Episode · Behind the Bastards · 2025-03-11

Books mentioned on Part One: The Zizians: How Harry Potter Fanfic Inspired a Death Cult

2 books · With David Gborie · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Earlier this year a Border Patrol officer was killed in a shoot-out with people who have been described as members of a trans vegan AI death cult. But who are the Zizians, really?

Robert Evans discussed I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison and Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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1. 

   I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream

   Harlan Ellison · at 58:24

   I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison is a seminal science fiction short story about a malevolent artificial intelligence that tortures the last remaining survivors of humanity.

   Discussed

   “it's primarily based on a Haron Ellison short story called I have no mouth but I must scream which is one of the Great short stories of all time”

   Robert Evans Part One: The Zizians: How Harry Potter Fanfic Inspired a Death Cult 2025-03-11 Listen at 58:24

   Where to get it

   Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon
2. 

   Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

   Eliezer Yudkowsky · at 1:00:49

   Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky is a massive, widely read piece of fan fiction that reimagines the original wizarding universe through the lens of scientific rationality and critical thinking.

   Discussed

   “Harry Potter and the methods of rationality which is the name of his fanfic is a massive much longer than the first Harry Potter book rewrite of just the first Harry Potter book where Harry is someone rewrote this sorcerer Stone to be rational”

   Robert Evans Part One: The Zizians: How Harry Potter Fanfic Inspired a Death Cult 2025-03-11 Listen at 1:00:49

   Where to get it

   Listen free with an Audible trialAmazon