The Functional Nerds Podcast

Patrick and John have a frank and serious chat about fandom, specifically Star Wars and the reactions to Solo: A Star Wars Story.

SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, and plan to, and have avoided spoilers, then YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP THIS EPISODE UNTIL AFTER YOU’VE SEEN THE MOVIE.

What else do we talk about in this episode? A LOT. The Monkees come up fairly early, and we talk about The Beatles as well before moving on to Solo, the state of Star Wars these days, fandom, social medial, trolls, bullies, the Disney / Fox merger, streaming services and how the merger could affect them, the new DC streaming service, Titans, Young Justice Season 3, the new streaming animated and live action Star Wars shows, Marvel movies and more…

Links:

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

* Patrick’s Book: Into the Fire (available everywhere)

© 2018 Patrick Hester and John Anealio

This podcast contains original music by John Anealio.

In episode 369 of the Functional Nerds Podcast, Patrick Hester and John Anealio welcome New York Times Best Selling author Andy Weir! ARTEMIS – an irresistible new near-future thriller–a heist story set on the moon – is available now via paperback.

About ARTEMIS: Jasmine Bashara never signed up to be a hero. She just wanted to get rich.

Not crazy, eccentric-billionaire rich, like many of the visitors to her hometown of Artemis, humanity’s first and only lunar colony. Just rich enough to move out of her coffin-sized apartment and eat something better than flavored algae. Rich enough to pay off a debt she’s owed for a long time.

So when a chance at a huge score finally comes her way, Jazz can’t say no. Sure, it requires her to graduate from small-time smuggler to full-on criminal mastermind. And it calls for a particular combination of cunning, technical skills, and large explosions—not to mention sheer brazen swagger. But Jazz has never run into a challenge her intellect can’t handle, and she figures she’s got the ‘swagger’ part down.

The trouble is, engineering the perfect crime is just the start of Jazz’s problems. Because her little heist is about to land her in the middle of a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself.

Trapped between competing forces, pursued by a killer and the law alike, even Jazz has to admit she’s in way over her head. She’ll have to hatch a truly spectacular scheme to have a chance at staying alive and saving her city.

Jazz is no hero, but she is a very good criminal.

That’ll have to do.

Propelled by its heroine’s wisecracking voice, set in a city that’s at once stunningly imagined and intimately familiar, and brimming over with clever problem-solving and heist-y fun, Artemis is another irresistible brew of science, suspense, and humor from #1 bestselling author Andy Weir.

About Andy Weir: ANDY WEIR built a career as a software engineer until the success of his first published novel, THE MARTIAN, allowed him to live out his dream of writing fulltime. He is a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of subjects such as relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. He also mixes a mean cocktail. He lives in California.

This week’s picks:

* Andy: The Calculating Stars: A Lady Astronaut Novel by Mary Robinette Kowal

* John: Dreaming the Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World by Rob Sheffield

* Patrick: Luke Cage: Season 2

Links:

* Andy Weir on Twitter

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

* Patrick’s Book: Into the Fire (available everywhere)

© 2018 Patrick Hester and John Anealio

This podcast contains original music by John Anealio.

In episode 368 of the Functional Nerds Podcast, Patrick Hester and John Anealio welcome back New York Times Best Selling author Delilah S. Dawson! Delilah’s new book – co-authored with fellow NYT Best Selling Author Kevin Hearne – is called KILL THE FARM BOY and drops on July 17th, 2018 from Del Rey.

About KILL THE FARM BOY: Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, a hero, the Chosen One, was born . . . and so begins every fairy tale ever told.

This is not that fairy tale.

There is a Chosen One, but he is unlike any One who has ever been Chosened.

And there is a faraway kingdom, but you have never been to a magical world quite like the land of Pell.

There, a plucky farm boy will find more than he’s bargained for on his quest to awaken the sleeping princess in her cursed tower. First there’s the Dark Lord, who wishes for the boy’s untimely death . . . and also very fine cheese. Then there’s a bard without a song in her heart but with a very adorable and fuzzy tail, an assassin who fears not the night but is terrified of chickens, and a mighty fighter more frightened of her sword than of her chain-mail bikini. This journey will lead to sinister umlauts, a trash-talking goat, the Dread Necromancer Steve, and a strange and wondrous journey to the most peculiar “happily ever after” that ever once-upon-a-timed.

About Delilah S. Dawson: Delilah S. Dawson is the author of the New York Times bestseller Star Wars: Phasma, the Blud series, the Hit series, Servants of the Storm, and the Shadow series, written as Lila Bowen and beginning with Wake of Vultures. Her comics include the creator-owned Ladycastle as well as Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files: Florida Man, Adventure Time, and Labyrinth. Delilah likes fancy cocktails, gluten-free cupcakes, and helping turtles cross the road.

This week’s picks:

* Delilah: Transformers: More than meets the Eye

* Bonus Pick: The Lore Podcast

* John: Letters From a Stoic

* Patrick: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

* WATCH: The Sicily Clip…

Links:

* Delilah S. Dawson on Twitter

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

* Patrick’s Book: Into the Fire (available everywhere)

© 2018 Patrick Hester and John Anealio

This podcast contains original music by John Anealio.

