The Incomparable Superfeed

A special Book Club panel provides an overview of Lois McMaster Bujold’s excellent Penric & Desdemona series of fantasy novellas (plus one novel). This series gives its characters time to learn, grow, and age. It’s got some perspectives you don’t see very often in fantasy fiction. We love it and think you will, too.

Penric & Desdemona

Host Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Erika Ensign, Kat Benesh, and Dan Moren.

After a brief prelude in a Soviet gulag just to remind us how scary Irinia is (she’s not locked in here with, you, comrade, you’re locked in here with her!), the story moves back to Mars. The reveal of the secret plan to create Automation has led to civil unrest. Miles, Alex, and Lilly are feeling the pressure. Aleida feels betrayed by Dev… again. We are a bit puzzled by what Dev’s plan is. But it looks like, at long last, the people of Mars really are ready to rise up. But… then what?

Hosts Dan Moren and Jason Snell.

Matt Saracen has a grandma. And a job. Oh, and he’s now officially QB1, after Jason Street learns he will never walk again. Lyla can’t stop visiting Jason, but Tim won’t even start. And Coach Taylor has a lot of pressure. But with the clear eyes of Lex and Brian guiding you through, dear listener, you can’t lose.

Hosts Lex Friedman and Brian Warren.

The Keys are sent on another mission - this time for a heist in the Big City! The planning is … chaotic.

Keys from the Golden Vault - Vidorant's Vault, Part 1

Host Tony Sindelar with Annette Wierstra, Chip Sudderth, Kathy Campbell, and Monty Ashley.

Edited by Erika Ensign.

On this episode of Daredevil we interleave flashbacks with the ongoing story to learn a little more about our characters and what is motivating them to make the choices they’re making. Is Daredevil a better Arrow than Arrow?

Hosts Dan Moren, John Moltz, and Guy English.

Live from Estes Park, Colorado, listener Kyle has eaten at a pizza place where his food was delivered via a robot! But… is it a robot, or not? After a swift verdict, John and Jason then spend far more time digging deep on Antonio’s Pizza and what sort of pizza it provides to the people of Colorado.

Hosts John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

We complete our run through blades with “Blade Runner 2049,” a late sequel in which Ryan Gosling plays a replicant detective searching for an explosive secret that could change everything… and is unsurprisingly tied to characters from “Blade Runner.” We discuss why a replicant might need a holographic girlfriend, Jared Leto’s eyes, and once again, if Deckard is a replicant or not and why that really doesn’t matter.

"Blade Runner 2049"

Host Jason Snell with John Siracusa, Erika Ensign, Dan Moren, and Monty Ashley.

It’s time for a new generation to take charge. Back on Earth, we meet a surprising new character with a deep “For All Mankind” lineage. On Mars, Dev gives Alex a pep talk that goes rapidly awry. Aleida deals with a serious Mars hangover. And when he discovers a nefarious plan that might change Mars forever, Alex puts his vending machine hacking skills to use.

Hosts Dan Moren and Jason Snell.

Fritz Lang directed a pair of noirs in the mid-40s, starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea. The other is Woman in the Window. In Scarlet Street Eddie G. Is a mild-mannered cashier who meets Kitty, a beauty who might not mean him well. And then Dan Duryea gets involved. Like any self-respecting noir classic, this one is nice to look at, and even features twelve paintings created for the film. In real-life, Eddie collected art and Dan Duryea was a nice man.

Scarlet Street

Host Shelly Brisbin with Philip Michaels, Dr. Drang, Nathan Alderman, and Micheline Maynard.

Get in touch with the show at [email protected], Mastodon or Bluesky.

Check out our new LTS BookShop.org page.

The Movie: review/commentary on a single classic film

The Self-Referential LTS

Next time, we’ll watch

It’s space cops, Sith Lords, and shockball this week as your Star Wars pals Dan, Kat, and Tony discuss the latest pair of Maul - Shadow Lord episodes. Plus, moral quandaries, a call for listener mail, and more than you wanted to know about copyright law.

Maul – Shadow Lord, Season 1, Episodes 3-4

Hosts Dan Moren, Tony Sindelar, and Kat Benesh.