Nerds of the Old Republic: The Drinking Person’s #Scifi Club

Hello Nerds, Thank you for joining Mike, Shaun and Adam as we look back at the changes the Nerd Nation experienced this year that we haven't covered yet. Three friends, three different takes on what's important to we nerdy story lovers.   Thanks for joining us this year, and while we take the summer off, consider looking back at our back catalogue! While you're there, you could also check out our...

J.R.R. Tolkien spent decades building a world that was never supposed to save itself easily — and Peter Jackson spent three films reminding us why that matters. This episode, the Nerds crack open The Fellowship of the Ring and try to figure out what makes it still hold up, still hit hard, and still make grown adults emotional about a wizard and some very small men. We dig into Tolkien’s original n...

Hello, and welcome Nerd Nation! We're here talking about Martha Wells' novella Murderbot book one All Systems Red. A sci-fi book where for once, the cyborg doesn't want to kill us all. How...refreshing. If you're like us, and you love our nerdy fiction and talks, please help a cast out by sharing with a likeminded friend. It's a free way to support our work. Also, share in our nerdy goodness on Bl...

Listen in as the nerds discuss the newest entry in the Frankenstein franchise as envisioned by Benecio Del Toro, or BDT as we call him on the cast.   If you've never read, pick up a copy at your library before watching, then stay for our hot and lukewarm takes!   Want more nerdiness in your life? Follow us on BlueSky. We're @nerdsofoldrepublic.

Hey there Nerd Nation!  We're here with an OG favorite - Tron. But this time, we're here to talk about the newest movie in the franchise- Tron: Ares. If you're new to the franchise, definitely just watch the first one and Ares. You'll do well to skip the second movie, Tron: Legacy. While we've got your attention, why not share this cast with a friend or two - it's the best way to support our work...

Hello Nerd Nation! We're back from the holidays and here with an OG classic sci-fi book: The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. Thanks to the book, we're drinking something new for all of us - sherry.  Come for the book, stay for the witty banter! If you've got suggestions for nerdy content for us to review, send it our way - we're always open to what the Nerd Nation wants.  Just send your recomm...

Hello and welcome to the future we have, and not the future we deserve! Listen in as the Nerds discuss three albums known for their nerdy sci-fi nature: Deloused at the Comatorium by The Mars Volta, Simulation Theory by Muse, and Year Zero by NIN. Listen to the albums, and listen to the conversation. Heck, join the conversation by emailing us at nerdsofoldrepublic@gmail.com . We'd love to hear fro...

Well, hello there fellow nerds. It's like you're a long lost stable boy, and we're...OK the analogy falls apart. But between the title and the scantily clad shownotes, I'm guessing you already know we're talking about Princess Bride.    If you've never seen it, though inconcievable! Perhaps you find it on your streaming services, or at a local library. It's no spoiler to say that we all had a grea...

Welcome to season 5 of Nerds of the Old Republic! We're back and talking about the fabled Brandon Sanderson's novella The Emperor's Soul. While we dig into this interesting work, if he's not your thing, just wait until next month's episode when we talk about The Princess Bride. The Nerds want to give a big shoutout to fan Kevin for suggesting this cast's book -- we love to hear from our listeners!...

Or, the other greatest animated series of all time... Join Shaun, Mike and Adam and they talk about Cartoon Network's Rick and Morty. If you've never watched -- like Shaun and Adam -- Mike has created a perfect playlist to dive into the wonderful world of sarcastic, abusive megalomaniacs with dad issues that is this show. Watch the following episodes ahead of time, or listen in, then watch and see...

Join Shaun, Mike and Adam as they go back to the 1980's classic and ever present Mad Max films. While not necessary to enjoy the film, they grab a tasty beer and discuss their history with the films, the diesel punk aesthetic, and the dystopian film genre in general.  Longtime listeners will know which one of the hosts could name every car in the film, and which one of us was distracted by Lord Hu...

Hi everyone, and welcome to another Nerds book review, this time of Hummingbird Salamander by Jeff Vandermeer. In this episode, the intrepid hosts struggle to see the appeal of VanderMeer's 2017 novel, especially in light of his other, weirder books. They even challenge, erm, invite, Jeff VanderMeer to share his thoughts with them live, on a cast of his choosing.  To chase away the bad aftertaste...

