The Wordy Pair Podcast

Laryngitis is a hell of a drug, or something!

We're back and this week we're talking about the book by Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart, and Jack Cohen: "The Science of Discworld!"

It combines Pratchett's knack for worldbuilding (literally) and humor with layman-friendly scientific explanations by Stewart and Cohen!

Get a copy here:

https://a.co/d/6glCvRx

By Claude Shannon's ghost, we're going to have a good time!

#podcast #pratchett #discworld #humor

Check out our other fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠⁠

This week we're looking at another classic of the gothic horror era: Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux.

This one is a far cry from Stoker's Dracula, and hints at some of the stereotypical excesses of French literature, especially from this era.

Stick with us as we try to figure out the details of this classic novel!

Check out our fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week we're reviewing Stephen Baxter's "Massacre of Mankind."

It's an official sequel to H.G. Wells's "War of the Worlds," but it was written around 2017!

That means a lot of really obsolete ideas and concepts had to be revived to keep things consistent, and Baxter does a good job of maintaining a voice consistent with Wells's worldbuilding!

The book has some flaws, but is overall a fun piece of "faux-period" science fiction!

Check out our fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠⁠⁠⁠

This series was not what we thought. Justin and I first heard the name "Lensman" because there was an anime movie--and then Justin found one of E.E. "Doc" Smith's books at a used bookseller!

So, while my initial mental image was one of colorful costume-wearing superheroes (thanks anime), the actual books are very different--more like a futuristic version of The Untouchables: action-packed stories of incorruptible officers of galactic law fighting pirates and drugrunners!

However, there's also a bigger story behind that simple facade that has the users of the Lens building themselves up into the sole fighting force with the mental power to take on the Eddorians!

Relax with us as we talk about our thoughts and impressions on this classic sci-fi series!

Check out our fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠

Today we're on a bit of a technical digression... Most writing is done on computers these days (obviously), so what do you need to make yourself comfortable and productive there?

We talk a bit about different operating systems! Justin is trying a bunch of different environments. Rudy, on the other hand, has a fairly straightforward setup that seems to be working for him.

The question is: What kind of writing environment will work best for you? Well, you'll hear some possible solutions and maybe something will give you an idea that will make you more productive!

#writing #podcast #writingtools

Check out our fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠⁠⁠

On the surface, Rayman is just another 2D platformer from the 1990s.

However, in this episode, we dig into the subtle and detailed worldbuilding that creates a lush and varied setting for the game!

The lesson here is that those little details make a difference. Telling a story with a complex plot and layered characters might still fall flat if it feels like that action is happening in a void.

Plus, we talk about some additional storytelling elements in games, including Kirby's Adventure, the Mega Man series, Half-Life, Wing Commander, and Descent: Freespace!

Check out our fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠⁠

In this week's episode, we take a look at judging your own writing and trying to decide when you've polished enough.

Aside from the jokes, we cover a few tests you can do to help determine whether something you're writing is not there yet, getting close, or ready for the big Publish button.

Stay tuned to the end for a special reveal of Justin's true identity.

Check out our fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠⁠

Today we're talking about the sequel to Beetlejuice, which, while retaining the name of the original, and some of the characters, did next to nothing to maintain the fun atmosphere of the original!

It's another hilarious Half-Blind Review! (Because Rudy sure as hell hasn't seen the movie--neither of them.)

Check out our fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠⁠

Justin and I talk about the lackluster book "The Object: Hard Science Fiction."

His incredulity as I describe some of the bizarre creative choices leads to a terrifying thought that I had not considered: Was the book written by AI?

Probably not, but as we analyze some of the book's issues, it would explain a lot...

Check out our fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this week's episode, we're looking at a variety of adaptations, talking about their good points and bad points, and it's not just as simple as being accurate!

After all, any creator might want to change up a few things in an adaptation for a perfectly good reason: to provide a surprise or two for the dedicated fans of the original material.

But, as with anything else, there are tradeoffs for this position _and_ it can lead to a spiral of inconsistency and mistakes!

Also mentioned in this episode:

Our old discussion on Batman v. Superman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko8-ydecoPQ

Rudy's review of _First Lensman_

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx7dsVMRhMg

_Bloodcircle_ by P. N. Elrod

https://a.co/d/hepnDL7

Check out our fiction at:

(Justin)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://muppy.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

(Rudy)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rnkfiction.blogspot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And follow us on Twitter at:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NinjaMouseChu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

and

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/Rudolph_Kohn⁠⁠⁠