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Paul Dalla Rosa returns to talk about Gary Indiana's fabulous pastiche of the Menendez Brothers trial, Resentment. We chat about vicious gay wit, the media circus around the trial, comparing the mediatised social life of television and the internet, Indiana's distinctive style, and much more.

Go to the Patreon for a continuation of this discussion on Back Matter, where we talk about Ryan Murphy's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: https://www.patreon.com/c/GettingLit

Buy Paul's book here:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Exciting-Vivid-Inner-Life/dp/1800810121

Music: 

We're Living in Violent Times, The Barracudas

Who Shot Ya? The Notorious B.I.G.

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On this week's episode, we dive into Ryu Murakami's Popular Hits of the Showa Era, where a group of disaffected men find themselves in an absurdly violent war with a rival society of older women (Oba-sans) after a deadly encounter. We talk about the book's mix of ultra-violence, satirical humor, escalating absurdity, and much more!

This a teaser. For the full episode, and access to our complete archive and bonus content, subscribe at patreon.com/gettinglit

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In this week's episode, the legendary Bruce Wagner joins us to discuss his new novel Amputation, inspired by the 2025 Los Angeles fires. The conversation moves from the book’s genesis in anger at bureaucratic incompetence to Wagner’s reflections on art, rage, and the sacred. We discuss how indignation can be transformed into creative energy without devolving into polemic, his long-standing use of real public figures in fiction, and his resistance to censorship and “cultural bureaucrats.” The discussion broadens into questions of artistic integrity, nihilism, and compassion; the corrosion of civic responsibility; and how modern fame, selfhood, and delusion intertwine. We also meditate on impermanence, artificial intelligence, and the dissolution of self in art, positioning AI as both a creative threat and a spiritual mirror. And much more. Join us for one of our favorite episodes ever!

Buy Amputation here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648211615?&tag=skyhorsepub-20

Music:

Because We Built It, John Maus

He Stopped Loving Her Today, George Jones

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Australian-American writer Lucas Smith joins us to discuss his collection of wonderful short fiction, Spare Us Yet. We discuss the elements of faith in his fiction, the pandemic, lockdowns, literary culture in Australia, as well as his experience running an independent publishing company, Bonfire Books.

This is a special crossover event with Sini's New Mythologies Substack, which you should check out: https://newmythologies.substack.com/

If you'd like full episodes of the Getting Lit Podcast, and access to the full archive and aftershows, go to https://www.patreon.com/c/GettingLit

Buy Spare Us Yet: https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p159/Spare_Us_Yet_and_Other_Stories%2C_by_Lucas_Smith.html

Follow Lucas on Substack: https://lucassmith.substack.com/

Follow Bonfire Books on X: https://x.com/BooksBonfire

Music: Celtic Ballad, The Saints

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*this is a PREVIEW. To listen to the full episode, go to patreon.com/GettingLit

This episode, Fresta and Sini riff on Fresta's Sydney trip, thrift shop book finds, Bret Easton Ellis, the fantastic Australian crime show Mr Inbetween, ABC Radio National's Top 100 books of the 21st Century, and much more. To find out why this episode has this title, you will have to wait until the end.

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This week, we're looking at Gustav Meyrink's The Golem, a strange novel of occultism, Kabbalah and psychological terror in early 20th century Prague's Jewish ghetto. Joining us on this journey is none other than Brad Kelly, host of the wonderful Method and Madness podcast.

Follow Brad on X: https://x.com/bradkelly?lang=en

Method and Madness pod: https://open.spotify.com/show/4AQR8tram18P2PBYdhKiQN

Music: Danse Macabre, Op. 40, R. 171, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

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This week, a big episode discussing a slim novel. We're joined by a couple of our favourite Southerners (Kalob Petty and Banjer Jack) and our favourite Montanan (Ryan Simón) to chat about Carson McCullers' classic Southern Gothic novel about repressed eros and dark desires, Reflections in a Golden Eye. 

We talk about the Southern Gothic tradition, why Southerners are so chill, why Carson McCullers was likely a f@g hag, horse girls, music, and much more.

This episode quickly turns into a rollicking bull session, full of hilarious tales, forbidden confessions, and...banjo. Lots of banjo.

Music:

Southern Blood, Kalob Petty

Sammie Where You Been So Long, Banjer Jack

Links to Kalob's music: https://linktr.ee/kalobdpetty

Ryan's American Vulgaria: https://americanvulgaria.com/

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Jasper Ceylon, author of the hoax poetry journal Echolalia Review, has been unmasked as Aaron Barry. Aaron joins us to talk about what's been happening in his life since he revealed himself in The Free Press, his new novel "£, flesh", the internet novel, writing under pseudonyms and much more.

Listen to Jasper/Aaron's previous episode with us here:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/poetic-license-feat-jasper-ceylon/id1571854866?i=1000708925885

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1P4B3h4tBfuHPq5UGrWIXi

Order Aaron's novel here: https://mcbussypublishing.org/product/flesh-by-aaron-barry-ebook/

Read more about Jasper/Aaron's hoax here: https://www.thefp.com/p/white-man-who-pretended-to-be-black-poet

Outro: The Pest, John Cooper Clarke

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Jack Norman is the author of the new short story collection Sleep Capricorn, coming in October from Bonfire Books. Like Fresta and Sini, he also grew up in North Queensland. This episode features three northerners yarning about Jack's fiction, as well as fatherhood, Australian fiction in general, The Honourable Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, craft discussions on narration, and writing literary fiction as a gamer/Tolkien fan.

Pre-order Jack incredible collection from Bonfire Books here: https://bonfirebooks.org/product/sleep-capricorn-by-jack-norman-pre-order/

Follow Jack on X: https://x.com/Thingol2006

Music: The N.W.R.A (Live), The Fall

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We talk about The Independent article about men "performatively reading", as well as Fresta's realisation that he is "Unc" now after a night out.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/performative-male-trends-books-matcha-pilates-attention-b2811124.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1756101761

Music:

To Die Among Strangers - Rome

Can't Fight The Moonlight - LeAnn Rimes

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