Novel Gaming!

We're doing a fantasy video game club episode! Doug and Katie got witchy and built their own divination decks in the 2023 game The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood. Game conversation starts around 28:45, and heavy spoilers begin around 54:00. Before we get into all of that, we check in on all of the media we've been engaging with lately. Reading: 'Black Sun' & 'Fevered Star' by...

Deals with the devil, magic, and queer & trans pirates! The young adult fantasy novel 'The Wicked Bargain' by Gabe Cole Novoa is filled with that and more! Join Katie and Doug as they discuss the book (starts around 21:55) and the things they've been playing and watching. Playing The Teal Mask / Pokémon Scarlet & Violet DLC (Switch) Sea of Stars (PS5) Marvel's Midnight Suns...

Doug and Katie do their first ever gaming draft! They create teams of video game characters who fight and teams of characters who f***. Who would would you draft? Conversation starts around 21:10. Before then, they check in on what they've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading 'I'm Glad My Mom Died' by Jennette McCurd 'Counterfeit' by Kirstin Chen Watch...

A queer, gender-bent Arthurian legend full of swords, spears, and sorcery? Sounds pretty great to us! We're talking about 'Spear' by Nicola Griffith. Conversation starts around 14:35. Before that, we chat about the things we've been playing, watching, or thinking about lately. Playing Dredge (PS5) Pokemon Unite (Switch) Pokemon Scarlet (Switch) Watching Dimension 20: The Unsleeping...

Guess who's back for a special anniversary episooode! That's right, Vicki's back with Katie & Doug to play our own version of the Newlywed Game! ...er, the Old Friends Game? In any case, we're super good at it, so enjoy! Of course, before we prove our extreme synchronicity, we catch up on some things we've been reading, watching, and thinking about. Reading: 'The Severe...

Knock, knock. Who's there? Probably just some debris, right? Find out by listening to our conversation about 'The Scourge Between Stars' by Ness Brown. Conversation starts around 19:58. Before that, we chat about the things we've been playing, watching, or thinking about lately. Playing Fairune Collection (Switch) Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (Switch) Watching My Adventures Wi...

Doug and Katie reminisce about the past ~10 years of the PS4 - the memories, the features, and the games. Conversation starts around 23:40. Before that, they talk about what they've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading ‘Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide’ by Rupert Holmes ‘The Scourge Between Stars’ by Ness Brown Watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie (20...

Wow, this podcast smells so nice and relaxing... like a freshly opened bar of lavender soap. But wait! It also smells like... MURDER? This month we read 'Lavender House' by Lev AC Rosen, a queer murder mystery that takes place in the 1950s. Full-spoiler conversation starts at 35:20. But of course, before we get into that, we check in on everything we've been playing, watching, and thinking about l...

Everyone loves a trilogy, especially when it means everything gets a little bit gayer! It's our third Q&A episode, and this time we're focusing on gayming. We prepared three questions related to playing games as a queer person and queerness in video games! If you find yourself answering them as you listen, be sure to let us know, and we'll read your answers next time! As always, be...

Aliens and invasions and lessons, oh my! We read and discussed 'The Lesson' by Caldwell Turnbull. Conversation starts around 39:00. Before then, Dug and Katie check in on what we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing: Pokémon Violet (2022) Descenders: Extreme Procedural Free Riding (2018) Hi-Fi Rush (2023) Watching: Dragon Ball (Hulu) Junior Bake Off (Netflix) T...

Join Doug and Katie in a gaming galaxy far, far away! That's right - they're talking Star Wars! Conversation about the games starts around 25:50, but the force is strong throughout this episode. Before then, they discuss what they've been reading, watching, and thinking about. Reading: 'Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker - The Manga' by A. Himekawa, A. Fukaya, T. Kisaki,...

What do you get when you mix deep space, the far future, stonebending (like in Avatar: The Last Airbender), alien mecha, and... a Messiah named Misery? You get our latest book club pick: the 2022 book ‘The Genesis of Misery’ by Neon Yang! But before we get into one of our deepest book discussions yet, we stop to chat about what we’ve been playing, watching, or thinking about. Playing: Pupperazzi (...

