# Powerless by Harry Turtledove - Film, Literature and the New World Order

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-corbett-report-5822801/powerless-by-harry-turtledove-film-literature-and-the-new-world-order
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-corbett-report-5822801/powerless-by-harry-turtledove-film-literature-and-the-new-world-order.md
Podcast: [The Corbett Report](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-corbett-report-5822801)
Published: 2026-05-20T22:45:56+00:00
Episode link: https://vigilante.tv/w/23nv6CAm9FX2sSbuVPWfZr
Audio file: https://vigilante.tv/static/streaming-playlists/hls/086de088-23b6-4079-940b-cbeb0fabc37b/b654ab3e-d620-40fc-954a-2b72d4b62044-478-fragmented.mp4
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-corbett-report-5822801/episodes/powerless-by-harry-turtledove-film-literature-and-the-new-world-order
Duration seconds: 3416

## Resource

In Harry Turtledove's Powerless, the citizens of the West Coast People's Democratic Republic know their place and they know what's expected of them. One day, however, one citizen decides not to hang the obligatory Workers of the World, Unite! propaganda poster in his window...and soon, the entire political order is crashing down around him. So, what does this work of alternative history tell us about our own political predicament, and what does it reveal about the dangers of political transitions? This month on Film, Literature and the New World Order, James discusses the Prometheus Award-nominated Powerless with author John C. A. Manley. SHOW NOTES AND COMMENTS: https://corbettreport.com/powerless-by-harry-turtledove/ ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SHOW NOTES WITH LINKS TO ALL OF THE ARTICLES, VIDEOS AND WEBSITES MENTIONED? HOW ABOUT COMMENTS? THEY’RE AT THE CORBETT REPORT WEBSITE! JUST FOLLOW THE “SHOW NOTES AND COMMENTS” LINK ABOVE TO GO THERE DIRECTLY.

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## Transcript

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