Hi there! I'm delighted that you're joining us today.

In this inaugural episode of the podcast, I explain how This Book Made Me sets out to discover the books that have changed people's lives--how they work, and why they matter. I'm joined by Drew Urbanek, a librarian/potter/game master from Auburn, New York, to talk about the impact that the 1982 fantasy classic The Elfstones of Shannara has had on him.

Along the way, we discuss:

• the habits and tendencies of the fantasy genre
• race, ethics, and magic libraries
• how to wrestle with books that don't age well
• the evolution of nerd culture

I hope you'll follow the show so that the next episode drops right into your feed.

You can contact me with feedback and suggestions at [email protected], and follow our Instagram page for updates, shelfies, and additional content.

Many thanks for the music by Twisterium from Pixabay