We like books. We like video games. And sometimes there are books IN video games, and we like that too! In this episode we're talking about some of favorite books, book-related moments, and generally bookish things in video games. But of course, before we get all up in it, we check in on some of the things we've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Reading: 'The Genesis of Miser...

Did Katie unknowingly choose a romance book for this discussion? Maybe! The only way to find out is to listen to our discussion around 'Wintersong' by S. Jae-Jones, which starts around 27:50. Before then, we check in on what we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing: Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (2018) PowerWash Simulator (2021) Watching: Game Chang...

We're doing a sci-fi video game club episode! Doug and Katie rolled the dice and played the 2022 game Citizen Sleeper. That conversation starts around 15:33. Before we get into all of that, we check in on all of the media we've been engaging with lately. Reading: 'Pet' by Akwaeke Emezi 'Bitter' by Akwaeke Emezi 'How Far the Light Reaches' by Sabrina Imbler Watching: Alien (1979 Film) Aliens (1986...

Have you heard? The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers...! It's a book club episode, and we’re discussing the 2022 book ‘Now Is Not the Time to Panic’ by Kevin Wilson, a novel about a viral moment that happens in a time before everyone knew what the word “meme” meant. But before we get ourselves swept up in a panic, we stop to chat about what we’ve been playing, watching, or thinking ab...

Y'all ever seen a video game character and thought, "Dang, what if I could go on a date with them?" You're in luck—lots of games nowadays just let you do it, and for some, it's the entire point of the game. That's right, we're talking about some of our favorite and noteworthy dateable characters in video games! But before we turn down the lights and set the mood, we check in on some of the things...

What year is it? How old am I? These are questions you definitely would ask yourself if you were the protagonist of our most recent book club pick - 'Oona Out of Order' by Margarita Montimore. Discussion starts around 25:05. Before then, there's the usual check in on what we've been playing and watching lately. Playing: Speed Dating for Ghosts (2018) Danganropa: Trigger Happy Havoc...

Sometimes things change. Sometimes those things are video games, characters, or franchises! Doug and Katie reflect on some of the gaming transformations that left a mark. Conversation starts around 27:00. Before then, there's conversation on what they've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Reading: 'Heartstopper' by Alice Oseman  'Blue Period' by Tsubasa Yamaguchi  'The Book Woma...

Grab your favorite warm drink and get your snapping fingers ready, because we're reading some poetry for this month's Book Club episode! The year is coming to a close and December can be hectic, so instead of a book, Doug selected four winter-y poems (links below). But of course, before we slap on our berets, we catch up on some of the games we've been playing, shows we've been watching, and thoug...

We're rapidly approaching the end of 2022! Holy smokes! As usual, we close out the year by talking about the best stuff we played, read, watched, listened to, and followed! But as always, before we dive in, we check in on some media we've consumed lately. Reading: 'Empire of Wild' by Cherie Dimaline 'Akata Woman' by Nnedi Okorafor Watching: The Big Brunch (HBO Max) The Mole (Netflix) Dimension 20:...

How would you react to losing some of society's luxuries? That's the question Vicki, Doug, and Katie have been asking themselves after reading the slow-burn thriller/horror/post-apocalyptic book 'Moon of the Crusted Snow' by Waubgeshig Rice. The conversation for this 2018 novel begins around 27:15. Before that Vicki makes an announcement and we check in on what we've been playing and watching late...

There once was a game from Nantucket...? This week we're creating limericks about some of our favorite video games and video game characters. None of us were quite sure how it'd go, but these may be some of our best writing samples yet! But of course, before we get literary, we check in on everything we've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Reading: 'The Witch King' by H. E. Edgmon 'Breat...

This week on the pod, our caffeniated trio read 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, a recent Japanese translation. Although Sci-Fi light, our friends try to untangle the clear cut, yet messy, rule system in these deeply impactful stories. Before they sit in the magical seat, Doug, Vicki, and Katie chat about their recent gaming and watching escapades.  Playing Super Ghouls a...

Villains, amirite? Love to hate 'em and hate to love 'em! We discuss those fiendish friends that we enjoy beating and sometimes being. Conversation starts around 30:20. Before then, we touch base about what we've been reading, playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' by Toshikazu Kawaguchi' 'The Lost Apothecary' by Sarah Penner Playing Spiritfarer (Switch...