Sci-Fi Book Pod

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: Freedom, Humor and Lunar Revolt

Episode Summary

Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress turns 60 this year and it hasn't aged the way you'd expect. Space Admiral Kandas and Shane Space Cadet Second Class welcome visiting dignitary Kevin Thompson, cyber law attorney at Levin Ginsburg and founder of the Legal and Other Professionals Sci-Fi and Fantasy Readers Book Club, to talk about a lunar revolution that feels uncomfortably familiar. We get into Mike, the self-aware computer who just wanted friends, the concept of TANSTAAFL, what Heinlein got right about AI governance before AI existed, and why this Cold War time capsule keeps finding new readers every generation. Kevin's been rereading this one for decades. By the end of this conversation, you'll know exactly why. Kevin Thompson, Cyber Law Attorney Law Practice: https://www.levinginsburg.com Legal Blog: https://cyberlawcentral.com Legal and Other Professionals Sci-Fi and Fantasy Readers Book Club https://bookclubs.com/clubs/5958204/join/a48ac1 Get the Book Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bY2zMV Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/111345/9780440001355 We may earn a small commission when you use our affiliate link, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting indie podcasting. Listen on your favorite podcast platform https://scifibookpod.com Also mentioned in this episode: Gratitude Geek Episode 237 with Kevin Thompson on copyright law and AI: https://kandasrodarte.com/237

Episode Notes

Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress turns 60 this year and it hasn't aged the way you'd expect.

Space Admiral Kandas and Shane Space Cadet Second Class welcome visiting dignitary Kevin Thompson, cyber law attorney at Levin Ginsburg and founder of the Legal and Other Professionals Sci-Fi and Fantasy Readers Book Club, to talk about a lunar revolution that feels uncomfortably familiar.

We get into Mike, the self-aware computer who just wanted friends, the concept of TANSTAAFL, what Heinlein got right about AI governance before AI existed, and why this Cold War time capsule keeps finding new readers every generation.

Kevin's been rereading this one for decades. By the end of this conversation, you'll know exactly why.

Kevin Thompson, Cyber Law Attorney

Legal and Other Professionals Sci-Fi and Fantasy Readers Book Club https://bookclubs.com/clubs/5958204/join/a48ac1

Get the Book Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bY2zMV Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/111345/9780440001355

We may earn a small commission when you use our affiliate link, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting indie podcasting.

Listen on your favorite podcast platform https://scifibookpod.com

Also mentioned in this episode: Gratitude Geek Episode 237 with Kevin Thompson on copyright law and AI: https://kandasrodarte.com/237