Brooks's Books

It's a Cat-tastrophe on Brooks's Books as we explore the back half of Tanequil. All of Terry's Star Wars experience is paying off in this reading in a big way, and it's giving us the coolest chapter Terry has ever written. We also dig into trolls being cool, our villains still kinda sucking, and the payout for our "women in refrigerators" discussion from last episode. Got...

It's time to continue our journey to the magic tree of the Four Lands! No, not that magic tree. Along the way we'll meet some old friends and maybe get annoyed by some newer villains. Join us as we talk about a new strong entry for the Coolest Man Who Ever Lived, Terry's deepening Star Wars infection, and, unfortunately, women in refrigerators. If you'd like your questions answered...

This week we're going waaaaay back to visit some old friends from Wishsong as Terry does his second foray into short fiction with Indomitable. Did you know that an Ildatch page survived the end of Wishsong? Neither did I! Jair Ohmsford's going to have to do something about it, but not before he spends a lot of time thinking about The Coolest Man Who Ever Lived. Got any questions you'd...

Welcome to the Swampcast, where we talk about all your favorite swamps. Have you heard about mist? Perhaps mud? Vines? We got 'em all, and so does the back half of Jarka Ruus. Join us as we talk about more airship nonsense, catastrophically bad druidic hiring practices, and whether or not Ahren Elessedil could ever actually be cool. If you'd like us to answer your questions on the show, em...

It's a jumbo sized episode as we start our next set of Shannara books: The High Druid of Shannara! We've got a lot to say about poor druid recruitment practices, new Ohmsford vibes, the return of a beloved character, and the return of a not so beloved character. Next time we're reading chapters 15-30 of Jarka Ruus. Want us to answer your questions on the show? Email us at brooksbooksshow@gmail.com...

Season 7 of Brooks's Books is here, and we're starting with something very different: Terry's first nonfiction book, combining stories from his life with writing advice. It's really short, but as you might guess, our discussion is not! We find a ton of stuff to dig into here, including Terry's rules of writing, all kinds of things about Lester Del Rey, and the dirt on what happened with Hook and T...

In a future destroyed by dragons, one man has taken all the personality in the world and hoarded it to himself: Matthew McConaughey. This week we watched Reign of Fire, and this one's a real doozy. With Dave out this week, we're instead joined by Josh's wife, Gracie! Listen along as we discuss how grey this movie is, some surprise appearances from other genre properties, and what Christian Bale sh...

Avast, the end of another season of Brooks's Books do be upon us! But before we sight the land of our next season of books, we must watch another film. Join as we become pirates to palaver about Treasure Planet, go on about blending 2D and 3D animation, and, of course, talk about keelhauling the lot of ye. If ye'd like to impart yer questions upon us, send a message in a bottle to brooksbooksshow@...

The end of the season is upon us, and it's time to deal with this Morgawr guy once and for all. We're in for a wild ride, and our enthusiasm for different parts of the book vary just as wildly. Join us as we discuss the return of book 1's pacing issues, the satisfying return of a sidelined character, and the bizarre decisions made about how this book treats women. If you'd like to hear us answer y...

Freed from the tyranny of fantasy reference books, we return to resolve those big cliffhangers from the end of Antrax! Morgawr may not have the breadth of horrifying concepts as Antrax did, but it sure has one really strong one. Join us as we get into how Terry starts to converge the separate story threads, the bold choice of reducing a character to a Macguffin, and dive deep into our feelings on...

Sometimes on this show we get to read really excellent books. Sometimes there's really great writing and themes. Compelling character arcs. Interesting worldbuilding ideas. Maybe even some good horror. Sometimes, instead, we read The World of Shannara. If you'd like your questions answered on the show, email us at brooksbooksshow@gmail.com. If you'd like to support the show financially, head over...

Welcome to Brooks's Books, the show where we're tormented by an evil AI for all eternity! Join us this week as we discuss how Leah wants better for Ryer Ord Star, Dave dislikes Phoenix Stones, and Josh believes that Bek Rowe is the personification of the Sword of Shannara. If you'd like your questions answered on the show, email us at brooksbooksshow@gmail.com. If you'd like to support the show fi...

