Episodes
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 103: No Time For Love (Part 1)
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Monday Nov 04, 2024
This is the first episode of my review of Robert Heinlein's longest work, NO TIME FOR LOVE. We are reintroduced to an old friend, Lazarus Long, as he reflects on his life (but maybe not enough reflection for this reader).
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Episode 663: James Baldwin: The Devil Finds Work (1976)
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Monday Nov 04, 2024
THE DEVIL FINDS WORK was James Baldwin's final major essay and a fascinating exploration of how he has seen and experienced American (and some non-American) films over the course of his life, finding the problem at the heart of America's major cultural export.
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 102: I Will Fear no Evil (Part 4)
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Monday Oct 28, 2024
The finale of my review of I WILL FEAR NO EVIL by Robert A. Heinlein. Next up, NO TIME FOR LOVE.
Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 101: I Will Fear No Evil (Part 3)
Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Part three of my thoughts on I WILL FEAR NO EVIL by Robert A. Heinlein.
Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Episode 662: James Baldwin: No Name in the Street
Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
My quick review of James Baldwin's excellent essay NO NAME IN THE STREET. The last 20 pages of this essay are particularly hard hitting and remain meaningful.
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 100: I Will Fear No Evil (Part 2)
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Boy does this book drag on. Lots of good stuff, but Robert A. Heinlein seems to take his precious time getting there. Is I WILL FEAR NO EVIL a sign of what will come later in his works?
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 99: I Will Fear No Evil (Part 1)
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Part 1 of 4 of my review of I WILL FEAR NO EVIL by Robert A. Heinlein. I wonder how other recent readers of this book look back on it. Obviously the novel deals with gender in sexuality in transgressive ways, but it also seems very old fashioned in its approach.
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Episode 661: James Baldwin: The Fire Next Time (1963)
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Brief thoughts on James Baldwin's 1963 essay THE FIRE NEXT TIME and its place in American history.
Monday Sep 16, 2024
Episode 660: James Baldwin: Nobody Knows My Name, More Notes of a Native Son
Monday Sep 16, 2024
Monday Sep 16, 2024
In this episode I review James Baldwin's collection of essays NOBODY KNOWS MY NAME: MORE NOTES OF A NATIVE SON. These essays bridge his time in Paris to his engagement in the discourse on civil rights in America.
Monday Sep 16, 2024
Monday Sep 16, 2024
The conclusion to my review of THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS. In the next episode we will being a four part dive into I WILL FEAR NO EVIL.
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 97: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Part 2)
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Thursday Sep 05, 2024
Part two of my review of THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS by Robert A. Heinlein. In this episode, I cover the revolt on the Moon and some of the political theory at the heart of the novel, both the spoken and unspoken parts.
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 96: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Part 1)
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Part 1 of 3 of my review of THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS, one of Heinlein's most famous and well-regarded books. Often billed a libertarian novel, is it better to look at it as anti-colonial? Can it be both?
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Episode 659: James Baldwin: Notes of a Native Son
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
Wednesday Aug 21, 2024
We begin our look at James Baldwin's essays with his 1955 collection NOTES OF A NATIVE SON. Some of the topics explored in this collection are black representation in culture, expat life in Paris, and political life in Harlem.
Thursday Jul 25, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 95: Farnham's Freehold (Second Half)
Thursday Jul 25, 2024
Thursday Jul 25, 2024
The second part of my review of FARNHAM'S FREEHOLD by Robert A. Heinlein. I really struggled with this book, but think it reveals the fundamental problem with Heinlein's relationship with the American past.
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 94: Farnham's Freedhold (First Half)
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
Tuesday Jul 23, 2024
I talk a bit about GLORY ROAD to finish up my thoughts on that novel, but I have decided to move onto Heinlein's FARNHAM'S FREEDHOLD. Is it his worst novel? Maybe not, but it is sure is trying hard. We will see what the second half gives us.
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 93: Glory Road (First Half)
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
I had hoped to talk about the first half of GLORY ROAD by Robert A. Heinlein, but I ended up talking about most of the events of the book. It is definitely one that needs to be unpacked for some of the larger discussions we are having about Heinlein.
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Episode 658: James Baldwin: Going to Meet the Man (2)
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
Sunday Jul 07, 2024
In this episode I review the final four stories of GOING TO MEET THE MAN by James Baldwin. This episode includes my look at the titular story, which remains one of the most well-known and widely read of Baldwin's works.
Friday Jul 05, 2024
Episode 657: James Baldwin: Going to Meet the Man (1)
Friday Jul 05, 2024
Friday Jul 05, 2024
In this episode I talk about the first four stories of the great collection by James Baldwin GOING TO MEET THE MAN.
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
Episode 656: James Baldwin: Another Country (4)
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
The final episode of my review of ANOTHER COUNTRY by James Baldwin. This novel deserves to be remembered as one of the best of the later 20th century.
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Episode 655: James Baldwin: Another Country (Part 3)
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Part three of my review of the wonderful novel ANOTHER COUNTRY by James Baldwin. In this section, Eric returns to New York and crisis deepens in the relationships of our main characters Ida, Vivaldo, Cass, and Richard.
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 92: Podkayne of Mars
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
In this episode I take a quick look at the excellent short novel by Robert A. Heinlein PODKAYNE OF MARS. It is one of my favorite Heinlein novels I have read and it really seems Heinlein can write young characters well, just not young men.
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Episode 654: James Baldwin: Another Country (2)
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Part two of my review of ANOTHER COUNTRY by James Baldwin. For a novel that is just exploring transgressive romantic relationships (and some square relationships too), it is an enthralling journey.
