Jenny and Ted discuss Gestation 1.1.

Episode Notes:

• What does it mean to be a cape in this world?
• A close reading of the first two lines of Worm
• A tiny scrap of cape lore and a big mass of bugs
• Everyone loves a powerful underdog
• Taylor’s power hasn’t solved her problems
• The theme of control
• Taylor is that jaded, loner kid who is still insecure
• Will cape society be just like high school?
• Worm’s YA setting
• Bug proprioception
• Taylor makes it worse
• Cape justice
• Taylor’s passivity: she feels she is moral for what she does not do
• Jenny suggests how Taylor might retaliate against these awful bullies
• Predictions corner

Links:

• https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-1-gestation/1-01/
• https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow

Before reading anything, Jenny and Ted discuss Worm generally and introduce the podcast. NOTE: We had some technical issues with the audio in this one that should be resolved before the next episode.

Episode Notes:

• What is Worm?
• Wait, Worm is HOW long?
• Ted’s pitch for why you should read Worm
• A quick introduction to Wildbow
• Character-driven superpowers
• Jenny introduces us to Taylor
• “Capes”
• Jenny imagines where the story will go
• The 2011 superhero zeitgeist
• Creator Chose Not To Use Content Warnings
• Worm fic is like Avengers fic 
• Should this story have been called Bug?
• Insect Aside vs. the Bug Bear
• Ted names a favorite cape and Jenny guesses her power
• How you can (optionally) read along
• There are 2+ fan audiobooks of Worm

Links:

https://parahumans.wordpress.com/

https://www.patreon.com/Wildbow