In this episode we are talking about Excession by Iain M Banks - A sprawling sci-fi epic that explores a distant, post-scarcity future, where an interplanetary civilisation called The Culture faces the physics defying titular event the Excession. 

Today we are delighted to welcome very special guest David Goodman - Author of The Reluctant Spy (winner of the debut awards at Bloody Scotland and Harrowgate Crime Festival) and his follow up Solitary Agents is out June 4th 2026. 

Dave takes us through how Banks utilises paratext to flesh out the interactions between the multitude of godlike AI in this novel and why it is the best means of conveying a lot of information in short amount of time. While paratext is an important literary device, it also holds a deeply personal place in Dave's heart, as reading Excession as a teen revealed to him the power and possibilities of literature

We also chat about the merits of physical media, the evolution of British sci-fi, how Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy is the most influential British sci-fi, and how sometimes plot and character don't need to be the end goal of a novel. We also create our own Excession style spaceship/AI names and include a very confusing Blackberry Messenger text chat to the great novel ever written.  

The Next episode of the Binge Reading Bookclub will be out on the 26th March featuring the novel The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, with special guest Author L.R. Lam.

We are also watching The Chair Company for our brand new show 'Speed Binges' which will be coming out on the 12th March. 

LINKS:

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Introducing the brand new show - Speed Binges - where your roguish and lovable hosts Nicholas Binge and Hugo Powell will talk about a wide variety of their favorite media, from films to shows, books to albums, nothing is off limits.

For this first episode we read Extremity by our very own Nicholas Binge. A procedural crime drama turned Sci-fi thriller, Extremity explores the impact of late stage capitalism on mankind with uncanny mysteries and clever narrative devices. We decide which actors would best star in each role, whether authors set out to write works specifically to be adapted to TV or film, and answers once and for all what happens at the end of the story. 

Join us again for the mainline Binge Reading Bookclub episode on the 26th February for Extremity by Ian M Banks with special guest David Goodman. 

LINKS:

STET Podcast Network

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In this Episode of the Binge Reading Bookclub, Nicholas Binge and Hugo Powell discuss The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Rather than simply referring to the obviously well written 'unreliable narrator' that is Stephens, Nicholas breaks down how Ishiguro permeates the realities of cognitive dissonance into his character development. Nicholas also breaks down what impact this has on the reader, and what approach a budding author wishing to borrow from Ishiguro's works might go about it. Nick also tests Hugo's dignity in a one of a kind buzzfeed style quiz, flipping the usual quiz based interruptions of the show on their heads. 

We also chat about upcoming changes to the show- First off, we are releasing 'Speed Binges' mini episodes where Hugo and Nick talk about the merits of other works of art from other mediums, be it music, TV, or Film. Starting out next month with Extremity by Nicholas Binge. 

The Next episode of the Binge Reading Bookclub will be out on the 26th February featuring the Novel Excession by Ian M. Banks and special guest David Goodman.  

LINKS:

STET Podcast Network

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email us: [email protected]

In this Episode of the Binge Reading Bookclub, Nicholas Binge and Hugo Powell discuss The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. A second wolrd fantasy that focuses on the trials and tribulations of Syenite, a member of the ostracized 'Orogene' people, cursed with the power to cause volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Of all the books read so far, this is the first one that 'Bounced' off Hugo, but its such a well respected book, does he have anything reasonable say for why he didn't get along with it? We shall see shall we!

Nicholas on the other hand breaks down how Jemisin masterfully creates twists and turns in her story telling, not by presenting wild plot twists, but by changing the readers understanding of the story by manipulating perspective. 

We also chat about Nicholas' arch rivalry, importance of emotional research, and we host the very first annual HUGOs AWARDS (NB - This is not the Hugo Award but the HUGOs AWARD)

The next episode will be out on January 29th, and we will be reading Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (and don't just watch the film, WE WILL KNOW!) 

