Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in Hammerfest, Finland, discussing "The Frozen Planet" by Keith Laumer, a novella featuring Retief, the universe's least subtle spy. There are at least 14 different Retief books / collections, and "The Frozen Planet & four other science-fiction novellas" (MacFadden Books, 1966) contains this story, one of Retief's first published appearances. And what an appearance! He's basically 007 minus any trace of grace or elegance or Britishness.

Keith Laumer (1925-1993) is the author of five different series', including the Retief novels, The Imperium Sequence, and the Bolo Books. We of the EBC endorse the works of Keith Laumer, in the sense that we think that you should read books, and these happen to be books, so why not read them?

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are vacationing on Platypus Island, Greece, and discussing the 1974 short story "The Fire Mountain" by Gail Kimberly. This story features four robot best friends who go on an adventure! Ruiz likes stories featuring four robot best friends because it reminds him of Earthbound. <3

Today's story was discovered via the 1977 collection, "Continuum 2" Edited by Roger Elwood. Ruiz is currently seeking out all four of the "Continuum" books, so if you have a copy and you donate it to our library, we'll donate a random book right back to you! (Note: the random book sent to you will probably be one of our many Jack Vance doubles.)

Ruiz Tremello and Marguerite are finishing up the tests on Alberto Einsteino; and presenting Part 3 of "Odyssey to Earthdeath", by Leo P. Kelley: "The Feat"! Phillip Villane, Ruth Cameron, Adam York, Grandsir, and Sister, continue their battle against Supreme Priestman Simon Pume, while the batle between Cityside and Landsend reaches critical mass!

Leo P. Kelley (1928-2002) was an advertising copywriter who also wrote Western Novels, YA SciFi, and several novels, including The Accidental Earth (1968), The Coins of Murph (1971), and Time: 110100 (1972), where in this episode Ruiz accidentally refers to it as being named "110100" rather than the proper "Time: 110100", because the website he sourced for research on Leo P. Kelley was wrong. Odyssey to Earthdeath was the first novel by Leo P. Kelley that Ruiz has ever been lucky enough to read, and he very much desires to read more by this talented and delightful author.

Bibliography source: http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/kelley_leo_p

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite remain in Rangoon, Italy, testing an AI with the unlikely (and possibly ironic) name of Alberto Einsteino. Meanwhile, they are continuing their discussions on Leo P. Kelley's 1968 masterpiece, "Odyssey to Earthdeath", with today's episode covering Part 2- "The Festival".

This might be the darkest episode yet, but at the same time, wow, what a story! Leo P. Kelley, we want to read all your books now! ...except for that YA stuff.

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in Rangoon, Italy, for the first part of their discussion on Leo P. Kelley's magnificent 1968 novel, "Odyssey to Earthdeath". And what a novel! Ruiz in particular was taken by this story: by its post-World-War-3 dystopia, by its vague, cultish religions, and most of all, by its varied cast of characters. This one's unique.

Leo P. Kelley is the author of two YA SF series, "Space Police" and "Galaxy 5", and over a dozen other novels, including several Westerns.

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in Colboclonk, Belgium, and discussing J.G. Ballard's 1967 short story, "The Last World of Mr. Goddard". The story concerns a creepy old man who wants to know everyone's business at all times!

This story was found via J.G. Ballard's "The Day of Forever" short story collection, an eclectic series of tales that Ruiz found occasionally plodding, often delightful, and ultimately enjoyable if a bit forgettable.

J.G. Ballard (1930-2009) was a British writer best known for the semi-autobiographical "Empire of the Sun", as well as his many Science Fiction & Post-Apocalyptic novels such as "The Drowned World" and "The Wind from Nowhere". Everett Book Club enjoys his works, and thinks that you should read them, and also everything else. Please always read, keep reading!

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in Yamamoto Prefecture, Spain, and discussing the short story, "The Only Death in the City (Paris)" by C.J. Cherryh, from the 1981 short story collection, "Sunfall".

C.J. Cherryh is a best-selling author who has sold over 3 million books, and has an asteroid named after her (!). "Sunfall" was the first of her works that Ruiz has ever read, and he loved it, heartily recommends it, and plans to read more. Marguerite however, has read LOTS of C.J. Cherryh, with the notable exception of "Sunfall", which is now on her list.

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in Hufflepuff, Portugal, discussing the 1916 short story, "Enoch Soames" by Sir Henry Maximilian Beerbohm. The story concerns a narrator's relationship to a failed writer, and an exciting Faustian bargain!

This story was read from "The Time Traveller's Almanac", a massive collection of over 60 short stories, where it bears the alternate title of "Enoch Soames: A Memory of the 1890's".

The Author, Sir Henry Maximilian "Max" Beerbohm (August 24, 1872 – May 20, 1956), was an essayist, humorist, broadcaster, caricaturist, writer, and according to Wikipedia, A Dandy. You can learn more about his fantastic life, here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Beerbohm

Wherein a swaddled lump of flesh is addicted to social media.

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in Paraguay, France, discussing the 1909 novella, "The Machine Stops", by E.M. Forster. This story concerns a far, far future evolution of humanity that neither of our hosts are interested in living in. If they could travel to the future, and they were stuck in this particular future, they would be far less happy than they are right now.

CORRECTIONS: In the audio, "The Machine Stops" is stated to have been written in 1928, but this is incorrect, as the actual year was 1909. That incorrect date was taken from the "Cities of Wonder" short story collection, edited by Damon Knight.

CORRECTION #2- Unfortunately, Ruiz did some research on Wikipedia, which inaccurately stated that E.M. Forster was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature 16 times. That is however, incorrect, as he was actually nominated 20 times.

Ruiz Tremello & Marguerite are in New Northunderlandshiretonville County, England, discussing the 1960 short story, "Planet of the Condemned", by Robert Murphy. This short story was discovered via a 1985 collection called "Ten Top Stories", which contained ten stories of varying quality.

In terms of Science Fiction, Robert Murphy apparently only ever wrote 4 short stories and published one short story collection, though Goodreads only contains his numerous nature books. If anyone has any copies of Robert Murphy's 1966 collection, "The Phantom Setter, and Other Stories", we'd love to read it!