In episode 367 of the Functional Nerds Podcast, Patrick Hester and John Anealio chat with NY Times Best Selling Author – Jim Butcher! His new book – BRIEF CASES – is a collection of short stories set in the Dresden Files Universe which includes a brand new story.

Our interview begins at the 15:32 mark if you want to skip ahead…

About BRIEF CASES: An all-new Dresden Files story headlines this urban fantasy short story collection starring the Windy City’s favorite wizard.

The world of Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, is rife with intrigue—and creatures of all supernatural stripes. And you’ll make their intimate acquaintance as Harry delves into the dark side of truth, justice, and the American way in this must-have short story collection.

From the Wild West to the bleachers at Wrigley Field, humans, zombies, incubi, and even fey royalty appear, ready to blur the line between friend and foe. In the never-before-published “Zoo Day,” Harry treads new ground as a dad, while fan-favorite characters Molly Carpenter, his onetime apprentice, White Council Warden Anastasia Luccio, and even Bigfoot stalk through the pages of more classic tales.

With twelve stories in all, Brief Cases offers both longtime fans and first-time readers tantalizing glimpses into Harry’s funny, gritty, and unforgettable realm, whetting their appetites for more to come from the wizard with a heart of gold.

About Jim Butcher: A martial arts enthusiast whose résumé includes a long list of skills rendered obsolete at least two hundred years ago, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher turned to writing as a career because anything else probably would have driven him insane. He lives mostly inside his own head so that he can write down the conversation of his imaginary friends, but his head can generally be found in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Jim is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera novels, and the Cinder Spires series, which began with The Aeronaut’s Windlass.

This week’s picks:

* John: Pyromattia – Matt Nathanson

* Patrick: Deadpool 2

Links:

* Jim Butcher on Twitter

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

* Patrick’s Book: Into the Fire (available everywhere)

© 2018 Patrick Hester and John Anealio

This podcast contains original music by John Anealio.

After a brief hiatus for Memorial Day, Patrick and John are back in episode 366 talking about many things – FIRST OFF – SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, and plan to, and have avoided spoilers, then YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP THIS EPISODE UNTIL AFTER YOU’VE SEEN THE MOVIE.

What else do we talk about in this episode? Well – so glad you asked! The list includes: Jim Butcher and the Dresden Files, Denver Comic Con, Audiobooks, Brandon Sanderson, Mur Lafferty and her Solo novelization (YAY MUR!!!), Grave Peril, the slow burn, Marvel’s 10 year anniversary, Avengers: Infinity War, the proposed Fox merger, time travel, Kevin Hearne, Luke Daniels and Oberon, among other things…

Links:

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

* Patrick’s Book: Into the Fire (available everywhere)

© 2018 Patrick Hester and John Anealio

This podcast contains original music by John Anealio.

In episode 365 of the Functional Nerds Podcast, Patrick Hester and John Anealio chat with KD Edwards, whose debut novel – THE LAST SUN – is due out from PYR on June 12th, 2018.

About THE LAST SUN: Rune Saint John, last child of the fallen Sun Court, is hired to search for Lady Judgment’s missing son, Addam, on New Atlantis, the island city where the Atlanteans moved after ordinary humans destroyed their original home.

With his companion and bodyguard, Brand, he questions Addam’s relatives and business contacts through the highest ranks of the nobles of New Atlantis. But as they investigate, they uncover more than a missing man: a legendary creature connected to the secret of the massacre of Rune’s Court. In looking for Addam, can Rune find the truth behind his family’s death and the torments of his past?

About KD Edwards: K.D. lives and writes in North Carolina, but has spent time in Massachusetts, Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire, Montana, and Washington. (Common theme until NC: Snow. So, so much snow.) Mercifully short careers in food service, interactive television, corporate banking, retail management, and bariatric furniture has led to a much less short career in Higher Education.

This week’s picks:

* KD: The Cuckoo’s Calling (A Cormoran Strike Novel) by Robert Galbraith (AKA J.K. Rowling)

* John: The Google News App

* Patrick: Solo: A Star Wars Story

* Bonus Pick: Solo: A Star Wars Story Hardcover – by Mur Lafferty

Links:

* KD Edwards on Twitter

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

* Patrick’s Book: Into the Fire (available everywhere)

© 2018 Patrick Hester and John Anealio

This podcast contains original music by John Anealio.

Episode 364 arrives just in time for Patrick and John to talk about shared calendars, Marvel movies, the library, Chuck (yes, Chuck), the Bands in Town App (see the shared calendar reference above), the Beyond the Trope Podcast, The Three Hoarsemen Podcast, the SF Crossing the Gulf Podcast, texting, distractions, the average attention span (they already stopped reading this), being single in the age of apps and texting, Captain America: Winter Soldier, John’s obsession with Jon Snow (before it was cool), and more…

Links:

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

* Patrick’s Book: Into the Fire (available everywhere)

© 2018 Patrick Hester and John Anealio

This podcast contains original music by John Anealio.

