Marginally Geeky Show

We’ve all heard someone say something to the effect of, “that’s just how we do it and always have.” Imagine that being applied to everything in your life; who is allowed to have children, who is in control of the government, why can no one go outside? Now imagine even asking those questions would get you executed. Welcome to the world in the Silo, based on the book Wool by Hugh Howey Sponsor: Magi...

The Daemon continues to spread. The economy is failing. Food and gas prices are through the roof and looting is widespread across the US, and the world. But is the Daemon to blame, or corporations? What if the Daemon is here to save us and help bring forth a new world where people, not businesses, decide our fate? Find out in this month’s book, Freedom (TM) by Daniel Suarez . Next books will be: M...

Artificial Intelligence is all the rage right now causing people to question its use and how it will effect society. But what if it didn’t take AI to bring down the world we know, what if all it took was a really complex decision tree programmed by a genius and set out upon the world after his death? This month we take a look at the first in a two part series where it happens and even though peopl...

What do you get when you mix Bridgerton with a little Harry Potter? Imagine trying to abide by all of the social norms of the day, while trying to find a husband and doing so only being able to feel a few extreme emotions. How do you know when you have offended a lord, or lady, or wizard when you are unable to pick up on most social queues? Find out in this month’s book, Half a Soul by Olivia Atwa...

Social media, grind culture, modern life is a series one thing after another always seeming to speed up and never slow down. But more and more people are pushing back and taking back time for themselves. While the title and synopsis for How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell seems to be about that very subject, is it really? This month we discuss How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell and what we feel the boo...

What do you do when aliens, or demons, or manatees from an alternate dimension show up on your planet and start destroying everything? Call you insurance agent of course. Hopefully you have a good one like Tom Stranger. This month we read a collection of stories about the man who does everything in his power to ensure his clients have the best customer service experience possible. #1 in Customer S...

Earth, our Earth at least, continues to fall into chaos. But over in Outland, everything is great. Well, good. Well, ok. Things are going in the dumpster as well. Kevin and Bill continue to find new worlds but most aren’t any place you would want to vacation on. The colony keeps finding more survivors which means more mouths to feed. Monica and B keep running into locals who don’t want to pull the...

Linus is a by the book investigator for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He is sent to check on 6 such children who might cause the world to end at an orphanage in a far away island. There he meets the head of the home and other curious beings that do not trust he is there to close the place down. Prepare for whimsical magic at its best in The House in the Cerulean Sea . Next books will...

Before the 3rd season of The Witcher drops on Netflix, we’re reading a collection of short stories about Geralt of Rivia. Some of these stories appeared in the previous seasons of The Witcher so you might already be aware of them while others are new to readers of the series. So grab your silver sword, your medallion and your horse and let’s ride with Geralt in The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski ....

Image a world where there are multiple Londons in separate dimensions; some of lively and gush with magic while others seem to have the color literally fading out of them. And one that was sealed off to protect the others because of magic gone amuck. This is the world V.E. Schwab paints for us in A Darker Shade of Magic where we follow Kell, one of few people who can go between the worlds. Next bo...

There is an old saying about not being able to see the forrest for the trees. In The Overstory, it could be said people can’t see life for the trees with the exception being several random people who are all brought together to fight for trees and to attempt to save the forrest. This month we discuss Richard Power’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel about how saving trees is the only way we can save ou...

We’re looking back at all of the books we read in 2022 that we didn’t discuss on the show. And let me tell you, there are a lot of books. We may get to some eventually on the show, but the vast majority will probably not. So grab something to jot down notes and get ready to see what you missed, and should avoid, from 2022. Next books will be: February - The Overstory by Richard Powers March - A Da...

It’s the third book in Nathan Lowell’s second Trader’s Tales trilogy, Owner’s Share. Ishmael finds himself essentially fired after learning he is about to become a very wealthy man. But things are looking up, he’s about to be able to start his own shipping company and become his own boss. If he can figure out how to make money with a funky ship that is being sold for scrap, pay off his loan in 90...