Listen in as the hosts, Shaun, Mike and Adam talk about their experience watching the early 2000's anime Cowboy Bebop! They discuss that banger intro by The Seatbelts, noir in the space opera story, and the weird Ed while Adam's own Corgi (sadly, not named Ein, nor data-dog) occasionally interrupts the recording.  And that score! The soundtrack is discussed many times, as it deserves to be. If you...

Thanks for listening as the hosts try a new liquor and talk up the book 36 Streets by Australian author TR Napper. There's so much for everyone in this title: Vietnamese war history, virtual reality, the most sophisticated propaganda and mindflay ever conceived, cyberpunk weapons, old school crime families and smoking. Lots of smoking.  If that doesn't sound like a conversation worth listening in...

In this episode of 'Nerds in the Old Republic,' hosts Adam, Shaun, and Mike take on the 1995 anime cult classic, Ghost in the Shell. With much anticipation and fandom excitement in the air, the trio embarks on a spirited discussion about the film's complex plot and philosophical themes, all while savoring the unique experience of sipping on Japanese sake. Is it the anime masterpiece it's often hai...

Join the hosts of Nerds of the Old Republic as they delve into George R.R. Martin's fascinating world of Westeros, focusing on the enchanting tales of Dunk and Egg from The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Explore the rich history and complex characters that populate these novellas, as the hosts discuss Martin's unparalleled world-building and storytelling prowess. From the thrilling jousts to the in...

Hey everyone, and Happy New Year! We're back with the second half of our "Year-in-Review" show, and this time, we're focusing on what Shaun, Mike and Adam want to see more of in the coming year. Hint: it's not more Disney+ specials set in the Star Wars Universe. But it is: more great anime, like Cowboy Beebop Fantasy like House of the Dragon More cyberpunk like 36 Streets And more! Since it's that...

Hey there! And welcome to Nerds of the Old Republic - we're wrapping up the year with a tentative year-in-review in all things nerdy! On this cast, we're chatting about the following: Tolkien Star Wars George RR Martin Dungeons and Dragons And a big shout out to our friends at Za Bills - check out their great pizza reviews, and Buffalo Bills chat. Lastly, if you need a last minute holiday gift, wh...

Hey there nerds! We're here reading our sub-etha meson reader, and this month it's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Grab your a big glass of gargle blaster and follow along as we discuss whether not it's parody, and whether or not it's worth your time. But before you get into that, why not dig into our good friend's podcast, Za Bills ? Shaun's been invited there a few times and we think they...

We're going back to the well of The Weird, edited by the Vandermeers. In this cast, we're talking about Shirley Jackson, Jorge Louis Borges, and a story or two we each picked. Cuddle up with the tome, and read along -- this is a perfect fall read.   Something new from us: Check out our Bookshop.org Store! If you want to support the cast, and read along with us, we're now working with Bookshop.org...

Hey there! Do you like weird fiction? Is your bookshelf filled with Kafka and Algernon Blackwood? Well, then you know more about weird fiction than I did before we read selections from Jeff and Ann Vandermeer's collection of short fiction, The Weird.  Today, we're reading "The Willows" by Algernon Blackwood and "In the Penal Colony" by Franz Kafka. After that, we're on to Shirley Jackson's "The Su...

Hello and welcome to Nerds of the Old Republic! We're three friends who love reading nerdy fiction. We're taking a break from the reading this week to talk about Disney's The Acolyte, and it ended up also being about all of the Disney Star Wars Franchise. Star Wars not your thing? Next month, for two episodes, we're digging into an anthology of weird fiction appropriately titled, The Weird edited...

Welcome back as we return to form with a book review: Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. It's a multi-epoch book spanning the eras of Colonialism all the way through the glories of Neo So Copros with their fantastic clones serving you in the dinning hall, to the fall and eventual resurrection of human civilization in a Hawaiian colony.  It's not our normal vibe in that it's less sci-fi and fantasy and...

Hey there and welcome to the first episode in our fourth season! We're stretching our interests a bit with this one, but we're going to talk about The Goonies, that 1985 adventure movie with Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Ke Huy Quan, Kerri Green, Corey Feldman and directed by Richard Donner. Why The Goonies, you ask? Firstly because Mike had vowed never to watch it, and we got him to change...

Hello, and welcome to our last episode of season four! We’re reviewing an icon, our idol, and early cast book in William Gibson’s <i>Neuromancer<\i>. It’s got sexy robots, international heists and apartments the size of NYC closets, what more could you need in your cyberpunk? Seriously, this novel is genre defining and explanation avoiding — which is half the fun of listening to this e...