Our schedules have been crazy lately, and Josh and Leah are stuck recording without Dave! We can't just finish Antrax without him on board, so instead the siblings got together to talk about some media we've enjoyed (or not enjoyed) recently. Next week we'll be back to our normal schedule, with the back half of Antrax. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for Antrax, and horror Terry is BACK IN FULL FORCE. I hope you're ready to be distressed! Join us as we explore the mysteries of Castledown, read one of the greatest chapters Terry has ever written, and also go "Eauauaghhhhhh!" If you'd like your questions answered on the show, email us at brooksbooksshow@gmail.com. If you'd like to support the show financially, head over to ko-fi.com/br...

The party has been assembled, and now it's time to set sail in the skies! This week we join the Jerle Shannara on its blitzkrieg tour of islands in the Blue Divide, and learn a lot more about... well, mostly Bek Rowe. Join us as we discuss the unusual structure of this book, its surprising increase in violence, and how much more compelling the mysteries of this book are than what we've had in the...

It's time to set out on a bold new adventure as Brooks's Books joins the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara! Join us as we settle in to our bunks on the ship and get to know the approximate 300 other people aboard. It's fun to be back in Shannara, getting to witness fancy new technology and catching up with the utter lack of progress our old friend Walker Boh has made. Also: we love a new creepy villain...

We're between seasons again, so movie time is upon us. This month our listeners chose Princess Mononoke, and it turns out that it's a very good movie! Join us as we discuss creepy worms, really tall sandals, and the coolest elk who ever lived. If you'd like your questions answered on the show, email us at brooksbooksshow@gmail.com. If you'd like to support the show financially, head over to ko-fi....

It's time for our last outing with Nest Freemark and John Ross, and we're a little sad to see them go. This week we're discussing themes of addiction, trapped negative emotion and coping mechanisms, whether or not Findo Gask is really The Coolest Demon Who Ever Lived, and, of course, famed rapper Lil Jon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a brief detour to a galaxy far, far away, we're returning to Hopewell, Illinois and Nest Freemark. What's she been up to in the last ten years since we've seen her? Join us as we discuss Christmastime in the Midwest, which juices are good and bad, and how Terry writes about The Drugs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Star Wars time continues, and Terry is continuing to do his best to put his personal stamp on this story. We've got podracing, we've got the Duel of the Fates, and strangest of all, we've got Jar Jar asking questions about why god allows suffering. Apparently, no one believes in Jar Jar's potential more than Terry Brooks. If you'd like your questions answered on the show, email us at brooksbookssh...

It's time for Terry's second and final attempt at writing a film novelization. Fortunately for all of us, this one is dramatically better! We were really surprised by how much strong characterization Terry managed to sneak into this book, including some for... Jar Jar? Next time we're reading chapters 13-24 of The Phantom Menace. If you'd like your questions answered on the show, email us at brook...

Things are coming to a head in Seattle! We discuss Terry's handling of the topic of homelessness in America, some really great uses of metaphor, and some... less great uses of secrets and reveals. Also, what's up with Terry and owls? If you'd like your questions answered on the show, email us at brooksbooksshow@gmail.com. If you'd like to support the show financially, head over to ko-fi.com/brooks...

Major technical problems and busy holiday schedules means no regular episode this week! Sorry folks. Instead, we spend a little time talking about some of our favorite media from this year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We continue our journey into the Word & Void series with a trip to Seattle! It's time to catch up with John Ross and Nest Freemark five years after the events of the last book, and learn how much of a bad time John has had! There's some really interesting ideas in this one, and we discuss Terry's forays into examining homelessness and what sort of events could push a Knight of the Word too far...

We're closing out Running with the Demon with one hell of a bang! Word & Void has made quite the early impression on us, and we have a great time discussing what turned out be a VERY eventful reading. If you'd like your questions answered on the show, email us at brooksbooksshow@gmail.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.