It's short, but it's important (to us!)

Ahead of our next month of Tolkien deep-dive, we need another week to read and study. However, we did want to use this time to announce that Jacob is now querying for his novel, "They Called Her Rebel."

"They Called Her Rebel" is a story about people power, fantastical revolution, and queer love. If you're interested in reading it and providing some feedback, or better yet, have any kinds of connections to agents or the publishing industry, please let us know at: [email protected]

Alternate episode title: "Who Killed Captain Aleph?"

The Shelfers get Zen as we dive into Ruth Ozeki's 2021 work of magical realism, "The Book of Form and Emptiness."

This book has got it all: psych wards, nonbinary ferrets, anarchist goth GFs, Zizek in a wheelchair, disaster capitalism, Marie Kondo, ghostly fridge magnets...none of this is a joke by the way.

Also, Jacob yelled at the President last weekend, so that's pretty cool. Video of that here.

It's time to talk about DUNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Educator and sci-fi lover Trent returns to the show to discuss Frank Herbert's 1965 epic tale of spice, sand, and worms. The movies get talked about a good bit too (we loved them.)

Can Paul Atreides see the dialectic itself? Why is Frank Herbert so scared of women? What is "good" power and what is "bad" power, and why is Dune so afraid of it as a concept?

Oh yeah, and there's worms. Lots of worms

Can't get enough of Trent? Well he doesn't have his own show, but he did previously feature on our Vonnegut episode, and you can follow Trent @BarryLyndon116 on Twitter.

Right at the top: y'all need to get this book. You can find it here.

Journalist and author Vincent Bevins joins the Shelfers to discuss his new book, "If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution."

Topics of discussion: the need for organization during mass movements, Hunger Games GIFS, and V for Vendetta.

Special thanks to THE Count Dracula for stopping by!

This week we get into Leo Frankowski's 1986 sci-fi—let's not say "epic," exactly—"The Cross-Time Engineer," the story of the coolest, buffest, smartest, sexiest engineer that's ever lived (and TOTALLY isn't a self-insert power fantasy character of the author!!)

What's the deal with creepy libertarian men, just like in general? How are we supposed to feel about a masterful concept with wretched execution? How do you, in extreme detail, forge a steel sword?

Heads-up, Frankowski was a real creep and his writing reflects that in his attitude towards women, especially underaged girls. While we don't harp on the details much, we do discuss his disgusting, pedophilic fantasies that play out in this book, so be forewarned.

This episode was delayed multiple times due to what is no doubt the curse of the ghost of Poe himself!

This week we're discussing the life of famed American spook-smith, Edgar Allan Poe, with a particular focus on his short stories, "The Masque of The Red Death" and "Hop-Frog"

Was Poe a tortured genius, or just some guy trying to get by? How do class politics bleed into the art of apolitical writers? Will Lenore ever be safe from bird attacks? All this and more!

We're back with a Socialist Shelf author interview! This week we're talking to labor lawyer, long-time activist, and author of the book, "Fighting Times," Jonathan Melrod!

Want to learn how to change the world through working-class organization? Jon is the man you need to hear from! He's an absolute fountain of wisdom. Don't miss this interview...or his book!

Visit https://www.jonathanmelrod.com/ to learn more about Jon, purchase "Fighting Times," and get access to all sorts of resources on working-class history.

This is a fun one.

Fantasy expert and professional hater Aysha U. Farah is back on the show to discuss C.S. Lewis' 1950 children's novel, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," though we really get into all of Narnia and spend a lot of time on its deeply fascinating author.

Who was this odd, sometimes-brilliant, sometimes-foolish, always-insane author? What made Narnia so wildly successful? Do we feel bad for Edmund? Was the Pevensie Monarchy a historically progressive force?

We're covering Tony Kushner's 2009 (and 2010, and 2011, and many-times-since-edited) play, "The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures," which incidentally could also be the name of this podcast.

Joining us is beloved theater-enjoyer, A.J. Ditty from The Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast!

Together we dive into the mind of one of the great American playwrights, figure out how to kill yourself Marxistly, and catch up on Italian-American lore.

You can find A.J.'s work at https://www.worstpossible.world/ and follow him on Twitter @TheFuzzyMask.

Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) Episode art is a picture of the good Kush(ner)

It's 2024...new year, new books, a new name...the same, classic socialist spirit.

We're talking about Francis Spufford's 2010 historical fiction...novel? Short story collection? Something like that... "Red Plenty."

Come for the history of the first worker state, stay for the discourse on whether or not smoking is sexy.

We both continue to remain dedicated to our organizing with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Any funds you can contribute would be helpful! The link to donate is here: https://www.liberationatl.org/donate

Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) Episode art is the book cover.