It’s book two of Nathan Lowell’s second Solar Clipper series, Captain’s Share. Several years have passed, Ishmael is the first mate of the William Tinker and has been married for 7 years. But big things are happening. Ish about to become the captain of his very own ship but like with his previous posting, things are not well on board. Now that he is in charge, let’s watch Ishmael find a way to cor...

We’re starting the second trilogy of Nathan Lowell’s Solar Clipper series with Double Share. It’s been four years and Ishmael has graduated from the academy and is on his way to his first posting as a third mate. But the William Tinker is almost the exact opposite of the Lois. Bullying, sexual assault and physical abuse are rampant on board. How can Ish help turn things around? Let’s start with th...

This month we are continuing our voyage with the Trader’s Tales books by Nathan Lowell. Full Share picks up with Ishmael being forced to find a new position or possibly being put off of the Lois McKendrick. But sneaky always has something up their sleeves. Along the way, Ish discovers there is more to life than just being a spacer and has to contemplate what his future will be in the universe. Nex...

This month we are returning to the Trader’s Tales books, by Nathan Lowell, with the second in the series; Half Share. We’re picking up where we last left Ish, Pip and the rest of the crew of the Lois McKendrick as they fly through space delivering cargo from space station to space station. This time around though things get a little more adult as our boys are growing up and coming to terms with wh...

When people talk about a book, movie or TV show being a roller coaster, they mean the story usually has lots of action, twists and turns and rarely slows down. Infinite is one of those books. The main character, Wil, wakes up on board the Galahan, a faster-than-light spaceship that is supposed to be taking a small group of scientist to a new world as Earth and Mars are dying. Then he is stabbed wi...

Most people know Nick Offerman as the actor who played Ron Swanson, the ultra libertarian parks director on Parks and Recreation. We discussed another book of his a little while back that he wrote with his wife, Megan Mullally, as well as the Audible exclusive books he has done. While the title of his newest book lets you know he will be discussing he thoughts on things he is passionate about, lik...

We’ve been doing this geeky book club for over two years and we are just now doing a Harry Potter book. We should be ashamed… but we’re not. So let us jump into the flagship book that launched a tidal wave of copy cats and reshaped not only how the book industry looked at YA fiction, but also created an entire media empire that is still beloved by the fans to this day; even if the author isn’t. Ne...

The Wheel of Time series started in 1984, spanned 14 books and was recently adapted into a series on Amazon Prime. So of course it has a prequel; everything that has that much story to tell has even more to tell right? In New Spring, we meet some of main characters, see how they met and set us up for the massive journey ahead. The question is, unlike many other prequels, is it any good? Host: Euge...

This month we start on a series Shaun introduced us to that immediately grabbed us and wouldn’t let go. Quarter Share, the first in the Trader’s Tale from The Golden Age of the Solar Clipper (that’s a mouth full), follows a Ishmael Wong as he gets a job on a space faring trading ship and grows into the position. Along the way he finds he enjoys the work, his co-workers and his new life. That’s it....

This month Jennifer rejoins our crew as we discuss her book choice, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. The book’s author brings her unique perspective to ecology and environmental protection by sharing her cultural background and the Potawatomi views on how we interact with the world around us. Through personal stories she explains how reconnecting to her past has helped her connect to he...

Butler isn’t a job title most people would consider in this day and age. But tie the job to a 1 year contract, $5,000 a month and a cool million on completion and a lot of people might jump at it. But what if the old man you are taking care of thinks he is a wizard? What if he really is? This month we are reading The Wizard’s Butler by Nathan Lowell. We were a little late getting this one recorded...

Jessica Blackwood joined the FBI to get away from her famous, magician family and so she could help people by bringing bad guys to justice. But when a series of impossible murders happen, she is called into help evaluate how they were done using the skills she learned while performing magic on stage. This month we are reading Angel Killer by Andrew Mayne, the first in the Jessica Blackwood series....