Mattie joins us again to close out our read-alongs of Susanna Clarke's works with the charming and funny story of John Uskglass and the Cumbrian Charcoal Burner (collected in The Ladies of Grace Adieu)

We talk about Andrew Bujalski's 2013 film Computer Chess, where none of the people in the movie actually play chess. Check and mate, nerds

Today we talk family, bears, and discovering fire as we talk about Terry Bisson's Bears Discover Fire

Original story:

https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/bears-discover-fire/

Short film adaptation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu594ennuxI

Gremlins! In the Big City! Any kind of gremlin you can imagine! What else could you ask for?

Today we check out that cozy little coffeeshop run by an orc. Who wants more cinnamon buns?

As the year turns, so does our taste in reading. Join us in our read-along of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and remember: This land is all too shallow/It is painted on the sky/And trembles like wind-shook rain/When the Raven King goes by

Jeff Martin returns to help Podside pull the starter cord and cut through Matthew Mitchell's Chaindevils, part WH40K homage, part splatterpunk "there and back again" narrative, all gnarl

Check out Jeff's work:

https://rentathugcomics.com/

Today we talk about one of the recently-deceased Howard Waldrop's better-known stories, The Ugly Chickens. Part shaggy-dog (chicken?) story, part alternate history, and all good eatin!

We talk about The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007) this time. You'd better have your quarter lined up on the cabinet bezel so you can witness a rivalry for the ages - it's nerd vs. nerd action, like you've never seen it before!

The gang's all back and chaos reigns! Next round's on you!