LINKS:

STET Podcast Network

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In this Episode of the Binge Reading Bookclub, Nicholas Binge and Hugo Powell discuss Behind Frenemy Lines by Zen Cho. A delightful romance novel that delves deep into the myriad pitfalls that face young women in the contemporary workspace. The challenge Hugo set for Nick last month was to choose a book where no one died, and he succeeded! So how do you develope drama, character, and conflict without death? Well Zen Cho does it masterfully, through tactful plot choices, interested narrative stand points, and believable characterisation.

We also chat about fans reaching out to their favourite authors and why you shouldn't hesitate, performative masculinity, and I test Nicholas' ability to spot the real from the fake in my K-Drama test. 

The next extra festive episode of the Binge Reading Bookclub podcast comes out on Christmas Day! Be sure to pick up your copy of The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin - an epic fantasy novel set on a planet destroyed by catastrophic climate change. 

LINKS:

STET Podcast Network

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In this episode we dive deep into the lore of Warhammer 40K with Xenos by Dan Abnett, the first in the Eisenhorn trilogy from the Black Library. 

While we had fairly low expectations, this book really captured our attentions and demonstrated masterfully how to blend a variety of genres - in this case Sci fi, Horror and Noire. Nicholas Binge also shares with us how he comes up with names for his characters (trawling the credits of movies), the problem with having a lack of women in a novel, and we expand upon the story of the Lithe Waiter in what will eventually be the greatest novel ever written. 

This week Nicholas and Hugo delve deep into literary fiction, a term so deeply confusing that they only just make heads or tails of it. Kamila Shamsie weaves a delicate, beautiful, and heart-wrenching tale of identity and nationalism that sits in conversation with the ancient greek play 'Antigone' and what it means to be British and muslim in the 21st century. 

Nick and Hugo also discuss Nick's latest book 'Extremity', his motivations as a writer, and take a joke about Monty Python way to far. Naturally we also add a new paragraph to the greatest book ever to be written with dramatic (and edgy) results.  All this and more in this months episode. 

Join us on the 30th October where we will be discussing Xenos by Dan Abnett (of the Warhammer 40,000 Black Library)

We are overjoyed to be joined by the marvelous Sunyi Dean, multiple award losing author of The Book Eaters (her words not ours). She chose the Novel Leech by Hiron Ennes for its excellent use of changing and dynamic perspective, as the titular leech slowly loses contact with its hive mind. The story is graphic, gory and gothing representation of a post-post-apocalyptic world in which humanity has fallen and risen again. 

We discuss WorldCon and the various silly exchanges Nicholas had, I test Nick and Sunyi's taste in parasites, and for the first time, we read the entire story we have written so far back to front to hear Sunyi's frank reaction. All this and more on the Binge Reading Bookclub podcast. 

Join us again on the 28th September where we will be reading our first bit of literary fiction - Homefire by Kamla Shamsie. 

Today we chat about  Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel, a story told through very unconventional epistoral technique of the discovery of a giant alien robot on planet earth. A collection of interviews performed by a mysterious government spook, we discover the various pitfalls of keeping a giant robot as a pet and the geopolitical repercussions. Nick and Hugo also chat Worldcon and Bloody Scotland, we continue our novel with dramatic flair, and Hugo puts Nick through his paces, testing his giant robot franchise knowledge

If you want to read what we have so far of our novel, follow the link to our website below.

The next episode of the BRBC will come out on the 28th August where we will have an extra special guest Sunyi Dean to discuss Leech by Hiron Ennes, a a gothic horror told from the perspective of a parasite with multiple human bodies. Follow the links below for more details: 

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Today we chat about  A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, a story of the Count Rostov and his various encounters while under house arrest the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. We talk voice, narrative tone, and why Hugo feels more compassion for The Bishop than he does for The Count himself.

If you want to read what we have so far of our novel, follow the link to our website below.

The next episode of the BRBC will come out on the 31st July where we will be reading Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neveu, a Sci-fi epic told entirely through the means of voice notes, captains log's, and audio communications... but transcribed to word form obviously. Follow the links below for more details: 

Official Site

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