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 91: Searchlight
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
Thursday Jun 13, 2024
This teeny tiny short story by Robert A. Heinlein also seems to be the last short story we will look at in this series. From here on out it will be wild novels. But this is a nice story to end with.
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
Episode 653: James Baldwin: Another Country (1)
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
This episode is part one of my four part review of ANOTHER COUNTRY by James Baldwin, a novel about race, sex, and art set in Greenwich Village. It is excellent.
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 90: Stranger in a Strange Land (Part 3)
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
Sorry for the delay in uploads. ANOTHER COUNTRY and work has been keeping me busier than I thought.
But here is the conclusion to my review of STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND by Robert A. Heinlein. One thing I never really talked much about in the review is cannibalism, but that is just a symptom of how much this book has to talk about.
Friday May 31, 2024
Friday May 31, 2024
In this episode I look at the middle third of Robert A. Heinlein's STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. We take a closer look at the word "grok" and its in-world meaning.
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein: Episode 88: Stranger in a Strange Land (Part 1)
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Tuesday May 28, 2024
In this episode I begin my look at Robert A. Heinlein's STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. We will have a lot to talk about over these three episodes as this is a thematically rich book. The first third of the book is doing a lot of set up and drags at times, but nevertheless this one is worth attempting.
Thursday May 23, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 87: All You Zombies
Thursday May 23, 2024
Thursday May 23, 2024
I am a bit backed up in producing episodes because I am wrangling with two larger novels (STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND and ANOTHER COUNTRY). Hopefully those episodes will be ready next week.
For now, we can look at Heinlein's short story "All You Zombies", a time travel story with a trans twist.
Thursday May 16, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 86: Starship Troopers (Part 2)
Thursday May 16, 2024
Thursday May 16, 2024
In part two of my review of STARSHIP TROOPERS, I complete my look at the text of the novel and discuss a little bit about the books legacy and influence on other storytellers.
Thursday May 16, 2024
Episode 652: James Baldwin: Giovanni's Room
Thursday May 16, 2024
Thursday May 16, 2024
Want to read a very sad novel about expats in Paris? Try James Baldwin's GIOVANNI'S ROOM. I loved it and am fully convinced that Baldwin is a beautiful writer. This short novel is full of theme and is certainly worth a read or two.
Thursday May 09, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 85: Starship Troopers (Part 1)
Thursday May 09, 2024
Thursday May 09, 2024
In this episode I review the first half of STARSHIP TROOPERS by Robert A. Heinlein and discuss all of the "History and Moral Philosophy" sections and the claims often made about Heinlein's politics. In the next episode I will discuss the rest of the book and its legacy.
Thursday May 09, 2024
Episode 651: James Baldwin: Go Tell It On the Mountain (Part 2)
Thursday May 09, 2024
Thursday May 09, 2024
The conclusion to my review of James Baldwin's GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN. This delightful and rich book is worth a look or two. Let me know what you thought of it.
Monday May 06, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 84: Have Space Suit, Will Travel
Monday May 06, 2024
Monday May 06, 2024
With this episode we close the book on the Robert A. Heinlein juveniles, so in addition to reviewing HAVE SPACE SUIT, WILL TRAVEL, I give my overall ranking of the 12 Scribner novels. There are only 15 works (13 novels and 2 short stories) left and I could not be more excited to jump into his works of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
Monday May 06, 2024
Episode 650: James Baldwin: Go Tell It On the Mountain (1)
Monday May 06, 2024
Monday May 06, 2024
In this episode I begin my look at James Baldwin with his first novel GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN. It the first half of this novel, we can already sense Baldwin's unique contribution to African-American literature.
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 83: The Man Who Traveled In Elephants
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
In the quasi-fantasy story "The Man Who Traveled in Elephants" (1957) Heinlein wrote a sentimental tale about America, journeys, and a man getting what he deserves in the afterlife.
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 82: Menace from Earth
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
Tuesday Apr 30, 2024
"Menace from Earth" by Robert A. Heinlein is a teenage romance, set on the Moon that builds on the themes explored in the excellent stories collected in THE GREEN HILLS OF EARTH.
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Episode 649: Richard Wright: The Outsider (Part 5 Decision)
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Friday Apr 26, 2024
The finale of my review of THE OUTSIDER by Richard Wright and the end of my examination of the works of Richard Wright. Our next series will be a long one, looking at the works of James Baldwin.
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Episode 647: Richard Wright: The Outsider (Part 4 Despair)
Friday Apr 26, 2024
Friday Apr 26, 2024
My frustration with THE OUSIDER by Richard Wright grows a bit as I read Part 4 (Despair). Cross Damon does another murder and is trying to avoid arrest for his crimes but still has time for long debates on Communism and Fascism.
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Episode 646: Richard Wright: The Outsider (Part 3 Descent)
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Every once in a while I lose myself in a book. Not that I get engaged so the rest of the world passes by. Sometimes, I actually get lost and am not sure where the book or its characters are going. As I explore part 3 of THE OUTSIDER by Richard Wright I experience this. And I am not sure Wright is going to help me find the theme.
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 81: The Door Into Summer
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Friday Apr 19, 2024
In this rather long episode I explore Heinlein' excellent novel THE DOOR INTO SUMMER. This book seems to be about a deterministic time travel loop, but it is really about our relationship to technology, each other, and work. Oh, and the main character gets engaged to a child and gaslights her into going into deep freeze so he can marry her while she is still young and hot. Not one of our author's best moments.