A Czech sci-fi classic from 1920 that is the origin of the word "robot". This episode has been a long time coming and I am very happy that it worked out to have Rudolf Rosa a researcher in computational linguistics as a guest. Rudolf is is also behind project "Robot writes a play" that was a special occasion to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the book R.U.R by using machine learning and large language models to write a theater play. This time about people by a robots. Join us on this episode to discuss the story of Rossum's Universal Robots, what really is the difference between people and robots and what does it mean to have a soul.

Notes:
00:00 Intro
16:25 Karel Capek
24:48 Spoilers and plot
01:02:40 Inevitable AI / language model discussion
#karel #capek #robot #rur #artificial #inteligence #ai #large #language #model #rudolf #rosa #gpt

One of the most popular writers in Asia, one of the most beloved detective mysteries in Japan. Can it live up to it's praise? Paul and I finally read Paul's wife's favorite book to find out.

Notes:
00:00 Intro
06:53 This is so Japanese
08:16 Mystery is an obsession in Japan
11:04 Why don't we read more detective stories?
19:28 Spoilers and Plot
#devotion #suspect #x #keigo #higashino #crime #mystery #detective #galileo #japan

On this episode we look at the whole series and consider it as a whole. To follow our tradition with book series we put together some lists:
- All 6 books from worst to best
- Top 5 best and worst things about the Dune series
- Top 5 biggest nonsensical things in the series
- Top 3 Quotes
- Top 5 tips how to pick up women by Duncan Idaho

03:13 Is this the best book series?

07:04 All 6 Books from worst to best

17:39 Top 5 Best

34:56 Tob 5 Worst

43:33 Top 5 Random Nonsense!

51:30 Top 5 Tips How to Pick up Women by Duncan Idaho

57:58 Top 3 Quotes

#frank #herbert #dune #series #hexalogy #top #best #worst #list #duncan #idaho

It's time for a catch up episode which means more guests and more books. Martin joined us to discuss the Dresden files and the first book in the series Strom Front by Jim Butcher who looks like a fashionable buff wizard. Kristyna told us about the Vlad Taltos series and the first book in the series Jhereg by Steven Brust. Finally, I tried to one up myself and read something out of the ordinary again - GoatMan: How I Took a Holiday from Being Human by Thomas Thwaites.

Notes:
0:00 Intro
12:00 Dresden Files - Strom Front
39:21 Vlad Taltos - Jhereg
1:12:06 GoatMan
#dresden #files #vlad #taltos #jhereg #goat #man #goatman #jim #butcher #steven #brust #thomas #thwaites

We have made it to the final book in the Dune series written by Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse Dune. Is it a satisfying conclusion to the series? Join me and Paolo on this episode

0:00 Intro

18:30 Quotes and ideas

32:00 Spoilers

#Frank #Herbert #Chapterhouse #dune

67 - Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert

Book 5 of the Dune series really horny, bonkers in parts but still very enjoyable and thought provoking. If you are still here with us and have survived the worm god, let's dive into Heretics of Dune!

00:00 Intro

15:04 Spoilers

#frank #herbert #heretics #dune

The best book of the dune series, there I said it. I have been waiting for a long time to talk about this one on the podcast. This has to be one of the weirdest pieces of media out there that somehow still manages to completely make sense. Join me and Paolo to discuss one of the most infamously strange, thought-provoking, comedically hilarious, gory and overly sexual books I have ever read.

Notes:
00:00 Intro
16:53 Spoilers

#frank #herbert #dune #god #emperor #insane #funny #duncan #idaho #fish #speakers

The third book in the classic dune series. Paolo and Kristyna joined me to discuss all the planets we have visited so far as well as all the plot details as usual.

Notes:
00:00 Intro
26:44 Spoilers

#children #of #dune #frank #herbert

One of the best follow-ups to a great story. We love Dune not because of the first book but because of the series as a whole. Dune messiah has Paolo's favorite ending from any book he read and the best villain I had ever read about in a book. So to counter balance our fanboying over Dune I invited Kristyna to join the discussion.

Notes:
00:00 Intro
20:49 Spoilers and plot

#dune #messiah #frank #herbert

The first time we talked about this book was on episode 24. A dreaded memory from a long time ago came back and I couldn't make myself read more than just a few stories from this book. It became one of our most popular episode and people have held it against me that I haven't read the whole thing.

So this time I pushed through, got very sick multiple times and managed to read everything. Paul joined me and we covered not only the main story lone about Mr. Wittier but also all 23 short stories in the book. What a vile disgusting mess this book is omg! I am happy to say that I have done it and hopefully we will never talk about this ever again!

EXPLICIT CONTECT WARNING: If you don't like touchy subjects, gore, swearing or can be offended easily please don't listen to this episode.

Notes:
00:00 Intro
11:38 Update on chuck Palahniuk
23:25 Spoilers and Plot

#chuck #palahniuk #haunted #disgusting