean Faust for joining us on this one! The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Sean Faust: https://linktr.ee/seanfaustmusic Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

In the year 20__, Theodore is a lonely man in a lonely world spending too much time on his computer. Then he purchases Samantha, a new AI Operating System with a fun personality and a sexy voice, which leads to him spending too much time ON his computer. It's a real situationship between Man & Machine, in a world without belts. That's Spike Jone's Her. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

Last week set the stage, this week we dive deep. Ancient sumerian myths, the bicameral mind, sword fights, and some suuuuper problematic sex stuff. We talk about it, we hash it out, some of it we really love, some of it we viscerally hate, but that's Snow Crash for ya. Thanks, once again, to Geoff from the Astronomica podcast for joining us on this sleigh ride. Get it? Cuz snow? You get it. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

I don't even know where to start on a summary of Snow Crash. Basically imagine a book about what the world's biggest dork would think was cool. That's a start. This book contains multitudes, good and bad, so we are giving it two parts. The first one sets the scene, describes the world, and introduces the characters. The second one will get real weird. Also, we have a special guest! Geoff from the Astronomica podcast joins us to discuss the many highs and lows of Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Astronomica: http://astronomicapodcast.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com

This week's podcast starts with a pretty heavy intro discussion, then abruptly segues into our recap of one of the dumbest movies I've seen in years. Cyborg is about a muscly man (who is not a cyborg), trying to protect a woman (who is a cyborg) so she can get to Atlanta and cure the plague ravaging the world. The cyber is minimal, the punk is minimal, the plot is minimal, but there are a LOT of abs, pecs, and thighs. The High Tech Low Life Podcast is a retrospective of cyberpunk fiction across all forms of media. Film, Television, Literature, Games, and Music are all on the table. In each episode we will revisit the property, it's influences, it's prescience, and enshrine it in the chrome and neon halls of Neo Valhalla. Twitter: http://twitter.com/johnny60seconds Patreon: http://patreon.com/hightechlowlife Theme music by http://www.nihilore.com