About this episode

Paul Tremblay discusses his novel and the implications of AI technology in a horror context.

This week we’re putting the boot right into the ribs of the AI Industry, but doing it in horrific style, with Paul Tremblay and Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep. It’s a story of a young gamer, tasked with piloting a man’s comatose body across the United States using AI tech. But deep inside, the man is still conscious, and what he’s experiencing is nightmarish. Dark stuff, but surprisingly fun, maybe even funny. Paul and I talk about the humour and the human indignity of his story. He discusses the challenges of writing such a bodily novel, the horrific potential of endless virtual suffering, and we hear notes from the frontline of his legal case against ChatGPT. Always a joy to have Paul on the show! Enjoy. Other books mentioned: The Sister’s Brothers (2011), by Patrick DeWitt “No, Artificial Intelligence is Not Conscious” (2026), by Ted Chiang – in The Atlantic Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers (2003), by Mary Roach The Deluge (2023), by Stephen Markley The Feeling of Life Itself: Why Consciousness Is Widespread But Can't Be Computed (2019), by Christof Koch “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” (1967), by Harlan Ellison The Loop (2020), by Jeremy Robert Johnson A…

More episodes of Talking Scared

• 288 – Danielle Giles & A Spoonful of Skulldust (Makes the Medicine Go Down) · July 21, 2026 · 1h 11m
• 287 – Megan Bontrager & The Cave of Cosmic Narcissism · July 14, 2026 · 1h 15m
• 286 – Chuck Tingle & Kill the Vegan Rockstars · July 7, 2026 · 1h 21m
• Off Book #22 – Scaredy Boys & The Coward’s Guide to Horror Movies (Part 2) · June 26, 2026 · 1h 36m
• 284 – Tom Lin & Who Wants to Live Forever? · June 23, 2026 · 1h 25m
• Off Book #21 – Scaredy Boys & The Coward’s Guide to Horror Movies (Part 1) · June 19, 2026 · 1h 20m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Talking Scared podcast page.