Thumbing Through Yesterday

Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis is Tony’s pick this time around, and definitely not Tom’s usual fare. This insider look at the world of 1980s Wall Street is fast-paced, brash, and unapologetically chaotic. Lewis takes us deep into the bond trading boom, where arrogance and ambition collide in a game that’s part strategy, part swagger. Did Tom survive the ride? Tune in and see.
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Moby Dick by Herman Melville is Tom’s pick for this episode, and let’s just say… the whale wasn’t the only one dragging. Tony hadn’t read it since his English Lit days and didn’t make it to the end this time, while Tom powered through on deadline. The result? Probably not our most polished review, but a fun and honest one nonetheless. Join us as we harpoon what we can from this literary leviathan.
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A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge is Tony’s pick this time; a long-time favorite of his and a first read for Tom. And wow… mind blown. From galaxy-spanning civilizations to pack-mind aliens and zones of thought, this book throws big ideas at you from page one and never lets up. Join us as we explore one of the most ambitious space operas ever written.
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Dream Park by Larry Niven & Steven Barnes is Tom’s pick this time around, a favorite from his high school days. What brought it back to mind? A parody of the Beatles’ Norwegian Wood, of all things. (Yes, he still sings it.) This early blend of LARPing, sci-fi, and mystery takes us into a futuristic amusement park where the games are immersive, the stakes are high, and the lines between play and reality blur fast. Does it hold up? Join us and find out!
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The Magicians by Lev Grossman is Tony's pick this time, the first of a trilogy about some of the worst people you'll ever encounter. Brilliant, bitter, and brimming with magic, this book asks what happens when power isn’t given to heroes… but to real, damaged, deeply flawed humans. A tough read for Tom, this one made both hosts ask: What happens when you strip fantasy of its wonder and fill it with people you wouldn’t want to share an elevator with?
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Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton is Tom's pick. Is it really "the least Crichtony Crichton novel?" Maybe. But both Tom and Tony love this, Crichton's response to a dare to make the epic poem Beowulf entertaining. Does he succeed? Not, perhaps, in the way you might expect.
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling is Tony's pick this time around. The third book in the series, this one shows a depth and complexity that was missing from the first two. Plus, we begin to dance with some actual darkness. A first read for Tom, Azkaban starts to explore some of the potential the earlier books ignored.
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On The Beach by Nevil Shute is an early,chilling tale of nuclear warning. After just 30 days of missles and bombs, the entire northern hemisphere is irradiated and lifeless. Radioactive dust drifts slowly south... and the rest of the world waits to die. A first read for Tony, this hauntingly beautiful and depressing book is a favorite of Tom's.
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The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers is a mind-bending blend of historical fiction and fantasy, where 20th-century scholar Brendan Doyle is unexpectedly transported back to 19th-century London. Amid a world of magic, time travel, and intrigue, Doyle must navigate a city brimming with strange powers and dangerous figures, all while trying to survive and find a way back to his own time. A favorite of Tony, Tom loved his first trip through this convoluted story.

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The Good Shepherd by CS Forester is a thrilling, tension-packed story set during WWII. Commander George Krause heads a 4-ship defense force escorting a convoy of 37 unarmed merchant ships across the Atlantic. They run afoul of a German submarine wolf pack, and are harried for days as Krause struggles to save both ships and lives for the Allies. A first-read for Tony, Tom loves this action-pack adventure.

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