Episodes
Monday Jan 01, 2018
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 65: Strange Eden
Monday Jan 01, 2018
Monday Jan 01, 2018
And now for a story I really do not like, "Strange Eden". "Strange Eden" is a story of ancient alien explorers mixed with some mighty strange sexual politics.
Monday Jan 01, 2018
Episode 86: James Fenimore Cooper: The Deerslayer (2)
Monday Jan 01, 2018
Monday Jan 01, 2018
In this episode I look at chapters 7 through 12 of James Fenimore Cooper's novel, "The Deerslayer." In this section, the Deerslayer, Natty Bummpo, makes his first kill and the mystery of the box of pirate treasure is examined.
Friday Dec 29, 2017
The Philip K. Dick Boook Club: Episode 64: The Father-Thing
Friday Dec 29, 2017
Friday Dec 29, 2017
In this episode of the Philip K. Dick Book Club, we look at the short story "The Father-Thing". It is a story about who children see the emotional instability of their parents. It is also (it seems) a story of childish imagination and adventure in a suburban environment.
Friday Dec 29, 2017
Episode 85: James Fenimore Cooper: The Deerslayer (1)
Friday Dec 29, 2017
Friday Dec 29, 2017
Time to insanely charge into the Leatherstocking Tales. We will begin with the first in the series (although the last one published), "The Deerslayer." So, let's meet Natty Bummpo and his friends as they arrive at Glimmerglass.
Monday Dec 25, 2017
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 63: The Turning Wheel
Monday Dec 25, 2017
Monday Dec 25, 2017
In "The Turning Wheel", Philip K. Dick explores Eastern religions and the broader realtionship between the technocratic life and the religious life. It is one of his strongest early stories dealing with technology.
Monday Dec 25, 2017
Episode 84: Louisa May Alcott: Jo's Boys (2)
Monday Dec 25, 2017
Monday Dec 25, 2017
Our final episode in this series on Louisa May Alcott. In the second half of "Jo's Boys" our major heroes face adult challanges and even life and death choices.
Thursday Dec 21, 2017
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 62: Progeny
Thursday Dec 21, 2017
Thursday Dec 21, 2017
In this episode, I look at Philip K. Dick's story "Progeny." How much power should we give to those we raise and educate our children? Can the posthuman (transhuman?) be achieved simply through education?
Thursday Dec 21, 2017
Episode 83: Louisa May Alcott: Jo's Boys (1)
Thursday Dec 21, 2017
Thursday Dec 21, 2017
It is ten years after the events of "Little Men" and we check in on the adulthood of the graduates of Plumfield. In this episode, we look at Alcott's final novel "Jo's Boys".
Monday Dec 18, 2017
Episode 82: Louisa May Alcott: Little Men (3)
Monday Dec 18, 2017
Monday Dec 18, 2017
The finale of my series on Louisa May Alcott's "Little Men."
Monday Dec 18, 2017
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 61: The Last of the Masters
Monday Dec 18, 2017
Monday Dec 18, 2017
In this episode we look at Dick's sole tale looking specifically at anarchism. While anarchist themes run throughout his works, he only examined the concept directly in this sci-fi tale, "The Last of the Masters." And through this tale, Dick explores the germ of the state and the relationships between automation and freedom and government.
Friday Dec 15, 2017
Episode 81: Louisa May Alcott. Little Men (2)
Friday Dec 15, 2017
Friday Dec 15, 2017
Part 2 of my thoughts on Louisa May Alcott's "Little Men," which includes my ideas on the central chapter of the novel "Damon and Pythias".
Friday Dec 15, 2017
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 60: Upon the Dull Earth
Friday Dec 15, 2017
Friday Dec 15, 2017
"You! You're not Silvia. You are one of the Kung Fu Creatures on the Ramage 2"
"Upon the Dull Earth" is a story by Philip K. Dick. A little help?
Wednesday Dec 13, 2017
Episode 80: Louisa May Alcott, Little Men (1)
Wednesday Dec 13, 2017
Wednesday Dec 13, 2017
We continue our look into the "Little Women" trilogy with "Little Men". How are Jo's students and family doing at her school in Plumfield? What does Alcott have to tell us in this novel about education, family, second chances, and growing up?
Wednesday Dec 13, 2017
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 59: Shell Game
Wednesday Dec 13, 2017
Wednesday Dec 13, 2017
In "Shell Game", a preview of his great novel "Clans of the Alphane Moon", Dick explores the military, paranoia, and mental illness. Are our delusions products of our environment and training?
Monday Dec 11, 2017
Episode 79: Louis May Alcott: Little Women-Conclusion
Monday Dec 11, 2017
Monday Dec 11, 2017
In this episode we come to the end of Alcott's novel "Little Women," but we have a lot more Alcott to discuss as we explore the sequals.
Monday Dec 11, 2017
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 58: Souvenir
Monday Dec 11, 2017
Monday Dec 11, 2017
Once again Philip K. Dick takes us to the frontier and evaluates empire, cultural homogenity, technology, and work in his brilliant story "Souvenir". In this story, Dick expands his ideas on crafting, human-scaled technology, and the meaning of work. He will fully develop these ideas in "Galactic Pot-Healer" a decade later.
Friday Dec 08, 2017
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 56: Prize Ship
Friday Dec 08, 2017
Friday Dec 08, 2017
Opps. I guess I messed up the order of episodes.
"Prize Ship" by Philip K. Dick is a story that exploress the consequences of time travel and an expanding universe, war, and the frontier.
Friday Dec 08, 2017
Episode 78: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (4)
Friday Dec 08, 2017
Friday Dec 08, 2017
We are reaching the climax of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women." In the second half of the novel the story moves to focus on Amy and Jo and their futures in relationships and art.
Friday Dec 08, 2017
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 57: World of Talent
Friday Dec 08, 2017
Friday Dec 08, 2017
One of Philip K. Dick's masterpieces, "A World of Talent" explores posthumanism, the frontier, war, and governmental conspiracies. This story brings to a capstone many of Dick's early ideas and themes.
Monday Dec 04, 2017
Episode 77: Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (3)
Monday Dec 04, 2017
Monday Dec 04, 2017
Part 3 of my review of "Little Women" covers Beth's recovery, the return of Mr. March, and the journies of the women as they enter into adult careers.
Monday Dec 04, 2017
Philip K. Dick Book Club: Episode 55: Meddler
Monday Dec 04, 2017
Monday Dec 04, 2017
In "Meddler", Philip K. Dick gives us a time travel loop story. We have seen these plenty of times. What do you think of Philip K. Dick's take on this old story? Can meddling in the future change the present?