American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time)

Episode 615: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Oldtown Folks (Part 5)

The finale of my review of OLDTOWN FOLKS by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the conclusion to this series on Stowe's novels. Next up, we will return to W. E. B. Du Bois with a deep dive into Reconstruction-era America.

Episode 614: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Oldtown Folks (Part 4)

Part 4 of my review of OLDTOWN FOLKS by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This is an amazing novel that deserves more attention.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 61: The Man Who Sold the Moon

A story of capitalism run amok and maybe doing some good, THE MAN WHO SOLD THE MOON, by Robert A. Heinlein is a great novella exploring how  money can do almost anything.

Episode 613: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Oldtown Folks (Part 3)

The middle sections of Harriet Beecher Stowe's OLDTOWN FOLKS (1869) explored education with intense focus and through multiple conversations. While repetitive, this section of the novel allowed Stowe to engage with the debates of her own time about education, making a case as persuasive as the one she made in UNCLE TOM'S CABIN about slavery.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 60: Farmer in the Sky (Part 2)

In this episode, I finish up my review of the excellent novel FARMER IN THE SKY by Robert A. Heinlein. This novel has some excellent reflections on population, empires, war, ecology, and the frontier. Are the juveniles (and the Future History series at large) metaphors for the Atlantic world? Sometimes I think so.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 59: Farmer in the Sky (Part 1)

Heinlein's fourth juvenile novel, FARMER IN THE SKY (1950) is one of the best books he wrote to that point and the most "mature" of his "boy's novels". We seen Heinlein's approach and concerns grow up with his characters. The first part of this book is an excellent window into the ecological, scientific, and political vision Heinlein develops.

Episode 612: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Oldtown Folks (Part 2)

Harriet Beecher Stowe's OLDTOWN FOLKS (1869) is doing a lot, and that is made clear in the second section of this book, which explores the fate of two orphans in this small New England Town, and their ultimate liberation.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 58: Nothing Ever Happens on the Moon

"Nothing Ever Happens on the Moon" is another delightful Future History story by Robert A. Heinlein, but this one includes Boy Scouts. Can an Earth Scout ever find a place with the Moon Scouts with the Moon's inhospitable environment? Maybe if he saves the day? This story has some very harrowing life and death moments as two boys get lost a "morning glory" (a sinkhole).

Episode 611: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Oldtown Folks (Part 1)

In this episode I begin to explore OLDTOWN FOLKS by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This is a fascinating, almost modernist, novel about one man's memory of the days of his youth in early 19th century New England. Through deep dives into characters and the community, Stowe digs into surface level and hidden aspects of New England society.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 57: Gulf

What is this early 1940s Heinlein story doing in the 1950? In this episode I explore Heinlein's brief return to ASTOUNDING with "Gulf". Thanks, I hate it.

Episode 610: Harriet Beecher Stowe: The Minister’s Wooing (Part 3)

In this episode I finish up up look at Harriet Beecher Stowe's THE MINISTER'S WOOING. It finishes up much the way we expect. Overall, this novel is a nice surprise and worth checking out if you have the time. Next up, OLDTOWN FOLKS.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 56: Delilah and the Space Rigger

This is the last of the GREEN HILLS OF EARTH stories (from the anthology, but not thematically), we explore the question of who is suited for space exploration by looking at the place of women in the frontier.

Episode 609: Harriet Beecher Stowe: The Minister’s Wooing (Part 2)

In part two of my review of THE MINISTER'S WOOING by Harriet Beecher Stowe we build out the world of post-Revolutionary New England with a closer look at the new theology of the Great Awakening and get to experience the suspicious arrival of Aaron Burr as a suitor. Then tragedy hits.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 55: Red Planet (Part 2)

The finale of my review of Robert A. Heinlein's RED PLANET. I focus on the political aspects of the novel and the awesome portrayal of the indigenous Martians.

Episode 608: Harriet Beecher Stowe: The Minister’s Wooing (Part 1)

In this episode I begin looking at Harriet Beecher Stowe's THE MINISTER'S WOOING, a novel about New England religion tied to a sentimental novel of love and loss.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 54: Red Planet (Part 1)

This episode is the first half of my review of RED PLANET by Robert A. Heinlein. While I loved the "Green Hills of Earth" cycle, I cannot help but feeling that this novel brings us back to the Heinlein I love to wrestle with.

Episode 607: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Finale)

The end of my five-part review of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Overall, I am very glad I finally read this excellent book. There are great moments throughout the novel and it deserves its place as a classic, not just a historically important text.

Episode 606: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Part 4)

This section is the turning point in the story, where we see our hopes in the white characters end through their untimely deaths. It then take Tom (and the readers) to hell and the heart of the story, which will play out in the cotton fields of the deep South.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 53: Our Fair City

In this small fantasy story, "Our Fair City", Robert A. Heinlein explores city politics and corruption through the adventures of a sentient whirlwind. This story may be skippable, but has some nice moments. I like Heinlein reflecting on local politics more than I do the fantasy elements of this story.

