Bibliophile Adventures

The New Year is often a time for people to self-evaluate, set goals, and try to find ways to defeat the addictions and habits that they feel are holding them back from a more complete life.  By happy coincidence The Bibliophile Adventures Podcast is happy to welcome a new contributor, Adam S.L. (@RetroReprise on Twitter),who has recently felt motivated by Russell Brand's book, Recovery.  The book offers guidance on how to help yourself actually succeed in overcoming those things that seem unbeatable.  Enjoy Adam's thoughtful, honest, and insightful takeaways from Brand's book.  “This manual for self-realization comes not from a mountain but from the mud...My qualification is not that I am better than you but I am worse.” —Russell Brand

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This episode Michael from Germany shares on the works of Michael Moorcock, with a focus on A Nomad of the Time Streams a 1982 compilation volume of Michael Moorcock's early steampunk trilogy, begun in 1971 with The Warlord of the Air and continued by its 1974 and 1981 sequels, The Land Leviathan and The Steel Tsar.

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In this episode, Michael from Germany (@SostheRope on Twitter) discusses Robert M. Pirsig's 1974 book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance:  An Inquiry Into Values.  Christopher Lehmann-Haupt described the book as an "intellectual entertainment of the highest order" in his New York Times review.  Enjoy the episode, and feel free to send your comments to [email protected] or the Bibliophile Advenventures twitter.

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This week on Bibliophile Adventures, Michael from Germany takes us into Patrick Rothfuss‘ 2007 fantasy novel The Name of the Wind. Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. A high-action story written with a poet’s hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.“As with all the very best books in our field, it’s not the fantasy trappings (wonderful as they are) that make this novel so good, but what the author has to say about true, common things, about ambition and failure, art, love, and loss.”-Tad Williams, New York Times best-selling author of MEMORY, SORROW AND THORN, and SHADOWMARCHFeel free to contact the podcast at [email protected] or reach out to us on twitter.  And if you would like to submit an episode on a book, author,  album, or even discuss and promote your own work and what inspires you, please, don’t hesitate to contact us and share your bibliophile (or audiophile) adventure!

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The Bibliophile Adventures Podcast is deeply honored to have Paul Alborough, the alter ego of Professor Elemental, join Michael from Germany for a wonderful discussion about steampunk, hip hop, comics, Brexit, creativity, art, and many more wonderful things.  Professor Elemental is the steam powered hip hop emcee starring on many albums and in comics, games, radio series and stories.  His new album, Professor Elemental and His Amazing Friends II, is out now.   In this jam packed collection of fabulous collaborations, you'll head to the far flung future & steampunk speakeasys, visit weird freakshows and mysterious deserts. All with some of the finest names in independent music. Guest starring: Tom Caruana, Ella Jean, The Sweetchunks, Flevans, Lack of Afro, Megaran and so very many more. This is one party that you won't regret in the morning!  Soon to be released is a brand new book of comedy horror stories, Professor Elemental's Tales of Wrong.  Please visit Professor Elemental's Patreon to lend your support and check out his website, professorelemental.com.  Feel free to contact the podcast at [email protected] or reach out to us on twitter.  And if you would like to submit an episode on a book, author,  album, or even discuss and promote your own work and what inspires you, please, don't hesitate to contact us and share your bibliophile (or audiophile) adventure!

You can support this show by visiting our merch store, or by leaving us an Apple Podcasts review.

This episode we shift gears a little bit as Michael from Germany reviews the steampunk rap album Professor Elemental and His Amazing Friends II (2019).  Why?  Isn't this a book podcast?  Because it involves storytelling and adventure and because it's awesome!  And we're rebels so just enjoy the show!  As Professor Elemental himself says, "Every Professor Elemental album is based around telling stories. Whether an epic  adventure or a whimsical diversion, they are at the heart of everything that Tom and I create.  This then, is our anthology of short stories. A collection of mini adventures, taking on more musical styles than you would have thought possible.Built over three years and featuring 26 friends every corner of independent music; you’ll hear Norwegian pop, Underground Hip Hop, Punky Folk, vintage Swing and everything in between.Join me and my friends on adventures through mysterious deserts, overcrowded freak shows, secret speakeasys and sugar coated underwater odysseys. I promise you’ll find something to like and, if nothing else, it will make you smile." Visit Professor Elemental's site to check out and buy his music!  Also check out Cheap Ass Games!  Michael talks about them as well!

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On this episode Martin from South Carolina (@geekvine on Twitter) takes us into the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, focusing on the short story The White Ship.  Originally published in 1919, The White Ship is part of Lovecraft's Dream Cycle stories.  If you enjoy this episode then you are in luck.  We will be having even more Lovecraft related episodes in the future.  Read the story for free here:  The White Ship.  Email comments and contributions to [email protected].

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This week Michael from Texas takes a look at Neil Stephenson and his 2015 speculative fiction novel, Seveneves.  It's a big book with big ideas and quite a few big twists along the way as well.  Apologies for the initial audio in the first ten minutes due to some technical blunders.  Thanks for listening and reach out with thoughts, comments, suggestions or contributions at [email protected].

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Michael from Germany (@SostheRope) is back for another look at the Dungeons and Dragons Player’s Handbook Fifth Edition.  This episode he covers the first four chapters, after briefly detailing the movie Secrets of Blackmoor: The True History of Dungeons & Dragons and the importance of Dave Arneson to the game’s development.  Also- HG Wells was a gamer!http://fastcharacter.comDungeons & Dragons Beyond Character BuilderPlus a little bit about I’m OK, You’re OK, classic of popular psychology based on Eric Berne’s theory of Transactional Analysis that has helped millions of people who never before felt OK about themselves find the freedom to change, to liberate their ADULT effectiveness, and to achieve joyful intimacy with the people in their lives.

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RIP Bibliophile Labyrinth Adventures! Long live Bibliophile Adventures!  This week Michael from Germany (@SostheRope on Twitter) embarks on a multipart dungeon crawl through all aspects of Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition Players Handbook, beginning with the original Appendix N and the fifth edition's Appendix E suggested inspirational reading list.  There will be much more on this in the future!  Plus, at the end Michael also adds some comments on Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance!Additional links:Appendix N Reading ListAnother amazing Appendix N Reading ListAppendix E Fifth Edition [email protected]

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