All Episodes

This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the the forging of the Silmarils, domestic discord in the House of Finwë, and the secret origins of Tolkien’s most terrifying creation.

This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the logistics of crossing the Great Sea, our introduction to Fëanor and the family of Finwë, and the subtlety of Melkor.

In this bonus episode, we discuss the location of the Far Heaven, the nature of the Ainur, the absence of dwarves and a vision of medieval utopia.

This week, we continue our discussion of The Silmarillion with the secret origins of dwarves and ents, the battle against Melkor and the Sundering of the Elves across Middle-Earth.

This week, we continue our unit on The Silmarillion and discuss the Days Before Days, time and space (and calendars and maps), and the paradox of free will.

In this special bonus episode, test your knowledge of the Valar and the Maiar, the relationships between them, and a few other things besides!

This week, we continue our unit on The Silmarillion and discuss the Valaquenta, spheres of authority, intertexting already and The Diagram.

This week, we continue our unit on The Silmarillion and discuss the Ainulindalë, aesthetics and philosophy, the subcreative process and the Secret Origins of Melkor.

This week, we begin our unit on J.R.R. Tolkien’s posthumous work of mythology and history, and discuss reading strategies, layers of narrative and the creative impulse.

This week, we overcome treachery to win the war in chapters ten to fifteen of C.S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian and discuss the Narnian timeline, fear as an alienating force, and the worst of Susan.

This week, we assemble our forces and call for help in chapters five to ten of C.S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian and discuss the medieval perspective on past and future, the oracular power of centaurs, and the difference between beasts.

This week, we return to Narnia with the first five chapters of C.S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian and discuss politics and persecution, fairytale and fantasy, and Edmund’s 2024 slang.

This week, we conclude our horror unit and our discussion of Bram Stoker’s Dracula with logical fallacies and the limits of rationality, Dracula as a feminist text and Bram Stoker’s Best Joke.

This week, we continue our unit on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula and discuss the overlooked Van Helsing, the second death of Lucy Westenra, and the compilation of the novel by the characters in the novel.

This week, we continue our unit on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula and discuss Dracula’s character sheet, how much wolves are better than dogs, and the fate of Lucy Westenra.

This week, we continue our unit on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula and discuss the wreck of the Demeter, the limits of Dracula’s power, and the insidious assault on Lucy Westenra.

This week, we overcome ill fortune to continue our unit on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. How do we listen to intuition in an age of rationality? Does the supporting cast describe the boundaries of (acceptable) Victorian society? Is work the universal cure?

This week, we continue our unit on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. What are we to make of a man who lays his own table? How does the Count turn the tools of the Victorian world against English society? Does the queer reading of Dracula falter on the threshold of the gender binary?

This week, we finally resume our seasonal horror unit with the beginning of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. How are we to understand Stoker’s introduction to the novel? Is Harker too stupid to live? What’s worse: dragons or devils?

This week, we begin our super-spooky horror unit with an all-time classic: Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. Is it possible for a book as well-known and influential as this one to be under-appreciated? How did Dracula enter the public domain? Do we prefer Transylvania or Ultrasylvania?

This week, we conclude our discussion of Ultimate Spider-Man, and discuss the second volume, Learning Curve.

This week, we begin our discussion of Ultimate Spider-Man, and discuss the first volume, Power And Responsibility.

This week, we conclude out discussion of Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti: The Complete Trilogy, and discuss the short story Sacred Fire. Why is it important to read according to the chronology of production? What’s the deal with the Saturnian aliens? What, in the end, is harmony?

This week, we continue Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti: The Complete Trilogy, and discuss the third novella, The Night Masquerade. What is the dividing line between science fiction and fantasy? Is identity reducible? Is Mwinyi an Edward or a Jacob?

This week, we continue Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti: The Complete Trilogy, and discuss the second novella. What is philosophical dualism? Is Binti a Frodo or a Sam? How are universities exactly like Survivor?

This week, we begin Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti: The Complete Trilogy, and discuss the first novella. What is africanfuturism? How do books teach you to read them? Sure, drugs are cool, but have you ever gotten high on math?

This week, we discuss the end of Great Expectations, and what it means to be good!

This week, we discuss chapters thirty-six to fifty of Great Expectations with twists! So many twists!

This week, we continue our discussion of Great Expectations by looking at different kinds of life in London, the death of Pip’s sister, and the ease of making choices when you have no choice at all.

In this excerpt from the recent live Patreon Q&A, I discuss my thoughts on the upcoming movie The Hunt For Gollum!

This week, we begin our discussion of Great Expectations by discussing the gothic, coming of age, and the traumas of childhood.

This week, we begin our discussion of Great Expectations by discussing the gothic, coming of age, and the traumas of childhood.

This week, a brief introduction to Dickens, the Victorian Era, what makes Great Expectations the perfect book for this series, and Dickens’ most notorious peer.

This week, we conclude Katharine Kerr’s first Deverry novel, Daggerspell!

In the second part of our adventure through Katharine Kerr’s Daggerspell, we read to the middle of Chapter Five!

In our first real episode studying Katharine Kerr’s Daggerspell, we cover the first two chapters!

In this brief bonus episode, we set the stage for Katherine Kerr’s 1986 Celtic fantasy Daggerspell.

In this episode, we discuss Parts SIx and Seven of V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!

In this episode, we discuss Parts Four and Five of V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!

In this episode, we discuss Part Three of V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!

In this episode, we discuss Part Two of V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!

In this episode, we discuss Part One of V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!

In this episode, we discuss the last three chapters of Terry Miles’ Rabbits.

In this episode, we discuss chapters thirty to forty-one of Terry Miles’ Rabbits.

In this episode, we discuss chapters seventeen to twenty-nine of Terry Miles’ Rabbits.

In this episode, we discuss chapters four to sixteen of Terry Miles’ Rabbits.

In this episode, we discuss chapters one to three of Terry Miles’ Rabbits.

In this episode, we discuss C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, chapters fifteen to seventeen.

In this episode, we discuss C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, chapters eleven to fourteen.

In this episode, we discuss C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, chapters six to ten.

In this episode, we discuss C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, chapters one to five.

Welcome to Stars & Swords: Footnoting Genre Fiction. In this brief introduction, I’ll explain a little about what I’m going to do with this podcast.