Episode 652-With John Scalzi

The Functional Nerds Podcast

This week on the podcast, Patrick and Tracy welcome John Scalzi, author of WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE.

About WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE: The moon has turned into cheese.

Now humanity has to deal with it.

For some it’s an opportunity. For others it’s a moment to question their faith: In God, in science, in everything. Still others try to keep the world running in the face of absurdity and uncertainty. And then there are the billions looking to the sky and wondering how a thing that was always just there is now… something absolutely impossible.

Astronauts and billionaires, comedians and bank executives, professors and presidents, teenagers and terminal patients at the end of their lives — over the length of an entire lunar cycle, each get their moment in the moonlight. To panic, to plan, to wonder and to pray, to laugh and to grieve. All in a kaleidoscopic novel that goes all the places you’d expect, and then to so many places you wouldn’t.

It’s a wild moonage daydream. Ride this rocket.

About John Scalzi: John Scalzi writes books. He’s best known for writing science fiction, including the New York Times bestseller “Redshirts,” which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. He also writes non-fiction, on subjects ranging from personal finance to astronomy to film, was the Creative Consultant for the Stargate: Universe television series. He enjoys pie, as should all right thinking people. You can get to his blog by typing the word “Whatever” into Google. No, seriously, try it.

This week’s picks:

• John: The Martian Contingency by Mary Robinette Kowal
• Tracy: The Expanse Season 1
• Patrick: SLY LIVES (AKA The Burden Of Black Genius) (Hulu)

Links:

• John Scalzi on BlueSky
• Tracy Townsend on BluSky
• Patrick Hester on Instagram
• The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

© 2025 Patrick Hester

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