Episode 605: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Part 3)

The middle sections of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN by Harriet Beecher Stowe are some of the most interesting in the novel. Stowe is more intriguing with the conflicted and complex characters. With the death of Eva (explored in the next episode) the characters become more clearly defined, and that is a bit of a pity.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 52: The Black Pits of Luna

Another Robert A. Heinlein Future History Story, "The Black Pits of Luna". The title and themes parallel "The Green Hills of Earth" quite well. With this story along with the others we look at, I think all we need for tackling THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS is here, but that will be a while yet.

Episode 604: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Part 2)

Part two of my review of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This section begins a deeper look at the religious and moral values Stowe was working out in this famous book about American slavery.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 51: Gentlemen, Be Seated

Another Future History story by Robert A. Heinlein, "Gentlemen, Be Seated" explores the character of the humans who should venture into space. While it is built on a humorous set piece, there are some interesting ideas about the gap that will grow between humans on Earth and those in space.

Episode 603: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Part 1)

Part 1 of 5. This review will explore the themes and ideas of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN by Harriet Beecher Stowe. While I have never read this book before, I am familiar with its big ideas. I am pleasantly surprised by how good it is.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 50: The Long Watch

A thematic sequel to SPACE CADET and "Ordeal in Space", this story explores the values of the Patrol and seems to be a testament to all the uncelebrated heroes of war.

Episode 602: Narrative of the Life of J. D. Green a Runaway Slave (1864)

The final slave narrative of this series in the mostly unknown story of the trickster slave J. D. Green. It is fun, brutal, and fascinating and maybe deserves a greater place in our literary history.

Robert A.Heinlein Book Club: Episode 49: Ordeal in Space

So TOWN AND COUNTRY published a very interesting Heinlein story called "Ordeal in Space" in 1948, which explores how we face and overcome trauma. A powerful reflection on the experiences of returning soldiers from World War II.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 48: Space Cadet (Part 2)

Part two of my review of SPACE CADET by Robert A. Heinlein. Let's meet some Venerians and test the values of the Space Patrol when faced with the desires of unrestrained capitalism, or something.

Episode 601: Harriet Jacobs: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Part 2)

The conclusion of my look at INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL by Harriet Jacob. This remains my favorite slave narrative and is in my view the most powerful.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 47: Space Cadet (Part 1)

Part one of my review of SPACE CADET. This should be a favorite of Next Generation fans and has some of the best work building in the Heinlein juveniles.

Episode 600: Harriet Jacobs: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Part 1)

Perhaps the best slave narrative, and certainly my favorite, INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL by Harriet Jacobs hits to the heart of the experience of slavery for women and has some of the most intense moments in the genre.

Episode 599: A Thousand Miles to Freedom (William and Ellen Craft’s Narrative)

This episode contains my thoughts on the excellent slave narrative by William and Ellen Craft, detailing their escape from slavery and Georgia and how they hacked the color line and the unwritten rules of slavery. A brilliant work of resistance.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 47: Water is For Washing

No Robert A. Heinlein book club would be complete without the 1947 story "Water is for Washing". I almost forgot about it and probably will again soon.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 45: They Do It With Mirrors

This episode includes my review of Robert A. Heinlein's short mystery story "They Do It With Mirrors." While it is not exceptional as a locked room mystery, it does reflect on Heinlein's sexual politics.

Episode 598: The Narrative of Sojourner Truth

My review of the narrative of the life of Sojourner Truth, one of the more unique slave narratives of this era. A little less about slavery itself and more about the development of a religious revival, a new name, and a mission.

Episode 597: Narrative of the Life of Henry Bibb (1849)

We explore another excellent slave narrative with the work of Henry Bibb, whose narrative explores the trauma of being married in slavery and the difficult choices people need to make while being married in a system rooted in sexual violence.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 44: No Band Playing, No Flags Flying

As we come close to wrapping up our look at Heinlein's 1947 works, we look at a short and not so significant story showing Heinlein trying to define courage. It is called "No Band Playing, No Flags Flying" and its a bit odd.

Episode 596: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass' amazing slave narrative probably does not need much of an introduction. Few works deconstruct all the myths of the Old South so efficiently.

Episode 595: The Confessions of Nat Turner

While this is not quite a slave narrative, "The Confessions of Nat Turner" is testimony of one of the most famous American slaves (although the case can be made that he had already freed himself). While most slave narratives were weaponized in the anti-slavery struggle, this document was weaponized to justify strengthening the institution of slavery in the Antebellum South.

Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 43: Space Jockey

"Space Jockey" is another great science fiction story by Heinlein from 1947 published in the Saturday Evening Post. At the same time it is horribly quaint and seems a bit more like fantasy than science fiction. Someone moving from the gig economy to full time family-supporting employment? Not in this universe.