WIRED's "Geek's Guide to the Galaxy" interviews Michael Page

In the latest podcast from The Geek's Guide to the Galaxy, entitled "How Sci-Fi Tried to Warn Us About the Evils of Advertising," WIRED.com's David Barr Kirtley talks with UNL lecturer, biographer and science fiction scholar Michael Page. Page, who recently published a biographical-critical study of legendary science fiction author Frederik Pohl, talks about the time Pohl spent working for ad agencies and the effect it had on his writing.

"As time went forward," says Page, "He realized 'Why don’t I project this into the future? What will the future be like when advertising becomes more ubiquitous in our day-to-day lives?'" Pohl's resulting novels, such as the grim satire The Space Merchants, serve as warnings of the dangers of advertising and rampant consumerism. 

For more on Pohl's views of advertising, technology, cryonics and beyond, you can listen onine at WIRED.com.