Guest: Robert (Rob) Godwin. Topics: George Griffith, science fiction overview, science fiction authors and stories. Please note that you are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. We welcomed back Rob Godwin to talk about two recently published George Griffith science fiction books, "Around The World In 65 Days: The Journal of the Real Phileas Fogg" and "The World Peril of 1910." Both of these books are available on the OGLF Amazon partners page and if you buy them using the following URLs, Amazon will make a contribution to The Space Show/OGLF. Please use www.amazon.com/dp/1897350279?tag=onegialeafou-20 and www.amazon.com/World-Peril-1910-Ron-Miller/dp/B004J10EXO/ref=onegialeafo.... We started our discussion with Rob by getting background information and an overview of George Griffith who from 1893 to 1895 was the most famous science fiction writer in England. Later on, he drifted into obscurity. Rob talked extensively about both books plus others written by Griffith and we made comparisons with other science fiction writers of the time and even today. Much of the comparison was with H.G. Wells but as you will hear throughout our show, Rob really knows the history and authors of science fiction literature and he took us through a rather complete mini science fiction history. Later in the segment, we talked about steampunk and George Griffith being a sort of Spiritual Ancestor to the steampunk movement. At the end of this segment, Rob talked about tracking down Griffith's family members and the role of Alan Arnold Griffith with the jet engine. Don't miss this very interesting history. In the second segment, John from Atlanta called in and wanted to know about science fiction and space propulsion technology and faster than light travel. Rob introduced us to E.E. "Doc" Smith and his work and stories. We also talked about touring the solar system with science fiction, deep solar system travel and making a social statement using science fiction as did Wells. Richard Godwin asked a question about contemporary parallels to Griffith and Wells being Steven Spielberg who appears to be an anti technologist and Gene Roddenberry who thought that technology would solve our human social problems. This prompted quite a discussion that you will want to hear. Near the end of this segment, I asked our gust about modern day science fiction authors. In our final segment, Don Beattie phoned in to talk about using science fiction to improve STEM education in our school system. Rob had much to say on this subject given his efforts to get science fiction works into various schools and districts. At the end of the program, we talked about science fiction and especially George Griffith as a predictor of capabilities yet to come or be realized. If you have questions or comments for Rob Godwin, post them on the blog URL above. You can also send them by email to me at drspace@thespaceshow.com and I will forward them to him.