Bookwarm Games

Completing the main story and concluding, for now, our discussion of the splendid offshoot of the mainline Final Fantasy series. We'll likely turn to Xenogears before too long. Thanks again for listening!

Wandering the back patios and forgotten books with the Chilean exile professor of philosophy, while his wife searches for a lunatic poet rather than a painter or novelist. Recorded this one some weeks ago, apologies for the lateness, but as always you can also find the video hosted on Alex's youtube channel, which tends to be more timely: https://www.youtube.com/@alexandereliotschmid Thanks fo...

Moving into the territory of the legends: Cid, Beowulf, Reis, and Cloud... Recorded this one some weeks ago, apologies for the lateness, but as always you can also find the video hosted on Alex's youtube channel, which tends to be more timely: https://www.youtube.com/@alexandereliotschmid Thanks for listening!

We conclude our discussion of the epic romance and turn next time to Roberto Bolano, 2666. Thanks for listening.

One more meeting should mete out the complete tale of the mighty knight, now restored to his wits and delivering Christendom from its invaders, though some questions remain. Thanks for listening.

The Ivalice Chronicles' secret gospels and peak difficulty spikes, from the loss of Alma to Riovanes Castle and on to the battle with Meliadoul, plus a side quest to meet up with Beowulf, Reis, and Construct 8. Thanks for listening.

Back at last discussing Pullman, La Belle Sauvage ch 16-17, The Pharmacy and Pilgrims' Tower. Recommended reading: https://www.osneybenefice.org.uk/home-1/binsey Gen 1-2 Conversation with Gabriel Schenk on Pullman's Oxford - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/wesley-schantz/episodes/Gamecool-46-Conversation-with-Gabriel-Schenk-on-Pullmans-Oxfords-e55691/a-alulbo Thanks for listening!

We go to Mexico, meet Amalfitano and talk about fate, but maybe not the same Fate as in the Part about Fate. Will we ever hear more about the critics? I think we're good either way. Thanks for listening.

I urge you all to read Philip Pullman and the Historical Imagination: Seventeenth-Century Literature, Science, and Religion in His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust by Kristen Poole, available from Oxford University Press, where else? https://global.oup.com/academic/product/philip-pullman-and-the-historical-imagination-9780192889317 My review, with copious quotations - https://newschoolnotes.blo...

Back from the moon, we see the flying horseman raise an army. The tension builds as someone might actually fight nobly to save/conquer Paris. Thanks for listening.

Wondering with Orlandeau, Orren, Zalmour, and Wiegraf wherein true power consists. Thanks for listening.

Following on our discussion of the new Odyssey film, we revisit the classic sci-fi reimagining of the story. Thanks for listening.

"Rediscovering 8-Bit on the Japanese Famicom," per the subtitle, in this interview with the author of Beyond the NES, Joe Bourrie aka Syncoplay. We discuss what inspired him to dig into the Famicom library (King Kong 2), what he learned (Chrono Trigger wasn't the first "dream team" project), and where to start (check out Cocoron and Summer Carnival '92: Recca). While th...

To the moon in search of Orlando's wits. Thanks for listening!

We talk about first impressions of Bolano's 2666. Long story short: so far, so good! Thanks for listening.

Discussing the difficulties and delights of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles through the end of chapter 2: The Manipulated and the Subservient. Thanks for listening!

We're joined by our friend in Finland, Otto Lehto, who is actually up after midnight to talk The Odyssey with us. The discourse, the spectacle, the poem and the film briefly considered. Thanks for listening. Next time, Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

More fights, more deaths, and more frenzy as we approach the tail end of the romantic epic of European male insecurity. Thanks for listening. The essay on Harington referenced: https://journals.openedition.org/palimpsestes/2925 ; see also Machiavelli's letters

Squabbling over horses and swords. Watching the Beast on Merlin's big screen. The usual. But also, Zerbino dies?! Thanks for listening.

They get got by the Plan, a mixture of Sefirot and Great Beauty. See also: Call Me By Your Name, feat. the music of Sufjan Stevens. We may be reading 2666 next! Thanks for listening.

Approaching the end of the mystery, Pow and the others concoct the Plan. Thanks for listening.

The frenzy descends upon Orlando, bringing us to the close of Reynolds' first volume. Thanks for listening.

Building up to the Plan. Thanks for listening.

Continuing to ruminate on the rollicking Renaissance epic. Thanks for listening.

Discussing His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust, from the bench in the Botanic Garden to the Moon Festival at the end of The Rose Field, with the human and daemon behind His Dork Materials. Includes the origin story of that account, theories as to the shift in style between the former and latter volumes, and reflections on reflections--as well as perspectives on a possible way out of the hall o...