A Novel Podcast

Today we are discussing The Martian, a 2011 hard science fiction novel written by Andy Weir. Weirs debut novel follows the story of American astronaut Mark Watney, as he becomes stranded alone on Mars in the year 2035 and must improvise in order to survive. A film adaptation by the same name, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon, was released in October 2015.

Today we discuss 1Q84, a dystopian novel written by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, first published in three volumes in Japan in 2009–10, and released in the US and UK two years later. It tells the story two characters who know each other, but haven’t been in contact since childhood. Masami Aomame and Tengo Kawana attempt to reunite with one another, in a world that becomes increasingly surreal and supernatural.

Today we’re discussing “Flowers in the Attic” by V. C. Andrews. Written in 1979, it is the first book in the Dollanganger Series, told from the point of view of Cathy Dollanganger. The book has seen much popularity, having been twice adapted into films in 1987 and 2014,and selling over forty million copies world-wide.

This came to us as a strong suggestion from our of our regular co-hosts, so I’d like to ask Lauren to tell us, what is it about this book you enjoy so much, why is it one of your favorites and what did you hope we’d enjoy about it?

In Today's episode we discuss two books by Mary Roach; Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife (2005),and 2010’s Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. In these books Mary Roach approaches the topics at hand in a humorous and educational manner, and isn’t afraid to tackle the gory details.

In today's episode we're discussing 'The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America' by Erik Larson. This non-fiction book tells the story of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair (Colombian Exposition,) and focuses much of the story on the notorious serial killer, H.H. Holmes. Written in a novelistic style, it's a fascinating read, which has recently been considered for a movie adaptation, with Leonardo DiCaprio having secured the rights, and potentially portraying Holmes.

Today we're discussing three different novels with a similar theme. 'The Ritual' a 2011 British novel by Adam Nevill. 'The Ruins,' a 2006 novel by American author Scott Smith, and 'The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon', a 1999 novel by american author Stephen King. These novels all deal with the theme of being stranded in the wilderness, and how to survive, but they all also incorporate some kind of supernatural malevolence. Putting the stories side by side, we compare and contrast their strengths and weaknesses.

In today's episode we’re talking about Dune, by Frank Herbert. Published in a 1965, this epic science fiction novel was originally released as two separate serials in Analog magazine. Having sold over 12 million copies this book is the worlds best selling Science Fiction novel. We discuss in depth the world Herbert has created and it's the intricate plot of plans within plans. We try to break apart how character driven the story is, with technology taking a backseat. And we attempt to name the more recent works that were influenced by the Dune world, especially those of George R. R. Martin.

Today we discuss Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. Published in 1985, Ender's Game is the most recognizable of the Novels from Card's futuristic Universe pitting Earth and Humans against the Formic, seemingly hostile and advanced alien race of insectoids. Ender's Game tells the story of Young Andrew (Ender) Wiggin, who is chosen to join the military school to train for the next conflict with the Formic, and the ensuing story is ripe with ideas and conflicts.

In today's episode we’re discussing two novels by Agatha Christie. Born in 1890, Christie was an English crime novelist and playwright. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling novelist of all time, with her 78 mystery novels having sold roughly 2 billion copies. The novels we dive into are 'Murder on the Orient Express' published 1934, and 'Mrs. McGinty's Dead', published in 1952, and both are stories of Christie’s recurring protagonist Hercule Poirot.

In this episode, we conclude our discussion of The High King by Lloyd Alexander, and also discuss The Foundling, a series of short stories expanding the Prydain Universe. Originally published in 1968, The High king was the 1969 Newbery Medal winner for excellence in American children's literature. 'The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain' was published 4 years later. These books gave our group so much to talk about, that we had to split the episode into two parts, and this is the conclusion of those discussions.