In episode 363 of the Functional Nerds Podcast, Patrick Hester and John Anealio chat with prolific author George Beahm about his new book – The Military Science of Star Wars.

About The Military Science of Star Wars: George Beahm, a former U.S. Army major, draws on his experience to discuss the military science of the sprawling Star Wars universe: its personnel, weapons, technology, tactics and strategy, including an analysis of its key battles to explain how the outmanned and outgunned rebels ultimately prevailed against overwhelming forces.

Contrasting the military doctrine of the real world with the fictional world of Star Wars, the author constructively criticizes the military strengths and weaknesses of Darth Vader’s Galactic Empire and Kylo Ren’s First Order…

From Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) to Rogue One (2016), this timely book demystifies the operational arts in an accessible and entertaining way for military personnel and civilians.

Replete with a glossary of military terms, this book is supplemented with an annotated bibliography.

About George Beahm: GEORGE BEAHM is a New York Times bestselling author. He has written more literary companions than any other writer, and has published more than thirty books on pop culture icons, such as Michael Jordan, J.K. Rowling, Philip Pullman, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Indiana Jones, Anne Rice, Patricia Cornwell, The Big Bang Theory T.V. show, Caribbean Pirates, censorship, and several books on Stephen King. A former U.S. Army officer, he served on active duty and in the National Guard and Army Reserve.

This week’s picks:

* George: Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

* John: Last.fm

* Patrick: Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection

Links:

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

* Patrick’s Book: Into the Fire (available everywhere)

© 2018 Patrick Hester and John Anealio

This podcast contains original music by John Anealio.

Episode 362 wherein Patrick and John are back to talk new houses and cars, playing music live, Sirius XM Radio, getting into ‘the zone’, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Netflix, Luke Cage Season 2, Jessica Jones Season 2, The Avengers, Wild, Wild Country, The Punisher, PG13 ratings on movies, Knights of the Old Republic (Dark Horse), Runaways (Marvel), Preacher (AMC), Into the Badlands (AMC), and Netflix’ new Lost in Space…

Links:

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functional Nerds Patreon Page

* Patrick’s Book: Into the Fire (available everywhere)

© 2018 Patrick Hester and John Anealio

This podcast contains original music by John Anealio.

In episode 361 of the Functional Nerds Podcast, Patrick Hester and John Anealio welcome back Ilana C. Myer, author of the new book FIRE DANCE.

About FIRE DANCE: Espionage, diplomacy, conspiracy, passion, and power are the sensuously choreographed steps of the soaring new high fantasy novel by Ilana C. Myer, one woman’s epic mission to stop a magical conflagration.

Lin, newly initiated in the art of otherwordly enchantments, is sent to aid her homeland’s allies against vicious attacks from the Fire Dancers: mysterious practitioners of strange and deadly magic. Forced to step into a dangerous waltz of tradition, treachery, and palace secrets, Lin must also race the ticking clock of her own rapidly dwindling life to learn the truth of the Fire Dancers’ war, and how she might prevent death on a scale too terrifying to contemplate.

Myer’s novel is a symphony of secret towers, desert winds, burning sands, blood and dust. Her prose soars, and fluid movements of the politically charged plot carry the reader toward a shocking crescendo.

About Ilana C. Myer: Ilana C. Myer has written for the Globe and Mail, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Salon, and the Huffington Post. Previously she was a freelance journalist in Jerusalem for the Jerusalem Post, The Forward, Time Out Israel and other publications. She lives in New York City.

Ilana was born in New York but grew up in Jerusalem, Israel, where she spent her teen years haunting secondhand bookstores in search of books written in English—especially fantasy. It was in one of these shops that she discovered David Eddings and realized that epic fantasy continued after Tolkien, and from there went on to make such marvelous discoveries as Tad Williams, Robin Hobb, and Guy Gavriel Kay.

Since learning to read, Ilana had decided she would write books, but during college in New York City was confronted with the reality of making rent, and worked as a receptionist, administrative assistant, and executive assistant where she on occasion picked up dry cleaning. She afterwards found more fulfillment as a journalist in Jerusalem where she covered social issues, the arts, and innovations in technology, and co-founded the Middle East environment blog, Green Prophet. It was during these years in Jerusalem, on stolen time, that Last Song Before Night took shape.

She writes as Ilana Teitelbaum for various outlets, but decided early on—since the days of haunting bookstores, in fact—that “Teitelbaum” was too long for a book cover. “Myer” is a variation on the maiden name of her grandmother, whose family was exterminated in Germany. It is a family with a long history of writers, so it seems appropriate to give credit—or blame—where it’s due.

This week’s picks:

* Ilana: The Midnight Front by David Mack

* John: OathBringer by Brandon Sanderson

* Patrick: Avengers: Infinity War

Links:

* Ilana on Twitter

* John Anealio on Twitter

* Patrick Hester on Twitter

* The Functiona...