We’re tiptoeing towards the sci-fi end of things this week, with Justin C. Key and The Hospital at the End of the World. This is a techn-othriller about AI run amok in the medical establishment, and the junior doctor who must navigate a shadowy conspiracy, a fatal (and horrific) disease, all whilst making time for class at the sole human-led teaching hospital left in the country. It’s a lot. And a lot of fun – when it’s not ambushing me with one of my greatest medical phobias!!! Justin and I talk about the real horrors of his medical school experience, what he’s learned about human connection from his work in psychiatry, and we have that rare thing – a genuinely nuanced conversation about the role of AI in society. Enjoy! Other books mentioned: The World Wasn’t Ready for You (2023), by Justin C. Key On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000), by Stephen King Insomnia (1994), by Stephen King Ender’s Game (1985), by Orson Scott Card Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming (1994), by Stephen LaBerge and Howard Rheingold The Curse of Hester Gardens (2026), by Tamika Thompson Nuclear War: A Scenario (2024), by Annie Jacobson Support Talking Scared on Patreon Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch Come talk books on Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram, or email direct to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.